Page 104 of Secrets Along the Shore

She glanced at him. “No. He’s…” She stopped. What came to mind would only make things harder for her rescuer once they arrived back at Viktor’s fortress.

“Fine. Don’t tell me. I’ll have my fun with him anyway.”

Elara held in a sob and rested her head on Tyler’s vest. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She’d expected to go back. She’d assumed hewould have stayed with Rian. But no. Hadn’t he promised to get them both home to Koen?

That determination might have just gotten him killed.

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

June 9

4:33 a.m., Outside Vukovar, Croatia

Elara shiveredas she paced the dark room that Viktor’s men had thrown her into. His fortress was cold. He kept his home in Dubrovnik that way, too. Everything about him was cold. His eyes, his heart. She rubbed her hands over her arms. The trembling from her fear ceased. Rian was safe. She’d heard Viktor shouting about not being able to find his son.

He wasn’t Viktor’s son in anything other than blood. Rian needed a real father who’d love him and protect him. Who would teach him to be a kind and strong man, not an abusive, ruthless one. He’d get that from her dad. Koen had loved her. She had known he did. He just wasn’t present, but how could he be while he was in the SAS? He’d done what he thought was best. Just as she had done in coming back here.

Tyler should have stayed away. Viktor had threatened them and separated them as soon as they arrived at the fortress. He’d hinted at doing awful things to her rescuer. That meant that Tyler would have followed her and died for no reason. Viktor wouldn’t let her go again.

The door opened, allowing the hallway light to fill the room. Sheblinked to adjust her eyes to the sudden light. A dark silhouette entered the room. “I gave you everything.”

Elara stepped back as Viktor neared her. “No. The only thing you gave me was Rian.”

He laughed. “I kept you fed and warm.”

Yeah, right. She swallowed before she could speak those words and anger him more. “I wanted to be loved and cared for. You’ve always treated me like a prisoner.”

He laughed with amusement. “Maybe if you hadn’t tried to escape, I would have treated you differently.”

Tears blurred her vision. “I stayed with you for twelve years. I wanted some freedom, but I never tried to escape until you started trying to make Rian be like you.” She’d hoped that if she submitted to him, he’d become kinder. She was wrong. Terribly wrong.

“Where is my son?” he demanded.

“On his way to Australia.”

His palm smacked her cheek. She gasped and touched her burning face. Tears slipped free. She backed up a step.

“He ismyson! And you sent him away from me?” His voice rose.

God, please, help me.She nodded once. “He needs to be safe. And he isn’t with you.”

Viktor latched onto her arm. “If I can not get that boy back, I will make sure you pay for this.” He dragged her out of the room and into the long, narrow hall.

She didn’t dare fight him. He’d only lash out at her more. She’d known that he’d be furious with her, but she didn’t need to anger him more. Maybe if she survived this, she’d find another way to return to Rian and Dad.

God, please, let there be a way.

She’d hardly gotten to tell her son goodbye before she’d run off. Behind her, Rian had cried for her. Probably just as terrified that she’d die as she felt at the moment.

Viktor led her into a room with a large screen that cast a blue hue over the man tied to a chair. His head hung, blood on his face from where Viktor’s men had hit him several times. With a groan, Tyler sat back in the chair. His pain showed in his face. Viktor had removed hisvest and weapons, leaving him exposed and vulnerable to the Rukas’ fists.

Tyler’s tired gaze drifted to Elara’s.

“I’m so sorry,” she mouthed.

Without responding, his attention slid to Viktor. The mobster shoved her into the corner of the room. Her bruised arm hit the wall, and she bit back a cry. She tucked herself in the corner. Maybe she’d be safer here.