Her pride piqued at that. She shouldn’t give them anything, not one inch after everything they had done. She wasn’t interested in their lives she wanted information on how to get out of this twisted nightmare. But the desire in their eyes didn’t abate, they desperately want her to talk—to care. Looking at Zane’s searching waiting gaze again she felt herself cave a little.
She told herself it was all in the pursuit of information as she asked. “Are you going to do another job like that again?” Soon? If they left for another job that would give her plenty of time to try and escape.
“No, our focus has shifted,” Reid answered, his velvety rough tone silently commanding her to look at him, to which she refused.
“Nope, we won’t. I can promise you, sweetheart, we will never do another job like that ever again, now that we have you.” Zane agreed happily.
Trying not to look disappointed with the news that they wouldn’t be leaving for another job she continued to look at Zane as he spoke.
“Besides our real job starts in,” Zane looked up to the ceiling, going through his mental calendar. “Three weeks.”
Everly blinked in confusion.
“We just won the bid for a project in Toronto,” Zane explained. “It came in while we were on the bank job.” Reaching into his pocket, Zane pulled out a clip containing cards and folded money, selecting a black card with glittering gold text he handed it to her.
The simple, neat gold embossed words sparkled back on the matte black card, Cimmerian Engineering.
Zane continued explaining. “We have a construction company. Our real talent, among so many other things,” he gave her a sinful wink. “Is construction engineering as you can see by the surrounding proof.” Waving his hand to the surrounding cabin.
Still holding the card with both hands Everly looked back at the gleaming letters. Cimmerian engineering, Pitch Island, 2BlackHearts…
“Do you name everything based on your last name, Black?” She asked honestly.
Zane laughed first, a deep rich laugh that lit up his blue eyes even brighter. Turning to Reid, Everly felt her heart quicken at the sight of his small smirk. A tiny smile that instantly softened his hard, handsome face.
Smiling, Reid looked up with half-lidded eyes. “Unfortunately, Zane has full control when it comes to naming stuff, and look how it turned out,” he gestured to his still smiling brother. “Everything is a damn pun.”
For a brief second, she almost smiled. Caught up in the lighthearted turn in conversation she almost foolishly let her guard down and allowed a smile. Thankfully she caught herself. These men and their wicked smiles, she had to be careful. Military, bank robberies, and now construction—it was too much to process. They were too skilled, too intense. Everything about them, this whole nightmare, kept piling up making it—making them—bigger and bigger. Like two growing sentinels becoming larger and more powerful by the minute. Every detail she managed to glean from the conversation only served to chip away at her hope of escaping.
Their smiles faded as they watched the shadows fall over her eyes. Silently, she stared unseeingly at the card in her hand as the thoughts of hopelessness drifted across her mind. What was she going to do?
“You aren’t weak,” Reid’s deep voice cut her from her thoughts, looking up she met his once again serious gaze. “You said outside, we took you because we thought you were weak.”
Nervous at the sudden intensity between them, Everly looked to Zane to see that he too was staring at her with the same amount of determination.
“We didn’t take you because you’re some victim Everly,” slowly walking around the kitchen island, Reid stopped next to Zane, forcing her to look at them, both of them. “We took you with us because together we are one-of-a-kind. It’s as if you were made for us.”
The fierce flash of heat that ignited in Zane’s eyes mirrored Reid’s, a heat that seeped into her body making her nervous. The hairs on the back of her neck rose with silent warning at the two large predators in front of her.
“You’re so brave sweetheart,” Zane rasped, his voice roughened with some unsaid emotion while his eyes positively glowed at her as he leaned forward in his seat. “So damn brave it makes me speechless. Brave enough to escape that fucked up cult you grew up in, some no-name backwoods country. Brave enough to survive heartbreak and an unplanned pregnancy all on your own.”
Each word felt like a knife slicing across her skin. They knew, they knew everything, she never felt so exposed.
“We took you Everly, because this world was trying to slowly devour you,” Reid cut in, his fist clenched at his side as he looked at her with an angry desperation, wanting her to understand. “And, dammit, we weren’t going to let that happen.” As if recognizing his own control slipping, Reid stood straighter and stared at her, the hard planes of his face flexing in intensity. “You’ll be safe and taken care of with us, and if you let us, if you give us a chance—you’ll be happy.”
Looking at her they waited. Waited for her to respond. With an unreadable face, she tried to control the shaking feeling their words caused. They were delusional, insane even. Nothing she said or did would penetrate that formidable wall of thinking. Escape, that was her only option.
Setting the black card back on the steel countertop she stood up from the barstool. “I would like to lay down.” She whispered, staring at the space between them avoiding their searching gazes.
The strained silence seemed to go on forever.
“Go ahead,” Zane answered quietly.
Trying not to run, Everly walked back to the bedroom and shut the door. A strangled cry, that she had been holding in with every ounce of control, spilled out the moment the door shut. Leaning against the wall, Everly covered her mouth as she squeezed her eyes shut to the wrenching tears that consumed her. She did not want to let them hear, she didn’t want to cry in front of those monsters ever again. Sliding down against the wall, Everly settled on the carpeted floor, taking deep breaths to calm herself. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do, but she knew regardless she had to find a way out. Tomorrow, she would explore the surroundings again and try to get a closer look at that gate. But she needed her sleep first.
Beginning to stand up, she wanted to go freshen up in the bathroom, but a sound gave her pause. Frozen against the wall, she replayed the sound in her mind.
The same sound from earlier.
The click from the bedroom door, locking her in.
Chapter 7
The last streams of sunlight faded from the room, slowly receding over the staggering treetops and across the lake leaving the water an inky black. Still sitting on the floor leaning against the knotted wooden wall of the bedroom Everly watched until the sun disappeared entirely, leaving a soft gray sky that darkened by the minute.
Tired and stiff she slowly stood up and straightened from the wall. Walking across the carpeted floor she didn’t bother turning on the light, the two large window walls let in plenty of nocturnal light allowing her to see just fine. Besides what did it matter, she felt like a robot simply going through its motions as she entered the bathroom. Her heart didn’t even sink as it should have when she realized that neither door to the bathroom had a lock. Most likely an intentional design, just as the lock was on the outside of the bedroom door. How many girls have they kidnapped? Remembering their story about how they just recently built the cabin, did make a little sense, she thought as she looked around the sterile, pristine bathroom. Only one cabinet had toiletries, expensive looking floral soaps, shampoos, and conditioners. All brand-new women’s products— all stuff for her, products she shared and talked about with 2BlackHearts. Maybe she was just their first victim, not that the thought mattered, regardless she was still trapped.
Dizzying fear crept up her spine, breaking the numb trance of hopelessness. Maybe they planned on killing her? Gripping the white marbled edge of the bathroom counter, Everly steadied herself forcing her mind to think rationally and not give in to her panic. Me
mories of the panic attack she had on the plane came to mind, along with it the memory of Zane holding her gently while whispering to her that she was safe. Even despite the mask, she knew that was Zane, and it was Reid who initially carried her and held her during the drive to the cabin. Reid’s dark aqua gaze wasn’t of life-threatening harm, it was one that matched his brother’s, a dark, obsessive hunger.
A certainty settled in her, they would not harm her, never like that but she knew better than most there were many other ways to break someone.
Shakily, she stepped back from the counter and did her best to push away the thoughts of what that dark hunger meant. Checking both closets, she found that they were empty. With only the towels she found neatly folded in a cabinet and the supplied toiletries Everly slowly removed her clothes. She felt grimy and was sick of wearing the same work clothes since last night. At the very least she was going to take a shower, even if that meant putting on the same clothes afterward, at least she would feel cleaner.
Standing perfectly still, she listened for any sounds of movement in the bedroom. Nothing, just silence. Hurriedly she finished stripping and piled her clothes on the counter and grabbed the needed toiletries.
The shower was bigger than anything she had ever seen, the glass door opened up into a large hallway like shower with the bench along the far wall and two large rain shower heads above. Closing the glass door, she walked to the end of the shower and turned on the rainfall above her, thankful the glass door was at the other end giving her a bit more privacy. If it were any other situation, she would love to take her time in the luxurious shower but with every minute that ticked by exposed like this, in the same house with those two men, raised her anxiety. Turning off the water, she quickly towel dried in the privacy of the shower and wrapped the soft white material around her body and stepped out. Reaching for the counter where she left her clothes, Everly froze.
They were gone. Her clothes were gone.
Cold dread bloomed throughout her body, she looked around desperately praying she was mistaken. Holding the towel tighter around her breast, Everly slowly twisted the doorknob to the bedroom, and carefully opened the door.
The bedside lamps were both on, when they weren’t before. The soft yellow glow barely illuminated the bed and faded to nothing at the remaining dark expanse of the room. Sitting on top of the large bed were neatly folded clothes. Anger rolled through her like an impending storm as she grabbed the clean cotton underwear and flannel pajamas. Shutting the door to the bathroom, Everly leaned against the door, her forehead resting on the cool surface of the wood. Those…those horrible liars were in here as she showered. The wave of exposed vulnerability that racked her body left her feeling sick. She hated this feeling, squeezing her eyes shut she waited for a moment before she found the strength to even look at the clothes they left. The underwear was surprisingly modest, if not plain. Simple gray underwear and a matching bra. The bra was comfortable and the kind she liked with the front snap. No doubt a fact they probably discovered as they snooped and pried through every detail of her life. Grabbing the last item Everly scowled. It would’ve been perfect if it were not missing a vital piece. The longsleeved flannel button-down top was loose and soft but it wasn’t like the ones she wore at home that ended at her calves, this was a pajama set that should have included pants. There were no pants.
Stepping out of the bathroom Everly was relieved to find the bedroom still empty. The flannel button-down barely covered her backside, leaving her legs exposed and chilled. Teeth chattering, she looked longingly at the other side of the room opposite the bedroom door, with the large window wall with the stone fireplace in the middle. The dark mouth of the fireplace seemed to yawn from the cold darkness at the end of the room. The weak glow from the lamps may as well have been candlelight because their light did not reach either side of the room, only illuminating the bed like an island.
Getting under the thick sheets, Everly shivered as her body welcomed their heavy pressing warmth. Keeping her eyes focused on the dark outline of the bedroom door, Everly strained to hear any sounds beyond the bedroom. Nothing. It was utterly quiet. Minutes passed, and her gaze grew weaker. Blinking she tried to refocus, to stay vigilant. Blinking again, her eyes grew heavier. Blinking again, she did not open them.
±
Such a warm deep luxuriating sleep. The type of sleep that made her mind feel like a calm pool of endless nothing. There was only one ripple, however. One nagging thought that brought her back from the tranquil abyss. She needed to turn over.
Ever since moving out on her own Everly realized she was a stomach sleeper. A spread out hug her pillow type of stomach sleeper. Now that she was pregnant, she reminded herself nightly to stay either on her side or on her back in preparation. Currently, she could feel the comforting softness of the bed beneath her breast and the searing radiating heat on either side of her, she needed to turn over. But God, she didn’t want to. Groaning into the pillow, Everly pushed and slowly turned herself on to her side, stretching her leg out she groaned again as it nestled against an unmoving wall of heat. Her sleep addled brain sent up a warning thought, but her body reveled in the immense heat. Curling in tighter towards the source, again Everly brushed her leg against the searing source. Hot, so unbelievably hot. The slow realizations hit the calm pool of sleep with undulating ripples. Hot and…was that hairy?
Forcing her eyes, open Everly stared at the form next to her. The dark lump slowly taking shape as her eyes absorbed the moonlight from the large window. The room was drenched in the darkness, it was only highlighted by deep rivets of dark sapphire streaming in from the windows. Following the rise and fall of the form next to her Everly’s eyes widened in shock. With one hand bent behind his head Zane slept shirtless with his face turned the other way. Everly felt her stomach drop in fear as she sensed the other source of heat behind her. Carefully with hardly any movement, she looked over her shoulder. Sleeping on his stomach with his face turned away as well Reid slumbered quietly as a cat next to her. Anger and fear choked her to silence, paralyzing her to the spot.
Looking at Reid’s bare torso, Everly felt her pulse crash against her neck as she watched the long hard lines and grooves of his muscular back slowly flex with his breathing. He was just as powerful under those clothes as she suspected. Carefully she turned her head back to Zane, his large tattooed chest seemed to take up most of her vision, she would have to push-up to her arms if she wanted to see over him.
Panic was settling over her again, her breathing started to become quicker. Waiting until tomorrow was no longer an option. She had to leave, she had to get away from them now, out of this bed!
Slowly and carefully, Everly sat up in the bed, a move that felt like it took minutes to complete silently. Trapped on either side, she would have no choice but to slide down the middle of the bed to get out. Slowly she pulled her legs out from beneath the cover that covered all three of them, she couldn’t risk dragging it off and waking them. Pushing with one arm Everly slowly pushed herself down the middle of the bed. The journey was painfully slow, and the silence of the room only seemed to echo her every movement. Leaning down to lift her leg over the large wrinkle in the covers, she took a sharp intake of breath as she watched her hair brush against Zane’s hand. Ever so slowly, she pushed back her long dark curls, curls that came loose from the braid she put up before she fell asleep. Seeing that neither man moved or stirred, Everly continued. She was so close now.
Touching one foot to the carpet, Everly leaned forward to step off the bed. A tight grip caught her wrist.
Whipping her head around Everly met Zane’s bright gaze as he sat up in the bed. The barely contained excitement and hunger in his eyes frightened her to the core. Tugging at her arm frantically, Everly tried to lean away from his grip with all her weight. “Zane no,” she cried in a whisper.
Smiling cruelly, Zane easily pulled her back, reeling in her struggling body easily across the bed until he could grab her by the waist with h
is other hand.
“Zane,” she was prepared to yell louder hoping to wake up Reid, praying he could stop Zane, but Zane’s lips against hers cut her off. The kiss was hard and overpowering, like a man starving for this moment, waiting for it forever. Relentlessly, he moved his mouth against hers despite her humming protest against his lips. Battling and winning entrance to her mouth, electric currents coursed through every inch of her body as his tongue found hers, temporarily absorbing the fight from her body. The brief pause was all Zane needed as he pulled her up against his bare hard chest draping her legs over his lap. Finally pulling back, giving her the chance to gasp for much-needed air Zane stared at her with a fierceness that left her trembling.
“My beautiful Everly,” he murmured while stroking her wild curls back. “I have to taste more of you, sweetheart, I have dreamt of it too long to wait any longer.”
Back to Black: A captive ménage romance Page 8
