Irresistibly Played

by Victoria Pinder

  Caitlyn backed up again. She needed to escape. The safe room was closer but so was Sam. Betray Baxter? What did that mean? She continued to walk backward as it dawned on her with horror. She’d been betraying the Bentley family after all.

  Sam squeezed her arm, digging his fingers into her flesh as he stopped her escape. “He’s been on our payroll since the beginning.”

  “I’ve been helping you?” She felt sick as he dragged her toward the front door.

  He reached for the handle. “Yeah, you weren’t smart enough to catch on, were you?”

  “Let me go.” She screamed and used her knee to try to kick him in his manhood.

  He blocked her knee and then held it closer to his chest, mocking her attempts at getting free.

  She squirmed but he licked her face. Her insides twisted, and she pushed him off as she said, “Ew. Stop.”

  “You’ll like it.” He squeezed her leg.

  This wasn’t going to happen. As he held her one leg, she swung the other to knee him again.

  He let her go, but as he stomped to catch her, he crushed her phone that had somehow landed on the floor in the struggle. She knew she didn’t have enough space to dash by him.

  Somehow, she needed to create more distance.

  He stepped closer and she could smell the garlic in his breath as he said, “You can’t escape me.”

  “Stop,” she said as he grabbed for her again.

  He pointed toward the door. “Let’s go. The car is waiting for us.”

  Once again he reached for her and she jumped another step out of his way as she screamed, “I said let go of me.”

  He caught her and yanked her like she was a rag doll. “You’re not strong enough to fight me. We went through this, remember?”

  Without thinking she swung her leg like she’d learned some karate move. “No, we didn’t actually.” To her surprise, she kicked him in the lower belly and he bent over double.

  All those hours pacing an ER room left her legs strong.

  Good. She raced away from him and made it halfway to her bedroom when he grabbed her hips and pulled her back.

  He tugged her so hard she feared she’d break in half as he shouted, “What?”

  “Let go.” She twisted again.

  This time she made it to her bedroom door when he pulled her head backwards with her hair as he said, “You’re going to wear out first, Blondie.”

  “I’m not weak, you jerk.” She shook her head violently to get her hair free.

  “Wait. That isn’t a religious word.” He laughed like he thought she joked, but she punched him between his legs and rushed into her room.

  She made it inside but he held her arm and shoulder. “Get off me.”

  This time she aimed for his eye with her fingers and pushed until he let her side go. She ran into the closet and opened the safe room.

  He held the door as he glanced around the room. “What is this?”

  If she didn’t get him out and close the door, that meant she lost. She grabbed the laptop on the desk by the door and swung it across his cheek like she’d slapped him. “Where you’re not staying.”

  He stumbled back, and she slammed the door as he said, “I’ll get you yet, Blondie. Don’t think we’re done.”

  The door automatically locked. She fell backwards on the bunk, clutching her stomach while she caught her breath.

  Safe.

  A bomb could explode, and no one would get inside. Her vision wavered.

  She slowly breathed in and out until she could see.

  The laptop, which organized everything in the safe room, was broken. She had no means of contacting anyone with the pieces on the floor. There was a phone next to where the laptop had been, so she picked it up and said, “Hello?” No answer. She pressed a few buttons to see if she could get a signal, but finally stopped as she said out loud, “It’s broken.”

  She looked around the room and saw a video monitor that hung in the corner. She stepped on the bunk and pressed a few buttons as she said, “Hello?” Static answered her back as she told herself, “No one’s answering.”

  Next she climbed down and checked the walls and corners of the room. Near the door, she found a panel that hid a black device that had manual levers. It looked like a radio she’d seen in movies as she flipped the buttons and said, “What’s this? Hello?” Again, no answer. She finally stopped and sat back on the bed as she closed her eyes and said to herself, “Oh goodness, I’m stuck.”

  Adrenaline ran through her veins but she told herself to relax. Eventually Roy would come home. She’d tell him about the computer and hopefully they’d be in time to stop whatever Sam had done to his work laptop.

  There was enough food in here to last a year and soon he’d notice the safe door was closed.

  She needed to stay calm. Everything was going to be fine. What mattered was stopping whatever Sam had done to Roy’s laptop.

  Roy would get her out of this mess and she’d tell him everything she could to help him and his family.

  Roy’s heart was heavy with how he’d left things that morning. He stepped into the elevator up to his condo. Caitlyn’s work with the police hadn’t hurt his case and now his family was free. The three instances of evidence that he was able to disprove had been enough for the judge to clear their names and reinstate their privileges as United States citizens.

  It wasn’t Caitlyn’s fault that somewhere along the way he’d pictured her as some sort of saint. As the elevator doors opened on his floor, his determination grew in every footstep.

  Falling in love had been a mistake, but perhaps he’d forgive this as long as they both agreed to no more lies of any kind.

  He opened the door, grateful he’d never been foolish enough to tell her how he felt.

  However the smell of burnt food rushed in his lungs. Static electricity ran through him as he slipped his shoes off and noticed his blackened oven. He glanced around his empty apartment and saw nothing. Caitlyn would never leave his kitchen a mess though. He called his brother Jake who was picking up the family passports from the district attorney’s office as he opened the oven and saw the charred remains of cookies with uncooked dough next to the oven. This wasn’t like her at all. Without waiting for a hello or a status update, Roy told his brother, “Caitlyn’s not home.”

  Jake then said, “I have the passports and I’m heading back now. I can help find her when I get there but let me check in with security.”

  Goosebumps grew on his arms as he opened the refrigerator like she’d leave a clue next to the iced tea. But there was nothing. As he returned to the center of his condo, he stopped in the living room and saw a male footprint full of sand. Roy swallowed and said, “Something’s off. There is a footprint on the Persian carpet in the living room.”

  “So?” Jake asked. “Sand gets everywhere, even thirty stories up.”

  True. But Caitlyn had him in the habit of not trekking anything on their clean floors. This wasn’t like her. His heart raced a little faster, as he said, “We always take our shoes off.”

  Jake asked, “Is it possible she forgot?”

  It was definitely a man’s size. If something happened here, then Caitlyn might be in trouble. His body tightened as he told his brother, “The footprints are leading to my office.”

  “Check, but be careful.” Jake instructed, his tone changing from casual to alarmed. “Navid said two security officers were on the beach with Caitlyn and they were both knocked unconscious.”

  Roy held his breath. His black leather chair had been pushed into the desk this morning. He’d been in here to get all his files for the court session and he hadn’t thrown any furniture. He whipped his head around and glanced everywhere for Caitlyn or any other clue to what had happened. “My chair is against the wall. I’m checking the safe room.”

  The broken remains of her cell phone caught his attention in the middle of her bedroom. He placed his hand on his heart as he knelt down and picked up the screen.

>   The he dropped it fast and his neck craned toward the closet. A jolt raced through him as he saw clothes flung to the side. Was she inside the safe room? The door was shut. His feet scratched against plastic pieces. Again he knelt down and picked up remnants of the laptop that should be inside the safe room. He hung up on his brother without an explanation and dialed the number of the radio. Within seconds he heard static and asked, “Caitlyn? Are you in there?”

  All he heard was more static but then her sweet voice said, “Yes. Get me out.”

  Good. She was alive. Whatever happened, he’d get her. He put his palm against the door. “You have to do that.”

  Her voice grew stronger. “How? The computer’s broken.”

  Which was why he’d called on the radio. Luckily he had the number programmed in. He tried to remember the directions he’d read multiple times. “Go to the closet where the dining table and chairs are.”

  He heard the furniture being moved through their radio connection as she asked, “Okay, now what?”

  The red button should be visible to her, but he said, “In the corner there is a button.”

  “I see it.” She moved some furniture. He heard her drag the table.

  His adrenaline spiked. “Push it.”

  A few minutes later, the door unlocked, and she fell into his arms. “Oh, thank goodness.”

  The knots in her flowing straight hair were strange and as he hugged her, the trembling wasn’t Caitlyn either. He backed up, stared down at her and felt all the blood drain from his face.

  She had a red handprint across her cheek and her body had marks that were clearly going to be bruises everywhere. His heart stopped. “What happened?”

  She hugged her waist and couldn’t look at him as she said, “Call your brother, Beau.”

  His brother was into computers. The smashed one at their feet could be replaced, but he crossed his arms like he was about to cross examine her as he asked, “Why? Where did you get those bruises?”

  Caitlyn turned her full attention on him and met his stare. Her serious pause made his hair almost stand on end. “Sam Zandi was here. He went right to your computer and did something to it.”

  No. She’d been hurt because of him. His mind raced. He should have taken her to the courthouse. Leaving in anger had been his mistake. Until now he’d ensured she was watched and instead he’d stormed out upset rather than protect her. He glanced at the door to avoid her gaze that felt like a probe into his soul and he asked, “Where is the security guard?”

  She ran her hand through her hair, her fingers tangling in the knots, and then she rocked back and forth. “Probably on the beach. Still hurt. We need to call the police.”

  Once again she trembled. He reached out and held her close to his chest and lightly patted her back as she cried. “Relax. Navid said they were knocked out but are both okay.”

  “I’m so glad!”

  “Just be calm.”

  His shirt was wet, but he didn’t say anything about her tears. He stood still until she choked out her words. “Are you sure Sam’s gone?”

  Instantly his body tightened with alarm. He hadn’t called for help and he’d hung up on his brother. Roy hugged her closer and then let her go. “I’ll check the apartment while I speak to my brothers.”

  She grabbed his arm like she needed him to be her anchor. “Okay. I’m staying with you until we know.”

  “Come.” He motioned for her to walk next to him—he would protect her with his life.

  But as they checked room after room, his adrenaline lowered, and he relaxed his guard. They were alone.

  The doorbell rang multiple times as he confirmed the closets were empty in the backroom.

  They were done.

  Caitlyn grew whiter and whiter and the bruising became more obvious. He placed his hand on her lower back to help her though he didn’t say a word as they walked to open the door.

  His family burst into his condo gathered together on a mission to see what was wrong and to help. It would have taken them less than five minutes since they all lived in the same building.

  Caitlyn’s small shake hit him hard, but then his five brothers, his father and his about to-be brother-in-law and all their wives and children meant a little less than 20 people all descended at once. They greeted everyone, but Roy said, “Beau. Caitlyn said Sam attacked her and that her security guard is on the beach. New guards are already on duty.”

  Hannah, with an apologetic and concerned look at Caitlyn explained, “She went for a walk but promised she wouldn’t leave the property.”

  Caitlyn’s knees gave out and she almost fell over, but she held onto Roy’s sleeve Rachel said, “She’s distraught. She should sit down.”

  Caitlyn cleared her voice and tried to stand on her own as she said, “Tell Beau he used your computer to get on your server. He wanted access to your family’s information.”

  Lois, just back from her weekend vacation with Dylan, motioned toward the couch and the women all helped Caitlyn walk though he followed to ensure she was okay as he asked, “How do you know that?”

  “He told me.” Caitlyn turned her head toward him while her friends helped her sit.

  The bruises were enough proof to him that she didn’t make it to the safe room in time. But just like he’d do for the jury, he needed to paint the full picture and not make assumptions. He stated, “You ran into the safe room.”

  She just nodded without blinking. “If that wasn’t there, I’d probably be dead now.”

  Everything she said was the truth. He’d spent years looking for any small visible tones and the image she’d painted of what happened replayed in his mind. She’d believed she’d worked for the police, but what mattered more was her safety. “You did as I said.”

  “Wait.” Her face turned red which made the bruising more visible. “I am sorry. I did betray you, but I didn’t know. Sam told me that Officer Baxter works for Kirno.”

  Everyone went quiet and Caitlyn’s face went crimson.

  With their freedom and abilities to run their companies again, everything about Kirno was going to be found out. They had at their command more connections now and Beau would figure out if anything was tampered with on his laptop. For now he met his brother’s gaze, sat next to Caitlyn and hugged his wife. “We’ll handle it.”

  Caitlyn clutched him tight and Roy thought everything would be okay.

  Once she let him go, Caitlyn looked around the room. “Did your family get the charges cleared?”

  He hadn’t told her. He nodded and tried to smile. “Yes, we’re free to leave the country and restart our businesses. I’ve already called my law firm, and I’m back as the CEO.”

  “Good,” she said and then her eyelids fluttered.

  His brother Ollie, the doctor, was the first to clear everyone away. Roy stayed beside his brother who checked her pulse at her wrist. “Caitlyn?”

  She’d fainted—why? He knew she wasn’t actually pregnant.

  Oliver lifted her eyelids and laid her out on the couch. The handprint on her cheek was vibrant red, and a purple bump was at her temple. Her arms were covered in bruises.

  Roy stared at her unsure what to do. Her injuries were his fault. His stomach knotted. Caitlyn hadn’t deserved this. She thought she’d helped the police, which was why he hadn’t picked up on her lying. She hadn’t been. Right now that didn’t matter. He should have protected her better. She’d be safer without him. He loved her and it was reason to let her go.

  Caitlyn moved, and her arms went higher on her pillow. Wait.

  She had blankets around her and she was warm.

  Her eyes fluttered open fast and she recognized her old bedroom in the condo. The blue comforter and white sheets had been her bed for a while. She sat and stared into the brown eyes of Roy’s brother, Ollie. She swallowed and brushed her hand on her forehead to feel for her temperature but she wasn’t warm. “What happened?”

  Ollie gently sat on the edge of the bed and then shone a
light in her eye. Once he finished his exam, he said, “You have swelling on your head but I don’t think it’s a concussion. I think you fainted from lack of food, but you tell me, Nurse Caitlyn.”

  He’d know what he saw. She had no reason to argue against his medical diagnosis, but she nodded like she was being consulted and said, “Sam hit pretty hard. But I hadn’t eaten.”

  He pushed some pudding and a bowl of granola at her. “I can see that though if you are pregnant...”

  “I’m not.” Even if she and Roy were successful these past few days, the egg might not even be fertilized yet as sperm can live 72 hours inside the female body seeking out the egg. Ollie didn’t need that detail though. Her gaze flitted to the door and her heart beat a little faster as she asked, “Where’s Roy?”

  Ollie stood and reached for the handle as he said, “He’s outside. He was pacing and stressing me out, so I kicked him out for me to examine you.”

  As he opened the door, she watched the crack widen to a view of the next room and she didn’t see Roy at first. Her heart deflated as she said, “Thanks, Oliver. I feel okay.”

  But then Roy’s hazel eyes met hers as he walked closer. Her spirits lifted.

  Oliver spoke from the threshold. “You’re going to be sore. I’ve ordered you some pain killers that I will have delivered.”

  “Thanks.” She answered automatically, but adrenaline pumped faster as Roy took his place and sat next to her on the bed.

  Rachel poked her head into the room and said, “We’re seeing ourselves out now. If you need Ollie, just call.”

  Both of them waved, but neither stood or said a word while people left the condo.

  Once the front door closed, she knew that they were alone. Caitlyn needed to tell Roy so much. She swallowed and sat straighter.

  Roy’s tie was undone, and he stared at her, making her feel better just from his being near. She didn’t dare touch him though.

  He swallowed and broke the silence first when he said, “So, you’re not looking well enough to go to your parents’ tomorrow.”

  A small laugh came out of her as the air cleared. “I forgot about that.”