Bound: The Pentagon Group, Book 3 Read Online Free Page B

clutching a tree limb.
    A large black SUV waited by the front door. It idled to maintain cool air inside. While Tony and a porter loaded the luggage, Eric secured me inside the SUV by my upper forearm and the rear of the armrest. I couldn’t move my arm forward or back to release myself. The method he used to tie me down indicated this was not his first experience.
    Tony took the driver’s seat while Eric sat up front. Aida took her perch behind Eric, sitting beside me. I looked out the window as we rolled ahead toward our next destination.
    “I doubt we’re actually here to vacation at an all-inclusive resort, so where are we going?” I questioned, not expecting much of an answer.
    “I told you, paradise,” Aida reminded, but didn’t continue.
    Despite the dark tinted window, I admired the lush, green landscape of the tropical land. I peered over to the GPS to see if I could get a clue of our destination. Our journey would take forty-three minutes. The road became more rustic as we made our way near the coast.
    Tony turned the SUV onto a private road. We drove for miles until we arrived at a black gate, reminding me of the drive up toward Matt’s mansion. The ornate gate with the initial ‘P’ on each door were closed. At the entrance, Tony lowered his window, pressed the call button, and answered the voice coming from the intercom. In local dialect, he stated the ‘Patron’—the owner of the estate— had arrived. Because of the ‘P’ on the gates, I assumed Aida Parisi owned the land.
    “Do you own this place?” I asked.
    She gave her deviant laugh, shook her head, and answered, “If you only knew who does and whom it’s for.”
    I rolled my eyes and looked ahead to an amazing Spanish ranch style house. Not knowing my fate, the drive toward the front entrance filled me with terror. Once we stopped, Aida exited when Eric opened her door. She kissed him deeply, which revolted me. I wasn’t jealous, but Aida seemed to try too hard, setting herself up for heartbreak. When he saw me watching them, he pulled away and frowned, gathering his brow in anger. I couldn’t tell if the anger was directed at me or at Aida for her public display of affection. He slammed her door, closing me in.
    Within a few minutes of being confined in the SUV, the heat of the turned off car and the apprehension caused me to panic. When a scream dared escape, my door opened. Tony stood outside. He cut the zip ties from my arms, and I massaged my ravaged skin. The oppressive heat wasn’t surprising. I couldn’t imagine how my mother lived in this country with no seasons. It was no wonder she loved walking with me hand-in-hand during a snow storm, throwing cold snow on my covered belly. I looked around the beautifully manicured landscaping, inhaling the salty sea breeze, which circulated from behind the house. The palm trees swayed and rustled. For a split second, a wave of peace filled me. A whisper from my mother’s homeland, welcoming me as a native daughter.
    Tony tugged me forward. We walked toward the front door. I dragged my feet like a prisoner taking her last walk to the electric chair. When the door opened, we were greeted by a short, round woman, who wore a white apron. She smiled brightly. Asking in Spanish if she could help us, Aida took it upon herself to claim we were going to be guests of the Patron and hoped we could come in. The woman looked confused, but Aida continued trying to convince her we were friends and were here to enjoy ourselves on the Patron’s beautiful property. When the woman said she would have to call the Patron, Tony muscled his way inside, taking the woman with him. My heart beat hard and fast, fearing for the innocent woman’s safety.
    I thought I could make a run for it. Eric wouldn’t be able to manhandle me alone if I put all my efforts into running away and fighting back. Aida and Eric took hold of my arms, foiling my escape plan. They pulled me inside. Resistance would be fruitless when