The woman is only here because she’s a stand-in for me. Rhoda won’t dare hurt me physically, but she’ll do all she can to make me suffer emotionally. It’s working as I hold myself and rock. Or maybe Rhoda will hurt me. Maybe she’s proving that no one is off-limits to her crazy hate.“Rhoda .” I inch closer to the bars. “Please don’t hurt her. Her father will pay.”Rhoda cocks her head to the side. “Pay? Do you take me for a cheap whore?”It takes every ounce of strength to say nothing and keep myself from reaching for my belly. But I manage it all the same.“Do you ever think,” Rhoda asks as she faces me, “that one day you might have to watch this if your husband wills it? Would you tell him to spare an enemy so that you might spare your conscience? Do you imagine that he would listen?”“You don’t have to do this ,” I protest. Rhoda throws her head back and laughs madly. “Then clearly you know nothing of our dear Matinez”With desperate eyes, the woman looks at me and then at Rhoda.
The ransom?” I ask.Rhoda walks toward the bed and sits down beside me. “He paid me what he owed me when he saw what we would do to her.”“You mean what you did do.” I correct her.“It was a show for the cameras,” she explains casually. “I would only go so far with a woman. Besides, she’s worth more if she’s untouched. My men put on a good and convincing show for the cameras.”A chill races through me, but thankfully it isn’t followed by sickness. I shift my weight away from hers, and Rhoda eyes my hips as I move away. I shouldn’t have done that. I gave her back a little of her power.Her eyes meet mine with a predator’s gleam. “And that’s the trick. The implied threats are often the most powerful. Your victims will fill in the gaps with their own imagination. You only need to give that imagination enough material to grow. Her father was given a warning. He listens to warnings,Mrs. Reagan.”My stomach gurgles loud enough for us both to hear, but I ignore it. I will myself to stare ste
I noticed something like a chemistry between them Whenever Rhoda pats his arm, she looks like she’s whispering to a lover, but the topic is always how to get revenge.“You’ve been such an excellent guest, so I’m taking you on my getaway,” she says.A lump secures itself in my throat.Rhoda chuckles. “We’re not going too far. And try not to vomit in the car.”Valerie echoes Rhoda’s laughter, and she grabs the moment to talk about me in the third person. “If it wasn’t for her husband’s last name, you wouldn’t know she was linked to a ruthless husband. Some men don’t want a strong woman. They want someone who will make them feel big in comparison.”“Those are weak men,” Valeri interjects. “I prefer a woman that can save my ass if I need it.”“Is that so, Valeri?” purrs Rhoda . “I can’t think of any time that you need saving.”The thought of them being romantically involved enters my mind, but I quickly push it away. I don’t want to be queasy. I’m relieved when the car enters the highway.
Alfredo.The frustration is building up in me, threatening to surface in a storm of rage. Not knowing where Charlene is or even if she’s safe. I don’t dare think of the other possibility. It will set me off, and I must keep calm to think straight. Impulsive action will lead to something I may not want to face.But I continue to Ricardo room and enter. The guard seated inside stands when I enter.“Anything?”The guard shakes his head. “No, all he does is sleep, and the nurse says he is comfortable. It’s all we can expect.”I nod, pleased with his attentiveness, and walk toward Ricardo bedside. The old man has color in his cheeks, but the rest of him looks ghastly pale. His eyelids are parted as his mouth opens, sucking in precious air. He claims he wants to die but hangs onto life dearly. His eyes flutter open and then focus on me … his son-in-law.I frown at him, not concealing that I despise him and what he has done, not only to my father but to his own family. He may have shown Char
Suddenly, gunshots ring out. Valeri is on his feet with his gun drawn, running toward the hallway door. Rhoda also leaps up, but instead of following Rhoda’s, she claps her hands with joy as if she’s won a prize.“He’s here!” she exclaims. “Your husband is here to rescue you.”I get up, prepared to run, but Rhoda grabs my arm in her vise-like grip. I struggle to yank free, but I’m weak from my confinement, and madness gives her strength. I’m afraid to fall because I am not feeling well.“Your place as the heiress is waiting,” .“ I don’t want it, you can have it, he is your father and not my father” I said.I do not wish to even let go of my father’s dynasty for you, he is hot and that should be enough for you, he got what my dad owns, the only reason I was friendly with you and brought you out here was to find out if you will be interested, let me give you a very good advice don’t come back, I won’t be good to you then” she said“ Keep his fortune all to yourself” I saidA repeat of
I should get to the point and ask Alfredo about the money. Tell him what Rhoda said. Put him on the spot. But I’m afraid of what his answers will be. I’m so scared I will hate him if he confirms my suspicions.Because I know it won’t change anything in the end.Alfredo shifts in his seat and stares straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge I exist. He should be furious. He risked a lot to save me, but I’ve shown no gratitude. The growing argument subsides, and the rest of the ride home is spent in bitter silence.I can’t help thinking about what Rhoda kept telling me.CHARLENE Nothing else is said, and soon the Rover pulls into the driveway in front of the mansion. Alfredo jumps out before me and walks away from the Rover.Sean meets my gaze in the rearview mirror. “He has done a lot for you,” he says. “But he is hard to reach. Maybe you’d appreciate what he has sacrificed if you could make him talk to you?”“It’s not your business,” I snap. “I’ve had enough advice.”“He’s my boss, so
I didn’t know that was here.” I study the open door and mentally note the seams.“You should know,” he says. “You are my wife.”The anger returns in a flash. “For how long?” I ask him. “What is your plan? You never told me. My life has turned into a roller coaster of terror. And I have no clue as to why.”“Charlene , I’m protecting you and, now, your family. Haven’t I looked out for you?”“You wouldn’t have to do that if you hadn’t brought me here in the first place!”Alfredo rubs his hand across his face. And it’s only then that I see the dark circles under his eyes. The haggard look of not getting enough sleep, the dark stubble on his chin, and something I’ve never noticed before—the concern in his eyes.No. I can’t back down. Alfredo must talk to me.“Recently before our marriage you got kidnapped by your sister Martinez, she wants you dead now because you escape the auction and will become your dad’s heiress”Liar!“Then why bring my father here? “Because clearly they are all in
“You need to thread carefully because you and your dad are in danger from the same man who had killed your mom” Alfredo said.“ My mom wasn’t killed, she died of cancer” I said.“ According to what your stepdad told you right? He and your stepmom gave information of your mom to the man who killed her in exchange of money” he said.“ But....... I paused for a while.“ You were told she died at the hospital right? He said.“ How did you even know all of this? I asked.“ I knew all of this when I got kidnapped by your dad, I was prompt to do some background check on you and I found out that there was more to your life” he said.I stood numb at the moment because I was already going crazy from every single truth that has been revealed to me in the last few days.I need to calm my head for a while , I need to ask my dad some certain questions.For two days I found it hard to just figure out anything my husband came to me, he sits beside me on the bed .“ Have you thought of anything? He as