Page 40 of His Unexpected Heir

Maria gasped at the pain, her whole body stiffening. “My lord, this happened several months ago! I’d never seen her at the castle or I would have stopped him from…” she closed her eyes against the pain, tugging at her hands. But Ricardo’s grip was too tight. He was crushing her bones and she felt something snap. “I didn’t know!” she cried out, opening her eyes and pleading with the man to let go.

Suddenly, her hands were released and she tucked them under the table, ignoring the throbbing pain. Or trying to, at least.

Ricardo looked as if he’d just taken tea with the queen. “The woman is not dead,” he repeated conversationally. “You’ve failed me, Maria.” He started to stand up, saying, “You are no longer worthy of my time.”

“Wait!” she gasped, reaching out, but then quickly shoved both of her hands under the metal table again. “I need more help!” she told him, pleading with the man. “Eldora says that she won’t kill a pregnant woman.”

Ricardo sat back down, frowning. “Eldora will do my bidding!” he hissed. “Have Jeb and Manuel visit me immediately. I will explain my plan again!”

Maria nodded quickly. “I will,” she told him. “I’ll have them visit you immediately.”

“This afternoon!” Ricardo snapped. “Once I am free of this place, I will be taking up my rightful position within the Spanish government. Remember that!” he hissed, leaning forward. “Those that please me will be rewarded. Those that don’t…” He left the threat hanging, which was even scarier than having a specific punishment prepared.

He stood up and, with shocking dignity, walked to the door for the prisoners.

Maria remained seated, watching him leave and wondering if he was sane. Probably not, which only increased her terror that he would truly be released somehow. He was a psychopath and those kinds of people always got their way!

Did Ricardo have the resources to follow through on his threats? Maria didn’t know. Previously, she’d just wanted to marry Antonio and become a Marquesa. She wanted that title! She could taste that title! But now, feeling the ache increase in her hands, she was starting to wonder if she’d be better off finding someone else to marry. Someone who doesn’t have the cruelty that Ricardo kept well hidden behind a suave demeanor. If she married Antonio and Ricardo became her father-in-law, that meant she’d have to live in the castle with that man!

No, it would be better if she found another man to marry. Someone more powerful than Ricardo. Standing, she turned and nearly cried out as the ache in her hand sharpened. It had been just a throb when she’d cradled her hand against her stomach, but gravity increased the pressure on what she now suspected was a broken bone.

Hugging her hand to her stomach, she made her way out of the prison. It was difficult to drive with a broken hand, but she made it back to the village. Now it was just a question of what she was going to do about the psychopath she’d aligned herself with.

Chapter 15

Antonio watched from his office window as the ladies stepped out of their rental car, laughing and chatting happily. He noticed that Astra pulled several items out of the trunk.

“No!” he snarled, startling Matteo and Edward who were debating the merits of an investment.

They looked up, confused. “No?” Edward asked.

Antonio spun around and stormed out of his office. It took him a few moments to reach the castle door, simply because the stupid place was so monstrously huge. But finally, he was able to intercept Astra and the other ladies.

“I’ll take those,” he said, plucking the packages out of her hands. “You go inside and rest.”

Astra looked startled, but Antonio didn’t care.

“They aren’t heavy,” she told him, reaching to reclaim them.

He lifted them out of her reach. “Tell me where you want them. And I’m cleaning out one of the downstairs rooms so that you and Macie have private offices.”

Astra’s mouth fell open with that announcement, but Antonio ignored her surprise. “I should have done so when you both first arrived. You need the space for planning and for whatever storage needs you have.”

Macie and Astra shared a glance as Antonio turned and went back into the castle. He deposited the bags in the room he’d chosen for Astra’s office, which was only two doors down from his own. At some point in time, this room had been used to store weapons. But over the centuries, it had been converted to just a storage room.

Now, it contained only an old table and chairs.

He sensed Astra and Macie behind him and turned. “Order whatever supplies you need for the events and if you need more room, there are about twenty additional rooms you can use.”

Then he shifted around them and walked out of the room, pausing at the doorway. “I gave Eldora the night off. I’ve ordered pizza for dinner tonight.”

Astra stared at the empty doorway, not sure what to say. Macie and Bailey were right next to her, both just as dumbfounded as she was.

“What just happened?” she whispered, not sure she wanted to use a louder voice.

“Um…I think,” Bailey said with a teasing tone, “that you’re moving into the castle.”

Macie laughed, nodding her agreement. “Sounds about right.” She turned and looked at Astra. “Should I organize movers to pack up your stuff in Philadelphia?”

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