Page 68 of Anton
Her men smirked and sniggered, emboldened by her gloating. She was revelling in her moment, pacing before us with the air of a predator savouring its prey.
“Oh, this is perfect,” she continued, her voice sharp and triumphant. “And I have another surprise. A special treat for you, Marcie.”
Elizabeth’s grin widened, a sadistic gleam lighting up her eyes. She was enjoying this far too much, feeding off our reactions.
“I’ve brought you an old friend. Wasn’t that kind of me?” she purred, her tone dripping with mockery.
Marcie’s eyes widened, the disgust on her face melting into stark, unfiltered fear.
I twisted my neck, following her gaze, and felt the blood in my veins turn to ice. Rupert Basingstoke stepped forward, a sickeningly eager smile stretching across his face.
Marcie’s stalker.
He had the look of a man who’d been waiting far too long for this moment, his eyes gleaming with dark intent.
What the hell? He was supposed to be in jail.
“I had to pull quite a few strings and call in several favours to make this reunion happen,” Elizabeth said, her tone dripping with smugness. “But I’ve always been resourceful. I knew how much Rupert would want to be a part of my plans for you, Marcie.”
“I do indeed,” Rupert drawled, stepping forward to yank Marcie out of the brute’s arms and into his own. His grip was possessive, sickeningly familiar, as his hand slid down her face.
“I’ve waited so long for this moment,” he cooed, his lips brushing against her ear. Marcie shuddered, disgust etched across her features as she squirmed to break free. But Rupert only tightened his hold, licking a slow, deliberate line up her neck before planting a kiss on her jaw.
Her choked gasp was drowned by Rupert’s manic laughter, a sound that clawed at my ears, quickly joined by the shrill, mocking laugh of Elizabeth Traynor.
“Rupert is going to have his fun with you, Marcie,” Elizabeth said, a cruel smile tugging at her lips. “And when he’s done, my men will take their turn. It’s going to be a long, slow, painful end for you.”
“You bloody bitch! I’ll kill you for this!” I roared, my voice tight with fury, my control shattered. Every muscle in my body screamed for action, but the cold press of a gun barrel against my skull kept me frozen.
Elizabeth’s laugh was icy and sharp as a blade. “Ha! You’re in no position to make threats, Mr DuPont. Ex-special forces or not, your skills might have helped you before, taking down a few hunters at a time. But this? You’re facing the might of my entire team. You’ve lost.”
Fear and dread warred with a cold, simmering determination as I fought to keep a lid on my rising panic. I couldn’t fail Marcie. Iwouldn’tfail her. Not after everything we’d endured. I hadn’t been able to save Louisa or Elaine, but this time, it was different. I’d save Marcie—or die trying.
CHAPTER 27
MARCIE
DAY 5 – AFTERNOON – FREE AT LAST
No. This couldn’t be happening. My stomach churned violently as the horrifying reality unfolded before me. Just when I thought things couldn’t possibly get worse, my stalker was here, smug and triumphant. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the nightmare to dissolve, praying this wasn’t real.
How had I let this happen? How could I have got myself caught? What a reckless, stupid fool I was. Now the guys were trapped, bound, and surrounded by armed maniacs. There was no way out. Even with Anton’s skill and Miki’s ingenuity, I couldn’t see how we’d escape this alive.
This was my fault. I should never have insisted on coming. Without me, they’d have killed this psychotic bitch and her men already, maybe even be halfway back to the villa by now. But because of me, they were cornered—because of me, Anton was in danger.
“I had to pull quite a few strings and call in some favours to make this reunion happen,” Elizabeth purred, her voice dripping with smug satisfaction. “But I’ve always been resourceful. And I knew how much Rupert would want to be a part of my plans for you, Marcie.”
Her words froze the air in my lungs.
“I do indeed,” Rupert drawled as he stepped forward, his voice a sickening mixture of arrogance and glee. His hand yanked me out of the other brute’s grasp, pulling me into his. My stomach recoiled at the possessive grip he had on me, his fingers pressing into my skin as though staking his claim. His hand slid over my face, and I shuddered, revulsion rippling through me.
“I’ve waited so long for this moment,” he murmured, his voice sending a fresh wave of nausea through me as his lips grazed my ear. I thrashed against him, my fury and terror boiling over, but he only tightened his hold.
“Get off me!” I spat, but he laughed, the sound low and triumphant.
Rupert’s lips trailed down my jawline, slow and deliberate, his breath hot against my skin. “Shhh, sweetheart, it’s finally our time,” he cooed quietly into my ear. His hand curled around my throat, applying just enough pressure to make me gasp.
A cruel laugh echoed from Elizabeth. “Rupert is going to have his fun with you, Marcie. And when he’s done, my men will take their turn. It’s going to be a long, slow, painful end for you.”