Submitting To The Devil - The Devil's Snare - Book 2

Chapter Sixty Three

Bianca

Derek's grip tightens around my bicep, the pressure like a vice, as he guides me away from the shadowy confines of the Morettas' boat shed. A heavy silence envelops us, the only sound the quiet lapping of the water against the dock as we make our way across the weathered boards.

At the far end of the dock, we disembark from the wooden planks and step down onto the cool, damp sand. We walk on it for a few minutes around the unsuspecting corner, where a small motorboat awaits us. Its white hull gleams under the fading evening light, contrasting sharply with the dusky surroundings.

Benji stands by the boat, his expression unreadable. He's flanked by Franko, who's covered in blood, most likely Sven's if my gut leads me to believe right, and a few other men I can't place. Their silhouettes loom against the backdrop of the moon, creating an atmosphere charged with tension and unspoken intentions.

I implore Benji with every ounce of desperation coursing through me, my body trembling yet fervent, but he avoids my gaze, his eyes flitting away as if he's acutely aware that this situation bears his fingerprints.

A seething rage, more bottomless and more consuming than anything I've ever felt, churns within me, yet the agonising pressure of Derek's grip anchors me, forcing me to stifle the volcanic outburst that threatens to erupt.

"Oh good, about damn time," Franko exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he directed his gaze straight at me, unlike his brother.

"Let's get moving," Derek urged, his voice laced with urgency. "I want us well out of sight before those two come looking for us."

"Correction. They're coming to kill you," I growl, feeling the tension coil in my chest like a rattlesnake poised to strike. I know I'm prodding a bear, stirring up a storm I shouldn't provoke, but the thrill of karma ending these men ignites a reckless bravado that's hard to contain when I know Niko will come to save me, and if not that, then to avenge me.

For that, I'm certain.

"Silence her already, Father, or I may be driven to take matters into my own hands," Franko warned, his voice dripping with menace. Tension hung in the air like a thick fog, and his eyes glinted with a promise of impending need.

This is not the Franko I knew before. He was a dark man, yes, but he's all out for my blood now.

"Enough," Derek grumbles, his brows furrowing deeply as he hoists me effortlessly and sets me down on the boat's polished surface. With his staple smile, he nods behind me in encouragement. "Benji, keep her quiet, or your brother might just pop his aorta out of the stress."

"Certainly, father," Benji replies, his tone a mix of obedience and irritation. He grips my arm with a surprisingly gentle touch, leading me further down the sleek vessel. Finally, he settles me in the small space behind the steering wheel, where it feels like the outside world narrows to just the two of us.

I lean in, my voice barely a breath, "Help me!"

His eyes dart around, and then he hisses back, "I tried. Why the hell did you leave them?"

"Maybe because your father threatened my entire family," I retort, the weight of my words hanging heavily between us. Benji's expression shifts as reality sinks in, the tension crackling like electricity in the air around us.

"What family?" he remarks, his tone sharp and cutting. It feels like a knife plunging into my chest, piercing through the fragile fabric of my hope. The stark realisation washes over me like cold water: the only person I truly belong to is Emma, and even she is only half-related to me, a reminder of my fractured ties since my father murdered my mother and I murdered my father.

"Help me," I plead again, my voice trembling with desperation, each word laced with the weight of my predicament.

"It's too late. There's nothing I can do now," he replies, his voice falling to a hush, heavy with resignation. A cloud settles between us, and he retreats into his usual stoic quietness, his expression hardened against the chaos surrounding us. At that moment, one of the henchmen joins us, the atmosphere thickening with unspoken tension as the proverbial wheel of fate continues to turn on me.

We glided through the still waters in the boat, the cool night air wrapping around me like a thin, icy veil. Each breath I took sent a shiver cascading down my spine as the chill seeped into my bones, awakening an exhilarating sense of bitterness. The darkness enveloped us, punctuated only by the distant twinkle of stars above, adding to the haunting beauty of the ocean and this moment.

I delved into every facet of the ocean, the silvery moonlight casting a shimmering path across the waves as we sailed into the vast, uncharted waters with unwavering determination. The horizon stretched endlessly before us, devoid of landmarks or islands that could anchor me to familiarity and would not help guide me back if I did manage to escape.

For what felt like an eternity, I absorbed the beauty and mystery of the ocean, hoping it would reveal the secrets of our impending destination. The rhythmic lapping of the waves against the hull created a soothing melody, while the cool breeze carried the salty scent of the sea, wrapping around me. The night sky twinkled above, a celestial map that seemed to beckon us forward into the unknown.

As the first light of dawn began to stretch across the sky, painting the horizon with gold and soft pink hues, we approached the fringe of a lush island thickly cloaked in vibrant greenery. Though it appeared diminutive at first glance, I felt an undeniable certainty that this was the island I had been on just a few years ago, its wild, untamed nature beckoning me with an alluring promise of torture.

"Up!" Franko shouts, his voice cutting through the air. He urges me to rise from my seat behind Benji. The tension in his command hangs like electricity, compelling me to move.

I step slowly, each movement tinged with the stiffness the biting cold instilled in my limbs. As I disembark from the boat, I feel the reassuring grip of Benji's hands, strong and steady, encircling my waist and guiding me safely onto solid ground. Our gazes meet, and I feel a sense of begging from him, but I ignore it.

"Don't run," he whispered softly into my ear, his breath warm against my skin as he firmly planted my feet onto the cool, dewy grass beside him.

"I should," I muttered under my breath, the weight of my words hanging in the salty air. The vast expanse of the open ocean loomed before me, its deep blue waters stretching endlessly towards the horizon, far removed from any trace of civilisation.

I considered my options, my heart racing with a blend of thrill and caution. I was impulsive, driven by a restless spirit, but I wasn't foolish enough to ignore the dangers beyond the shore's safety.

I'd have to stay, only because that was my only option.