“Roman, you can’t do this!” she insists, growing more flustered by the second.
I let out a sharp laugh. “Madison, if you haven’t figured it out by now, I can do just about anything I want. I appreciate what you did for Ty, but I’m sure you can understand that letting you walk out of here isn’t an option. Not with what you’ve seen today.”
“So what? You’re going to keep me here forever?”
“Dante, upstairs. Now.”
“You’re out of your mind if you think I’m going to stay here as some kind of prisoner,” she hisses, jerking away from Dante. He finally gets hold of her and leads her up the staircase. I watch until they disappear down the hallway, listening to her protests the entire way.
“What the hell are you doing, Roman?” I didn’t even realize Joe was next to me until now.
I wish I could tell him. Every logical part of me knows I should let her go. Ty is stable, and every second she’s still here only digs me into a deeper hole. By now, people might be looking for her or noticing that she’s gone. It would be easy for me to put a man on her to be sure she stays quiet, so what exactly am I doing?
Then something strikes me. Madison proved her worth as a doctor today, and I could use someone like that around here, especially with Ty recovering. Having her around permanently is more enticing than it should be.
“I’m going to offer her a job.”
Chapter Five
I’marunner.
Distance running is my specialty, but I can be pretty fast when I need to be. I could probably make it at least a few miles away before anyone even noticed I was gone, if I could just somehow make it outside.
Dante dumped me off in a second story guest room, so it’s not as simple as just climbing out. There are no trees close by, or even a bush I could aim to land on. I could tie a few bed sheets together and try to shimmy down, but I’m doubtful that would actually work in real life. It seems like just a movie thing. I could jump, but that alone could break my leg, or worse, and then any chance I have of running would be gone.
God, what am I even saying? Even if I made it out, I don’t have the slightest idea where I am. Somewhere within an hour of the hospital, but that doesn’t give me much to go on.
This place is like a fortress. From the bedroom window, I have an expansive view of the property, and in other circumstances,I might think it was pretty. Thick towering trees line the area and there’s even a little pond with a paddle boat tied to a dock just down the way. Right underneath my window is a huge pool with crystal clear water and a few errant floating toys and dive sticks scattered around. The driveway is lined with intricate, colorful cobblestone that looks like something out of a Spanish village, which matches the stonework and stucco on the eves of the house. It wasn’t like I got a proper tour, but from what I saw so far, I can tell it’s enormous. At the end of the road, a massive wrought iron gate sits closed. Probably locked tight. Even if it wasn’t, there are four guards posted with heavy artillery strapped to their chests, and I doubt I’d make it far.
Not to mention that, with connections like Roman’s, I’d probably have to hide out somewhere in the wilderness to avoid him. To be fair, a cave out in the middle of nowhere sounds more appealing than my current situation. At least, I know what I’m dealing with out there.
Inside these walls, it’s a whole different ball game. I know virtually nothing about organized crime, but I’ve heard enough to know that I’m in major trouble here. Roman is the kind of man nightmares are made of, and I have no idea what he’s capable of. My anger towards him has slowly morphed into fear as the gravity of my situation sets in. Any hope I had of him coming to his senses and letting me go is long gone.
It’s all part of his game.
Maybe someone will come looking for me when I don’t show up for work tomorrow.Wait. They won’t because Joe bought some time and told them I was going to be out of town. And I just spoke with my mom yesterday, so she won’t be suspicious for at least a few more days. My stomach turns at the thought of what a man like Roman Molanari could do to me in that amount of time.
I glance at the window, weighing my chances once again. Maybe if I took a running start and dove out the window, I could make it to the pool, letting water break my fall. At this point, I’m dying either way, so I might as well give it a shot.
I try to twist the lock, but it’s so tight I can’t maneuver it. Right now, it’s my only option, so I grip it with all my strength and try again.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Roman’s voice sends a chill down my spine. He caught me red handed unlatching the window. I didn’t hear the door open, but suddenly he’s only steps away from me.
“Do what?” I swallow, my throat tight. “It’s stuffy in here. I needed some fresh air.”
He stands close to me, and I realize it’s the first time I’ve truly looked at him since all of this began. It’s his eyes that I notice first—piercing, icy blues that look like they’re staring straight into the depths of my soul. His sharp jawline is flecked with facial hair, and his full lips press together in an arrogant smirk. A black t-shirt stretches across his thick, broad shoulders, and he fills out every inch of his larger-than-life frame. Rippling muscles, an impressive collection of tattoos, and an ego that barely fits in this room.
Roman is gorgeous in an intimidating sort of way, and when he arches an eyebrow in my direction with a taunting look on his face, I almost forgot what a smug asshole he’s been.
Almost.
He chuckles, striding toward me so slowly that the anticipation is painful. We’re close. Uncomfortably close. Intimately close.
“Do you think I’m stupid, Madison? That you’re the first person who’s tried to open the window and escape?”
When I don’t answer, he continues.
“Let me save you the trouble. It doesn’t end well. Even if you were to get it open, I’ve got two snipers on the roof, plus perimeter security that would make the White House look like an easy target. You wouldn’t make it ten yards without a bullet to your head.”
