“He woke up, you know,” Theo said, making my head jerk to face him.
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Theo shook his head and placed his bottle on the table. “Just heard this morning. Roman’s had some men placed outside his hospital door twenty-four seven. He’s not saying much, but from what it sounds like, he doesn’t remember much. You beat him good, dude.”
That son of a bitch better pray he never remembers I almost killed him. I’ll finish the job if I ever see him again, and not regret one moment of it.
“Chill out, man,” Theo said, obviously detecting my rage. “He’s done working here. Roman told me he’s going to place him in Mexico City when he’s recovered. For some reason, Roman seems as mad at him as you are.”
I didn’t say anything, just nodded. The past week or so, I’d seen something in Roman too. Penny had complained of the weird looks he gave her, how creepy it made her feel, and I’d noticed it too but shook it off, hoping that it was both of our imaginations.
But now that Theo had said something, I knew it wasn’t. There was definitely something odd going on with Roman, and it showed before this Jamille appeared, but her appearance had definitely caused him to act even stranger. And just who the hell was this Jamille?
She was obviously someone more important that I’d realized, and the fact that Penny thought she was her friend Kimberly had me highly suspicious. Roman was hiding more than I’d originally thought, and it pissed me off. I chugged back my beer and slammed the bottle on the table.
“What now, dude?” Theo asked, rolling his eyes.
“I just can’t shake that there’s more going on than either of us know about.”
“Well, yeah, Roman doesn’t tell us everything. Why is it bothering you?”
“Because I think it has to do with Penny.”
Theo sat back in his chair, eyeing me. “Dude, when did you start to have feelings for her?”
I rubbed the back of my neck, staring down at the floor. I hadn’t told anyone about me and Penny, and didn’t want to start now. “What makes you ask that?”
He started to laugh. “I’m not an idiot, Tag. I’ve seen you guys together. Please.” He threw back his head and drained the last of his beer, setting it down on the table.
I suddenly felt like a noose was around my neck. There was no way I was going to tell him about us, no way. Especially now that I suspected there was more to Penny’s kidnapping than just retaliation. I liked Theo, and I trusted him for the most part, but one thing you learned in the cartel is to never trust one hundred percent.
“Like I said, I’m protective of her, man,” I answered. “We’re together constantly. We’ve definitely developed a sort of friendship, I guess, but that’s it. She’s just a job, dude.”
It killed me to say that, but it had to be done. If Roman had any inclination what was going on between me and Penny, he’d have my balls in a sack. Getting emotionally involved was against the rules; you just didn’t do it.
“So who the hell is this Jamille?” I asked him, changing the subject.
Theo whistled under his breath. “Shit if I know, but wow, she’s hot.”
I fist-bumped him, trying to keep the facade that I was still an unapologetic asshole. “Did you know before this morning that she was on the yacht? And what was up with Roman and her fighting like that?”
Theo shook his head. “Got me. Roman has been careless, and it’s affecting him. I’m staying out of it and just doing my job; you should too.”
I nodded. If Penny weren’t involved, I’d be in total agreement, but everything changed for me once she stepped on this boat. No way in hell would I let her get hurt again, even if I had to kill Roman Vitale himself.
“Are we there yet?”
I chuckled at Penny’s childlike question. She was still in bed, her stomach not feeling much better. “Um, we got here an hour ago, querida.”
Her eyes popped open. “Seriously?”
I stood from the chair and walked over to her. I felt her forehead and was relieved there was no fever. “Yes, seriously.”
“Then why does my stomach still think we’re cruising?”
I plopped down next to her on the bed. “I don’t know. Hopefully it’ll get the memo soon.”
KNOCK, KNOCK.
I turned my head to the sound at the door, instantly on alert. I put my finger over my mouth to indicate to Penny to stay quiet and walked to the door. When I looked out the peephole and saw Roman, I groaned.
“Roman, what a surprise,” I greeted him when I opened the door.
Ignoring me, he walked inside and straight to Penny, who had lurched into a sitting position. He had a glass with a clear liquid in his hand, and he handed it to her. I shut the door harder than normal then, but he didn’t budge.
“Ms. Santoro,” Roman spoke. “I heard you were not feeling well and brought you this. I won’t tolerate any guest of mine not feeling well on my yacht if I can help it.”
Penny’s eyes shot to mine, then to his. She lifted the glass to her nose, smelling the liquid. “What is it?”
Roman grabbed the chair and scooted it closer to her, sitting down. My eyes squinted, clearly not understanding him. What in the hell was really going on?
“It’s a concoction my doctor gives me every time I get seasick. I demanded he make it for you. It calms the stomach right away. Trust me.”
Penny looked at me again. I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders, trying to let her know I had absolutely no idea what he was doing. She hesitated drinking it.
“Uh, thank you, Señor Vitale, but I really think I’m feeling better now.”
I hid the smile wanting to show since she’d just complained her stomach was still upset. My girl had guts, and I loved her for it.
“I insist you still drink it, Penelope,” Roman demanded. “Trust me, you will feel better in seconds. It’s a miracle drink.” He pointed to the glass in her hand, telling her to drink.
“Go ahead, Penny,” I told her, knowing she’d feel better if I said it was okay. “Mr. Vitale would never give you anything harmful.”
That was definitely my way of telling her it was okay, and it was also a message to Roman. Whether he got it or not remained to be seen.
Roman looked back at me for a second before addressing her again. “Tag is correct. I’d never harm you, my dear. I come to help you.”
Penny hesitated some more, then suddenly downed the drink in one gulp, coughing a bit when she finished.
“Good Lord,” she sputtered. “What’s in that thing?”
Roman chuckled as he took the glass from her hand. “I don’t know, but it packs a punch, doesn’t it? The doctor only tells me it’ll work like a charm, and he’s always been right. How do you feel, Ms. Santoro?”
Penny pushed some of her hair back as she looked at me, then Roman. Her eyes were clearer, and she gave a small smile.
“Actually, I am feeling better.”
Roman raised a fist in the air, like in victory. “See? I knew it. I told you it would work. Like I said, I don’t want any guest of mine being ill while they’re here. I’m so glad I helped you.”
My gut was telling me Roman was losing it. Maybe the doctor should do a scan of his brain; he might find some serious issues. This was not the Roman I’d known for years, and it completely worried me because either he really was losing it, or he had something huge up his sleeve.
Not knowing which one really annoyed the shit out of me.
“Thank you, Mr. Vitale,” Penny said quietly.
Roman gave her a short nod and bent over and whispered something to her, making her eyes go wide. I was instantly on alert, wondering what the hell he said to her. Roman stood up then and walked toward me and the door.
“Tag, do not leave her side. Take care of her until she is one hundred percent better. I also want hourly reports on her condition for the next twenty-four hours. I believe this drink has taken care of her, but I still want to be appraised of ho
w she’s doing. I knew I made the right decision when I assigned you to watch over her.” With that, he shut the door behind him.
Penny and I looked at each other like what the hell just happened? I instantly went to her, sitting down and taking her in my arms. She was shaking just a little, but I felt it.
Kissing the top of her head, I asked her, “What the hell did he say to you there before he left?”
Keeping her head resting on my chest, she whispered, “I’ll always take care of you.”
My heart jumped in my chest. He’ll always take care of her? Rubbing her back, I had to make sure I heard her correctly. “He said he’d always take care of you?”
Looking up at me with her big almond shaped eyes, she nodded. “Yes, Tag, he said he’d always take care of me. What does he mean by that? It scared me, a lot.”
Shushing her as I continued rubbing her back, I just replied, “I don’t know, querida, but I’m sure as hell going to find out.”
Chapter 21
I was sitting on the bed sketching my latest creation when there was suddenly a hurried knock on the door. My eyes bulged as I looked around. Tag had just barely left to meet Roman and Theo upstairs, so I was alone.
Oh no—had Rico come back?
I stayed still as I listened to see if they’d go away. My palms were sweating, and my heart was beating like I’d run a marathon. Please go away.
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK.
“Penny, please, open the door!”
I bolted upright, shocked at the voice. It was female and familiar, but I couldn’t place it. How did she know my name?
I went to the door and looked out the peephole, startled to see Fiona standing there, her arms wrapped around her middle, shaking. I hurried and unlocked the door and opened it.
“Thank God,” Fiona cried, running into my room.
I shut the door and turned to face her, even more shocked at her appearance. She was dressed in black leggings with a long black T-shirt and a cream sweater. It was close to one hundred degrees out there—why was she wearing that? When I looked at her face, the answer was in front of me. Her right eye was covered in a dark bruise, making me put my hand to my mouth and gasp.
“What happened to you?” I exclaimed.
She shook her head. “It’s not important. What is important is that you need to be aware of something I overheard. I could be killed for telling you this, but I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t.”
The fact that she’d obviously been beaten was scaring me, but hearing that made me start trembling. What was she talking about? “What do you mean?” I asked in a quiet voice.
Fiona looked around her, as if someone might be hiding in my room. When she looked back at me, her eyes were so intense, I took a step backward. My stomach started to churn, my nerves at an all-time high.
She took a step closer to me, running a hand down her hair. Her eyes were sunken in, and her hand wouldn’t stop shaking. “Listen to me because I can only say it once,” she began, scaring me even more. “Roman can’t know I’ve been here, that I escaped his quarters. But you must know something.”
She paused then, looking down at the floor. Before I could beg her to continue, she looked back at me. “You are in danger. Roman has plans for you, and they’re not good. Be careful, Penny, trust no one. Find a way off this yacht and never come back.”
She headed for the door, but I blocked her. “Wait, what do you mean? You can’t just leave and not tell me what he’s doing,” I cried.
Her eyes looked at me sadly. “I’ve already said too much. Roman hates me after what I did the other night. I’m not sure I’ll ever get off this yacht alive. He’d not hesitate to kill me on the spot if he knew I was here. He’s a very dangerous man, Penny.”
I squeezed myself and bent over. I knew all this, I knew he was a horrible man, but what was he planning for me? “Please tell me what you know,” I begged her. “I’ve never been told why I was taken and put on this boat.”
Her eyes turned sympathetic for just a brief moment. “I don’t know the whole story as to why you were brought here, but I do know it’s for Roman’s benefit, in more ways than one. Don’t trust a thing he says, ever. I’ve got to go.”
I didn’t stop her as she rushed out of my room, shutting the door behind her. I had a feeling I’d never see her again, and I prayed she’d get off the yacht safely. Still trembling, I went to the bathroom and filled a glass with cold water. Taking a slow sip, I looked at myself in the mirror and again wondered what the hell was going on.
When I thought about her visit, she really didn’t help me. In fact, she made things worse. Telling me I was in danger but not saying exactly why only made me more confused and angry. Why did she come to tell me if she wouldn’t share all she knew?
Of course I didn’t trust Roman, and never would. His creepy glances and words of concern were nothing but a facade to me. The fact he’d forbidden Tag to tell me what was going on had always been a huge burden to me, an unforgivable one.
Running my hand down my face in an attempt to gain some sense of control, I realized since Tag and I had become lovers, I’d let a lot of my anger fall to the wayside. He was so loving and so good to me, it had definitely helped make each day on this prison of a yacht more than bearable, but I was a fool. No longer could I stay quiet and just accept my fate here. I had a life and a family back in New York, and not doing anything to get back there was over.
I had to talk to Tag about where his loyalty lied. I knew asking him to betray Roman and the cartel was a lot, but I was no longer just a prisoner to him, a job. He’d always made me feel like he hated I was here, taken against my will. He’d said numerous times he hated what Roman did to me, that he hated Roman.
Something had never added up about Tag and the cartel. I’d felt it from the beginning but never dared question it much. He never fit in with the “bad guy” routine. He was warm, sweet, funny—not someone with no soul.
I knew I needed his help to escape. The question was, would he do it?
When he came back a few hours later, I’d calmed down enough to be able to talk without freaking out. Fiona hadn’t really told me anything I didn’t already know. It was obvious I was in danger and that Roman had a plan for me. The only thing that worried me was how she said it, that I was here for more than one reason.
“Hey, sweet girl,” Tag said as he came in.
I looked up from my sketch and gave him a small smile. “Hey.”
He came over to me and dropped down to his knees, wrapping his arms around my waist and burying his head in my chest. “You always feel and smell so good.” He sighed, taking a deep breath.
My arms found their way around his shoulders, feeling like they belonged there. This man had become my everything, and it was more than him just being with me on the yacht. I loved him with all of my heart, and it hurt. It hurt not knowing what would become of us once I got out.
He tilted his head to look up at me. “What’s wrong, querida?”
He always knew.
He always knew what I was feeling. I couldn’t hide anything from him. I shook my head, smiling at it all.
“How do you always know?” I asked.
He sat up and ran a hand through my hair. “I told you, I know you better than you think. Now tell me—what’s wrong?”
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