The Billion-Dollar Marriage Contract (21 page)

After a few more minutes, the torture ensued. Nikos grunts of pain along with their captor’s maniacal laughter rang across the empty corridors. She recalled his nightmares and bile rose in her throat. There was just something different now, though. He didn’t scream for mercy. He didn’t beg. He shouted out in pain and cursed but
he never gave in.

Tears fell from Cassia’s eyes as she was forced to listen. She huddled in the corner of their cell and covered her ears with her hands for she couldn’t take it anymore. After a few hours, she fell asleep still crying.

Cassia woke up when she heard the doors to their cell being opened. She stood, just in time to catch Nikos as they threw him inside. He groaned in pain as she dragged him to their pallet. Their handcuffs were placed back and the leader aimed another kick at Nikos before he left. It hit him on the back of his leg and his knees crumbled.

She knelt beside him and looked at him before the lights
were switched off.

Nikos' left eye was swollen shut, his face marred with bruises and there was a cut across his left brow that still bled. He was also taking shallow breaths which meant that there could also be an injury to his ribs. Cassia lifted the shirt he wore and ran her fingers down his chest gently.

Nothing seemed to be broken but there were several large bruises and small cuts. She cringed when she saw one bruise that was in the shape of a foot. When they escaped from this place, she would make sure that those who were responsible for this would suffer for what they did.

She continued her examination until she ran across a large scar in his side. The skin there looked
whiter and shiny. It was raised and smooth and Cassia knew this was a scar caused by a burn. She had several small cigarette burns from one of her foster families who punished her by turning her into an ash tray when she did something wrong.

She had nightmares as a child because of that. But looking at Nikos’ scar, it was bigger therefore it was more p
ainful than what she experienced.

Could this
be the one that caused all his nightmares?

This was not the time to think about those things. She stood up and reached as far as the handcuffs would allow without disturbing Nikos. He was unconscious, and that was a welcome relief from his pain.

She gathered water using one of their drinking cups and tore a strip from their thin blanket. She washed it clean to the best of her abilities using only one hand. She used that to clean Nikos’ wounds. He groaned and flinched but did not wake up and Cassia thanked all her lucky stars for that. She did her best to clean him and wipe away all blood and dirt.

When she was finished, she sighed and sat back against the wall beside her husband.

She wished that their escape would come soon. She couldn’t take it if anything more happened to Nikos.

And one of these days, she could be next.

During the last two days, both of them spoke to the boy who brought their food. Nikos spoke to him more and threw out subtle hints about several injustices. He also made the boy feel as if he truly understood him. He agreed with whatever the boy shared with them about his life here and Nikos made him feel as if he mattered.

She waited for the next time their meals would be brought. Since their cell was dark and windowless, that was the only thing she could use to tell the time. The next meal that would be
brought to them would be their breakfast and Cassia would make sure that their plans to escape would already be fulfilled.

She almost dozed back to sleep when the door opened and their food was pushed inside. She stood up to move towards the boy but was surprised when he knelt beside her.

“It was unfair what they did to him. You must get out of here, lady. I heard them say they are planning to do something to you tonight.”

Cassia’s jaw dropped open in shock. Then her muscles locked with fear. The boy shook her.

“You must take him and leave! There’s no more time to waste! They’re not here. The ferry which brings supplies to the island is here, and there are only a minimum number of guards. I can help you escape! But we must hurry!” the boy whispered.

The heavens truly had been watching over her
.

“Where are we escaping to? How do we get off this island?” she asked

“I can lead you outside this facility. Once you’re outside, follow the trail to the woods. You’ll come across a cabin. That belonged to the boss’ daughter before. They do not know of that. You can hide there. I believe there’s a satellite phone you can use.”

“I can never thank you enough...wait! How do I know this is not a trap? Why are you helping us?”

“I thought this was all for money. We are poor and we really need the money. I need it for my mother to buy her food and medicine. Turns out that wasn’t the case. They kidnapped you for some kind of revenge. They never wanted money. I overheard them talking about ways they could torture and use both of you. That wasn’t what I signed up for. Besides, you two seem to be good people.”

Cassia opened her mouth to thank the boy but he lifted his hand to stop her.
He took a key from his pocket and unlocked their handcuffs.

“We could sit here discussing this or we could go.
Now.
They will be back anytime soon.”

Cassia shook Nikos awake. He opened his eyes and the first thing she saw in them was terror and panic.

“Shh...it’s me. We’re getting out of here.”

Nikos nodded and tried hard not to make any noise as he stood up.

His body hurt all over and it cost all of his effort not to cry out in pain. As stealthily as they could, they followed the boy through a maze of corridors. Relief flooded Cassia when there were not many guards around.

The main trouble came in the form of the guards from the entrance doors. There were two of them and they were wide awake, alert and heavily armed. The boy motioned for them to go inside a small cabinet to the side.

“What are we supposed to do now?”

The boy thought hard and looked at Nikos from head to toe.

“He can’t fight at that state so it’s going to be you and me, lady. We can sneak behind them and hit them with something...” he trailed off and looked around the cabinet for something they could use.

The boy grabbed two wooden mops and handed one to Cassia.

“Use this and hit them on the back of the head. Swing hard for we only have one strike with this. Do
not
hesitate,” the boy told her.

Cassia nodded but her mouth ran dry with fear. What would happen if they got caught? They would only beat Nikos further and then they would carry out their threat of raping her.

She shuddered at the thought and gripped the mop tighter. She could do this. This was the last hurdle and then they’d be free.

“On my signal, we walk towards the wall. Don’t make any noise. Wait again for my signal. Then, we strike. After that, you take
him and run as fast as you can before they get the chance to alert the others.”

The boy moved towards the door but Cassia stopped him.

“I don’t think you belong with this kind of life,” she told him as she removed her diamond earrings, her necklace and her watch. She handed all those to the boy who again seemed stunned.

Her action made a memory flash through her mind. She recalled doing the same thing for Hector and her heart ached when she realized she missed him so much.

“Take this and start a new life somewhere. Go to America. Or find us in Athens. I’ll give you more if you need it. Go to the
Andrade-Demakis Corporation
and look for Cassia Demakis. I’ll give you whatever you need.”

The boy looked shell-shocked for a moment and then tears misted his eyes. Cassia wiped them away and smiled at him in encouragement.

“Thank you for this,” she whispered as she held his hand.

“I hope you make it home. Let's go, lady,” the boy replied.

He motioned for her to follow him. The boy looked left and right and then silently walked towards the wall. Cassia squeezed Nikos’ hand and he nodded to her before she followed the boy. She tried to mimic his movements as best as she could to avoid creating any noise.

They sneaked up to the two guards who, luckily, were busy having a conversation about a hooker they both shared last night. The boy positioned himself behind one of the guards and Cassia did the same. She gripped the wooden mop as tightly as she could and prepared herself to swing.

She prayed that they would succeed as she waited for the boy’s signal.

He nodded to her, and without wasting any more time, the two of them
reared back and then swung the mops with as much force as they could. It hit the back of the guard’s skull with a sickening thud. The impact jarred her wrists and she watched as the guard went down with a grunt, their blood staining the floor.

“Go!” the boy hissed.

Nikos stood up and limped towards them as fast as he could. Cassia met him halfway and supported him by placing his arm on her shoulders.

“Will you be okay?” she asked the boy as they passed him by.

“Yes! I’ll hit my head on the wall and pretend to be knocked out near your cell. They will believe that you overpowered me and escaped. Once they are busy searching for you, I’ll escape.”

“At least tell me your name before we go.”

“Jason,” the boy whispered.

Cassia and Nikos followed the barely visible trail deep in the woods. There was another, well-worn path that they were sure would’ve led to the beach but that would be where most of their captors were. The beach would also be the first logical place they would look. The wisest course would be to trust the boy’s word and look for the cabin.

Nikos still groaned in pain and limped as they trekked through the dense forest, but no complaint escaped his lips. They stopped as often as they could for rest. Nikos was still bruised and battered all over, and he could only take a mile or two before he collapsed.

After a few more minutes, his steps slowed and his eyes drooped.

“Just a bit more, Nikos. I think we’re nearly there,”

“Leave me here. It’ll be faster that way,” he panted.

Cassia resisted the impulse to punch him.

“Stop that! What if they catch you again? You’ll be in a much worse state than you are in now!” she lectured. She tugged on his good arm until he stood up again. Truth be told, her shoulders ached from carrying much of his weight already but she, too, never complained. “Come on. Once we’re there, you can rest all you want.”

“I don’t have the energy to walk anymore.”

“I’ll talk to keep you awake.”

“Good idea. Tell me why you hate me so much.”

Cassia laughed at the absurdity of his demand.

“Boy, where do I start?” she mused as she walked forward and kept Nikos’ arm around her.

She stared at her hand and started ticking off things.

“One, you came to your own wedding drunk. Two, you believed all my grandfather’s lies but not me. Three, you spent our wedding night in my bed, making love to me but when the next day came, you were back in your mistress’ bed.”

“Go on,” he said tersely.

“Four, you humiliated me in front of your friends and family. Five, you’re an arrogant and selfish jerk.”

She looked at him and asked, “Should I continue?”

“Yes.”

“I think the arrogant and selfish jerk part pretty much covers everything. How about I give you some advice for the future? You gave me business advice after all. I think I should return the favor.”

“Alright then,” he replied.

“Just a piece of advice after we’re divorced and you’re courting another woman: pick a gift yourself. Don’t let someone else do it for you. The flowers, the jewelry you sent, it’s all him. It’s irritating and insulting how picking a gift for someone in your life is too much of a chore for you.”

“Noted. Anything else?” he asked through clenched teeth.

“I’ve got
a lot
more.”

He was silent for a long time as they continued to walk through the dense forest. Maybe he was thinking about all the things she said?

“I’m sorry, Cassia,” he whispered.

She was stunned when she heard those words. Her steps faltered before she was able to right herself. Did she hear him right? Did the almighty Nikos Demakis just apologize?

Yes.
  Ravens also just turned white and pigs flew.

“I’m sorry...I know how much you hate me and it
must be hard to help me all the way. Thank you for not leaving me,” Nikos told her.

“I can never leave someone behind no matter how much I hate him. Besides, once we get out of here, we’ll go our separate ways again and we’ll never have to bother each other. Especially if you grant me that divorce.”

“No divorce.”

“Oh well, a woman can dream,” she laughed as they started to make their way towards the cabin once more.