CIARA
Santiago Castro; 39. Ciara Devlin; 26.
Rushing into my bedroom, I shut the door behind me before lifting my arms and gripping fistfuls of my hair.
Shit.
The past few days have been downright insane. I can’t believe this is happening.
After Grace, my older sister, was kidnapped from a birthday party we were attending, a man by the name of Dominik Varga saved her. Not even a day later, Dad promised the man I’d marry him.
Where Grace lost her shit, I’ve been hiding behind her because I’m no match for my father and Dominik.
Only after Grace’s late husband was assassinated did I learn about the deal she made with Dad. For years, I thought she married Braden because she wanted to, but she had actually agreed to the arranged marriage so I could be free to marry a man I loved.
It was difficult to accept that Grace endured hell at her late husband’s hands for me. I never would’ve let her go through with it had I known the truth.
Since the arranged marriage between Dominik and me was mentioned, Grace has been fighting with all her might for my freedom.
It’s been a crazy few days, and I’m still trying to deal with the fact that Grace was kidnapped and beaten badly, never mind the fresh hell that’s been unleashed on us.
All I want to do is curl up on the bed with my sister and give her the comfort she needs. But we can’t do that. Right now, Grace is fighting with Dominik and Dad in the study. She’s trying so hard to save me, but after days of arguing, it feels like we’re losing the battle.
Honestly, it looks like Dominik is more interested in Grace, but the thought of her marrying him instead of me makes me feel even more scared and physically ill. Grace has already survived an abusive marriage, and I won’t let her suffer again. Not at my expense.
If we have no choice, then I’ll just have to be strong and marry Dominik Varga.
I’ll find the strength for Grace.
After our mother died, Grace took over raising me. She’s always protected me, and I love her more than anyone on this planet. Where Grace is fierce and brave, I get completely overwhelmed when I have to face danger to the point where I can’t think at all. Any kind of violence sends me into a panicked trance where I’m stuck in some kind of catatonic state, and I don’t take in any of my surroundings.
Since Grace’s abuse at the hands of her late husband, I’m aware she has been suffering from silent panic attacks. We don’t talk about it much, even though I wish she would confide in me.
The trauma she suffered hasn’t made her any less fierce, and it’s at times like this, I wish I could be more like her.
God.
What do we do?
I pace up and down in my bedroom while I try to think of a way we can get out of this awful situation, my heart beating faster and faster.
Maybe Grace and I should run away?
I stop in front of the window and stare out over the backyard while my mind rushes from one idea to the next.
I hear movement behind me, and thinking it’s Grace, I swing around to ask her how the meeting went. I swallow the question when I see Nolan, one of our guards, shutting the door behind him.
What is he doing here?
Nolan’s only worked for us for three months, so I don’t know much about him besides that he’s in his early thirties.
Frowning, my lips part to ask him what he’s doing in my bedroom, but again, the words freeze on my tongue when he lifts his arm. It’s only then that I see the gun in his hand, and as he trains the weapon on me, an intense wave of pins and needles spreads through my body. My muscles tense up, and my brain activity seizes instantly, panic flooding my veins.
God.
His features are drawn tight with a dark expression that tells me he’s not messing around.
“You’ll do exactly as I say,” he growls. “If you scream for help, I’ll kill you and Grace. I know you don’t want your sister to die, so don’t give me any trouble.”
Slowly, I shake my head, unable to make sense of what’s happening. Somehow, I think to say, “You won’t get out of here alive.”
“If you don’t leave with me, I have no problem killing as many people as possible before taking myself out.”
What. The. Hell?
Tremors of fear hit me hard as I begin to realize that I’m in a shit load of danger. Panic threatens to drag me into a trance where I won’t be able to do anything to save myself.
Why is he doing this?
I have no idea what to do or how to handle the situation.
When my gaze flicks to the door, Nolan shakes his head and stalks toward me. The barrel of the gun presses to my forehead, and I’m only able to squeak while horror floods every inch of me.
Oh God.
“I’m serious, Ciara. I’ll fucking kill you and Grace.”
I don’t want anything to happen to Grace.
My breaths burst over my lips as I stare with terror at Nolan.
“You’re going to write a letter to Grace so she won’t come looking for you,” he orders with a harsh tone.
“What?” I gasp.
He grabs me by my arm and yanks me toward my dressing table. “Get paper and a pen!”
I quickly open the drawer and pull out my diary. I tear a page out while my eyes dart to Nolan’s grim face.
“Write that you have to leave, and she mustn’t worry about you.”
When I bring the pen to the piece of paper, my hand trembles so severely that I pause.
“Write!” he barks right by my ear, and I flinch hard, another squeak escaping me. “And you better make it believable, or Grace is dead.”
I suck in a desperate breath, and focusing hard, I try to still the trembling in my hand as I quickly write a short note.
Grace,
I have to leave. Please don’t worry.
My mind races, and as dread spins around me, I realize I have to do everything in my power to make sure Grace doesn’t get hurt.
With a pounding heart, I add two more sentences.
It’s time for me to be the strong one.
I love you more than anything.
Ciara.
As I stare at the letter, I’m not sure Grace will believe it. She knows I would never leave her, because there’s no one more important than her. She’s my entire life.
I fold the paper, and my voice is hoarse as I say, “They’ll look for me.”
I’m yanked toward the bed. “They won’t find you.” He gestures with the gun at the covers. “Put the letter down.”
I drop it on my bed, then he yanks me right against his body, and I squeeze my eyes shut, another wave of terror crashing through me.
As a result of all my panic, a wave of dizziness hits, and I sway on my feet.
Don’t go into a trance. He’ll kill you.
Stay present!
“Where’s your phone?” he snaps.
Trembling like crazy, I point at my dressing table. Once again, I’m roughly pulled around as Nolan walks to the table. He takes my phone and shoves it into his pocket before his eyes settle hard on me.
“We’re going to walk out of this house as if nothing is wrong. If you make a scene, I’ll shoot you and anyone who gets in my way.”
I nod quickly, my breaths bursting so fast from me, my lips feel impossibly dry.
Nolan tucks the gun into the waistband of his pants behind his back, and keeping a tight grip on my arm, he shoves me toward the door.
“Put a smile on your face,” he growls.
I struggle, the forced smile weak and strained.
I keep sucking in deep breaths as we leave my bedroom. Every muscle in my body is wound tight, and I fight to keep my attention focused on the dangerous situation. Going into a daze right now won’t be good.
Oh God.
As we head down the staircase, I glance over the foyer and in the direction of Dad’s office. Not hearing any voices, I’m forced to walk across the foyer toward the glass table where we keep all the keys.
“Take your car keys,” Nolan snaps, and I rush to dig mine out of the pile. I dare a glance at Nolan, and seeing the aggressive expression on his face, I whisper, “Please don’t hurt anyone.”
“Just fucking move!” he whisper-hisses.
With his fingers wrapped in a biting hold around my bicep, he shoves me toward the garage where all the cars are parked.
The moment we’re in the garage, he takes the keys from me before hauling me to the passenger side of my Porsche.
“Get in!”
I quickly climb inside, and after he slams the door shut, he walks around the front of the vehicle to the driver’s side.
My thoughts are all over the place, my hands gripped tightly on my lap.
At least Grace didn’t get hurt.
She’ll know I wouldn’t leave without her. She’ll call the police, and they’ll find me.
The little seedling of hope grows in the deepest corner of my heart.
Nolan keeps hold of the gun as he starts the car. The garage door rolls open, and as he reverses, I grip my hands tighter, my eyes darting around.
My throat is impossibly dry as I whimper, “Why?”
“Shut up!”
I cringe back and lower my head while squeezing my eyes shut.
The next instant, we’re racing down the driveway and out of the gates, and it starts to sink in that I’m being kidnapped.
Oh God!
The trembling in my body keeps growing, and lifting my head slightly, I peek around us. Noticing we’re heading away from Dublin, I dare to ask, “Where are you taking me?”
Nolan’s arm swings at me, and the butt of the gun slams twice against my head.
The pain is intense and jarring, instantly thrusting me into a trance. My eyes slam shut, and my breathing slows drastically. My mind goes completely blank, refusing to take in any of my surroundings.
I vaguely hear the roar of my Porsche’s engine, and at some point, we slow down. I’m yanked out of the car and forced into another vehicle like a rag doll.
It feels like hours pass before the trance lifts, and I’m able to make sense of my surroundings as I’m yanked out of the car again and forcefully dragged toward a small house.
I manage to glance around, and noticing we’re in the country with no other houses in sight, intense terror threatens to overwhelm me once again.
The moment I’m shoved into the house, Nolan says, “Grace sent messages. You will reply and make her believe everything is okay, or I will kill you.”
I can’t even manage a nod and keep sucking in quick breaths of air while frantically glancing around me.
The furniture is modest and on the older side. There’s a small square table with two chairs in the kitchen, which is situated to my left. To my right is a small living room with only one couch and a TV.
Nolan yanks one of the wooden chairs out and harshly forces me down onto it.
The gun is pressed to my head while he holds my phone out to me. “Answer, Grace.”
Going into my messages, I quickly read the text she sent me.
Grace: Tell me where you are. I’ll join you.
My heart squeezes painfully in my chest as I stare at the words.
“Reply to her!” Nolan shouts, the barrel of the gun pressing harder into my temple.
Scared shitless, I quickly type out an acceptable response that should set Nolan at ease.
Ciara: Please don’t be angry and understand it’s something I need to do on my own. I’m so thankful for everything you’ve done for me. I love you.
“Good,” he mutters, pulling the gun away from my head before he grabs the phone from me.
I sit frozen on the chair while cautiously glancing at Nolan as he takes a seat on the other chair. His eyes lock on me, and when he just stares for the longest time, the knot in my stomach twists until I start to feel nauseous.
My chin quivers, and my voice is nothing but a fearful whisper when I dare to ask, “Did you kidnap me for ransom?”
Slowly, Nolan shakes his head, then his gaze narrows on me. “Do you even know my name?”
Guardedly, I nod, my movements jerky. “Nolan Walsh. You’ve been working for us for the past three months.”
His eyebrows fly up, and a happy expression instantly wipes the aggression from his face. The sudden change gives me whiplash.
“I thought you didn’t notice me at all,” he says, his tone filled with surprise.
He reaches an arm out to me, and I cringe back when he tucks some of my hair behind my ear.
A different kind of fear trickles into my chest, making my heart beat even faster.
Nolan brushes his fingers down the side of my neck and down my arm until he reaches my hand. My horror grows when a smile tugs at his mouth.
“The first time I saw you, I knew we were meant to be together.”
Oh God. No.
He gives me a loving smile that’s nothing short of creepy. “You feel it too, right?”
I remain frozen, unsure of how I should handle this situation.
“When I heard your father wanted you to marry the arms dealer, I had to step in.” His other hand rubs up and down my arm.
I thought he was kidnapping me for a ransom, but seeing the love-crazed expression in his eyes has my terror turning into something so intense I can’t process it.
His fingers squeeze mine tightly while he leans a little forward. “We can finally be together.”
My breaths continue to burst over my dry lips as I stare at him in horror.
Nolan climbs to his feet, and moving closer to me, he pulls me up before wrapping me in a gentle hug. Keeping one arm locked around my back, he brushes his other palm over my hair.
His tone is downright creepy as he murmurs, “You’re so innocent and beautiful. Now that I have you, I’ll never let you go.”
My mind keeps racing, my heart thundering against my ribs while another wave of nausea rolls over me.
How do I get out of this insane situation?
What would Grace do?
