by Lia Ellison
I crossed the room and pushed my fingernail into it.
Another click. Another alcove in the wall.
But there was a rope inside it.
My brow furrowed.
Ryker let out a groan.
“What?” I turned toward him.
“This isn’t a coincidence. He planned for me to find this.”
“Why?” Did I even want to know the answer?
“He tied me up with a rope like this one once, and then he dragged me around through the yard.” Ryker grimaced.
“Um, there’s another hole right over there. Do you want me to press the tiny button inside it or should I just leave it alone?” If this wasn’t going to be useful to us in any way, then there was no need to touch anything if it was only bringing up bad memories for Ryker.
My mind was still reeling from the revelation, though.
My bully had been bullied.
Well, hell.
“Do it. It’s fine. We need to know what’s inside.”
I went over to the hole and poked the tip of my finger through it.
For a moment, nothing happened, and I didn’t hear anything click.
“Do you see anything?” I asked.
But then the ceiling opened, and a bucket of water tipped over. I yelped as the water splashed everywhere.
“What the fuck?” I said.
“I guess this is for that one time when he tried to drown me.”
I just gaped at him, and then I eyed the ceiling, but it didn’t look like there was a way out.
The bucket had been hidden in a special compartment attached to the ceiling. If there was one thing I was sure of, it was that this had been carefully planned.
But what was the next step in Zavarelli’s plan?
And were we going to survive it?
Chapter 20
“LEXI!” RYKER’S VOICE roused me from sleep, and I cracked my eyes open.
“What? What’s going?” Was Zavarelli finally coming? We’d been in this house for over a day, and I was starting to think that maybe he’d never even planned to come and get us.
“I think I found our way out,” he said, and I instantly perked up.
“Really?” I hopped to my feet. It was a good thing the bed was clean, so I’d at least gotten some sleep.
“Yeah. Look at this.” He headed into the hallway, and I followed him. “Do you see the thin lines on the ceiling?”
“Um.” I squinted, and it took me a moment to spot what he was talking about. “Yeah, I guess.” Although, I wasn’t sure if it was just decor or whatever.
“I think there was an opening here. Maybe there’s a small attic or a roof window. I’ve always thought that there might be something under the roof, but everyone told me that there wasn’t. Maybe they were lying, or maybe they didn’t know. Now all I have to do is find a ladder and see if there’s a way to open this or break through it.”
“I think I saw a ladder just down the hallway, in that small storage room.”
“I’ll go check.” He rushed down the hallway, and I peered at the ceiling as if that would help me see right through it.
Was there really a way out?
Damn, I really hoped so.
I was getting tired of being trapped in here without any windows or doors.
And yeah, I didn’t like the idea that we’d stay in here until we starved to death or went crazy.
Ryker was back with a small ladder a few moments later. I held my breath as he climb up and pressed his hand against the ceiling.
But nothing happened.
He kept tracing his fingers along the lines, and a few moments later, he pressed onto something. I heard a faint click somewhere.
Ryker glanced at me with a smile on his face.
A few moments later, an opening formed in the ceiling. He tugged it until the hole was big enough for him to go through.
“Anything?” I asked as he pulled himself up and disappeared somewhere up there.
“It is a small attic, and there’s a window, but there’s something covering it. I’m not sure if it’s blocked too or—”
A loud crashing sound made me jump.
“Ryker?” I asked as I started climbing the ladder.
“It’s okay. I’m fine.” He coughed, and as I poked my head through the opening, I saw him covered in dust and plaster. “The window was hidden so that no one would know it was here. I don’t think anyone was supposed to know about this room, not even Zavarelli.”
“Um, that window leads to the roof.” And yeah, I was really happy that we had a window, but what were we going to do?
Try to catch cell phone signal through it so we could call for help?
“Yeah. That means we can get out.”
I gave him a questioning look.
“We have that rope,” he said. “It should be strong enough.”
My jaw went slack. “You plan to get onto the roof and climb down?”
“Yeah, it’s not all that high. It’ll be fine.” A smile spread across his lips.
I smiled too, but I knew it didn’t reach my eyes.
Maybe I’d already done a similar thing, so this shouldn’t be a problem. It was only a bit higher than that balcony.
But there were no vines, trees, or indentations on the wall that I could catch onto.
Or at least I hadn’t seen any.
“It’ll be fine. I’ll tie the rope around you, and then I’ll lower you down,” he said. “I’ll go get it.”
I nodded, and let out a sigh.
Well, hell.
It looked like I was going to risk my life once again, but at least we’d be out of here. And I trusted Ryker. He’d make sure I reached the ground safely.
I just hoped that rope was strong enough.
While I was waiting for him to return, I noticed a box in the corner. It was very dusty and full of cobwebs, but there were a bunch of files in it.
“Lexi?” Ryker said as he returned with the rope.
“Did you see this? What’s inside?”
He lowered the rope and came closer. As he crouched next to the box, he pulled the dusty papers out of it.
His brow furrowed. “It looks like these are some old files. They list the Scarlet Cobras’ properties. Or at least the ones we used to own back then.”
“How come Zavarelli didn’t know about it?”
“Maybe he did, and he was hoping I wouldn’t find my way here. Maybe he thought I’d be desperate enough to kill myself rather than look hard enough around to find a way out. It’s not like he knows me all that well. Or at least, he thinks he knows me, but he doesn’t. Or the boss never told him because he was aware that Zavarelli wasn’t right in the head.”
“And yet he chose Zavarelli as his second.”
“It’s possible. Crazy men can make very good soldiers, especially if they believe they’re important to you.” He shrugged. “But it doesn’t matter now. Let’s get out of here before he shows up.”
“Yeah, okay. How are we going to do this?”
Ryker picked up the rope, and then he wrapped one end of it around me. “You’ll have to hold on tightly.”
“Don’t worry about that. There’s no way I’m letting go of that rope.”
“I’ll attach the other end to that pipe over there.” He pointed at it. “It looks strong enough.”
“Let’s hope it is.”
Once Ryker had me secured with the rope, and it didn’t look like it was going to break, I headed toward the window.
My heart was in my throat as I pushed myself up onto the roof. Maybe it wasn’t all that high, but it looked damn high to me right now.
Still, I braced myself, and when Ryker signaled to me, I let myself slowly slide down the roof.
Bit by bit, I was getting closer to the ground. I was clutching the rope so tightly that my knuckles white and my hands hurt, but I didn’t care.
When my feet reached the ground, I let out a shout of joy.
I quickly got the rope
off me, and then Ryker pulled it up. My breath got stuck in my chest as he slowly climbed down.
There was no one up there to make sure the rope didn’t break or get loose, and I fought the urge to bite on my fingernails.
It seemed like an eternity before he finally reached the ground.
When he did, I threw myself at him, wrapping my arms tightly around him. A smile erupted on his face, and I pressed my lips to his.
We were free again.
Now all we had to do was get out of here as soon as possible.
Chapter 21
RYKER LEANED ON THE desk, letting out a low growl, then he sent the papers flying everywhere.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I said as I made my way toward him.
We were in one of his safe houses, and I was glad that we finally had some time to relax, but Ryker clearly didn’t think the same.
“It’s Zavarelli. I don’t know where he is and I don’t know where to look for him.” He straightened his back. “He has to know by now that Easton is dead. Now he’s never going to come out. He might be a psycho, but he’s also a coward. He’ll never dare to face me.”
“You’ll find him. He can’t hide forever.” I placed my hands on Ryker’s shoulders and massaged gently.
He let out a small sigh, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.
“But the longer I wait, the more damage he can do. He’s still ruling from the shadows,” he said as he turned around to face me.
“You’re thinking too hard about this. You need to take a break.”
“I wish I could, but I can’t.” His lips hovered very close to mine.
“Yes, you can.” I shoved him back. “Sit down.”
“Lexi—”
“Shut up and do as I say.”
The corners of his lips tilted up as he sat down. “Now what?”
“Take off your shirt.”
He eyed me for a moment and then he pulled his shirt over his head. Just one look at his strong muscles made my core clench with desire.
I opened a few drawers until I found what I needed, and then I advanced toward him. “Put your hands behind you.”
He obeyed, and I used a zip tie I’d found to tie his wrists behind him, and then I lifted one of his ties and placed it over his eyes as a blindfold.
“Lexi,” he said.
“Shh.” I placed my finger over his lips when I was sure everything was exactly like I wanted it to be. “You’re my toy now. Don’t say a word.”
He let out a gasp when I lowered my lips to his neck as I straddled him. My mouth found his and then he was kissing me as if he couldn’t get enough.
When we broke apart, I rubbed myself against his already hard cock through his pants. I shifted so I could trace my fingers up and down his chest.
His breath was coming out in little gasps as I trailed my fingers around his nipples. I pressed my lips to his chest, leaving a path of kisses down his stomach.
When I reached the waistband of his pants, I shoved my hand inside his underwear and cupped him, giving him a light squeeze.
A soft moan escaped his lips, and I could feel a smile forming on my face. He was so damn beautiful like this.
And so damn mine.
He let out a sound of protest when I let go of him and got to my feet. I didn’t say a word as I undressed.
When I was fully naked, I climbed on top of him again, and then I guided his head toward my breast. I didn’t have to tell him to open his mouth.
He gently sucked on my hard bud, twirling his tongue around it. A billion different sensations surged through me as his tongue danced over my skin. When he moved onto my other breast, I held him tightly to me.
“Enough,” I said, shoving him back.
There was a smile on his face.
I unzipped his pants and tugged his underwear enough so that his thick length sprang out. He tensed as I traced my finger over his tip, and then I lowered myself so I could take him into my mouth.
He let out a small cry of pleasure as I sucked and licked him, toying with his balls. His chest was rapidly rising and falling as he tormented him with my tongue.
When I thought he couldn’t take it any longer, I let go of him. He opened his mouth, and I thought he was going to say something, but it looked like he decided against it because he didn’t say anything.
Good.
Very good.
I straddled his leg, rubbing myself against his pants. The friction was only making my need for him stronger.
And then I didn’t want to wait any longer.
I pushed myself up and positioned myself over him. My fingers closed around his shaft, and I guided him into my wetness.
We both groaned as I took him inside me. He filled and stretched me, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding tightly onto him.
I bucked my hips as slowly as possible. I wanted to feel us become one again. The pleasure inside me was growing stronger, and then I quickened my movements, impaling myself on him. I rode him hard, clinging onto him.
The warmth of his body against mine was incredibly comforting, and he pushed his hips up toward me, meeting me thrust for thrust.
I let out a loud moan as our bodies connected over and over again. It was impossible for me to think about anything other than us.
Every bit of the tension had seeped out of Ryker’s shoulders, and now I was sure that the only thing he could feel and hear was me.
When the pressure inside me burst, I threw my head back, and I kept pushing against him until his release joined mine. Every inch of me was throbbing as he pulsated inside me, and I held onto him, my lips finding his.
I kissed him with all I had, and he kissed me back. When I lifted the blindfold off his eyes, he was looking at me with so much love that I didn’t think was possible.
At that moment, I knew that I was going to do whatever I needed to so he’d stay with me forever.
He loved me.
He really did.
But how were we going to overcome all those things that threatened to come between us, his job being the biggest one?
I didn’t know just yet, but I was going to try.
I was going to try as long as there was hope for us.
The thought of losing him was something I couldn’t bear, and I hoped we could find a way and be happy.
Forever.
Chapter 22
“ARE YOU SURE—”
I lifted my finger before Ryker could finish the sentence. “Nuh-uh. I have a new rule. We no longer ask each other if we’re sure about something. If I wasn’t sure about any of this, I wouldn’t be here with you. And yeah, I’m sometimes confused, and I’d rather be somewhere else or do something else with you, but to hell with everything. I’m here, and if you’re doing something, then I’m going to help you if I can.”
He lifted his hands up. “Okay.”
“So who are we after here?” I eyed the hotel in front of us.
There was a special party being held for businessmen, and I clutched my large purse in my hand.
Ryker had said that no one would check me for a gun, so I hoped that was true, because I had one in my purse.
“Zavarelli’s cousin,” Ryker said. “He and his wife are supposed to be here tonight.”
“Zavarelli has a cousin?” My eyebrows shot up. “Why didn’t you go after him first if it’s so easy to get to him?”
“Because I didn’t know he was his cousin. I only found out recently when one of my men mentioned it.”
“And you think this cousin might know where he is or might be able to reach him?”
“Yeah, I do. Zavarelli doesn’t think we know about his cousin, and I really hope the cousin is chattier. But there’s something I need you to do. You’ll have to stand next to his wife and look threatening.”
I raised an eyebrow and let out a laugh. “Do I look like a big mean guy to you?”
“No, but you can be pretty intimidating.” He grinned. “Especially when you’re holding a
weapon.”
“Ah.” The corners of my lips quirked up. “Okay, so I’m going to pretend I’m threatening his wife. I guess you’re going to talk to him?”
“Yeah. We’ll have to find the right moment, and then I’ll take him aside. Just be careful that no one sees you with that gun. Only Zavarelli’s cousin is supposed to see it.”
“So that’s why you insisted on me wearing a black dress.” It would be harder to spot the gun.
He only flashed me a smile.
“How am I going to recognize her?”
Ryker pulled out his phone and swiped until he found the photo he was looking for. “This is her. The man next to her is Zavarelli’s cousin.”
“The pretty blonde, huh? Okay. I can do this. Does this mean no one will get hurt? What if the cousin yells for help or for the guards?”
“He won’t. He’ll be too worried thinking you’ll kill his wife if he does or says anything wrong.”
“And there I thought you didn’t need me for this.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “What if I didn’t want to do this? Who would you take with you? One of your men?”
“No. I’d have to hire someone else.”
“Well, then it’s good you have me.”
“Just be careful.”
“I will.”
We got out of the car, and then Ryker offered me his arm.
Since he was pretending to be a legit businessman, he hadn’t had any trouble getting an invitation for this party.
We strode toward the entrance, and I spread my lips into a smile.
“Is Zavarelli’s cousin also into shady things and gang business?” I asked.
“Probably, but I didn’t have enough time to look into it.”
Once we stepped into a brightly lit room full of people, I looked around, trying to find our target.
When I spotted Zavarelli’s cousin, I tugged on Ryker’s arm.
“I can see him,” Ryker said. “Why don’t you go grab yourself a drink?”
“All right.” I gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
My lipstick left a trail, and I smudged it a bit.
Amusement flashed through his eyes.
“Did you just mark me as yours?” he whispered.
“Maybe.” I winked before going for the table with drinks.
