“I suspect I have all of your correct sizes. If you find something does not fit, or if there is something additional that you may need, please ask. I will make sure you have what you need.” Sofia reaches across the comforter and straightened the bed.
“Sofia? It’s Sofia, right?”
The woman turned and smiled again. “Yes, that is correct.”
“Great. Um, Sofia. The clothes in that closet, are you trying to tell me all of that is… mine?”
The bell-like sound of Sofia’s laugh made me smile. “Yes, those are yours. This is your room, and Master Grant has selected everything in it for you.” Sofia approached the little table. “May, I sit?”
“Please.” Thinking to myself, this may be an opportunity to get information about what’s going on. Maybe I can turn Sofia into an ally and help me escape.
“Master Grant has been expecting you. He is so happy you are here. He made sure that everything was perfect for your arrival.”
“Master Grant? That seems a little formal, doesn’t it?” Maybe Grant and Sofia have one of those types of relationships. He is the master, and she’s, what? Submissive?
A little line appears on Sofia’s forehead. I may have struck a nerve.
“All of us who are a part of Master Grant’s coven… um I mean family, address him as Master.”
This struck me as odd, but I didn’t take the conversation any further. Instead, I began a different line of questioning.
“Sofia, I hope that maybe you an tell me what’s going on here.”
Sofia stood up. “I know Master Grant has you in a secure area to keep you safe. He also has someone posted outside for your protection.”
“Sofia, none of this is for my protection. I didn’t come here willingly. Did you know that?” I waited for Sofia to say something, but she remained quiet.
“I need help, Sofia. You need to help me escape. Maybe distract Nick outside and point me to the nearest exit? Will you do that for me?” I stood, hoping Sofia would help me.
“Oh no, I am sorry.” Sofia closed her eyes and shook her head while wringing her hands. “Master would be furious.”
“But I am not here because I want to be, Sofia. Don’t you see that? Please, I’m begging you. Please help me.” My pleading did nothing to move Sofia.
“Again, I am sorry Miss Kelly. You will see. You will find yourself happy here with Master Grant. You only need to give it a chance. He is a good… man. He only wants to take care of you and give you your heart's desires.”
“My heart desires freedom, Sofia.” Feeling defeated, I returned to the chair at the table. There must be something I can offer Sofia for her help. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything I could give her.
If I hadn’t listened to my father. If I had listened to my gut and had taken off when I had the chance, I would not be in this situation. What was I thinking? I felt the anger for my father seep deep into my core. He sold me to save himself. What kind of man does that to his child? “I’ll kill him.” I whispered.
“Miss?” Sofia interrupted.
“Hmm?”
Sofia took a step towards me. “Miss Kelly, who will you kill?” Sofia’s face was blank, but her fierce protective nature for her Master shows in her eyes.
I had ruffled Sofia. “Joe. My father. He did this.” Placing both hands on the table, I tried to calm myself. “My father sold me, Sofia. He traded me to clear a debt. If I ever see him again, I’ll kill him.” I was not a violent person, but the anger I have toward Joe could easily lead me to murdering him. The lines of right and wrong are blurring, but I think I could justify it. I could live with it.
“You know, I think you are better off here with Master Grant.” Shaking her head, “your father may have traded you but even if he had not done this to you, Master Grant would have found you, anyway.”
“What is that supposed to mean? He would have found me, anyway?” I stood up and placed my fists against my hips. “Answer me, Sofia. What does that mean? What does Grant plan to do with me?” My voice echoed through the room. “I need you to tell me!”
The door swings open and Nick pushes his way into the room. “What’s goin’ on in here?” He looks between the two of us, trying to figure out what was happening. “Kelly, has Sofia upset you?”
Sofia’s face quietly pleads with me. She holds her hands still in front of her, but she is anything but relaxed.
“No. No, she did nothing to upset me. I’m just unhappy about the situation. You can understand that, right? I mean, I’m being held against my will. It’s not Sofia, it’s the situation.”
Sofia took a deep breath. “Miss Kelly, housekeeping will be up later to clean.”
“If there is anything you need,” Sofia gestures to the phone, “dial 723 and it will connect you to me. I am here at your disposal.” Sofia bowed her head and left the room.
Nick watches her leave and then takes a quick sweep of the room, looking for anything that may be out of place. “You okay? I mean it, Kitten. Tell me.”
I turn and sit back down in the chair and stare at the tray of food Sofia brought to me. “I’m fine.” Not making eye contact with Nick.
He steps closer, reaching out to touch my arm, but he stops himself. I watch him from under my eyelashes. Nick kneels down on one knee and rests his hand on the tabletop.
“Hey. Look at me.”
I glance up to meet his stare.
“You need to know nothing will happen to you, okay?” Nick rubs the back of his neck, searching for words. “I know this is a weird situation, but I promise you, it’s gonna be okay, yeah?”
Why is he trying to make me feel better? Nothing about this situation is right.
“Seriously, Kelly. Do you hear me?” Nick’s face hardens.
I push my emotions deep inside me. My fear. My sadness. But I allow my anger to fuel my response. “Yeah. I hear you.”
“What? You don’t believe me?”
Before I can answer Nick, the air shifts in the room. Nick stands and steps back from me. Grant enters the room as he disconnects a call on his cell phone.
Grant takes a predatory stance in front of me. I sense he is on edge and could hurt me if he wanted but I know he won’t. Grant reaches for me and with a feather touch, swipes the back of his hand against my cheek. His emerald eyes search for something on my face. “Are you all right?” His faint Irish accent is almost unnoticeable.
I cannot look away from Grant. He is touching me with such gentleness I almost forget he is my captor. All I can think about is him holding me in his arms. Shaking myself from my thoughts, “Yes. I, I’m fine.”
Still looking at me and caressing my cheek, I pull away from him.
Grant speaks. “You may go now, Nick.”
“Boss, I…” Nick wants to explain himself.
The air is growing thick, making it hard for me to breathe. Grant growls and turns on Nick. “I won’t repeat myself.”
Nick bows and backs out of the room without another word, leaving me alone with Grant.
“Did he touch you?” Grant urges me out of my chair to stand in front of him. He looks me over. “Answer me, Kelly. Did Nick touch you?”
“No. He was trying to make me feel better about… this whole situation. That’s all.”
Grant moves his hands down my arms until he has both of my hands in his. “He is never to touch you. No one is ever to touch you, understand?”
I cross my arms in front of me, forming a barrier between us. “Yes.”
With this, Grant smiles. “You belong to me now. No one touches what is mine.”
I narrow my eyes at Grant, perplexed by him. “Yes. I know. You’ve made that clear. You own me.” I spit out. I try to move further away from him, but he won’t let go of me.
“I don’t enjoy repeating myself, Kelly. Let me be clear. No one is allowed in this room aside from Sofia and the cleaning staff.”
“You act as if I have any say in this.” I wrestle my hands away from Grant. “I have no co
ntrol over who comes in or out.” Grinding my teeth, I move to the window and peer out over the Strip and then back at Grant.
“You’ve got me trapped in here.” I wrap my arms across my middle again and stare down at the throngs of people walking Las Vegas Boulevard.
In an instant he is right behind me, pressing his chest against my back. Grant places his arms on each side of my body, caging me against the window. His Irish brogue thickens as he whispers in my ear. “I don’t want ya to think your father is comin’ back for ya mo chroi. No one is comin’. So, don’t go hopin’ for something that won’t happen.”
I stare at his reflection in the window as tears streak down my face.
“You’re mine, Kelly. I will give you time to adjust to your new life. I don’t want ya thinkin’ for one moment that the worthless piece of shite father of yours is comin’ for ya. He’s not.”
He is no longer hiding his Irish accent. I think the more emotional he becomes, the thicker it gets.
I feel him nuzzle into the back of my neck. “You smell divine, Kelly.”
I stiffen in his embrace. “Don’t…” I don’t know how to feel about his closeness to me. He is holding me hostage, taken my freedom away, yet I am strangely feeling pulled to him.
“Don’t what? Tell me what it is you want, and I’ll give it to ya.”
I didn’t hesitate. “Let me go.” I wiggle out of his embrace. “I want to go back home. Please.”
He turns me to face him. “That is the one thing I won’t give ya.” He brushes a tear from my face. “I have things to take care of, mo chroi. I won’t be able to come back again until later this evening. Behave yourself and do not cause any trouble, hmm? We will talk more tonight.”
Grant leans down and places a chaste kiss on my forehead. I don’t want his affection, but the tingling sensation his kiss leaves, makes me want him to do it again. He makes his way back to the door and closes it behind him.
What just happened? My mind searches through the wave of emotions I’m feeling. I have to find a way out. If I don’t, Grant will convince me I do belong to him.
Chapter 10
Finn
There are two quick knocks on my office door. Before I can respond, Liam comes in, dragging Joe Kennedy behind him.
“Where did you find him?”
My progeny pushes Joe further into the room.
“His apartment. He had his car packed like he was leaving town or something. I dragged him back here with me.” A rare smile creases his lips. “I locked him in the car's truck.”
I shake my head. “Thank you, Liam. I will take it from here.”
Liam nods and backs out of the room, closing the door.
“Where is she?” I sit down in my red leather executive chair.
“I, uh, I don’t know. I left her with your guys like you told me too.”
I study the human. “We had an agreement, Joseph.”
“Yeah, and I did what you told me to do. I brought her to the airport and left her with your guys. Why don’t you ask them where she is?” He gestures toward the door.
I can see Joe’s battered soul squirming for control.
“They shot both my men. It could have been you for all I know. Did you attempt to save your sweet Kelly’s life?”
“What? No! I would never cross you like that Finn.”
“This may be true. You still owe me proper payment, Joseph. I was expecting your daughter, but she has gone missing. You have a dilemma. You still owe me a debt.” I stand up from behind my desk and circle to face the weak human.
“I don’t know where she is, but I can try to find her. I’ll figure it out and bring her back to you.”
“Tell me, Joseph. Where do you think she would have gone?”
“Well, I’m not sure. But I know I can find her.” He hesitates and licks his lips. “Like I said, I thought you had her this whole time.”
“I see.” I step behind my desk again and sit down. My brows crease over my eyes.
I watch Joe swipe at the river of sweat falling from his temples. “Listen, Finn…”
“No, Joseph. You listen.”
Before he realizes what is happening, I pin the man to the wall opposite my desk, his feet dangle like a puppet. I hold Joe by the neck with one hand and lean in, sniffing Joe’s throat. His pulse quickens as his blood pushes through his veins in panic.
“I can smell your fear, Joseph.” I pull away from him enough to make eye contact. “You realize you’ve made a grave mistake, no?”
Joe sputters something but cannot get enough air to speak. His knuckles are white from gripping my arm.
“Tell me something, Joseph. Have you ever looked death in the eye?” I push my fangs out from my gums. “Because this may be the moment you leave this world.”
Joe opens his mouth to scream, but nothing comes out. I can see him losing consciousness, so I release him, dropping him to the floor in a heap. He blinks until his eyes focus. Looking for an escape, he eyes the door. Joe scrambles to his feet and takes a step towards the door, reaching for the handle. But I lift him up by the collar of his shirt and pull him away from the door.
Without effort, I carry the blood bag to the visitor chair in front of my desk. “Sit.”
Joe’s whimpers graduate to sobs. “What… what are you?” A wet spot forms on his pants. “Oh my god, please!”
“God can’t help you, Joseph. And you still owe me a debt.”
I rest my hands on the chair's arms and whisper in his ear. “Are you certain you do not know where Kelly is?”
“No. Honest, Finn! I would tell you.”
Without warning, I sink deep into Joe’s neck. He is powerless over me. I know he feels me pulling his life force from his frail body. Blood droplets pool on his torn shirt. His struggle to be free of me makes my lips curl as I continue to drain him.
With a second strike, I tear open his neck, forcing the rest of his blood to pump out of his carotid. I watch as the light in those dull blue eyes’ fade. I so enjoy watching death take its victims. His body slumps down in the chair and falls to the ground.
Reaching into my inside coat pocket, I pull out a white handkerchief and dab the blood from my mouth, then wipe my hands with it.
I need to find this girl. Without her, it will be near impossible to accomplish what I have set out to do. Vampires should not live in the shadows, but rule over this world. Humans are food. They are beneath the vampire race and do not deserve any freedom. They will be raised like cattle and made into servants. Once I am on the council, I will be one step closer to making my dream a reality. Then my fellow conspirator will have what he needs in return.
I open my office door. “MONA.”
The tiny woman appears in front of me. “Yes, master?”
“Clean this mess up, have Liam assist you.” I look down at Joe’s dead body and tsk. “His fear was tasty. I so enjoy a good ending.”
Leaving Mona to dispose of the torn body, I head up the hallway toward the Foyer. “Mason!”
The giant of a man appears in the foyer. His dark hair is short, but his beard reaches down to his collarbone. Ink scrolls up both arms and around his neck. Without a word, he waits for me.
“Ah. There you are, Mason.”
My progeny is a man of few words. Bowing in front of me, Mason looks like he has healed from yesterday’s debacle.
“Now that you have recovered from the attack, are you able to remember who it was that took the girl from you?”
It embarrassed Mason. He looks down at his feet before he replies. “Yes, Master. I know who did it. He is part of Grant Cooper’s coven. I would recognize him again, but I’m sorry I don’t know his name.”
Hmm. Well, maybe my day is looking up. “Come with me. I need to visit my friend Grant.”
Mason remains expressionless. “You want me to drive for you?”
Gritting my teeth, I pinch my nose and head out the door. “Yes, Mason. That’s your job. To drive.”
Without
a word, Mason follows me to my Black Maybach. The passenger door squeaks open. I slide inside and onto the leather seat. Mason closes my door and then makes his way to the front of the car and moves into the driver's seat. “Where to Mr. Bailey?”
“The Contessa Hotel and Casino.” I pull my phone out and scroll through my contact list and press the green call button.
“Grant, it’s Finn Bailey… I’m on my way to see you, be there in an hour… I don’t care if it’s not a good time… one hour.” I disconnect the call.
“I will need your help this evening.”
Mason catches my gaze through the rearview mirror. He knows not to ask many questions; his eyes move back to the road in front of him.
“Once I am inside the hotel, I need you to find the girl. She is rightfully mine. I want you to find her and bring her to the car. Do not harm a hair on her head. If she fights you… you may give her this.”
I reach into the inside pocket of my coat and pull out a syringe. “I don’t enjoy repeating myself, Mason. Do. Not. Harm. Her. Understand?”
Mason nods once and turns the car toward the hotel. As we approach the main entrance, I see Nick and Tony, Grant’s men, waiting for me.
“Mr. Bailey, it’s good to see you. Grant requested Tony and I escort you.” Nick offers his hand in a welcoming gesture. I do not have time for unnecessary pleasantries and ignore him. “You will address me as Master, Nicholas. I have earned the distinction. Take me to him.”
“Sorry about that… Master. Yeah, well, you're gonna have to wait a few minutes. He is in the middle of something. Unless, you want to come back another time. It’s up to you.” The vampire crosses his arms, standing between me and the glass door.
I paste a friendly smile across my lips. “My apologies Nicholas. I have had a trying day and did not mean to take it out on you and Anthony.”
“No harm, no foul. Follow me.” Nick reaches for the door and walks through it, leaving me to follow.
I walk behind Grant’s men through the casino. The casino floor is one of the largest on the strip. Dark blue carpeting covers most of the casino. White marble flooring continues where the carpet ends. The decor is modern but flirts with a minimalistic take on bling. This is Vegas. You can never have too many gaudy embellishments, but the Contessa is far from gaudy. Too plain for my taste.
Paid in Full: Kelly Kennedy Series (Book One) Page 7
