Chapter Two
London, England
Waiting to be kidnapped was a little like sitting on a keg of sizzling dynamite. She knew the where, she knew the when. That was all. Who and how it would go down were nerve-rattling mysteries.
In one way or another, Gabriella Mendoza had been working and planning for this event for most of her adult life. Dreaming and scheming, but without any clear idea of how she could accomplish her goal. By happenstance, design, or small miracle, she wasn’t quite sure yet, she’d been given the opportunity to make her plans a reality.
For a girl who had been told what to do for most of her life, that had been a heady, mind-blowing experience. Directed where to go, what to say, what to think, smothered to the point of insanity. Her every action analyzed, judged, discussed, and corrected. She had always consoled herself that she had never given in, not really. But with each day that passed, she could feel herself disappearing more and more. One day she would no longer exist, and she would become a shell-like version of her original self.
Some would look at her life and laugh or sneer in disgust. What did she have to complain about? They would see the house she lived in, the clothes she wore, the food she ate, and see nothing more. She lived a life of wealth and privilege few people could fathom.
If one were willing to look closer, the evidence of a miserable, lifeless existence was apparent.
Raiza, her friend, mentor, and teacher, would be thrilled for her. With stalwart determination, Raiza Torres had combined methodical training and incredible wisdom to prepare her charge for this day. And though her friend was no longer with her, Gabriella could feel her spirit driving her, guiding her toward the freedom they had both wanted for her.
If this didn’t work? No. She wouldn’t even think that thought. There were no other options. She would never have another chance. It was either this, or accept the invisible chains she would never be able to shed. She would not, could not, fail.
Knowing worry would get her nowhere, she pushed it aside. Crossing the bedroom suite, she went to the window looking out at the vast estate. The winter had been a cold and bitter one, but like a little schoolgirl full of mischief, spring was teasing with tiny buds on the trees. From the ground, hardy crocus heads were popping up, and little blades of green were shooting out in the dead brown grass.
Spring was her favorite season. Rebirth and renewal…a farewell to the old and the cold. So much hope lived in the spring. It was where she lived. No one knew of her hopes, of her plans. They, like her thoughts, were carefully guarded secrets stored away in her head, held close in her heart. She might have no privacy, and her daily activities might be planned from dusk till dawn, but there was one thing no one could invade or take away from her. Her dreams. They were hers alone.
A guard, one of the many who patrolled the perimeter of the estate, clomped across the ground. Gabby winced as his heavy boots stomped the fragile new grass. She had felt that way more than once.
But that would soon change. Hiding her bubbling excitement behind a composed, placid veneer had been more difficult than she’d anticipated. She was so used to disguising her real thoughts, she had believed this would be no different. But this was completely different. The hope she’d held on to for so long now had a solid foundation. She was finally going to be free.
Last night, she had gone through her studio and said goodbye to her work. Her paintings had been her only outlet, the only freedom of expression she had been allowed. Her art held her spirit, her essence, her very being. And she knew to her soul that the paintings would be destroyed. Her grandfather would see to that. She felt as though she was turning her back on them, but she had no choice. If she were to survive, she had to leave everything behind, including the work that had sustained her.
She had woken this morning sad but resolved. She would look to the future, and to have a future, she had to leave everything behind.
“Are you ready?” a harsh voice barked.
Unstartled by the abrupt intrusion, Gabriella turned. Having someone burst into her room without knocking was normal. Prisoners didn’t deserve privacy.
“Yes, I’m ready.” Her calm statement gave no hint of just how ready she was. In her handbag were all the things she could not live without. How very odd that there was so little. A photo or two of her parents, a necklace that had once belonged to her mother, and her favorite drawing pen. If anyone looked inside, and it wouldn’t surprise her if someone did, they would see nothing out of the ordinary. Treasures to her would mean nothing to these heartless men.
“Let’s go. I have more important things to do than escort my little sister to a doctor’s appointment.”
She had learned the hard way that Mendoza women were to act in a certain way. At age fifteen, when most young girls were dreaming of their future and all the possibilities, she had learned of her grandfather’s plan for her future. The reinforcement of that news had put her in the hospital for two weeks.
For years, she had followed the rules, biding her time. But soon, very soon, the bird would leave her gilded cage and fly away forever. The time for wishing was over. Now was the time for action.
“If you don’t get moving, I’ll be glad to give you some incentive.”
Carlos’s oily voice, with his evil reference, made no impact. She knew why he was here. Raiza was gone. Until a replacement companion could be found, she would be under heavier guard. Her brother had been charged with seeing to the reinforced security. Little did they know that this worked into her plans as if heaven sent. Giving Carlos the responsibility of her security was laughable. Not only was her brother an idiot, he was also lazy. Which made it that much easier for her plans to succeed.
Admittedly, having him here had been unpleasant. Carlos had made numerous threats, but hadn’t, as yet, made good on any of them. Gabriella had already decided that if he tried, it would be the last thing he ever did. She might not survive whatever punishment her grandfather devised for such a sin, but it would be much better than having the monster who was her brother touch her in any way.
To know this man was her blood relative was a nauseating fact she had worked hard to forget. She had been successful for many years, mostly because Carlos was occupied with his own pleasurable pursuits. Little did he know that his life was about to take an abrupt plunge to the bottom.
“You know, if I wasn’t quite sure you hate me almost as much as I despise you, I’d assume you were delaying so I could carry out my new duties.”
Unwilling to deal with the confrontation and its aftermath on a day that would be challenging enough, Gabby allowed herself one lethal glare as she passed him to go out the door. His mocking laughter sent chills of revulsion up her spine, but she quieted them with the reminder that, very soon, his vileness would disappear from her life forever.
***
Sitting in an unobtrusive tan-colored panel truck he’d parked behind a large clump of trees, Wyatt Kingston held the high-powered binoculars to his eyes as he spoke into the radio mic. “They just left the estate.”
The British-accented voice of his employer was crisp and clear. “How many following?”
“One SUV. Three guards inside.”
“The brother is definitely with her?”
“Yes. They’re in the back of the limo together.”
“Your recommendation?”
“Looks good.”
Silence followed the statement. Wyatt wouldn’t act until the go-ahead was given. His team was doing the heavy lifting, but this was all Grey Justice’s mission.
“Take them.”
“Copy that.”
Seated at his desk thousands of miles away, the Dallas skyline at his back, Grey listened as final preparations were made for the abductions of Gabriella and Carlos Mendoza.
If the op went down as planned, both would soon be living very different lives. If this thing went sideways, Carlos Mendoza would be out of their reach forever. As for Gabriella? He didn’t kid himself. A failed mission might be the end for her as well.