Page 129 of Coerced Queen

“She wouldn’t stop crying.”Raphael shrugs.“I gave her a little something to calm her down.It’ll wear off in a couple of hours.”

“What the fuck did you give my baby?”I ask, my fingers poised like claws at my sides.Like a lioness driven by instinct to protect her cub, I want to pounce.

“I checked that it’s safe for her age.I guess I have to learn about these things.After all, I have one of my own on the way.”

“Let me get my bag so that I can give you the video,” I say.“Then I want you to let them go.”

He strolls to my bag and peers inside.“I’ve always found women’s handbags a good reflection of their minds.So messy.”

Biting back a retort, I say, “In the brown envelope.You’ll want a laptop to check the content.”

He pulls out the brown envelope and rips it open before letting the key glide onto his palm.A man runs up with a laptop, opening it on the table between our handbags.Like me, Raphael came prepared.

He inserts the key in the USB slot of the laptop.A few clicks of the built-in mouse tells him what he wants to know.

“Now let them go,” I say.“I’ll give you the rest of what you want.”

Smirking, he looks at Livy before motioning with his head toward the door.One of his men opens it.Livy doesn’t hesitate.She turns around and walks with a stiff back through the door frame, clutching Claire in the death grip of her arms.I have so much gratitude for this woman right now.Brave like only Livy can be, she doesn’t look back.

I go to the door, stopping just inside.The man who let them out stands next to it with a taunting expression on his face, daring me to make a run for it.Ignoring him, I watch Livy cross the open parking lot.Every step she takes echoes with a deafening thud of my heart in my ears.I don’t even care that I’m giving the men a good ogle at my pantie-clad ass.I don’t dare to breathe, praying that no one is going to jump out of the bushes and shoot them or drag them back here.

After what feels like forever instead of seconds, Livy makes it to the gates.The last few paces are the worst, my nerves drawing my stomach into a tight, painful ball, but everything goes according to plan.

Livy gets into the car, not bothering with the car seat.We agreed the priority was getting out of here.Once she’s a good distance away, and only if she’s not being followed, she’ll stop to strap Claire into her car seat.I don’t move until the headlights come on and the car pulls onto the road.A weight lifts off my shoulders when the taillights disappear around the bend.

I turn back to face my enemy.The blue light flickers on the USB key before turning to a solid green.

“See?”Raphael raises his hands.“I’m a man of my word.Seeing that I’ll be a father in six months myself, I understand how it must feel.Fatherhood gave me a new way of looking at the situation.It made me realize we shouldn’t drag innocent children into our war.”

“How noble of you,” I say with sarcasm.

“Now you’re going to give me that password.”His smile turns cold.Dangerous.“And then you’re going to tell me where you hid my wife.”He takes two steps toward me.“I heard they gave you a nickname, Lady Luck.You know what that means.You’re one of us now.You’re no longer an innocent pawn or collateral damage.You’re not an untouchable wife.”

I throw an accusation at him.“That didn’t stop you before.”

“Ah, you mean the attack in the church.”He flashes a row of unnaturally white teeth.“Back then, you fell into the collateral damage category.Now, the same rules that apply to us men apply to you.You took something from me, and you’ll pay the price.You’ll get the same punishment I reserve for men.Unlike a child, you’re not innocent.You knew exactly what you were doing when you took Elena and my unborn baby from me.Do you have any idea the hell I went through?”

“You should’ve thought about that before you left bruises on her body.”

“My relationship with my wife isn’t your business.”He smirks.“But don’t worry.When my men are through with you, you’ll have much worse bruises.If you give me what I want without playing games, I’ll end you quickly when they’re done.Or we can film the orgy and send it to Sav.What do you say?”

I want to spit in his face.“I told you I’d give it to you.”

“Such a courageous martyr.It’s amazing what women will do to protect their children.I hope my Elena will love our baby just as much.”

“Go to hell,” I bite out.

“Oh, and just in case you wondered, we’re not changing locations.I’m counting on Livy to tell your husband where we are.That’s the only reason I let her go.”He walks to a crate and kicks off the lid, revealing a dozen grenades sitting like eggs between the dividers.“And when he comes for you, I’ll be ready.”

ChapterThirty-Nine

Saverio

The man who almost puked makes a point of not looking at the entrails on the floor of the motel room when he asks, “Cleanup?”

Dante shakes his head.“It’s Raphael’s mess.Leave it.”

I remove my blood-soaked gloves and dump them in the plastic bag the man produces.

---