Chapter 4

When I woke again, the stench of seawater hit me hard. The hemp rope dug deep into my flesh, binding me to a mast.

"Morning."

I forced my head up and saw Marco Singleton, Simon's mortal enemy, grinning as he leveled a gun at me.

"Marco…" I croaked weakly. "I'm Don Rossi's fiancee. Why did you abduct me? Are you trying to break the peace treaty?"

"To hell with the treaty!" Marco roared and pulled the trigger.

I jerked my head just in time. The bullet grazed my ear, sending a searing pain through me.

I felt my heart sink.

Although Marco and Simon didn't get along, ever since I pushed for that truce three years ago, both sides had remained at peace.

But soon, the other person tied to the mast gave me the answer.

"Giara?" I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Oh, you know this bitch too?" Marco sneered with a smile that held no warmth.

"You skipped the negotiation the other day, so Simon brought her. My consigliere just glanced at her, and your lunatic fiance shot off his arm!"

A pale man stepped forward behind Marco, glaring at me with an empty right sleeve where an arm should be.

I felt a shiver run through my whole body.

Had Simon lost his mind? How was that any different from breaking the peace treaty?

"Calm down, Marco—"

"Calm down?" Marco cut me off, furious. "Ivina, I don't care if you genuinely didn't know or if you're putting on a show. This can't go quietly."

He pointed at me. "One of you stays today."

His consigliere spoke up in a hollow voice. "Marco, even if we kill them, I won't get my hand back. And if I remember correctly, they're both pregnant, aren't they? Two women, four lives. What a treat. Let's have Simon choose."

Marco blinked in surprise and then laughed like a madman. "Brilliant!"

He jabbed a finger at Giara. "Before he gets here, I'll chop off her arm as compensation!"

They hauled Giara down from the mast and ripped the tape off her mouth.

She screamed instantly, "Don't touch me! Let me go! Simon will kill you!"

Marco slapped her so hard her head snapped.

"Shut up! Simon's got the worst taste," he muttered, contempt dripping from his voice as he scanned the two of us.

Then, as if it suddenly occurred to him, he laughed again. "Oh, I get it now! You used to serve him faithfully, but now that he's bored, he's changed and become the one who serves others."

They jeered.

Gritting my teeth, I ignored them and fished a blade from my bracelet to cut the rope.

On the deck, they twisted Giara's arm until she screamed.

"It hurts!" she wailed.

I worked faster, not caring when the rope rubbed my skin raw.

Giara's arm was bent backward, as if it would snap at any moment.

The rope finally snapped, and I crashed onto the deck. Ignoring the pain, I tried to rush forward to stop them.

"Simon only loves that woman!" Giara shrieked suddenly. "Even if you hurt me or kill me, he won't care!"

I froze.

Marco eased his grip and said, "Go on."

Giara sobbed, her words tumbling out. "Simon brought me to that negotiation just to pick a fight because that woman hates your consigliere. He didn't want her to take the fall, so he used me as a decoy! Kill her! Don't kill me…"

I stared at her in disbelief.

Was this the innocent, clueless young lady Simon had been talking about?

Lost in her half-truths and lies, Marco suddenly clamped his hand around my neck. "I always knew you two were scum! Since he loves you so much, go to hell!"

I struggled and kicked him in the gut.

Just as I broke free and hit the deck, he clamped his hands around my throat from behind. My vision flooded red.

In the distance, Giara, who was trying to run, was grabbed. She screamed wildly.

I was close to blacking out when the distant roar of engines grew louder.

A yacht tore toward us. Simon led the charge, and men surged onto the deck.

In the blink of an eye, Marco and his men were subdued.

Noticing the situation turn, Marco's consigliere grabbed a knife and went for Giara's arm.

"Giara!"

Simon's eyes were raw with fury. He kicked the man away and hugged Giara tightly. "It's okay, it's okay."

She curled into him, convulsing with sobs. "Simon, it hurts so much… I never meant to replace Ivina… Why would she betray you just to put on this act and hurt me?"

After saying that, she passed out immediately.

I lay on the deck hacking, my ears ringing.

Simon held Giara in his arms and stepped over the blood toward me. He muttered something under his breath, but I couldn't hear a word. All I could see was the fury in his eyes.

He crouched and grabbed my collar, hauling me up, "I said, you will pay for this!"

My eyes flooded red as I clutched my throbbing belly. "Simon, it wasn't me. I wouldn't put myself on the line like that."

"You wouldn't?" he roared, pinching my chin until it hurt. "I found out everything. You were the one who abducted Giara!

"You expect me to believe you? You've abducted her once, and the day you got out of the hospital, she was abducted again! Her arm was almost twisted off, and all you have to show for it are some handprints!"

My vision blurred, but I forced myself to shout, "There's no reason for me to put myself in danger just to teach her a lesson! And I would never betray the family!"

Simon's anger flared, and he slammed a hand across my face. It was the first time he had hit me in seven years, and it was because of Giara.

"Ivina, your jealousy makes me sick."

I curled on the deck, unable to form a sound.

Holding Giara, he walked past me and gave cold orders to his men behind him. "Traitors must be punished. Do it clean. Don't hurt the baby."

I screamed at the top of my lungs as my right arm was wrenched. The pain made me pass out.

When I woke up, Simon's men had gone. Sally's tear-streaked face hovered above me.

"My God… Ivina! Don't sleep! Look at me! Simon sent us all out. We got the news when we went to steal the armory's master control for the explosives."

As they carried me into a helicopter, I let out a relieved laugh.

I thought to myself, "Simon, we'll never meet again."