A Beautiful Lie (Playing with Fire #1)(110)

His head flew to the side with the force of the blow. Garrett let out a chuckle and turned his head back to face Milo, licking the blood off of the cut that now adorned his bottom lip.

“You been slacking in the weight room lately, Nancy?” Garrett asked Milo with a mocking smile.

Milo growled and made a lunge for Garrett when Fernandez nodded to one of the guards. The man quickly put his arm up to restrain Milo.

“In due time, son. Just be patient. The man was obviously foolish enough to try and bring a gun into my house. He won’t last long,” Fernandez told him.

While Milo stood across from Garrett spitting fire, Fernandez calmly walked over.

“I think we can do away with the pretenses and all of this nonsense talk, don’t you? How about we head downstairs so you can be reunited with Miss Parker. I do believe Diego is finished with her.”

If Garrett hadn’t already heard Diego’s fate with his own ears, the disgusting smile on Fernandez’s face at that moment would have sent him into a blind rage. Instead, he kept his thoughts to himself and allowed Fernandez’s goons to drag him across the room. Fernandez and Milo led the way through the ground floor of the palace, down several hallways, until they came to a door that led to a basement. Once they got to the bottom of the stairs, they walked down another hallway until they came to a second door. It was unlocked and the small group entered the room, coming to an abrupt halt as soon as they got inside.

Milo let out a curse and one of the guards next to Garrett moved. He tilted his head to the side and the sight before him took his breath away.

Parker. His beautiful, strong Parker, tied up on the floor of the room. His whole body tensed in anger seeing her bruised and battered face, the blood that splattered her clothing, and the shirt she wore which was torn down the middle, exposing her smooth skin that was dotted with more blood. He watched her eyes widen in shock when she realized he was there. Just as quickly, fear and anguish took over her features and she had to look away from him.

Parker had never known as much dread as she did right at that moment. Seeing Garrett, knowing he had come for her, should have given her hope. All it did was make her realize they were both going to die in this room. When she only had herself to worry about, it was easy. She could handle it with strength and determination. Having the man she loved but couldn't do anything to save in the same situation as her took all of the fight she had left out of her.

Parker watched with detachment as one of the guards grabbed Diego’s arms and dragged his unconscious body from the room. Garrett willed her to look at him again, to look at his face so he could tell her with his eyes and his heart that he would get her out of there if it was the last thing he did. He didn’t like the resignation he saw on her face when she realized he was there; he hated the way her body seemed to deflate right before him, her strength seeping out of her like the air from a balloon.

“Must you leave so much destruction in your wake?” Fernandez asked Parker with a frustrated huff.

Parker angled her head up to meet his eyes.

“Just following your lead, *,” she replied with a deadpan expression on her face.

Milo stepped forward and his foot connected with Parker’s stomach. She let out a yelp and bent forward as much as the bindings would allow, squeezing her eyes shut to stave off the pain.

Garrett saw red and shouted every obscenity he could think of and struggled like a wild animal against the guards who held him secure before Milo had even pulled his foot away from Parker’s midsection.

“Don’t you f*cking touch her, you piece of shit!”

Fernandez pulled a gun out of the waistband of the guard who stood next to him and calmly walked over to Parker as she struggled to breathe. The kick to her stomach had knocked the wind out of her, and she grew lightheaded as she sucked in quick, shallow breaths.

Fernandez pushed the barrel of the pistol against her skull and turned to stare at Garrett.

“Keep it up, Lieutenant McCarthy, and her brains will be painting the walls of this room,” he stated matter-of-factly.

The fight immediately left Garrett and fear for Parker’s safety replaced his anger.

“That’s more like it,” Fernandez said as he pulled the gun away from Parker’s head. Just then, Margarita stumbled into the room thanks to a shove from the guard who brought her down the stairs.

“Ah, Margarita. You have returned from your errand in town,” Fernandez said as he walked up to his wife.

To Margarita’s credit, she didn’t flinch or back away. She held her head high as the man she loathed stood in front of her. She knew there could only be one outcome to this situation. She knew it the moment she came out of the bathroom back at the resort. She recognized it as she helped Garrett into the trunk of her car and drove through the palace gates. She knew there was only one way she would be free of the horrors this life had brought to her. And she intended to leave it with dignity.

“You have nothing to say? No excuses or remorse for bringing the enemy into my home? After everything I’ve given you, everything I’ve done, this is how you repay me? With betrayal?” Fernandez asked.

“You and I both know where the fault of betrayal lies. If I have let anyone down, it was myself and my son.”

Margarita cast a heartbreaking look at Milo.

“I’m sorry for ever leaving you, my son. I should have stayed. I should have protected you. I never should have let this poison into your life. I hope you know that with every breath I took, I loved you. I only wanted what was best for you. I hope you can forgive me for ever―”