Page 5 of The Veiling

“Now,” his muffled voice reverberated behind the mask, “I’m going to remove the gag and untie you, but you’re not going to make a sound. Am I clear?”

Is he Italian?My mind was playing tricks on me.That doesn’t sound like Felipe. I remained silent.

He leaned closer, tilting his creepy head sideways. The painted smile on the mask taunted me, leaving me paralyzed. “I said,am I clear?”

If I was going to get out of here, I had to behave. Felipe loved a fight. He loved pushing buttons and basking in the reaction. I nodded.

“No screaming, no panicking, no running, and most importantly, I need you to listen to me.”

Listen to him?! Wait. That’s definitely not Felipe.

He reached behind his back and extracted a large knife. My gaze broadened. I shuffled my bound feet, trying to scoot back. Gripping the cloth at my cheek, he turned the blade outward and sawed. The fabric broke free with the second stroke.

“AHHHH!” I shrieked. “AHHHH!”

Dropping the weapon, he dove forward, pressing his palm firmly to my mouth.

“Mmmff ufff ugh,” I tried to speak, but it was no use.

“Isabelle,” he growled, “if you can’t be quiet, I can’t remove your restraints. I can’t risk you running away.”

Eyes watering, I nodded again, willing to play whatever game it was so I could just get out alive for the sake of my baby and Valentino.

“Let’s try this again.” Slowly, he peeled his hand away.

“Why won’t you just leave us alone?” I rasped barely above a whisper, now realizing just how dry my throat was. Though it was now clear he was not Felipe, he was connected to him‌. I wet my lips, tasting the crusty, dried blood.

Sluggishly, he backed away, sitting back on the floor. “You hit your head pretty hard. I need to help you.”

Confused, I crinkled my brow, instantly regretting it. “I’ve never done shit to whoever you are!”

Without a word, the masked stranger leaned over, picked up the blade and scooted toward me. I inhaled a sharp breath, scared he would slit my throat. Instead, he freed my hands first, then my ankles. The moment I was able, I sprung to my feet, ready to race toward my freedom. Instantaneously, a piercing discomfort radiated through my entire body, and I bowed forward, holding my stomach.

The man grasped me, securing me as he assisted me to a black leather sofa. “You were hurt tonight.”

Unable to move, my gaze followed him to a contemporary style wet bar in the corner of the luxurious, modern room. He bent over for a moment, then sauntered back over with a bottle of water, laying it on the cushion next to me. I squinted, peering into his eyes through two holes in the mask. Something about them was familiar though I could not place where I recognized them.

He must have sensed the wheels spinning in my head because he took three steps backward, then crossed his arms, staring down at me. He darted his eyes at the water. “Drink.”

Skeptical that maybe he was going to drug me, I made sure the bottle’s seal broke when I opened it. Thankfully, it had not been tampered with. I set the cap on my leg and put the bottle to my lips, gulping down the cold, refreshing liquid until it was gone. I screwed the lid back on.

He reached out, causing me to jump. Gently, taking the empty plastic container, he sighed. “More?”

I shook my head.

He spun around, ambling away.

“Who are you?”

He froze for a moment and tilted his head. Ignoring my question, he stepped over to the bar, tossing the bottle under the counter.

“Where’s Felipe?”

He strode back over, folding his arms as he peered down at me from a safe distance in the middle of the room. “Gone.”

I gasped. “Dead?!”

He shook his head. “I wish.”

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