“Dead.” Alejandro shrugged in indifference. “We left his carcass on the side of the road like the scum he is. We gave him the same courtesy his men showed mine. He was the first of many to come.”
Dead? Left on the side of the road? No, she wouldn’t believe that. Liam was resilient. He couldn’t be dead she just got him back. His life couldn’t be over before theirs had begun. They hadn’t been that far away from Aaron’s house. Someone would come. She had to believe that. “And what exactly are you hoping to prove by raping and killing me?”
“Rape?” Alejandro said in mock shock. “There is no rape here. All the women enjoy our attention.”
Tell that to Hannah.
“Trust me, they don’t.” Cora glared at him. The man was delusional if he thought women liked being drugged and raped.
Alejandro waved her words off as if she didn’t know what she was talking about. “Your death will send a message, that no matter how long it takes me or what resources I have to use, I always win.”
“But you didn’t get your drugs or the women back.” Cora pointed out.
“Not yet, but soon. My men are already out collecting them. Soon I will have my Hannah back, but you will not live long enough to see her. You betrayed me, Cora. I’m going to show you what happens to those that betray me.”
“You’re never going to get away with this. Liam and his team will come for me.” Instead of being intimidated, Alejandro just smiled. That was not the reaction she was hoping for.
“I’m counting on it, mi querido. You made all of this to easy.” Cora had made it easy. She left the protection of Aaron’s house. If she hadn’t been so determined to sleep in her own bed again. No. She couldn’t think like that. None of this was her fault or Liam’s. It was this psycho in front of her faults.
“Then go ahead. Do your worst.” Cora spit at him and felt a moment of pride when he reared back covered in spit. Her mother might shake her head at the un-lady like behavior, but her dad would pat her on the shoulder and tell her job well done.
Fire lit in Alejandro’s eyes as he pulled out his handkerchief and dabbed the spittle off. “I’m really going to enjoy watching you die.” Alejandro pocketed his handkerchief, and pulled out a small roll of duct tape from the other pocket. He tore off a small section and placed it over her lips. “Now, no one will hear you cry for death. Not even the fish. You will be silent as your people say as the grave.” Alejandro chuckled menacingly as his men carted her to the edge of the island. Cora feared they were just going to throw her in the water. Her hands were still bound, and now her mouth was covered. Breathing was about to become a problem, and with broken ribs, it was now next to impossible. She tried to struggle, but the two goons threw her over the edge. Cora free fell for only a few seconds, and instead of landing in the water she landed hard on a small boat. The goons laughed at her as they stepped into the boat with her, followed by Alejandro. One of the goons started the motor, while the other two sat next to Cora, probably just in case she got any ideas and tried and throw herself overboard. She was a decent swimmer, but with the shackles and broken ribs, she wouldn’t make it far. They rode to the left of the island, a few hundred feet before killing the engine. Cora didn’t understand why they had stopped. She couldn’t see anything in the dark. Just the gentle waves that caught in the moonlight. The two goons hefted her up, and dragged her to the edge of the boat. She could just make out the island in front of her. Why were they here in the middle of nowhere? She was heaved over the side of the boat, and she flailed when she felt the water lapping at her. They were just going to dump her here? Why go through all the effort? They could have just thrown her in the water back on the island. Why drive all the way out here? Cora tried to gasp in shock as the water touched her bare skin. It wasn’t freezing, but it wasn’t exactly warm either. She started to sink, and she kicked her legs out to try and stay floating before she realized there was a rock under her feet and at her back. It was just a small rock sticking out of the water. The goons ignored her as they wrapped the excess chain around the rock and her several times, before locking it and handing the key to Alejandro.
“I discovered this rock in my youth. I would swim to it as a boy. It never had great meaning to me until now. I think I will name her vengeance rock. You will be the first of my many enemies to meet their end here. You see here in a few hours before sunrise the water will rise, and soon this rock will disappear. You will die before your men can save you. And if by some miracle they find us before you die, you can watch them die before you drown.” Alejandro leaned down and kissed Cora on her duct tape covered lips. “Adios, mi querido.” He said, before one of the goons started the boat and rode back to the island.
Waves from the motor splashed her in the face, and Cora wanted to cough up the water that went up her nose but couldn’t. Her eyes burned, and she tried to breathe slowly. Cora started shaking from the cool waters that settled at her chest. She pulled on her chains, but they held. If she only had a bobby pin or something
