Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Good, then you’ll give me the freedom to go where I need and get the items I need without interference.” He wasn’t about to back down. All he could think about was Tessa and the fact that she needed him.
He could practically feel Luis’s rage, but the man took a step back. “I’ll find them for you. But know that you’re on thin ice with me. Vos vigilás.”
He stalked away, and they were left with the henchmen.
“I don’t think those two speak English if you want to talk,” Eddie said under his breath. “I’m sorry.”
“I know you are, but this isn’t some prank that went wrong.” Eddie was always sorry about something. “This is our lives and Tessa’s, and I’m not even sure there is a treasure to be found.”
David walked over to the big table where yesterday he’d made the decision not to pursue some elusive treasure. If he’d listened to Tessa, they wouldn’t be in this situation, and she had to be thinking that, too. Could she ever forgive him?
“When he was dying, my dad told me he left something for me.” Eddie glanced at their captors. “He said he’d finally figured out what was important, and he hoped I did, too. I thought it was some political ideal. God knows I’d gotten enough of those lectures over the years. I’m worried we’re going to find a book or some bullshit.”
A new book by Montez would be a true treasure, but only to a historian or political theorist. “How well do you know the grounds?”
Eddie sighed. “You think he hid something here? It’s a big place. I know the main house pretty well.”
By pretty well, David assumed he meant Eddie knew the common areas and likely nothing at all about the parts of the estate the servants spent time in. The truth of the matter was David hadn’t spent much time out of the library, dining area, or the bedroom he’d shared with Tessa. He hadn’t gotten a real feel for the place because his head had been stuck in a book. “You don’t know if there’s a safe anywhere?”
“Sure. There’s a safe in the master suite, but I’ve certainly looked through that. There’s a gun safe in the garage, but there’s only guns and ammo in it, and I scarcely think we’ll be able to get to it.” Eddie frowned. “I also don’t actually know that code since I’ve never had to fight off a wild animal here.”
“You’ll know better next time.” If they survived. “Have you ever heard anyone talk about hiding places? Were there other kids around when you were younger?”
“I wasn’t that friendly unless they were pretty girls,” Eddie admitted. “You know I’m an asshole. Trust me. I’m feeling every minute of it. Maybe if I hadn’t been such an ass, Camila wouldn’t have had to talk to her friends about us. She could have been with me, and I could have taken care of her.”
He couldn’t think about what Eddie should have done. He had to figure a way out of this.
What was Tessa going through? God, not knowing was an actual ache in his gut.
Was there any way to get a message out to his stepfather? He hoped Eddie was right and their captors wouldn’t understand what he was about to ask. He picked up a notebook and opened it, his eyes staring as he lowered his voice. “Are the phone lines really down?”
“They cut them all last week when Luis showed up,” Eddie said under his breath. “They blamed a storm, but I know it was them, and they control the radio. They’ve been slowly getting rid of the important people in the household and replacing them with their own. It’s my fault because I left it all up to the manager who hired Mateo, so he’s in on it.”
Eddie was going to be absolutely no help. David would be surprised if he knew where the radio was much less how to use it. “Is there anyone on the staff that you trust?”
Eddie shrugged. “A couple of the maids. I don’t know about Marta. I hired her myself a few months ago. She’s worked for me before. I know she’s here now. I think Mateo gave the maids the day off, and I’m sure he’ll come up with something for tomorrow.”
Luis would count on them keeping silent around anyone who came in. After all, they had Tessa and Eddie’s kid, so it wasn’t like he would go screaming to one of the young women who mopped the floors and changed the bedding.
Though he might be able to slip a note. That could work. He could potentially slip one of the maids a note to let her know to contact his stepdad.
He had no doubt that if he actually found the treasure—if there was one—he would be dead shortly after, and so would Tessa and Eddie. They wouldn’t simply let them all go.