by Piper Stone
This woman was entirely different; a fawn on a spring day, her wide eyes taking in every aspect of her surroundings with awe.
She still had no idea what I was capable of, but she would learn soon enough. I’d fuck her in every hole, break her down to the point that she’d beg me for my touch. After that?
Hell, I wasn’t certain.
If I had any decency inside of me, I’d feel guilty for destroying her life, but that simply wasn’t the case.
I was a bad man. No sense in trying to deny what came naturally to me.
My initial intentions had been to force the witness to disappear. Of course, there would have been questions, but I’d already worked that portion of the plan out in my mind. My decision was dangerous, perhaps unhinged, but I felt I was due a treat.
I studied her in the darkness, her long blonde hair spilling out over the mangled comforter. She was more diligent in her resolve to escape than I had envisioned, which kept my cock aching and my balls tight. I’d expected her to whimper, cowering like the majority of other assholes who dared to cross me. This girl was entirely different, her will to live creating a spark deep within me.
After taking a deep breath, I fastened my pants, running both hands through my hair before removing my weapon from the table. By my own requirements, I should merely have Dimitri dump her body in a location that would never be found. However, she’d awakened more than the monstrous beast inside of me, hunger remaining just at the surface. Maybe I was crossing a line, but I no longer cared. Spending time in prison had changed my… perspective. Maybe I was even harder than before. Who the fuck knew?
Whatever the case, she now belonged to me, a captured bird I’d keep in a gilded cage.
I laughed softly to myself as I wrapped my hand around her long strands, yanking her to a standing position. She was quivering, her mouth twisting from terrified anticipation of what I was going to do next.
Shifting my gaze, my eyes locked onto her phone. Whoever had called alerting her would be the initial problem to deal with. I dragged her with me as I yanked the phone off the dresser, eyeing the screen. “Now, here’s how we’re going to do this. You’re going to call your friend back. What’s her name?”
Grimacing, she was able to shake her head even with my tight hold.
I yanked on her hair, forcing her into a strangling arc. “I suggest you learn that when I ask you a question, you will answer. When I issue an order, you will do so without hesitation. What. Is. Her. Name?”
“Julia. Okay? Don’t hurt her.”
“I have no intentions of hurting her. That is unless you disobey me. You’re going to call Julia and you’re going to let her know that you were advised to get out of town for a few days and that you’ll call her when you can. Is that something you can do for me, Emily?”
She swallowed hard, her lower lip twitching. “Yes. Yes, I can.”
“Good girl. Now, go ahead.” I eased my hand away from her hair, prepared for her to fight me. She shifted her gaze toward the phone and reached out tentatively.
I jerked it away and lowered my head. “If you fuck with me or try and signal her, I will be forced to make your friend disappear.”
“Such a bastard.” She snagged it out of my hand, punching in her security code as she glared at me.
“Speaker phone.”
She rolled her eyes but pressed a button.
After I heard the girl’s voice from the other end, I pressed one finger over my lips as a reminder.
“Hey, Julia. Um, I think it’s best that I get out of town for a few days.”
“Whew. Yes, I think you’re right. Did you call that asshole of a prosecutor?”
Emily huffed, her reaction quite natural. I was surprised she was as good an actress as she was. “He is an asshole for not telling me such a horrible freak was going to be let out of prison early, and I did. He was the one who suggested I get out of town.” She gave me a satisfied look.
“That’s good. Where are you going?”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to tell you over the phone, but it’s a safe place.”
Her friend hesitated then laughed nervously. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense. You will call me though, right?”
“Of course. Absolutely,” Emily stated with a little more defiance than she should have given her greatest enemy was likely hunting her down.
“Good. You’re taking this a lot better than I would have expected.”
Laughing softly, she dragged her tongue across her lips provocatively. “I have to.”
“O-kay, girl. Just be safe.”
“I… will.”
I took the phone out of her hand, ending the call, then catching Julia’s last name. “You did very well.”
“Whatever.”
My cock stirred all over again. The woman’s chutzpa was damn unusual. It was obvious she either didn’t understand or didn’t care about the amount of danger she was in.
I slipped her phone into my pocket. It might come in handy at some point.
“You have two minutes to dress. Then we are leaving. If you attempt to fight me or scream, that will be the last thing you do on this earth,” I said almost in passing. I knew from her file that she wouldn’t be reported missing until Monday at the earliest. By then, there would no way anyone could find her. “Do you understand me, Emily?” Her hesitation pissed me off more than I cared to say. She seemed either oblivious or unconcerned that I had her life in my hands.
“Fine. I hear you. Where are we going?” she asked, her tone just as defiant as before. Another intriguing aspect about the lovely girl. I’d been impressed she’d gone for the gun, as if she had even a slim chance of being able to use it.
“To a secure location.”
“Why?” She turned sharply, glaring me in the eye. Her cheeks were wet, a single tear remaining on her cheek.
Unable to resist, I rolled my thumb through the salty bead, collecting it on the tip of my finger. When I pulled it into my mouth, she pursed her lips, an expression of disgust riding her face.
“Because I own you, Emily. I’m going to enjoy breaking you. Two minutes.”
She started to take a step away then stopped short. “No man, especially a vile, horrible creature like you will break me. Fuck you.”
As she walked quickly toward her closet, I had to smile. I would enjoy every aspect of using her, taking her in every way I desired. And yes, she would be broken.
For I was a sadistic man.
When she cradled the clothing she’d selected and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door, I inched into her closet, turning on the light. The girl certainly lived modestly from her small house to her selection of attire. Perhaps the asshole she worked for wasn’t paying her enough.
It certainly hadn’t been enough for her level of betrayal.
Smirking, I yanked one of her silk scarves from a hanger, pulling the slick material under my nose. Her scent still covered the thin material; the fragrance was just as evocative as the woman herself, a mixture of exotic spices and just a hint of musk. This would suit my needs for the time being.
When I found the door locked, my cock stirred, pushing against my zipper. I didn’t bother knocking, merely took a step away and kicked the door in.
Emily’s yelp was my reward, her look of horror a reminder of what she’d done to my life. Her unbridled training was just beginning.
“You should know better than to try and keep me from you.”
I yanked her arm, pulling her in front of the mirror and crushing her against the counter, immediately shifting the scarf over her head. When I wrapped it around her neck, twisting the material, her eyes opened wide.
Exhaling, I allowed the hot breath to cascade across her face as I dragged her against me, keeping the silk tight. “I don’t think you understand the seriousness of the situation you’re in.”
She opened her mouth, a few strangled sounds mixing with her scattered breathing, several moans giving her desire away.
> “I can smell your arousal,” I whispered, the scent intoxicating as hell.
I glared at our combined reflection in the mirror, angry with myself even though the girl deserved every second of punishment that I’d given her.
Her mouth closed, her hands dropping, but not out of acquiescence. She was still rebellious as hell. I wanted to burst into laughter. The audacity of the woman to think that kind of behavior would work on me, perhaps soften me, was ridiculous.
I snorted as I pressed my lips against her heated skin, using my other hand to roll it down her arm. “You are truly a beautiful woman, Emily.”
Goddamn, I was aroused by her tenacity and refusal to accept her predicament. I backed off on the strangle hold, still keeping the scarf in place.
She coughed, although she did everything in her power not to react, enough so tears of frustration formed in her eyes.
I hadn’t paid a damn bit of attention to what she’d selected to wear, yet the scarlet dress called to me. Another act of defiance. Another way of attempting to break through my defenses. I had to give the woman credit. She wasn’t just a fighter. She was a champion bull rider.
After taking a deep breath, I lifted the scarf, placing the soft material over her eyes, tying the blindfold securely. “I’m many things, Emily. That’s something you’re obviously going to learn the hard way. However sadistic my desires might be, I usually reserve the worst punishments for the lying sack of shit assholes who refuse to accept my leadership or my rules.”
She laughed softly, as if this was just a game. “I’m not one of those assholes?”
Satisfied with the knot, I turned her to face me, gripping her jaw with one hand as I stroked her hair with the other. “I believe you’re many things, but you’re certainly not an asshole. You’ll learn to obey me. One day.”
When she opened her mouth to retort, I captured her lips, holding her in place as I thrust my tongue inside.
Her reaction was exactly like I’d suspected it would be, her fists pummeling against my chest, her body undulating in order to get out of my hold. But I also sensed something else in her. Lust. I’d felt it before, her pussy so wet and hot that it nearly scalded my cock. There was a strangeness to the connection we shared, the sensations completely unexpected.
The kiss was damning as well as dangerous, my balls tightening to the point of anguish. Toying with her, even considering keeping her as my hostage was bad enough. Actually enjoying the taste of her was ridiculous, perhaps costly. There was a hell of lot to do, including cleaning up several areas of the family’s business. I certainly didn’t need to be pulled by my more carnal needs.
When she bit down on my tongue, I reared back, lifting my arm to strike her, the reaction instantaneous.
Once again, she didn’t cower even though she had to know what my reaction would be.
Closing my eyes, I reined in my anger, slowly lowering my arm then gripping hers. “While I understand your frustration, Emily, you have zero choices. Your entire world now belongs to me. The sooner you learn to accept that, the better off it’s going to be for you.”
“Fuck you.”
“Fucking will definitely be one of those items on our agenda.” I pulled the rope I’d snatched from the duffle bag from my jacket, yanking her hands in front of her.
“You disgust me on every level.”
“Interesting given your body betrays you. You crave what only I can provide.”
“Bullshit.”
Leaning over, I took a deep breath, holding her sweet fragrance in my lungs. The scent of her feminine wiles was intoxicating. “Your body betrays you.” To prove a point, I rubbed her fully aroused nipple between my thumb and forefinger, my nostrils flaring when she moaned.
“Bastard.”
Laughing, I enjoyed another five seconds before dragging her out of the bathroom. “If you make a single noise, it will be your last.”
“Why, yes, sir,” she muttered with contempt.
I led her out of her house toward the awaiting SUVs, taking a deep whiff of the night air. At least this time I wasn’t smelling the rancid stench of chicken bones and grease. Instead, the scent of night-blooming jasmine, the lightly falling rain, and her intoxicating perfume dazzled my senses.
Dimitri attempted to hide his disdain, yet his pinched face was enough to rile me.
She stood like a frail doll in her bare feet, shivering as the rain created droplets on her cheeks. There was something appealing about her innocence.
“We should leave,” he stated.
“I’m well aware of the time, Dimitri. As you can see, I was handling a situation.”
“What the hell are we supposed to do with her, boss?” he asked as I dragged her closer to the vehicles, scanning the houses surrounding her little abode, prepared for anyone who dared to interfere.
“Have Mario take her to my house. Lock her in one of the rooms.” I shoved her against Dimitri, my mouth still watering from the desire to feast on her sweet flesh. I shifted my gaze in Mario’s direction, the other Capo usually assigned to my brother.
“Yes, boss,” he said without hesitation. “Darren, go with him.”
“Will do, Dimitri.”
I’d lost four of my best men during the subsequent shootout with cops who’d been given our location by the snitch, Ricardo. Being forced to use Mario, my brother’s right-hand Capo as well as a man who’d been on the payroll a short time pissed me off. However, I had no other choices. I walked directly to Mario, gazing up and down the length of him. He and I had sparred on more than one occasion. A true hothead, his lack of control had cost our family dearly and still, my father refused to let him go.
“Make certain she’s taken care of, Mario, or you will not appreciate the consequences.” I allowed the words to linger as I shifted my gaze back to the lovely woman who’d become my prisoner. While she was shaking, I was impressed with her continued resolve. Now my cock was throbbing like a son of a bitch.
“Absolutely, boss. Glad to have you back. So is Lucian,” Mario stated, finally able to look me in the eye.
Lucian. I doubted my brother was happy in the least I’d come back into the fold.
“Are you sure that’s wise? The girl, I mean?” Dimitri’s Russian accent seemed more intense than usual, his words hushed yet directed. He constantly scanned the street, advised of the rumors that my life was in danger.
I waited until Mario slid into the driver’s seat, closing the door behind him before addressing the breach in protocol.
Sighing, I walked closer until we were only inches apart. “Let’s get something clear, Dimitri. While I appreciate your continued alliance to the family in my absence, even your work with my brother, if you challenge me again, you will no longer be working for me or anyone else for that matter.”
He glared at Emily before shoving her into the SUV. “Understood.”
It was obvious that my brother’s unusual methods of maintaining control had rubbed off on him. That was about to change.
“Excellent. To answer your question, I’m going to find out everything she knows, including if there was anyone else who’s betrayed me.”
Dimitri nodded after a few seconds. “That makes sense, of course.”
“Find out everything you can about a girl named Julia Maxwell. She’s a friend of Ms. Porter,” I said quietly.
“I will.”
“Time to have a meeting with Ricardo.” The little prick had to know a hell of a lot more than the crap Dimitri had heard on the street. Someone had facilitated tipping off the police, especially since I’d left no traceable evidence.
“Just so you know, your family is waiting at your father’s house for your return.”
I chuckled, shaking my head as Emily lifted her face toward me seconds before the door was closed. “Of course they are. They are going to have to wait for my joyous return.” As I moved toward the second vehicle, opening the rear door myself, I took a few seconds to study the girl’s small house. While the records
indicated she’d purchased the quaint cottage almost a year ago, there was no indication of how she’d afforded the down payment. Certainly her salary wasn’t enough to afford that.
I closed the door, immediately moving to refresh my drink. It was time to savor my freedom before all hell broke loose. A part of me reveled in the thought. If the assholes who’d conspired to send me behind bars truly believed they were protected from my wrath, they would find the next few days, even weeks disturbing. I was committed to seeking retaliation, but on my own terms.
When Dimitri climbed in, his usual cool demeanor had returned. I had no intention of splitting the loyalty in my family, but Dimitri would need to learn that he worked for me. Period. While my brother Lucian had been forced to pick up the reins in my absence, I could tell he’d allowed his very different views to interfere with my authority. Never again.
“Have a drink, Dimitri. We might have a long night ahead of us.”
He whispered words in his native Russian, ones I didn’t care about, then reached for a second glass, selecting vodka as I knew he would. Sadly, the man was predictable; however, his skills precluded his possible elimination. I valued loyalty more than anything in my organization. The former boxer had that in spades.
“He’s working tonight,” Dimitri added.
He. Ricardo. I’d allowed the man to enter into my realm based on his knowledge of the Azzurri family. I followed the protocol of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. While there had been peace between our families up to this point, based on my acquaintance with the eldest son, that could always change at a moment’s notice.
Ricardo’s wealth of information had once thwarted the Azzurris before they attempted to interfere with our business. Then the little prick had changed his loyalty, obviously feeding information to another source while remaining on our payroll. I’d purposely allowed him to remain a free man while I’d been incarcerated, preferring to look the fucker in the eye before he was reminded of the error in his ways.
And it had allowed whoever was responsible to believe they’d gotten one over on the King family.
I swirled my drink, dragging my tongue across the rim of the glass. I’d waited far too long to receive justice. “Then we ensure that his job becomes difficult in the future.”
