Chapter Two
“I need to use the restroom.” Erika tugged at the cuffs, pulling his hand from the keyboard.
Emanuel closed his MacBook and let out a long sigh. Two hours into the flight, and she had gotten no answers. His threat still rang in her ears, and a shiver skated down her spine every time she remembered the dangerous words. Unless he plays by my rules, he’s not seeing you ever again. What kind of crime did he think her father committed that would justify committing one of his own?
“What? Are you going to deny me that, too? Doesn’t letting a hostage use the bathroom follow the basic code of kidnap ethics?”
He angled so he could watch her intently, and she shifted in her seat. Didn’t matter what she tried; in the end, she could only do so much. She felt his breath close to her. “You talking about ethics? Interesting.”
“Why would you say that? You’re obviously mistaken,” she said, annoyance leaking into her voice. Emanuel had refused to tell her where they were going and the real reason why he captured her. The flight attendant had served them food and stayed in the back, hanging by the restroom. The woman probably received a pretty penny to keep her mouth shut and pretend she saw nothing.
Emanuel lifted an eyebrow, his hazel eyes intensifying with dark gleams encircling the irises. Wow. Fire coiled in the pit of her stomach. What was going on? The man kidnapped her, and he’d threatened that she’d never see her father again. And she was…attracted to his brutamonte in a Dolce & Gabanna suit? If I survive all this, I’ll need therapy.
She needed to find a way out, to be ahead of the game, and away from his six-foot-plus hunk of grumpy, bad boy hotness. “I have the right to go to the bathroom. I have needs. Unless you want me to relieve myself here and stain this nice leather seat.”
“We don’t want that.” He reached for his pocket and produced a small key. Within two seconds the click reverberated through her, and she massaged her free wrist. “Don’t try anything stupid, Erika.”
She stood, flexing her fingers. “We’re in your jet. What could I possibly do?”
“I had them change the silverware to plastic, just so you know. Stabbing me is out of question.”
She slapped her forehead and sighed dramatically. “Crap. There goes my plan.”
With a smirk, he cocked his head in the direction of the bathroom. The silent cue she needed to stride to the restroom. Once inside, she did her business, and when she washed her hands, she raised her gaze to the ceiling. After she dried them, she tapped it, but nothing moved.
She adjusted the straps of her dress, arguably the worst outfit for any kidnapped woman as it made her feel vulnerable and exposed. Think, Erika. She skimmed the bathroom. First-class accommodations were nothing new to her, but this one exuded modernism with an old world elegance. The D monogrammed on the gold hand towel caught her attention.
D for Duarte. She doubted her ex-fiancé would agree to this. Sure, he could be ruthless at business, but this seemed so…personal. A smart guy like Bruno would never be a part of something that could jeopardize his entire career as one of the world’s best software developers. Maybe if she found a way to contact Bruno, he could set his brother straight—and her, free.
She heard a knock from the other side.
“Is everything okay?” asked a soothing female voice that could only belong to the flight attendant.
Do something. This was her shot at being alone with someone. “I need help with my dress. My zipper caught on the fabric and got stuck.”
She unlocked the door, her fingers slightly shaking. When the coifed blonde entered with a closed-lipped smile, Erika shoved her against the sink and locked the door behind her. If she hesitated, she would lose that battle.
“What—” The woman’s blue eyes widened.
Erika squeezed the woman’s shoulders, keeping her pinned against the wall. Carly squirmed against her, trying to move, but Erika tightened her grip. “Where are we going? Tell me.” She raised her voice. “Now.”
“Madam, this isn’t necessary.” Carly’s voice wavered.
“I’m being kidnapped, and when this whole situation is over, I’ll throw you in jail for helping him. Now answer me: where the hell is this plane taking me?”
Frustration stirred in her belly, but she refused to back down. The woman breathed heavily, unbecoming to her petite frame. Erika almost felt bad for her, then realized Carly had ignored her plea for help.
“We’re flying to…Manaus.”
What was in Manaus, besides the Amazon? The Amazon? A cold shiver ran down Erika’s spine. Why in the world would he take her to the jungle, the middle of nowhere? He wants to keep me for a long time. “Do you know his brother Bruno Duarte? I need you to send him a message.”
“What?” Carly shook her head. “No.”
“Here’s what you’re going to do…” Erika started, but before she could voice the thoughts racing in her mind, the thump on the door announced Emanuel’s entry.
Her heart leaped to the base of her throat, and her blood pounded fast and hot. He had kicked open the door and towered over her. A threatening stance settled on his face, his eyes narrowing at her and lips thinning into one fine line.
Distracted, her hold on Carly loosened, and in a blink, he was gesturing for the flight attendant to leave the restroom. Smoothing her hand over her topknot, Carly obeyed him, her shoulders brushing with Erika’s on the way out of the narrow path.
Erika motioned to move, but Emanuel pushed her against the sink. Shit. She tried to swallow and had to clear her throat twice.
“Here’s what you’re going to do, princesa,” he said, leaning closer. She jerked away, her back plastered against the mirror. “You’re going to do as you’re told. No more harassing the staff. Leave Carly and anyone else alone. This is between me and your father. You’re just a temporary commodity.”
“And you’re an idiot if you think I’ll be Pollyanna.”
“Why not? That would make my life so much easier.”
“That is not my goal. Why are we going to the Amazon?”
He sighed, visibly annoyed. “Because it’ll be a great place to keep an eye on you while still remaining close to some of my business affairs.”
She snarled. “You mean you want to isolate me from civilization. When my father discovers what you’ve done, you are history, Emanuel. Whatever you want, he can get it for you. But there’s no coming back from this. I give you my word.”
“There’s no going back.” He shrugged. “We agree on something. If your father agrees to my terms because of you, there will be change. If he doesn’t…”
“He will.”
“You don’t know him well, do you?”
Her muscles quivered with anger. How dare he talk about the type of relationship she had with her dad? Silas wasn’t perfect, but he had done the best he could after her mother passed away. And Erika wouldn’t let this lunatic spread lies.
Rattled, she lifted her hand and smacked her open palm across his face. The sound reverberated through her, her palm warm and achy. His face was like freaking marble. She gasped, trying to remember when was the last time she’d hit anyone once, let alone twice on the same day. Never. This is survival.
Emanuel touched his cheek, and she sucked all the oxygen around them in a long inhale. His jaw clenched. Crap. What had she done? What if he returned the favor and slapped her?
“If you lay one finger on me…” she started, but her voice trailed off as she had reached her quota of empty threats for the day.
A smile broke his lips and warmed his face. “I assure you if I ever lay any finger on you, or in you, it will be for your benefit.”
He dipped his head down, and his gorgeous hazel eyes came too close to hers. She blinked, hoping this was a nightmare. He tipped up her chin. His finger outlined her jaw, and if she didn’t know better, she would have labeled it a caress. A lingering, tantalizing caress that ignited a hot pulse between her legs.
She parted her mouth to protest, but her vocal cords betrayed her and a moan escaped her parched lips. Emanuel took advantage of her bewilderment, and soon the tip of his finger traced over her mouth. Her flesh softened in response as a trail of goose bumps raised on her arms. She wanted to clench her thighs together, but his imposing body stood between them in a far too intimate position.
“Take off your dress,” he said gruffly.
“Excuse me?”
He disengaged from her, and a sense of loneliness assailed her when his fingers ceased the touch. She licked her lips and shook her head. Did Stockholm syndrome kick in this soon? There had to be an explanation for this insane attraction to the man who was clearly a criminal and belonged behind bars.
He opened a compartment to her left and handed her a black bag. “Wear this.”
She opened the bag and stared at its contents. A pair of jeans, a white tank top, a gray baseball cap, and some lingerie. Ordinary clothes so she would blend in. She clenched her ruby necklace. “I’m not changing.”
He cocked his head to the side, and a devilish grin formed on his face. “Fine. Then I will do it for you. Turn around,” he said, and twirled his index finger in a gesture for her to do as told.
Her stomach sank to the floor. Shit. This guy wasn’t backing down. “Fine,” she said between her teeth. “I’ll do it.”
Emanuel winked at her. “Too bad. I would’ve enjoyed helping you out.”
She wished she could wipe the mockery off his face. “Are you asking for another slap on the face?”
“If you slap me on the face, I’ll slap you on the ass.”
Her brows shot to her hairline, and she managed to show outrage even though her inside nerves sizzled with the idea. “You leave my ass alone.” She wished her voice had sounded more resolute. Damn it.
He sized her up. His gaze traveled from her eyes down to her breasts, with blatant approval, and she crossed her arms. Her pulse spiked, and she wished she could kick him where it hurt, but the promise of his retaliation scared her more than anything.
“That’s a promise that will be hard to keep,” he said.
She shuffled her weight from one foot to another. Why did they have to have this conversation in a bathroom of all places? “Not that I believe anything you say, anyway. But I demand to know what’s going on. You told me I could call my father.”
In two steps, he reached the broken door. “We’ll arrive at our destination, and once we’re settled, you will call him. I will explain to you then exactly why I captured you. Then you can choose who to believe.”
…
Several hours later the jet finally touched the ground in an airfield just outside Manaus. Emanuel wanted to get away from the capital of the Amazon state as soon as possible to the small house he had rented in a less populous area, somewhere away from the tourists and the noise. Wearing a black T-shirt and jeans, he touched the handcuff he’d shackled her with in a silent attempt to get Erika moving.
“I’m assuming this isn’t sight-seeing?” she said as Carly waved good-bye.
The humidity swirled around them like they had just stepped into a sauna. The climate was not new to him, but as they headed to the sedan that waited at the tarmac, she smacked her neck several times. Less than a minute in, and the mosquitos already feasted on her.
The driver, whom he’d paid to bring the car, greeted him. Emanuel took a wad of cash from his pocket and gave it to the short man, who smiled and handed him the key.
“How are you going to drive handcuffed?” she asked.
“Get inside.” He made her sit in the passenger seat, then twisted the lock and removed the cuffs from her. She glanced at him, somewhat surprised at her freedom. “Don’t move, otherwise that phone call is out of the question.” He finished uttering the words, dashed to the driver’s seat, and closed the door. Erika must have known he could outrun her if she jetted from the car.
He drove through the large streets filled with houses and buildings, passing the street vendors and fruit stands on the sidewalks. She watched people crossing the streets, and he wondered if she registered the colorful contrast of people and concrete.
She slapped her neck again.
“Reach to the backpack behind you. There’s some insect repellent in there.” He gestured at one of the bags he had organized a few days prior. Everything had been orchestrated ahead of time to guarantee the success of his mission.
She slid toward the backpack, studying the contents inside. While he… Emanuel cleared his throat, and tried to ignore the delectable ass up in the air as she leaned down. Merda.
On the plane he’d almost kissed her. Almost shredded the last thread of his control. Thankfully, his common sense rose to the occasion, and he prevented his dick from causing any damage. He didn’t need to confuse either of them by acting on his impulse. She should respect him. Fear him, even—whatever worked so he got his goal. If he softened up, he’d lose the upper hand and compromise his entire plan. He’d promised Raul’s family he’d bring him back to them. They counted on him.
“Found it?” he asked.
She returned to her seat with the bottle on her lap. “Yep. So we’re here, and you promised to tell me why you kidnapped me.” She sprayed the repellent on her arms and neck. “I’m all ears.”
“Your father built some houses in the name of the Lancaster foundation in the Amazon,” he started, even though she had to be familiar with the project. Hell, she was going to get a prize in her father’s name the previous night.
“Yes, I heard about it.”
He clenched his hands on the steering wheel. “Your father embezzled the money. He wanted a tax write off, and he pocketed a lot of cash while choosing expired, cheap material to build those houses. The cement, bricks, everything were made poorly.”
“That is not true. My father is an excellent builder. He would never—”
“He would never do that to his million-dollar-plus properties. But this is a community for the poor. People without a voice.”
She let out a sarcastic laugh. “You’re delusional. I help with his charities.”
He pushed his foot on the gas pedal. Anger clenched his gut. Did she speak the truth she believed, or the truth she’d been taught to believe? Was she that naive? Erika seemed like a smart woman. “I’d be careful if I were you. You’re probably touching dirty money. But that isn’t my point,” he continued. A quick sideways glance showed she’d been scrutinizing him, but he just shook his head and returned his focus to the road ahead. “An engineer called Raul Souza told him about his concerns, and Silas decided to ignore him. After the houses were built, one of them quickly fell apart after the first storm. People died.”
“I’m very sorry. Unfortunately, natural disasters do happen.”
He shook his head. He never expected this to be easy. She would never be in his corner. “Yes, but that one was no tsunami. The houses didn’t have a strong foundation.”
“Didn’t it go through any type of inspection?”
He slated her a glance, then snorted. “People get bought, Erika. All the time.”
She drummed her fingers on her legs. “Then why did that engineer keep quiet? If he was so sure about what happened?”
“Raul has been missing for weeks.” Emanuel voiced what Raul’s family had told him. Of course Raul could have been the good soul who warned Silas off and didn’t accept any bribes. But Emanuel never crossed off the possibility of Raul happily taking the money after all was said and done, and simply deciding to stay off the grid.
“Maybe he’s hiding because he’s guilty. If he knew the material was problematic, why did he go ahead with the project?”
Guilty. How many times had Emanuel earned that title as a child? He’d stolen to help his family. And he’d been good at it, too. “He needed to earn a living to support his family. When he brought his concern forward, his boss shut him down and threatened him. After a couple of families died and dozens lost their homes, Raul called my organization and told my assistant.”
“Very altruistic to wait until there’s damage to come forward.”
He sighed. “Since that day he’s been missing. He never made it back home from the site.”
“I am sorry,” she said, her voice sincere. “How do you know he’s one of those who didn’t accept bribes?”
I don’t. Finding Raul would help expose Silas no matter what. “It doesn’t seem like it so far. Either way, that doesn’t change the fact that your father was well aware of the situation and chose to ignore it. For money. He gets a Businessman of the Year award while across the world people suffer because of him.”
“What do you expect my father to do?”
“I want him to return Raul to his family.” He also wanted Silas to own up to his fraud, which wouldn’t happen, of course. But he’d still be content with the return of Raul to gather concrete evidence against Silas. Sharing that possibility would keep her from complying, so he clamped his lips.
“Less than twenty-four hours ago I was visiting Boston from New York to attend a boring event. And now, look at me, in the middle of international intrigue,” she said sarcastically.
She turned her face to the window, no doubt watching the lush scenery as they drove away from the city. It would take him over two hours to get to where he wanted to go—a small, less populated town where they couldn’t be easily found. “Aren’t you going to feel bad when all of this is over and it turns out to be a series of misunderstandings?” she asked.
“I don’t believe in misunderstandings,” he said in a tone that left no room for questioning.