This Valentine Day you will be able purchase or download for free, the conclusion to the fated love story of Diego Andes and Marcella Garcia. The story explores the darker side of passion, love, hate and perseverance of the heart. Here’s your first sneak peak:

Señora I come with your dinner.

The hired servant entered tray first. Marcella was careful. Lunch had been left for her on a platter, which she now held it in her hand. She took a step forward. Without warning she swung the flat silver serving plate like a bat. The unfortunate woman took the blow to her face. The tray in the servant’s hand dropped and the carafe of juice shattered. The woman fell over on top of it. Marcella felt a pang of regret for hurting the lady. But what was she to do?

Run! Run Marcella! Run!

She bolted from her room. The only clothes Diego granted her were long and flowing nightgowns with provocative lace bodices, and her favorite silk robe. She held the collar of her flimsy robe over the silk garment with one hand and gripped the front of the nightdress with other. The hem rippled and fanned out behind her as she raced into the dark hall. Where were his men? She expected to encounter one or two. She saw no one. Her heart pounded in her chest. Fear beat back her courage with each hurried step. She had reason to be afraid. First, she was four months pregnant, so she knew she had to be careful with her precious cargo. Second, Diego would be furious over her escape.

Marcella gasped several breaths and held her belly.

Turning one corner then the next. She tried to remember the first escape attempt she made and where things went wrong. She heard a noise. Marcella froze. She braced her hand to the wall to keep steady on her feet. Her eyes stretched wide and fear clawed at her insides when the noise manifested into hurried footfalls.

Where God. Where is the way out?

She heard men shouting to each other in Spanish. They were close, one hall over.

God help me. Please.

She took on the only route available to her. And her prayers were answered. The stairwell looked to be a servant entrance, a possible exit. She descended into the darkness. Twice she lost her footing and almost slipped.

Slow down Marcella. Take your time.

She panted, with a protective hand to her belly.

Marcella arrived in the servant hall, which led to the kitchen. She didn’t see or hear anyone. Careful to remain quiet and unseen she stepped through the kitchen sweeping her vision left and right. The trek into the woods barefoot at night would be as dangerous as being forced to have her baby away from civilization in the prison upstairs she’d been confined to. Still she had to try. She swore she’d fight back and not give in. Nothing worked with Diego. She even seduced him to her bed and received little mercy. He would never let her go. For a brief moment she considered what waited for her beyond the doors of his fortress. A life without him would not be easy when part of her loved him still. And their child, caught between them, would grow to resent them both for not being able to provide the life he deserved.

A man shouted on the lower level, his voice so strong she whirled expecting to see him behind her. He wasn’t there, but he was close. Marcella abandoned all thoughts of reconciliation and ran for the doors out into the night. She had to grab the front of her gown with both hands. The robe blew open behind her like angelic wings of silky white. She crossed the drive out into fields of knee high grass. The long evergreen blades blew and swayed with budding white flowers sprinkled throughout. She could not deny the beauty of the paradise he had brought her to.

Which way Marcella, which way did they bring you? Think dammit!

It had been a month since she’d been outside the doors of the Spanish palace, and she didn’t remember much of how they traveled in through the mountains. When she turned she lifted her gaze to the four-story estate in search for her window. It faced east. The sea was to the west. She had to go west. Marcella hiked her gown up to her knees and quickly went through the tall grass in the direction she believed to be west. She heard the sounds of jeeps. The trucks raced out to the fields with men hanging off the sides. Diego’s men.

“No!”

She had no choice but to run for the forest. It was her only escape, though it would prove to also be her biggest mistake. The thin branches of the foliage scratched at her face and cleavage as she fought her way through, her feet sank into the cold mush of mud and decayed leaves. She stumbled then grabbed at the bark of a tree to keep her balance. She couldn’t see the sky. The trees reached to heaven and the branches were so thick they made it appear as if night had moved in much faster. She heard sounds too, night sounds both foreign and frightening. Marcella wept. She hadn’t much of a plan, only the burning desire to be free. Now she was lost and frightened. Turning left and right she heard Diego’s men. They shouted for her in Spanish. Several called her name. She couldn’t go back. Diego wouldn’t listen. When he learned of the pregnancy he went crazy with paranoia and anger. He had kidnapped her, stole her away from her friends and family. She wouldn’t spend months held hostage by him. She wouldn’t bring her child into the world this way.

“No!” she said determined to continue. The forest grew denser and sloped downward. She had to be careful of every step. Snagging her robe and nightdress several times on thorny branches, she could feel the thin garment tearing along the seams, the bottom now splattered in mud. She blinked away her tears and kept going. “Calm down. You get to the beaches then you might see someone, see people who might help you.” She repeated. Though she doubted there would be anyone she could reach on foot that would help her out of this jungle, away from her lover turned madman.

She heard the sound of the trucks charging through the forest. Panicked further, she crouched and then crawled to cover. When it passed Marcella leapt to her feet and began to run and the earth beneath her sloped dangerously low. She didn’t calculate her steps accurately. She slipped and reached for the branch to her right, it snapped. Marcella gasped, turning so as not to land on her stomach. She hit the ground with her head connecting to a rock. Darkness engulfed her immediately.

Diego saw white. Nothing more than a fleeting glimpse of it when his jeep crashed through the trees.

“Stop! Ahora!”

The jeep slowed then stopped. He nodded and his man backed up several feet. He’d seen it, he was sure. He hopped out of the jeep. Soon he was running with his heart in his throat. This was his fault. He pushed her too hard. Dammit, she wouldn’t listen to him, and she wouldn’t love him. What was he to do? “Marcella!” he called out. His worst fear was confirmed. She lay on her side. Her hair covered her face. He dropped to his knees in horror. “Marcella?”

He gathered the love of his life into his arms, brushing dirt and hair from her face. The sight of her blood to the side of her head fileted him to his core. He lifted her in his arms and glared down any man who dared to offer assistance. No one could touch her, or have her. She was his.

“Away!” he growled at Enrique who approached. A truck arrived. His men all fell silent as they watched him carry her to the vehicle. Diego folded his large frame into the jeep but never let go of her. With her pressed to his heart, he could feel her own beating against his chest. His Marcella was strong. She fought him at every turn. Asserted an independence and strength he never knew she possessed. And he only loved her more for it. He kissed her face. His lips brushed with blood, he didn’t care. “Mi carina. My love. I will protect you. Even from me. If I have to…”