Page 120 of Coercion

Nico goes very still, drawing himself up. “What the fuck did you just say about my wife?”

Blaine gulps, realising that second how far he’s stepped out of line. “I…”

“Enough of this shit.” I growl. “What are we, kids in a fucking playground? My wife is out there, we still don’t know who has her but it’s clear what they’re after.”

“The Holtz diamonds.” Eleri says, nodding.

“The Holtz diamonds.” I agree.

“And no doubt their entire fucking enterprise.” Nico adds.

“So how about we park the ball crushing, huh?” I say.

Nico smirks, Eleri folds her arms under her huge tits, and Blaine, he looks like he might just thank me for saving his arse.

My phone buzzes in my hand. I open the message and see the address that my wife has supposedly just sent to me.

When I look it up, it’s pretty much as she said, a park, nothing significant or noteworthy and that in itself says it all.There are no buildings nearby. No random bystanders. Just trees, wildlife and a river to contend with.

“Well?” Nico says.

I smirk, looking at all three of them. I know what this is. What exactly I’m walking into and I’ll do it, I’ll go with my hands held up and my chest bared, willing to die if that’s what it takes to see Ruby one last time, to get her safe, to get her free.

“It’s an ambush.” I say, spinning the phone, letting them all see for themselves. Like we thought it would be anything other than a trap.

“We could still…” Eleri begins but I cut across her.

“This goes exactly as we planned.” I state, looking at Nico who nods.

Ruby

The breeze catches in my hair. I shiver in just the little flimsy dress they made me wear.

Apparently, I’m doing the full damsel in distress look today. Underneath the scooping neckline, the bandages are gone. My skin hasn’t healed but it needs fresh air according to the doctor and it’s itching so badly I have to sit on my hands to stop myself from tearing it all back open.

When I managed to snatch a look at my back in the bathroom this morning, the bright red stripes made my heart stop. My entire back is scarred. I doubt they’ll ever fade but even if theydo, the skin is raised enough that even the naked eye will see the damage.

I gulp, feeling my throat bob against the tight collar they fitted around my neck.

My mother took great delight in showing its effects, and, as I fell to the floor gasping from the electricity that had pulsated through my body, she knew she’d played her hand well.

Except, I’ve got a few cards of my own.

I clench my fists, hoping that I have the guts for this. That I don’t revert back to the cowardly creature I used to be.

Though I can’t see them, I know they’re there, hidden amongst the trees. My mother, my brother, and that arsehole Jace. They’re all watching, alongside the snipers, with their fingers on the trigger, ready for if I fuck this up.

As the sound of twigs snap, my heart picks up.

I take an involuntary step before I force myself to still.

I have to be calm.

Patient.

I have to pretend that I’m as docile and submissive as my family think.

Preston’s outline comes into view. I bite my lip to stop myself from crying out and as our eyes connect, I try to convey so much. I try to warn him, to tell him to turn back, to go away, to leave me here.

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