by P Nelson
“Over here, Alicia.” Calla flicked her gaze over to where Flynn stood with his hands in front of him, voice calm. He didn’t even look over at Calla, who did her best to turn her body to the side to make her body a smaller target. She tried to reach for the door of the bathroom, not that she would lock herself inside when Flynn was out here vulnerable. Alicia trained the gun on Flynn.
“Stand beside your master, Dr Jones.” Alicia’s voice no longer the held the deference it had while she served supper. “I’m very sorry you have been mixed up in this mess, but there’s nothing to be done about it now.”
“Calla, get your ass into the bathroom and lock the fucking door, do you understand me?” Flynn barked out his orders. Calla had no intention of obeying him. The sub inside her didn’t hesitate for a second to walk across the room towards Flynn. Alicia stepped back to let her pass. Linkin hadn’t taught her any offensive moves, so she couldn’t hope to overpower the other woman.
“I guess she’s only able to take orders from the alpha in the room.” Alicia goaded.
“Fuck you.” Flynn reached out and grabbed Calla by the wrist. She found her body behind Flynn’s. “I knew there was something off about you.” Calla peered around Flynn and watched as Alicia cocked her head, contemplating her and Flynn.
“After all the research I did on you, I’m surprised you didn’t take me up on my offer. Everything pointed to you having a very healthy sexual appetite.” Alicia paused, but continued when it was clear Flynn would not comment. “By the bulge in the front of your briefs, I might have enjoyed it too.”
“What do you want?” Flynn adjusted his stance. Calla raised a hand and placed it on his back. She might be an inexperienced fighter, but she wasn’t stupid. Flynn wasn’t about to let Alicia shoot them without putting up a fight. “Understand Chamberlain is an undercover RCMP detective. It will not take much for him to deduce you are the killer.”
“You mean the detective, Chamberlain, who took me up on my offer for a little kinky sex?” Alicia shook her head and Flynn swore under his breath. Calla hoped the man wasn’t dead. Flynn and Linkin might not have thought too highly of the RCMP detective, but Calla’s impression was different. He was a good man in need of some kink.
“Killing a federal officer will hardly keep your identity a secret. The federal government generally frowns upon its public servants being murdered.” Flynn shifted, trying to block Calla’s view of Alicia. Calla knew to stay hidden behind him, but she was determined to be of any help possible.
“I incapacitated Detective Chamberlain. He isn’t dead. You are the only people who will die on this ship tonight. Dead by BDSM misadventure.” Alicia smiled. “For the first time in a long time, I will really enjoy my work.”
“No one will believe I died in any misadventure with a bullet in my chest.” Flynn’s voice was grim. He reached behind him and grabbed Calla’s arm forcing her to stay still. She stopped breathing as Alicia’s cold gaze fixed on the action.
“Come on out now, Dr Jones, I will start with you.” Alicia adjusted her aim on Flynn’s broad chest. “And don’t think I can’t create a scene that explains ten fucking bullet holes in your body. Move now, doctor.”
“Don’t even fucking think about it, Calla.” Flynn continued to stare Alicia, but the grip on Calla’s arm intensified.
“Flynn.” Calla didn’t know what to say. The gun Alicia held scared the crap out of her. It was one thing to have it pointed at her, but to have it pointed at Flynn made her nauseas and hyper-aware of everything in the room all at once. “We need to talk this out with Alicia.”
“She is a trained killer. We’re two of possibly hundreds on a list of corporate espionage. There is no talking to a psychopath.” Flynn’s raised his voice, he switched his gaze to Calla’s face, and she shrank back.
“The psychopath is right here.” Alicia spoke, but Calla ignored her for the much larger, nearer predator in the room.
“Everyone has their own motivations.” Calla took a deep breath. “Childhood trauma, teenage angst, some neurological deficiency. All three. I am a trained psychologist. It’s why you hired me. And I’ve never studied a specimen like this woman.” Calla raised her hand to show Alicia.
“Specimen?” Alicia questioned. But it was too late for her. Flynn struck out with such speed that Calla couldn’t follow his movements because he had pushed her to the ground, launching his body at Alicia at the same time. The gun shot was deafening in the enclosed space of the stateroom. Flynn grunted as he came into contact with Alicia, but trained well for her chosen occupation. She dodged the punch Flynn aimed for her head, but he caught her off guard with a kick to the hip.
Flynn grabbed for the gun, but Alicia would not give up her weapon and she aimed a kick for Flynn’s balls.
“Tricky bitch.” Flynn deflected her blow by twisting, letting her foot slide away. She was off balance now, however.
“Trickier than you think.” Calla watched as the woman bit down on Flynn’s wrist. He howled in pain, but didn’t let go of the weapon, pointing it towards the ceiling. Calla was on her feet in the next instant, searching around the room for a weapon as banging started on the door.
“Alicia is trying to kill us!” Calla shouted and attempted to get to the door. She landed hard on the floor.
“Calla, stay the fuck down.” Flynn shouted a warning. The gun fired again. Calla cried out in fright and turned onto her side. The bullet had penetrated the ceiling. She saw Flynn was using sheer strength to overpower Alicia, but she was still putting up a hell of a fight. Alicia aimed an elbow in Flynn’s face and blood erupted out his nose, dripping down his chin.
“Bitch.” Calla swore and got up onto her knees and tried for the door again. The movement must have caught Alicia’s attention and the other woman did her best to steer her fight with Flynn. If Calla could open the door, they would outnumber Alicia. Calla fell forward, pushed by the bodies and movement behind her. One of her shoulders smashed into the wood and in another second she couldn’t draw breath into her lungs. Legs, arms, elbows all fought above her as she could finally draw breath and let out a strangled terrified scream.
All at once, the fighting above her stopped. Panic gripped her, and she fought to get out from the dead weight on top of her. If Alicia had incapacitated Flynn, she would kill Alicia with her bare hands, or die trying. Arms and legs flailing Calla screamed lungfuls of air in her fight to stay alive. Then Flynn’s arms were around her. Calla opened her eyes; tears of relief clouding her vision. She kissed every inch of Flynn her lips would reach. He juggled her in his arms while reaching to unlock the door.
Crew-members poured in a second later, Flynn did his best to cover Calla up with her torn robe. Blood still pulsed from his nose, down his chin.
“Thank God.” Captain Ron had a rifle in hands and was staring down at the prone figure of Alicia.
“She’s not dead, but I’d feel a hell of a lot better if she were tied up.” Flynn held Calla closer, unmindful of the blood on his face and chest. She didn’t care as she searched his body for any damage. He had taken a beating, but it looked like he would survive. “You need someone to check on our friend Chamberlain.”
“I’m here.” Chamberlain stood in the doorway, his soulful gaze gone. Replaced by a restrained predator. He stared down at Alicia. “Bitch hit me across the head with a lamp. A fucking lamp!” Calla watched him rub the back of his head a few times.
&
The only thing keeping Flynn from losing his shit all over the people in the cabin was ensuring that Calla was safe in his arms. His brain was working over time trying to put all the pieces of the evening together.
Captain Ron had stopped apologising and a couple of crew members had tied Alicia up and were going to take her below decks where she couldn’t harm anyone. And his little sub was trying to put pants on him.
“Get dressed. Make sure to pack your bags. We’re taking the helicopter to the estate.” Flynn set Calla down on the carpet, tugging the front o
f her robe together in a modest gesture.
“We can’t leave now.” Calla’s voice trailed off, and she shook. Shock was setting in, which was what he wanted to avoid.
“Flynn is right, the yacht is compromised.” Chamberlain watched as two large Crew members picked an unconscious and tied-up Alicia off the carpet. “It’ll be better for the two of you to get onto the estate. I’ve updated Linkin’s security measures and the background checks he did for all the employees.”
“His system has flaws.” Flynn was angry. He was more than pissed off. Alicia had put Calla in immediate danger again, this time on his watch.
“I hired Alicia.” Captain Ron stood at the door. The way his shoulders slumped told Flynn everything he needed to know about the other man’s remorse.
“You hired Alicia, but she would’ve had some amazing credentials to get around Linkin’s failsafe measures, not an easy task. The people who hired her are not fucking around, whoever she is and whoever hired her are not fucking around.” Flynn forced his feet to move away from Calla and towards Captain Ron. He clapped the man on the shoulder. “This isn’t all on you. Linkin didn’t catch her, and I realized something was off about her, but I said nothing. I know better.”
Ron shook his head. “I’m handing in my resignation.”
“Don’t.” Flynn stepped away from his captain. “I’ll just hand it back to you. I assume you’ll want to take Alicia, or whatever her name is, back to Vancouver and hand her over to the authorities.” Flynn spoke to Chamberlain who had watched the exchange between Flynn and Ron.
“Yes. Since you’re using the chopper, I’ll need a ride back at least far enough for nearby Navy or Coast Guard to reach us. It would be stupid of us to believe this incident is a one off. I’m more convinced than ever that whoever was behind the financial backing of the Reverend, is behind this too. Corporate espionage is a dirty business.” Chamberlain nodded to Calla. “Are you all right?”
Flynn bristled at the question directed towards his sub, but did his best to let it go. As another dominant, Chamberlain’s concern would be for the only sub in the room. Calla was pale and her eyes were round with strain. She looked very much the sub at this moment.
“She’ll be fine once we’re at the estate.” Flynn grabbed the bar of chocolate he had fed Calla earlier and broke a piece off. Without missing a beat he crossed the room and held it out to her. “The sugar will help with the shock.”
“I understand the theory.” Calla frowned up at him.
“Please. For me.” Flynn coaxed not removing the chocolate from near Calla’s lips. She narrowed her eyes at him.
“Because I’ve never heard you ask before.” Calla opened her mouth and accepted the chocolate. It satisfied Flynn after she had eaten a couple more pieces.
“Is there anything else we can do for you, Mr Banroch?” One of the regular crew questioned. “The captain is meeting with the detective to make plans for our unwanted guest.”
“Yes, John, there is” Flynn strode over to where Calla’s suitcases rested on the floor. She hadn’t bothered unpacking them. He rifled through until he found clothes suitable for the flight. “Can you pack up the rest of Dr Jones’ things? I have an overnight bag. Place the luggage aboard the helicopter. I’ll start my pre-flight check in twenty minutes.”
“Yes sir.” John replied and turned his attention to Calla’s suitcases. Satisfied John would complete his job without further instructions, Flynn ushered Calla into the adjoining bathroom after grabbing suitable clothing for himself. He ran a quick shower.
“Get in, get warm.” Flynn instructed.
“I don’t think this is necessary.” Some colour had come back into Calla’s cheeks.
“And I don’t believe that arguing with your master is the best course of action right now. Do you? You’ve got yourself a clean slate.” Flynn found Calla’s eyes in the mirror as he turned on the shower. She stared at him for a full minute as if daring him to give her another spanking. He’d like nothing better than to feel the sting of his hand as it met her flesh. His expression must have said as much because Calla shrugged out of the robe. He tested the water again before stepping back. “We will get dressed and go up to the flight deck. After I finish my pre-flight checks, we’re flying to the estate.”
“I didn’t know you were a pilot.” Calla stepped into the shower and held her face up to the spray. It was such a natural action. One she had done thousands of times before in her life, but it captivated Flynn. The way the water sluiced off her face, hit her chest and absorbed into her golden hair was perfection. His cock came to life again bringing him back to the present. Damn Alicia and her interruption.
“This old dog has a few tricks up his sleeve.” Flynn grunted back at her and did his best to ignore her hands moving over her body. He dressed in record time and was ready with a fluffy towel when she shut the water off. Five minutes later, Flynn escorted Calla onto the top deck of the yacht where the helicopter waited. He had dressed them warmly for the cool autumn temperatures. Flynn opened the passenger side door for her and helped her inside.
“Ten minutes and we’ll be in the air. These are the buckles for your belt and you must wear these headphones.” He handed over the headgear and she accepted them with slender hands. Flynn went over his pre-flight checks with an efficiency born of practice. Flight was the one thing he had in common with his brother and the two of them had been pilots as soon as age permitted. It granted them freedom from the pressures of everyday life in the household of a billionaire father who expected them to perform flawlessly every minute.
“Are you sure you know how to fly this thing?” Calla asked. She had a white-knuckle grip on the sides of the cushioned seats.
“Do you think I would ever endanger your life?” Flynn shot back, fitting his own headset.
“I’ve never flown in a helicopter before, Flynn.” Her voice strained. Flynn halted in his pre-flight checks and turned to stare at her. He reached down and pried one of her hands from the seat.
“Is this the same woman who wouldn’t stay behind me when a trained assassin was about to shoot us both dead not an hour ago?” Flynn did his best to sound amused rather than horrified. He hadn’t quite come to terms with the fact he had almost lost her again.
“That was different.” Calla’s voice rose. “There was no way I would let anything happen to you.”
“We’ll discuss your flagrant disregard for your safety later. With you over my knee taking my hand.” Flynn squeezed the fingers he was holding. “Right now you need to breathe and relax. I’ve been flying since I was a teenager and it’s a great night for it. No wind and clear skies. You’ll never get to experience the like again. Just the two of us.”
“You’re making it sound romantic.” Calla bit her lip.
“If you keep teasing me, I will be forced to let you to wrap those lips around my cock before we take off.” Flynn teased her back, settling more into their relationship. This banter what had been missing from the previous contract. The sizzling heat and possession had blotted out everything else. But now he was beginning to like the easy communication between them.
“She frightened me.” Calla spoke again.
“You should be frightened now, my cock is hard as fucking granite.” Flynn’s smile was genuine.
“About the future. I’m not sure I like this new sense of humour you appear to have developed in life-threatening situations.” Calla sniffed.
“All you need to worry about right now is sitting back in that ridiculously expensive leather seat and enjoying the ride.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of her knuckles. She smiled at his show of gallantry.
“I’ll do my best.” Calla said back.
“Good.” Flynn let go of her fingers and went back to finish his pre-flight checks. The engine roared to life, and he rolled his shoulders. Easing the throttle a minute later, the helicopter rose into the air, the flight already easing his fears over Calla’s safety. He made his final fa
rewells to Captain Ron over the radio and concentrated on flying the familiar route to his private island estate.
“What will happen to Alicia? Or whatever her name is.” Calla asked. The glow from the control panels the only light in the cabin. Darkness all around them. The stars were pinpoints of light above, the crashing waves of the Pacific interspersed with the occasional island or peninsula below.
“Chamberlain will question her when she wakes up.” Flynn had been thinking the same thing for a few minutes now. “She’s a professional. So I doubt he’ll get much information out of her. Then it depends on what she’s worth.”
“What do you mean?” Calla half turned in her seat to face him. Flynn’s glance over revealed she was looking much more comfortable in the helicopter than when they first started.
“Operators like Alicia have long Rap Sheets. It depends on whether Chamberlain and his superiors will be able to connect her with any other crimes.” Flynn was going to ensure the woman stayed locked up long enough that when she saw the light of day again, she wouldn’t be able to handle a firearm any longer.
“You still think Melanie is behind all this?” Calla had never once mentioned his ex wife. Now hearing her say the bitches name brought Melanie into their space. And he sure as fuck didn’t like it.
“Don’t use her name.” Flynn ground out. Calla sniffed.
“You’re being unreasonable.” Calla’s placating voice and psychologist hat in place.
“Am I?” Flynn might behave like a cave man, but it wasn’t like Calla shouldn’t expect it. His domineering and unreasonable personality was as much a part of him as his arms or legs. “That fucking bitch has targeted you. She managed the deaths of those poor girls who believed in the safety of the BDSM community. I’ve worked hard to rid the BDSM lifetyle of bastards like the Reverend. She used those girl’s kinks against them, just like she used the lifestyle against me.” It still grated that she had blackmailed him over his kinks when they had met on a dungeon floor. He’s a fool who thought he had found the perfect sub. Melanie, a woman who had found the perfect mark.
