Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 732

Fugitive?

Tiana felt so enraged she could spit blood. She had definitely let her guard down in a moment of sheer frustration thanks to her scumbag uncle and cousin. Now, they had her cornered. She could see their henchmen, a hundred meters away, shining flashlights in her direction.

Panicking, Tiana turned on her heels, ready to make a run for it.

"Freeze!" Parker's voice, cold yet somehow laced with a dangerous allure, cut through the night air. "Where do you think you're going?"

Before Tiana could utter a word, Parker, tall and imposing, dashed towards her with the speed of lightning.

Tiana, frightened by Parker's ferocity, stepped back until her feet hit the cold seawater, shivering from the chill. "Parker, are you even human? How could you side with your uncle to capture me?

I didn't even confront you about last night or your accusations this morning.

What more do you want?

Let me tell you, if you force me to go back, I'll jump into the sea right now and end it all...ah!"

Before she could finish, Parker was already in front of her, sweeping her off her feet in one swift motion.

"Ah! Let me go! I don't want your kind of help!"

"Enough already. You're so noisy," Parker retorted, his peachy eyes showing a hint of cold indifference. "Put me down!"

"And let you jump into the sea?" He scoffed, detached.

"I refuse to be taken back by you!"

"Do you think I want to bring you back? If it weren't for my uncle pressuring me... Besides, this island is home to wild beasts, and the sea is infested with sharks. Are you sure you want to spend the night here and end up as a pile of bones?" Tiana glanced nervously at the sea behind her, shivering at the thought.

Sharks in such shallow waters? Was he bluffing?

"If you don't believe me, go ahead and try."

Parker's eyes narrowed slightly. "Ever heard of the infamous tiger sharks of Saltland Island? They can swallow a person whole."

Damn.

Tiger sharks?!

a second of consideration, Tiana's resolve wavered as she clung tighter to Parker's neck,

refused to

like a little squirrel. He smirked, "Then perhaps you shouldn't cling to

an eyebrow, deliberately loosening his

you doing..." Tiana's legs

of lurking sharks. "Damn it, Parker, why are you

tiger shark,

careless demeanor reminded her

concealed by his rimless glasses. The Parker she knew was always ruthless

under the moonlight, the man before her seemed indifferent, adding a layer of aloofness

her face flushing with anger. "Are you done?" "Are you getting in or not?" he asked, losing

"Last night was a mistake. I won't be used by you and your uncle as a cure anymore. Parker, you've disappointed me profoundly. You're heartless. Just

words were laced with

permission, you're not

you don't explain yourself and think you can take my nephew away, think

so happened he

Can I

was speechless, clearly detecting the

he turned to Parker, "Bring her

"I won't..."

glaring at the woman in his arms. Did she even realize where

the memories of last night were

he threatened, "Still claiming you didn't seduce me last night? Your hands seem pretty skilled. Be mindful of where they

looked down, mortified to realize where

could, she'd chop off her own hand

turned beet red. "I-it wasn't

snort

seat, making her

hurt?" he asked,

turned an even deeper shade of red, unable to articulate her discomfort,

she touched her

with a touch of red, Parker paused,

out loud? She wished the