Page 90 of Let Me Love You

I’d recognize that face and name anywhere. It’s Paul.

Chapter 39

Serenity

Somehow Paul is alive. And even though his gun is holstered, his hand touches it every few minutes. If only I could get to my gun safe … But could I do it? I’m not so sure I could shoot Summer’s father. What kind of fucked-up world is this?

The moment I left the barbeque, Paul grabbed me, bound my arms behind my back, and gagged me. Then he drove straight to Granite Falls.

He should win husband of the decade.

Paul paces around the living room while five other men are stationed around my house. But a woman sits on my couch. In my home. Staring at my … husband? If he was proclaimed dead, but he’s alive, are we still married?

Do I have two husbands now?

At this point, it doesn’t matter. To hell with both of them. If Victor didn’t immediately know I wouldn’t tell anyone his secret, then he doesn’t trust me at all. He may not be as evil as Paul, but when there’s no trust, there’s no relationship. I’ll finish out the contract and be done with it.

The woman crosses her legs, grabbing my attention, as if she hasn’t a care in the world. “We need to get going. I’m sure he’ll come looking for her.”

“No, we’re staying here. We gave them the address in Boston like we said, and Manny cut the wire to the cameras, so they shouldn’t know we’re here.” He cuts his eyes back to me. “Now tell me where you keep your stash of money.”

I try to talk, but it comes out garbled. There’s no hidden money. Every cent I earned went toward the property taxes and Paul’s loans. And even then, it wasn’t enough. It’s most of the reason why I accepted Victor’s deal in the beginning.

Tears form in my eyes. No matter how pissed I am, I … I still love Victor. My heart twists. This isn’t even about money anymore. I’ve never had help from anyone—never wanted any. But then Victor came in like my knight in shining armor at the exact moment I needed him.

Now I can admit he’s not the self-centered billionaire I thought he was. He’s so much more. The man who always adored Summer. The man who accepts me for who I am. The man who showed up to volunteer in Granite Falls even though he had a multi-billion-dollar company to run.

And then there’s the Victor who doesn’t believe in me to keep his secrets.

Paul pulls the gag out of my mouth, even though his girlfriend protests and barges over to his side. It’s as if he wants to rough me up so he put this ball of cloth in my mouth for no reason. “I can’t believe you bagged a billionaire.”

“Just let me go. If you have any warmth left for me—”

A sudden sting slices my cheek. I crane my neck and look at the bitch who hit me.

She giggles and shrugs. “Oops, my hand slipped.”

I ignore her. “I won’t call the police. I won’t even tell Victor. Just let me go.”

Paul kneels in front of me, and his rancid breath snakes inside my nose. A beard now covers his face, and he looks like he aged fifteen years, not four. “Summer is with your sister right now. I have a man watching their every move. If you don’t shut the fuck up, I’ll go and take her, and you’ll never see her again.”

Every single comeback I have on the tip of my tongue dies.

“Are you sure he’ll go to the factory?” the woman asks as if my daughter’s life isn’t being threatened.

Paul laughs with a crazed look in his eyes. “I’m sure he’s as dumb as bricks. Probably has his underlings doing all his thinking for him.” He glances back at me “Now if you cooperate, nothing will happen to Summer.”

Nausea rises. I have to listen. If something happens to my baby girl because I chose the wrong man, I’ll never forgive myself. “Please, don’t hurt her, Paul. She’s still your daughter.”

Something slaps across my cheek so fast I don’t realize he’s even raised his hand. What is it with these people and slapping me? I bite my lip as my skin stings. I can’t show any weakness.

I don’t recognize this man standing before me. Paul never raised a hand to me before.

Even though he’s had me bound and gagged since he’s taken me, I never feared him. But the sudden crazed look in his eyes is telling me a different story. It’s not only my life in danger right now. My pulse pounds in my ears as my mind concentrates on the fact that I only just found out I’m pregnant. And it’s still so early …

Hold it together. Summer and the baby need a strong mother.

“How can you be so sure he’ll come looking for her?”