Suddenly seeing the man she loved right in front of her after so long, Cara’s throat choked up with too many emotions at the same time. Tears pooled in her eyes as she stared at him wordlessly, gulping down the painful lump in her throat. Did he really come all the way here for her? Time stood still for them as Marcus gazed at her, his eyes brimming with helpless tears.
“I love you so much. Why did you leave me, Cara? I’ve been looking for you everywhere like crazy,” he cried, holding her close to his heart, crushing her to himself. For a moment Cara was shocked as the words echoed in her head. He loved her! He really loved her! His heart-wrenching confession as well as his tears touched Cara so much that she clung to him, forgetting the way he had betrayed her, the way he had kissed Cassie, everything.
“You love m-me?” she asked incredulously, her lips trembling with suppressed emotions as she looked up at his tear-stricken face. Her heart wanted to hope, but her body refused to release him lest he vanished into the air like an impossible dream. After the trauma she had been through, it seemed like a distant dream to her. She had completely given up hope of Marcus. She hadn’t expected him to love her after all that they had been through. She had thought of spending her whole life with Marianne and the memories of her lost love but it seemed God had taken pity on her after all.
“Yes mia Cara, I do. Don’t you love me even a little bit? Why did you leave me?” he asked earnestly, his eyes searching hers desperately.
“I love you, Marcus. Maybe you had forgotten your feelings for me when you were busy kissing Cassie that night,” she said with a sigh. Marcus looked taken aback. He had no idea that she had seen Cassie attack him that night.
“I didn’t, Cara. If you had stayed back you would have seen the way I turned down Cassie. She attacked me suddenly, taking me by surprise when you saw me. I had a fight with mom that night and left. Granny tried to support us but mom fought with her as well. She died the next day. I broke all ties with mom till a few days back when she apologized. Please, Cara, I’ve come to take you home with me,” he begged. Cara’s eyes widened as she listened to him intently. She instantly repented for not having stayed that night. Maybe her life would have been different and happier. Maybe Marianne wouldn’t have to grow up without the love of her parents.
“I can’t go with you, Marcus. You don’t know how dangerous Frederick is. He will kill my family as well as you. There’s no other way than to forget me and move on,” she said, releasing him slowly. Her heart was breaking and she felt helpless and dejected. She hated this life! She hated this bondage! Why couldn’t she be free and happy like everyone else? Marcus pulled her close again, refusing to release her. He went through hell to finally get her and now that she was in his arms, close to his aching chest, he couldn’t let her go.
“No, I won’t listen to anything you say. You’re mine, Cara. I don’t care whether you’re famous. I won’t let you marry that scoundr*l Gardner. He’s fifteen years older than you and a criminal. I’ll rescue you, Cara. I can give up my life for you if I need to,” he said desperately. She placed her hand on his lips.
“No, please. I won’t let anything happen to you. Don’t say such things. If you want to save me we have to first get evidence against Frederick. He’s into illegal drugs and all his underhanded dealings take place at his office in the basement of this club. He is there to sign a deal right now. After a few minutes, he will be done. Then he will inject drugs into my body to paralyze me and then ra*e me. This has been going on for the last three months. I’m not good enough for you, Marcus. I’m not the innocent and pure girl you had fallen in love with. If you want to rethink your decision, I’ll perfectly understand,” she said with a sigh, wiping her tears away. Marcus froze hearing the torture that Frederick subjected her to. He understood everything perfectly and his determination to save her from his clutches grew stronger than ever. His hold tightened on her and he crushed her to his chest.
“I don’t care about all this. I swear that I’ll get you justice, Cara. I won’t let him get away with this,” he said desperately, his face red with anger. “I’ll rescue you from this hell hole. Do you trust me, baby?” he asked, planting a kiss on her forehead. Cara nodded, touched by his tenderness, his love that she could feel with every cell of her body. No one loved her as much as he did. She was touched that he was willing to jeopardize his own life and safety for her.
The sound of footsteps echoed outside, making them immediately on high alert. “I have to get back or Frederick will kill my family. Here keep this VIP pass. It belongs to Frederick. If you show this at the gates, you can escape easily,” she whispered, handing him the pass as Marcus reluctantly released her. However, his mind was in overdrive as he planned and plotted ways to save her. Cara quietly slipped out and returned back to the lounge where Frederick had left her.
Marcus called his PI immediately for support. He didn’t have much time and needed to act soon. He wouldn’t let Frederick ra*e Cara tonight. He would do anything to save her from his clutches. His PI, Mike Johnson had a huge network and immediately promised to arrange for the type of backup Marcus needed. In the meantime, Marcus went to the basement to collect proof, being careful not to be caught. The guards caught him but he posed as one of the clients showing them the VIP pass. The trick worked and they left him alone.
Marcus stood in front of the small office room. This section was private and secluded in comparison to the rest of the club. Standing outside the door he recorded the deal going on inside. Peering through the small keyhole of the closed door, he could clearly see Frederick shaking hands with a man. Maybe the deal was through and he would go upstairs. Marcus escaped as quickly as possible in case anyone got suspicious. Going upstairs, he roamed stealthily around, taking photographs of the customers who were busy buying and using the drugs.
Mike called and he walked out of the club to meet him in the parking area. Although there was tight security all around, the VIP pass worked like magic every time. Mike had arranged for the disguise he needed for Cara and he went back to the club with it. He stealthily went towards the lounge where Cara had disappeared and tried the door. It opened thankfully and he peered in carefully. There was no one in the room. He entered the room and dashed towards the washroom to hide. He could see the whole room from there but where was Cara? Had he come into the wrong room?
Suddenly the door was kicked open and Frederick pushed Cara into the room roughly. She cried out and fell onto the huge leather sofa, her eyes wide and panicked. Marcus clenched his teeth as his body trembled with fury seeing the way the basta*d was treating his Cara. He picked up his mobile phone and started recording everything.
“How dare you escape from here? I thought I made it very clear that I’ll only release you the day you die. Now be ready for this drug. It will paralyze your body and help you enjoy more. I’m going to just give you a double dose,” he said, taking out a syringe and tearing the packaging off.
Cara cowered with fear, moving away from him to the far end of the sofa. “Please don’t do this to me, Frederick. I won’t tell anyone about your drugs business. Please let me go,” she begged, crying bitterly. Frederick mocked her and scowled angrily at her.
“I don’t believe you. I’m not taking any chances this time. You will pay for finding out about me, for not minding your business,” he sneered as big fat teardrops fell from Cara’s eyes and she looked around helplessly for Marcus. Where was he? Why wasn’t he even trying to rescue her? Did he change his mind? Did he hate her after knowing how impure she had become?
Frederick yelled for his men who came rushing in. “No, I don’t want them to touch me. I won’t protest, just keep them away from me,” screamed Cara. Frederick held up his hand to stop the men, gesturing for them to go away.
Cara sobbed brokenly knowing that in fifteen minutes the drug would take effect upon her system and Frederick would force himself upon her. She would wake up sore and nauseated. It was a regular affair and the effects of the drug would remain in her system for nearly a fortnight. Frederick caught her and pinned her to the sofa and injected the drug into her body. All the fight left her and she sagged like a rag doll.
“You have fifteen minutes to be ready for me,” he said, walking out of the room while Cara’s head reeled and she could feel her body getting numb. Slowly she closed her eyes.
The moment the door closed, Marcus emerged from his hiding place.