Page 15 of Cruel Redemption

“You’re walking away?” I yelled. “What the hell is wrong with you? We’re supposed to be meeting Katya. This is unbelievable.”

Gravel flew into the ditch when he spun to face me. He kicked it with the toe of his shoe. His fists were clenched at his side.

“There’s nothing I can do!” he yelled. “Not a goddamn thing.”

I shook my head. “What are you talking about?”

“I feel it. I see it. You’re slipping away from me, right in front of my eyes. How do I stop that from happening?”

“I’m right here.” I threw my arms up in the twilight air. There was an eeriness on this road, surrounded by nothing by the cane plants.

He shook his head. “You won’t even talk about what you’re doing and I’m in front of you, beside you, going through it with you and you won’t fucking talk.”

“We should go. We’re out in the middle of nowhere.” I wasn’t going to answer a ridiculous question. I spun to round the back of the car, but he latched onto my wrist. I didn’t realize he had moved so quickly.

“That. That move right there, Amara.” I made the mistake of looking in his eyes.

Without his sunglasses his eyes were his most vulnerable and valuable asset. I could see the pain. Fear. A wicked determination to control my next five steps and those of anyone who came near us. He thought he could calculate all the scenarios. He could anticipate everyone’s motives and maneuvers. Everyone except me.

I saw it reflected back to me in his eyes. Those dark stormy eyes that used to keep me up at night. Eyes that could talk to me. Show me the world. Show me the depths of love. Show me the fire that burned in his soul, only for me.

I questioned why I kept pushing back. Why I didn’t want him to fold his strong arms around me. It was a different kind of fear holding me. His fingers pressed into my wrist until they threaded through mine. Our palms touched and I swore it was lightning feeding off our pulses that I felt.

I inhaled. “Yes. I would hide you. I’d knock you out. Tranquilize you. Shove you in an unmarked container on a ship with no less than five guards disguised as crewmen to protect you around the clock. I’d send you as far as the ocean could carry you until I knew you were safe. And then I would fly to you.”

He smirked. “A simple yes would have been okay.” I tried to jerk my hand away in defiance. “Hey, come on, I’m teasing you. But…” Our eyes locked. “I’m a little nervous that you have this planned out so thoroughly.”

My eyes narrowed. “It’s very easy for me to make it a reality.”

He cocked his head. “You do know how hard it would be if it were reversed.”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I don’t think about it. I plan for it.”

He brought my knuckles to his lips. I shivered at the simplicity of the gesture. The forgiveness he offered with the graze of his breath against my skin.

“Then will you please give me a few hours to catch up to your master planning skills?” he asked. “Just a few hours in the cabin where you’ll be safe.”

I nodded. “Okay.” I let the stubbornness crumble and the fierce grip I had to control my own fate fade. I stepped into Luka’s arms and he held me.

Nine

Luka

“You have to stop pacing.” I eyed my sister.

“Then do something, Luka.” She hadn’t decided on a place to sit since we had arrived at her apartment at the stables. She paced the room and landed on each piece of furniture before moving on to the next. Her hands were red from being twisted back and forth. I didn’t know how to make a pregnant woman calm down, but I thought I should at least try.

“Katya, I am doing something.” I glared at her. “Should I get you some water?”

“I don’t want water. I want Enzo. Where is he? How do I know if he’s alive? I’m just…I’m…” Her lips quivered. I knew she was doing everything she could to not collapse into tears.

“I know.” I tried to soften my approach. I hadn’t exactly been the doting brother since I broke the news to her. I was distracted by Amara. “We don’t know who took him. You’ve got to give me a minute. He could be anywhere in the city.”

“Oroutof the city,” she added.

It was a possibility I had to consider as well. Staying calm was how I would find him. Katya pushing me didn’t help the situation. I sighed. There were no ransom calls. I had hit one dead end after another. I had received the report from Nikoli. The sweep outside the office building where Enzo disappeared came up empty. There wasn’t a single piece of viable security footage off the street or entryway cameras.

“If they left New Orleans with Enzo, we’ll find them. They are still close by.” I was clinging to threads of possible truths.

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