Page 28 of Captive Rival: Armani
I’m almost to the bottom of the mountain when I see a man. I skid to a halt.
The figure is cast darkly against the fading light. He’s stocky, muscular, dark haired, and outfitted in dark clothing—and staring directly at me. Alarms sound in my brain. Did my husband send this guy after me to teach me a lesson? Or am I about to go missing in the woods?
“Good evening, Mrs. Bellanti,” the man calls out formally. “You’re right on time. Mr. Bellanti is expecting you for dinner aboard the yacht. If you’ll follow me, please. I have an all-terrain vehicle ready to bring you back.”
A sinking feeling hits me. There really is no way out.
“Who are you?” I ask, even though I know I have no recourse but to follow this man.
“Paolo, ma’am. I work for your husband, as we all do.”
“I don’t recognize you from the boat.”
“That’s because I’m stationed in the watchtower near the villa, ma’am.”
“So…somebody called you? I thought there was no cell service here,” I say suspiciously.
“We have two-way radios, Mrs. Bellanti. There are satellite phones for emergency purposes as well. This way, if you please,” he says, gesturing for me to come with him.
Satellite phones? Clever. Of course Armani didn’t mention that. Where are they kept, is the question. And how can I get one? Maybe I can bribe one of the villa staff to sneak one to me to use in the middle of the night. I have some cash, nice shoes, jewelry. There must be some way.
Swallowing hard, I walk over to the man. As I get closer, I notice the automatic weapon that’s casually slung across his back.
Noticing my attention, he smiles and says, “We cannot be too careful. The Bellantis’ island sometimes receives uninvited guests.”
My footsteps falter. “TheBellantis’island?”
His brow furrows. “Yes, of course. You do know that your husband’s family owns this land?”
“Oh. Well. I mean, yeah,” I say. “I—I guess I thought it was just Armani’s. Of course it’s his whole family’s. That makes sense.”
But no, in fact, I did not know the Bellantis owned this entire island. Why would I? My husband conveniently left that part out when he was not-telling me where we were going on our “honeymoon.”
I don’t say anything more as I climb into the ATV and let Paolo drive.
My husband owns an entire island, and every employee on it is loyal to him. I’ll find no resources or help here. He can do whatever he wants to me, and no one will lift a finger to stop him.
There really is no way out.
11
CANDI
“How was your walk, wife?”
“It was more of a hike,” I answer dryly.
I barely had time for my second shower of the day when I got back to the yacht, so I just scrubbed the sweat and dirt off myself as best I could and then changed quickly into the only other dress I’d packed—a black silk spaghetti strap nightgown that barely passes for daytime wear. Luckily, it’s dark out now, and I don’t think anyone will be scrutinizing my outfit all that closely from across the dinner table.
Except…as I look around the dining room, I realize there isn’t anyone else here.
Just me and Armani.
“Have your business associates…departed?” I ask.
He smirks as he sets his glass of scotch on the table and stands to pull my chair out for me, like the gentleman I know he truly isn’t.
“Clever word choice,” he says. “But yes, the men have gone. And all of them alive, I might add. No cement shoes necessary.”
