Page 146 of A Second Dawn
De Marco and his men turned up while I was chopping wood. How did I not hear them approach? Probably because my mind kept replaying the earth-shattering kiss Ella and I shared earlier that day.
My gun wasn’t in reach when De Marco pointed his at me. He didn’t say a word, just stared at me. And damn it, it was like looking into my own soul. There was something unnervingly familiar about him.
As our eyes locked in the silent confrontation, I grappled with a mix of emotions, the urge to end him and the compulsion to understand what was happening between us.
It was like being presented with the missing pieces of a puzzle… just that I wasn’t and still am uncertain if I’m prepared to solve it.
There’s no doubt in my mind that our souls recognized each other, that Ella spoke the truth when she told me about us being a triple flame.
But I don’t want it to be true!
Both of us are vying for the affection of the same woman. How am I going to navigate this inexplicable connection that I don’t want?
It was so fucking confusing to stare into the eyes of a man who represents everything I loathe and get the warm fuzzies.
“You fainted,” I say, recalling the night before. “Are you okay? I couldn’t get to you. He had his men hold me back. Then they pricked me with a needle. I’m so sorry, lucida. I’ve let you down.”
The panic I felt when I saw Ella sinking to the ground and not being able to get to her was agonizing.
But Ella shakes her head and, leaning in closer, whispers, “I faked it. It was the only thing Rhia and I could think of to diffuse the situation.”
That makes me smile. Clever girl.
“Where is Rhia?” I ask, looking around the room to find it empty. There aren’t even guards in here. How is that possible? Surely, De Marco wouldn’t trust me alone with the woman he scoured the entire planet for.
“They took Rhia to another cabin. She’s fine. Apparently, she got a bit rowdy and bit her guard. I talked with her before coming here to wait for you to wake up.”
“I presume this is another one of Joseph’s cabins?”
She nods. “And De Marco? Is he still here?”
She nods again, looking out the window now.
“How is it he’s leaving you alone in here with me? I’m not bound anymore. I could do anything.”Something about Ella is different today. I study her. Her body is tense, and there’s no smile to be seen.
An air of uncertainty surrounds her. A knot forms in my chest as I notice how tightly she’s clutching her hands together.
“Ella, what happened after they knocked me out?” I ask, softer than I intended.
She stares at her lap. The way she scrunches up her face is a dead giveaway she’s struggling to find the right words.
Taking a deep breath, her eyes finally meet mine, and I spot a flicker of sadness there.
“You and I are alone together because Tiero trusts me not to run,” she says, her tone carrying a weight I’ve never heard before.
What has De Marco done to her? Is he blackmailing her somehow?
Dread creeps into the pit of my stomach.
“Tiero knows about the baby,” she tells me. “He found the pregnancy test in the luggage I left behind on the boat.”
“Shit.” He’s never going to let her go now. Not when she’s carrying his heir.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
My insides feel like they’re being put through a blender.
She hesitates, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her shirt.