“You should be concerned about a lot of things. Let me explain the rules of my hospitality before you go back to your room. For the time being, you will be treated as an honored guest in my house.”
Right, she thought to herself, not believing a word. She pressed her lips with barely suppressed fury, trying to remain quiet.
“You’ll be allowed to shower and change into clean clothes. Later you will dine with me, enjoying good food and wine, and soothing music. You will continue to have the comfort of a bed. Then, in the morning, we will have this discussion again.”
Sarah’s intuition told her what he was getting at. “And if my answer doesn’t change?” A light flared briefly in Raul’s eyes, and she knew she’d asked him the right question, sensing at that moment just how dangerous he was. Cruelty dripped from every pore, sending a chill down her spine. She didn’t know what kept her from jumping at him to hurt him any way she could, before he hurt her.
“Have you ever been,” he paused for effect. “Tortured, my dear?” Sarah’s mouth fell open with incredulity. “Of course, you haven’t. However, I will stop at nothing to get back what is mine. So you might as well tell me and avoid going through any unnecessary, ah, discomfort. Then you can go home.”
“You expect me to believe you’ll just release me?”
He shrugged, obviously not caring what she believed.
“You’re a fucking monster!” She couldn’t think of anything more suitable to call him, resorting to using a word she saved for the bedroom. Torture brought to mind many unpleasant images, all of them painful, maybe even degrading. A chill ran over her.
"Watch your language!" he growled, revealing his distaste with a scowl. Then, as quickly as it came, his anger evaporated. “You misunderstood me,” he continued in a deceivingly kind voice. His expression was almost sympathetic. “I would never hurt you … myself.” The evil darkening his eyes fell upon the men behind Sarah, filling her heart with instant dread.
She turned, drawn to Mano’s unfriendly gaze first, instinctively knowing he was the one she had to worry about. The way he was looking at her now confirmed it. His eyes were stripping her, telling her what he was going to do to her if given the opportunity. Raul had known exactly what to threaten her with.
Her gaze returned to his. “You’re worse than a monster; you’re a bastard!” She jumped to her feet, hands clenched at her sides. Heat filled her cheeks with burning revulsion.
Raul ignored her outburst, motioning at the two men. “Take our spirited little visitor to the second floor bathroom and allow her to shower and change into clean clothes. Then return her to her room until dinner.” He turned, clearly dismissing them.
Sarah couldn’t believe what was happening. What in the world had Mark given Susan that could warrant this kind of treatment? Jesus, am I going to live through this? Other than Susan, who would care if she was ever heard from again? Growing up an orphan, she was alone in the world.
Her feet instinctively found each step as she was marched back up the winding staircase. She knew where the bathroom was, having been allowed to leave her room to use it several times a day. It had been embarrassing, though, knowing one of her captors was always waiting for her just outside the door. Something told her having the privilege of getting a shower wasn’t going to be any different.
She was brought to a jerky halt before the door, and Mano turned the knob, sending it flying against the wall. Her gaze fell on a small stack of clothes that had been placed on the vanity top. They didn’t look like much but the thought of a shower and clean clothes was appealing after four days. She took an eager step into the room, only to come up short when her arm was suddenly grabbed. She looked angrily into Mano’s leering eyes, frightened enough by what she saw there to hold her tongue.
“I’ll take your dirty clothes,” he said in a thick, guttural accent, his bushy eyebrows meeting in the middle of his wide forehead.
What?! There was no way Sarah was going to strip in front of him, and she refused to let him see he intimidated her. She had until morning to worry about what he had in store for her. For now, at least, she knew he couldn’t hurt her. With a scowl, she jerked her arm free, trying to shut the door in his ugly face. “After my shower,” she hissed.
His eyes narrowed threateningly. “Now!” he insisted, catching the door with the palm of his large, beefy hand. Sarah glanced past him to where the other man stood, hoping he’d intervene, but he just stood there silently, with a leering grin on his face.
With a sinking heart, she knew Mano wasn’t going to back down. Swallowing her pride, she hissed, “Give me a minute!”
He surprised her by letting her slam the door in his face. She quickly stripped out of her filthy clothes, leaving her underwear on just in case he decided to barge in anyway. She opened the door a crack and handed them to him. He snatched them with a hateful laugh, and she quickly shut and locked the door, leaning against it for a moment to steady her nerves. Tears of helplessness filled her eyes, but she refused to let them spill over.
“Ten minutes!” his voice bellowed through the door.
Sarah jumped, swearing beneath her breath. God, they might as well kill me now. She wasn’t about to inform them they had the wrong woman because they’d just go after Susan and then they’d both be in trouble. Drawing the shower curtain back, she turned on the water, adjusting it until the temperature was bearable. She stepped under the hot spray, deciding at the last minute to leave on her bra and panties. She didn’t trust Mano and besides, they needed washing too.
Mindful of the time, it didn’t take long to scrub away the grime and shampoo her hair, but as she reached to turn off the taps the unexpected appearance of a hand on the shower curtain froze her into place. Mano! How had he got in? She flattened herself against the tile wall, watching helplessly as the shower curtain was ripped back with enough violence to tear half of it off the rod.
Only it wasn’t Mano standing there, but a man she’d never seen before.