Page 53 of Sinful Negotiations

The guard hurried to do his bidding as he entered the bedroom and placed her on the bed. The maid followed him in.

“Oh my,senor. Is thesenoritasick?”

“No, but she will need an icepack.” He started to leave the room but stopped in the doorway. “See that she’s comfortable before you leave the island tonight.”

*****

“He hit her tonight. Things are rapidly escalating. Our captive has grown reckless and fights back. It must happen tomorrow. I’m alerting the rest of the team.”

Alex tossed his phone across the condo with a growl and punched the wall so hard the drywall splintered into chunks. “I’ll kill him. Tomorrow he’s a dead man. I’ll kill them all with my bare hands.”

He didn’t sleep that night but sat in a chair facing the skyline window, preparing for the day ahead and what must be done. At five till five in the morning, he entered the night focused and deadly.

Chapter 44

The bitter tang of blood coated her tongue, and she winced when trying to open her mouth. Something cold immediately touched her jaw, and she flinched.

“Take it slow,senorita.”

Tessa opened her eyes to the maid hovering over her. Tears leaked at the kindness shining from the woman’s compassionate gaze. And when one hand clasped hers, a muffled sob tumbled from her split lip.

“Don’t fight it. Let it out.”

The tears fell in earnest with the true concern she hadn’t received from anyone in months. The woman wiped her face even as the tears continued. She attempted to speak, but the maid held a finger to her lips.

“There was a time in my life when I wasn’t happy,senorita. I lived with a man who beat me, told me I was ugly and stupid. I fought that man with everything in me, refusing to break. And he tried. I miscarried my one and only pregnancy because of this man and in the midst of the pain, I almost relented.”

The maid shook her head and repositioned the icepack before continuing. “He cheated on me, would disappear for days, and reappear angry and mean. That’s when the beatings were the worst. One night, I lay on the bathroom floor crying, praying to the Blessed Mary, when a revelation suddenly hit me. That man was miserable with his own life, and I reminded him of all he wasn’t. I had a light that blinded him, so he swung at me. The light burned so bright one night, I stepped from the shadows, found the courage to ask for help, and also found my inner strength.”

The maid stroked her brow and wiped more tears from her cheeks. “You’re strong, Tessa. He can beat you, he can hold you hostage, he can do horrible things, but he cannot break you. You’re all he wants but can never have.”

“Aidan,” Tessa managed to whisper hoarsely.

The maid narrowed her eyes. I do not know this Aidan, but I do see love in your beautiful eyes. He must’ve been someone special.”

“Dead,” Tessa groaned. “Marco killed him.”

One warm hand lay against her chest. “Why does a man cower on an island if he is so powerful? Why does he say things he knows will cause you pain and doubt if he knows so much? Ask yourself why? Do not let anyone break you, Tessa. You have everything to live for, and he has nothing. That’s why he wants you.”

“Tired, so tired,” Tessa moaned.

The maid squeezed her hand. “Stay strong,senorita.Tomorrow is a new day, and the sun will rise again.”

“Angel.”

The maid laughed and winked. “No,senorita. I am no angel.”

Tessa closed her eyes when the woman glanced to the door and leaned over her, dropping the Spanish accent for one breathless minute. “I am your vengeance, Tessa, and he comes. Do not cause a scene today, or Marco Dentzi will drug you. Do not act like you know anything. This injury will make it painful to talk, and Marco will expect your obedience.”

“Lexxa,” she mouthed the name.

“Is she awake,” the deep voice barked from the doorway.

Lexxa immediately turned to the door. “She’s awake, in pain, and cannot talk,senor.”

“Perfect,” Marco growled. “Prepare her to depart within the hour, and make sure she wears the white suit. If she gives you any trouble, alert the guard.”

“As you wish,senor.”

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