Chapter 57

Daisy could feel her stiff muscles and locked joints loosen up as she melted against soft pillows and caught Luca's scent. She turned her head and buried her face in the sheets. Her knees pulled up towards her chest as she brought the fabric closer and filled her lungs. The tender hand running through her hair felt the waves that were coming onto the beach outside.

"Wake up, princess."

Daisy's eyes snapped open. She came face to face with Marco as he smiled down at her from where he laid beside her on the bed.

"Whoa, whoa," Marco sat up and grabbed Daisy's arm as she pushed away from him and began to paddle backwards on the bed.

"Don't touch me!" Daisy pushed at his hands.

"That's not a smart idea right now," Marco said, letting go of her and watching her as she jumped out of bed and collapsed on the floor.

Daisy's heart lodged into her throat as her legs laid beneath her like overcooked noodles. They couldn't hold her up as she tried her hardest to stand up and run out the door. It was like trying to run in a nightmare, stuck in one place.

"Are you done yet?" Marco asked. With a great sigh, he got off the bed and came around to where Daisy laid on the floor. She immediately began to roll away from him but he followed her patiently.

"I didn't think the drugs would have such a strong effect on you like that," he said as Daisy sat up and looked around for anything she could use to protect herself.

"Why are you doing this?" Daisy glared up towards him in anger. She was backed up against the closed door of the bedroom they were in. Her hands were flat on the hardwood floors beneath her and her back pressed against the door as if she could break through it if she tried hard enough.

Marco didn't answer her question. He slowly bent down in front of her and stared at her face. Daisy could only imagine what she looked like to him. She could feel the tears running down her face but there was no fear in her eyes for him to witness. She knew he could see the anger like she could feel her burning cheeks.

"Luca is going to kill you," Daisy said through her teeth. "You have no idea what he will do to you once he gets here."

"He's a little busy right now," Marco said, taking a seat in front of her on the floor and crossing his legs. "I had to make sure he wouldn't disturb us."

Daisy bit down on the inside of her cheek. Her eyes began to scan the room over Marco's shoulder when she suddenly realized why she had smelled Luca earlier.

"Juliet Cay," the words came out of Daisy's lips in a whisper. Her eyes widened and her heart began to beat faster. She looked towards the bed where Luca had kissed her endlessly and vowed to never leave her side. Daisy's heart contracted and a wave of fresh tears surfaced.

"He's going to rip you to pieces," Daisy said. "I'll make sure of tha-"

"Are you pregnant?" Marco asked, ignoring her threats.

"What?" Daisy's eyes narrowed but her heart looked for a safe place to hide.

"You had a very bad reaction to the drugs," Marco said, almost talking to himself. "I thought I must have given you the wrong dosage or something but that couldn't be. I made sure to double check."

Daisy pressed her lips into a thin line. Her hand itched to shield her belly but she didn't dare move.

"The only other explanation I could think of is that you're pregnant," Marco said and then laughed. "But that can't be."

Daisy held her breath. Marco's laughter began to chill her bones.

"Because if that was the case," Marco shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "I would have to cut that thing out of you and ship it back to Luca to deal with."

Daisy felt her stomach churn. The mountain of fear that fell over her could have crushed her if the adrenaline in her system wasn't keeping her wide awake.

"That can't happen," Marco shook his head and looked up at Daisy. "You can't have Eric's baby and then Luca's baby and then my-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," Daisy pushed down the nausea that came over her.

"You're not a birthing machine," Marco raised his hands and captured Daisy's face. She protested but it only made Marco pull her closer. "You're Venus."

"Let go of me," Daisy grabbed his wrists and pushed his hands away.

"I can't stand the thought of knowing you've been with those two," Marco said, his own eyes igniting rage. "Once Angelo takes care of Eric's son, I'll take care of Luca's."

"What..." Daisy felt her heart fall out of her chest. "What did you say?"

"We'll move someplace far away and no one will know anything about your past because no one will ever come back from your past," Marco said. "No Eric, No Luca, No Theo."

"No," Daisy's face twisted with fear. Her heart began to beat its wings like a frightened bird as she grabbed the door handled and tried to pull herself up.

"Easy, my love," Marco rose with her, grabbing her hand to steady her.

"Don't touch me!" Daisy screamed. "Take me to my baby!"

"Daisy," Marco tried to hold her again. "Relax."

"No," Daisy screamed harder, her voice cracking and shaking as she cried for Theo. "Don't hurt them. Please, don't hurt them. Please!"

"It's not up to me. I would never hurt them," Marco said. "It's up to Angelo."

Daisy's head began to sway. She swore she tasted blood along with her tears as she began to sink to the ground. Marco jumped forward and caught her in his arms.

"What did you do?" Daisy sobbed. She let Marco carry her to the sofa and then sit her down on it.

"I just passed along some information to Angelo," Marco said. "That's all."

"Why?" Daisy asked. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because I love you," Marco said. "I can't stop thinking about you."

Daisy gagged. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she covered her mouth.

"You probably don't remember but the day you arrived at Del Mare, Luca had stopped the car at the market for just a few minutes. You rolled down the window and looked out at the people in the market. The sun bounced off of the smile on your face and made your hair appear like a halo behind you."

Daisy stared at Marco as if she was waiting for a wild animal to pounce. He held her hand and rubbed circles on her wrist as he continued to talk.

"I fell in love with you right then and right there," Marco smiled. "I knew I had been waiting my whole life for you."

"I'm married, you fuckin' weirdo," Daisy said.

"Ah give it a few hours," Marco rolled his eyes. "You'll be a widow."

"Luca will never let you get away with this," Daisy said.

"Really?" Marco arched his brows and checked his watch. "It's been like......four hours. Where is he?"

"He's coming," Daisy said. "If you get out of my way then maybe he'll consider letting you live out the rest of your days in prison instead of burying the pieces of your body all over Del Mare."

"Hmm," Marco smiled. He reached out and placed a hand over Daisy's belly. "Or maybe I'll be burying him and his child all over Del Mare."

__________________

"Is Angelo out of his fuckin' mind?" Giovanni asked. "He's sending his men after a child?"

"He's always been like this," Luca said, pacing the man's living room and rubbing his forehead. "And he's not just after Theo. He's after me and Gia."

"You should call Daniel back," Giovanni advised.

"He's already at the airport," Luca said. "I want him to get his nonna to New York before anything."

"He's not going to be happy when he finds out about Angelo putting a kill order on his wife," Giovanni said, his voice ever so calm.

"I don't need Daniel here," Luca snapped. "I can take care of my own family."

"Your wife's been abducted," Giovanni reminded him. "If Archer wasn't with you today, your father's men would have overpowered you on the road. You were outnumbered."

"I'm not done fighting," Luca said. "If Angelo wants hell. I'll give him hell."

"And what about Marco?" Giovanni asked.

Luca's eyes narrowed as the burning fire in his veins intensified.

"You kids are all the same," Giovanni shook his head. "None of you have your heads on straight."

Luca opened his mouth to protest when Gia slowly walked into the room, cradling her injured arm.

"Maybe some advice will do you two some good, right now," Giovanni sighed. "Let Gia and Theo stay here. Your father won't know they're with me. Take Archer with you and find your wife. Once she's safe, I'll talk your father off the ledge."

Luca's jaw worked as he listened to Giovanni's words. Trusting Giovanni was a gamble. The men in Del Mare never did anything out of the goodness of their heart for anyone outside of their families. It was very possible that Giovanni would turn Gia and Theo into Angelo as soon as Luca left them behind.

But what were his other options? Take his sister and his one year old son on a rescue mission?

"Luca," Giovanni's voice cut through his thoughts. "You don't have much time or the manpower to comb through Del Mare looking for her right now. For all you know, Marco could be smuggling her out right now."

"The city is sealed," Luca said. "I may not have all of my men because of my father, but the ones who are with me have blocked off all the roads in and out of town. The docks were secured and after Daniel's flight, all other airplanes were grounded. No one gets in or out of Del Mare until I find my wife."

"Luca," Gia stepped forward. "I'll stay with Theo. Just....just go find her."

Luca's heart twisted. He couldn't believe he wasn't tearing apart the city looking for his wife. He couldn't believe he was pacing Giovanni's lavish living room while some freak had his wife and their unborn child.

All Luca could think of was making sure Theo was safe before anything happened. Daisy would never forgive him if he let any harm come to their son.

Torn up, frustrated, and terrified, Luca tried to breathe but the pressure in his chest wouldn't let him.

"Archer is ready," Giovanni said, rising from where he was sitting on the sofa and buttoning his suit.

Gia and Luca looked over their shoulders as Archer appeared in the doorway. He had changed out of his suit and pulled on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. Luca couldn't believe how young they all looked. Archer, Gia, Daniel....Del Mare was no place for them and it sure as hell wasn't a place for his children either.

"I'm trusting you," Luca said, turning towards Giovanni. "If anything happens to my son-"

"You have my word," Giovanni said.

_______________________

"How....." Daisy cleared her voice from where she sat on the sofa and stared at Marco leaned back on the bed. "How did you know about Eric?"

Marco smiled, "I wanted to know everything about you as soon as I laid my eyes on you. A little digging here, a little digging there."

"And Theo?"

"Like I said," Marco laughed. "He looks nothing like Luca. I knew something was wrong as soon as I saw him."

"Luca is his dad," Daisy said. "But you wouldn't understand something like that."

"No, I wouldn't," Marco shrugged. "So I'm not trying to. Luca can keep Theo. Once we're out of here, I won't have to worry about that little one inside of you either."

Daisy's skin crawled, "Where are we going? Where are you taking me?"

"Nowhere until your husband is dead," Marco rolled his eyes. "He has all the exits and entrances to the town blocked off. But as soon as Angelo does what I need him to do, we're out of here, baby."

"He's looking for me," Daisy said. "Right now. You don't have any time left."

"He'll never find us here," Marco smiled. "And even if he does, I'll see him coming from a mile away. Plenty of time for me to hide you."

"Marco," Daisy's heart rose up with a sudden rush of panic. "Please, stop this. It doesn't have to be like this."

"It does," Marco sighed. "Unless you want to call Luca and tell him you're leaving him."

Daisy stared at the crazy man before her. Her insides shook with terror. She couldn't think straight.

"That would make all this so much easier," Marco said. "He's making it very difficult to leave Del Mare."

"Luca won't give up without a fight."

And neither will I, Daisy thought.

"He'll never believe me if I tell him I'm leaving," Daisy said. "Not unless....."

Daisy stopped. Her eyes stayed glued on Marco as he looked up at her and waited.

"Not unless what?" He arched his brow.

"Why should I help you?" Daisy said. She slowly sat up and pushed her hair over her shoulder. Her long neck stretched as she tilted her head ever so slightly to one side to appear vulnerable. "You kidnapped me, remember?"

Marco stared at her. His eyes moved over her body, making her skin itch. When he got to her eyes, Daisy held his gaze for just three seconds and then looked away.

Eye contact, Patty always said. Drives a man crazy.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Marco said. "You know that right?"

"Why?" Daisy asked.

"What?"

"Why won't you hurt me?" Daisy asked. "How do I know you won't hurt me?"

"Because I love you, Daisy," Marco sat up. "I love you so fuckin' much."

"You don't kidnap the people you love!"

"What choice did I have?" Marco stood up.

"You could have been normal about it!" Daisy yelled. "You could have continued to be the sweet amazing guy I became friends with."

"What?" Marco paused.

"I liked you, Marco," Daisy said, making sure to bat her lashes once and then twice. Her full lips pouted and her head stayed tilted

Let a man think he saved a beautiful woman and he will dance to your tunes.

Daisy could not believe after years and years of fighting and arguing, she was doing everything Patty had ever taught her. The Patty's Guide To A Rich Husband was finally paying off.

"You liked me?" Marco's brows furrowed.

"Why is that so hard for you to believe?" Daisy asked. "You were the only person in this town who showed me any kind of kindness. Not even my own husband coul.......never mind."

"Not even your own husband could what?" Marco asked.

"Nothing," Daisy looked away.

A desirable woman always has an air of mystery around herself. She's strong and independent but not in the presence of the man who will save her from her troubles. The world sees her hardness but only he can see the tenderness in her eyes.

Very slowly Daisy raised her lashes. She took her time to find Marco's gaze. But as soon as their eyes met, she looked away.

"What did you mean?" Marco asked.

"Why do you care?" Daisy looked down at the pillow on her lap.

"Because I love you, damn it!"

"You don't know what love is!"

"What did you mean?" Marco asked, stepping closer.

"It doesn't matter now."

Make him beg to hear your thoughts.

"Daisy," Marco moved closer and took her hand. "What did you mean?"

With a slow intake of air, Daisy stopped herself from recoiling from his touch. She stared at her hand in Marco's for a few long seconds as she let his anticipation grow.

"When you......." she began slowly. "In your research about me, did you find out why Luca married me?"

"No," Marco said.

"It was a contract," Daisy continued.

"What?" Marco's brow raised.

"I was pregnant. I had no money, no family to help me. He needed someone to play his wife and a child to pass off as his heir," Daisy spoke slowly. "So Luca offered me a contract."

"You're lying," Marco said.

"I swear on my son's life," Daisy said. "Luca and I married because he needed an heir and a wife to get his money back from his father. If you don't believe me, call Angelo's lawyer and ask about the family clause in the man's will."

"So why didn't you leave him once he got his money?"

"I tried to," Daisy said. "But then he dragged me here."

Marco's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"I don't know anyone here!" Daisy cried. "I have no family here. I can't even go anywhere without his men following me around. You saw what he did the day you tried to talk to me at the hospital. I had to cut off contact with everyone I ever knew or loved because of him. If you think what you're doing to me is new, then get in line buddy. Del Mare is my prison!"

Always show the man exactly how to rescue the damsel in distress.

"When I met you....I thought...." Daisy wiped her tears. "I thought I was finally making a friend here. You even tried to warn me about him and in that moment I really thought you were my friend. But you're.....you're just like him."

"No," Marco shook his head. "I'm not like Luca."

"No?" Daisy cried. "You're not keeping me here against my will? You're not going to move me around different places whenever you feel like it? You're just another Del Mare prison guard."

"I'm not!" Marco grabbed her hand. "I'm going to get you out of here."

"How?" Daisy asked. "You can't. Luca will never let that happen!"

"You said you knew how."

"No, I didn't," Daisy tried to deny the seeds she had planted.

"You did," Marco followed her trail.

"I just....." Daisy shook her head. "It was just an idea."

"What idea?"

Daisy shrugged, "I just.....you had said to call him and tell him I was leaving him."

"Yeah."

"He won't buy that," Daisy said. "Not unless I demand to take Theo with me."

"No."

"He's my son," Daisy tried to pull her hand back. "I'm not leaving him in Del Mare with those monsters."

"No."

"Then how do you plan to get out of here?" Daisy asked. "I'm telling you, it will work. You already got Angelo's rage locked on Luca. I'm sure he doesn't even care what happens to me and Theo now. He has his money."

"Why do you want to do this?"

"What?" Daisy frowned.

"Why are you telling me how to get you out of here?"

"Because I'm dying here," Daisy said, looking at Marco with her big eyes full of tears. "He pretends I'm Stella."

"What?" Marco's forehead creased.

"Look at my hair," Daisy picked up her dark locks. "Why do you think I changed my hair?"

"You're nothing like Stella," Marco said.

Daisy looked down and shook her head, "That's all he ever sees in me."

Marco stared at her as Daisy shook her head and cried. He didn't know if she was aware of how she had pulled his hand closer to herself. The sadness in her eyes tugged at his heart. He would never forgive Luca for treating her so horribly. Daisy deserved more and he was going to give her more.

"I'll tell you the address to give him," Marco said, pulling out his phone. "Tell him to leave Theo there."

________________________

"Any news?" Luca asked Mateo on the phone as he made his way up Marco's drive away and towards the house. Archer followed him as the other men went around the back of the house.

"No, boss," Mateo said. "We're looking."

"Find her," Luca demanded. "She didn't vanish into thin air!"

"Yes, boss," Mateo said.

Luca bit down on his molars and threw the phone into his pocket. He raised his gun and motioned for Archer to open the door.

"This is a waste of time," Archer rolled his eyes. "I don't think this guy will be dumb enough to hide out in his own house after kidnapping your wife."

"Do you have any better ideas?" Luca asked. "I know he's not here. I'm here to get inside his sick head. There has to be something here that can tell me where he took her."

"Why would you want to get into his head?" Archer raised his hand and shot the lock right off the door.

"To find my wife!" Luca snapped. "Jesus, kid. What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"It's a kidnapping. He'll eventually make a ransom call," Archer said.

Luca ignored Archer as he made his way into the house and switched on the lights. His feet moved through the neatly styled bachelor pad as his eyes scanned every inch of the living room.

"Does anyone even live here?" Archer asked, his gun raised and his feet as silent as a cat. "No picture frames, no personal belongings, no sense of personality."

"When did you complete your interior design degree?" Luca asked, turning towards the halls that led to the bedroom.

"Oh shit."

"What?" Luca stilled and turned towards Archer.

The boy was frozen by the entrance of the study. He lowered his gun slightly and stared into the room. Luca's heart stopped, his mind running wild with painful images.

"I don't think you're going to get a ransom call," Archer said, his eyes still staring into the room.

Luca began to head towards the study. He kept his gun raised as he entered the room and froze.

Daisy.

Daisy at Church.

Daisy at the market.

Daisy at the beach.

Daisy with Theo.

Daisy with Gia.

Daisy laughing.

Daisy pouting.

Luca couldn't breathe as he stared at the hundreds and hundreds of photographs of his wife.

"This isn't just business anymore," Archer said. "This is worse."

"It was never business," Luca lowered his gun. "It became personal as soon as he touched my wife and son."

"He can't be fa-"

Luca had no time to listen to Archer as his phone began to ring in his pocket. He pulled it out and almost crushed it in his hand when he saw the caller ID.

Private Number.

"Hello," Luca barked.

"Luca?"

All the wind was knocked out of Luca's lungs as soon as he heard Daisy's voice. The pain that ripped through him could surely kill him if he ever experienced it again.

"Daisy?" Luca gripped the phone tightly. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Where are you?"

"I want Theo," Daisy said, her voice shaking.

"What?" Luca asked, moving closer to the window. "I can't hear you. Where are you?"

"I want Theo," Daisy said again. "Leave him at the docks. There's a black car parked in the parking lot. Leave him there."

"Are you out of your mind?" Luca demanded. "Where are you?"

"I can't tell you," Daisy said.

"Is he with you?"

Daisy didn't reply and Luca felt his anger boil.

"Tell him I will bleed him to death once I get my hands on him."

"No," Daisy said. "I'm leaving with him."

"What?" Luca asked.

"I'm taking Theo and we're leaving," Daisy said.

"Are you insane?"

"Yes," Daisy said. "Kind of insane like you thinking you can make everything better with an island!"

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Luca yelled.

"I'm done with you Luca," Daisy said. "I'm done with your stupid games, your stupid town, and your stupid island! Seriously, do you even know me at all? Putting me on an island and then thinking I'll fall into your arms because you saved me! Do you think I'm that shallow?" Luca's eyes snapped up.

His head was throbbing with rage but suddenly there was a little slither of sunlight in the darkness.

"You didn't like the island?" He asked, his heart breathing so fast.

"What do you think, genius?" Daisy's voice wavered just for a second but Luca caught it.

Before Luca could say anything else, Marco's voice greeted him through the phone.

"You have thirty minutes to drop off the kid," Marco said.

"Marco," Luca took in a deep breath. "I'm going to kill you tonight."

With a scuff, Marco ended the call, leaving Luca clenching his jaw. The little slither of sunlight in his head was growing. When he looked up, Archer was waiting for him.

"He has her on the island," Luca said. 

What's next?