Daye, Lavender - Bound By Trust (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Lavender Daye

  “Whoa.” He jerked her back into his arms. “This was a safety issue for you, nothing else. We—Richard and I—wanted to make sure you weren’t hurt. One of us monitored your location when you weren’t with me.”

  Kerri pushed at his chest, struggling to put a little distance between them. She couldn’t think straight when his hands were on her. “You should have told me.”

  “I know.” He sighed. “I didn’t want you to worry. I was wrong.”

  He looked over her head to Jase. “How did you get here?”

  “I’m not sure. One minute I was in Harvey’s car, the next I was waking up here.”

  Two strides took him close enough to see the man on the bed. “I’m assuming that’s Harvey?” he asked, looking at each of the girls for conformation. He checked for a pulse and nodded.

  “Apparently, I’m a horrible judge of character.” Bitterness coated Jase’s tone, and Kerri stepped away from Hunter to hug her friend.

  “He’s a con artist. He had us all fooled.”

  Hunter opened another cabinet near the bed and located a pair of handcuffs, securing Harvey’s wrists to the bed. Turning away, he pulled out his cell and tapped out a message. “Someone from security will make sure he’s taken care of.”

  “Jail would be a good idea. Shouldn’t we call the police?” Jase asked.

  “Menton will take care of him.” Hunter turned to the door and pulled out his keycard.

  “Where is he?” Kerri asked.

  “On his way. Let’s go, ladies.” Hunter turned to the door and pulled out his keycard.

  A look passed between the girls.

  “Let’s go, ladies.”

  “I can’t,” Jase whispered.

  Kerri put her hand on Hunter’s arm. “She doesn’t have any clothes. Harvey cut them off and took them when he tied her down.”

  Hunter raised his brow in question before turning away from Kerri to look at her friend, for the first time, really seeing her instead of the situation. Kerri knew exactly what he saw. Jase was a lovely young lady, and bare as the day she was born. Her entire body bloomed with a pink blush. When he turned back to Kerri, his face was a mask of dominant male.

  “Will she trust me as much as you do?”

  Kerri tipped her head, not sure what he planned, but believing he would do whatever necessary to get them out of this place.

  He stepped around the table and stood before Jase, eye to eye, asking the same question.

  When Jase turned wide eyes to Kerri, she nodded. “Trust him, Jase. He’s a good man.”

  “I’m going to get you out of here, Jase.” He’d intentionally softened his voice, but now let his dominance prevail. “I’m going to touch you, but I won’t hurt you. Do exactly as I say, no matter what I ask of you. No questions, no words at all. Keep your head down and don’t make eye contact with anyone. Understand?”

  Kerri watched her friend struggle with the instructions, understanding how difficult it would be for Jase to follow them. The memory of her first night with Hunter lashed through her mind, the excitement and fear she’d felt melding with the memories of her submission.

  “It’ll be okay, Jase. You can do this. I’ll be right beside you.”

  Hunter turned blazing eyes on her. “You will be properly submissive at all times, pretty girl. No deviations.”

  “Yes, sir.” She smiled, readily showing her faith in him.

  He motioned for Jase to step around the table. “A nude woman in this club is not unusual. I’ll carry you out and put you in my car. Kerri will be with us all the way.”

  “I know it sounds strange, but you can do this, Jase.” Kerri stepped around Hunter and draped an arm around her friend. “This will be over before you know it.”

  “Lord, I never thought being naked in a club was something I’d do,” Jase whispered, her eyed closed.

  Before she could change her mind, Hunter leaned down, pushed his shoulder into her abdomen, and stood. She shouted as he slapped his hand over her bare butt.

  “No noise. Let your head drop and be still.” His arm settled across her legs to keep her in place. “As far as anyone can see, you belong to me. They won’t interfere.”

  When she started to complain, he smacked her ass again, leaving a red handprint.

  “Do as he says, Jase. It’s the only way.”

  “Tell him to stop hitting me, Kerri.”

  “Do as he says and he’ll stop. Don’t panic, Jase. You’ll be fine.” Kerri was worried about her friend and placed her hand on Hunter’s chest, telegraphing her concern. When he acknowledged her feelings, she laid her forehead against his shoulder. His hand cupped her head in a rough caress before he asked her to open the door.

  They stepped into the hall, and Hunter scanned the area. Conversations could be heard from the common areas, but no one was moving around in the upper hall. Gripping Kerri’s arm, Hunter moved toward the back stairs, hoping to make a quick exit with both the girls.

  A door opened and Richard’s assistant, Alan Pritchert, saw them.

  “Mr. Merritt, finally. I’ve been looking for you. Mr. Menton needs you to come to his office immediately.”

  Hunter felt Jase flinch and go completely still.

  “Too busy right now. Tell him I’ll call him later.” Hunter stepped around him, only to find the irritating man stepping in the same direction.

  “Out of my way, Pritchert.”

  The man’s usually submissive attitude disappeared. “That’s not possible. He was insistent about seeing you immediately. Bring the women with you.”

  Hunter stared at the man, sure he could take him in a fight, but with Jase draped over his shoulder and Kerri standing next to him, he didn’t want to chance it. “Menton can wait till Hell freezes over. I’m leaving now.”

  Pritchert moved fast, jerking Kerri out of Hunter’s grip and brandishing a pistol. He pressed the stainless barrel to her back.

  “I’m afraid your choices are limited, Merritt. All of you are coming to Menton’s office, or this little twit will die a slow death while you watch.”

  Hunter cursed low and long but turned toward the executive office. “What have you done with Menton? I know he wouldn’t authorize you to carry a weapon on premises.”

  “Just open the fucking door and go in,” Pritchert growled. Kerri could feel the muzzle of the gun through the thin fabric of her blouse and she shivered. As they followed Hunter through the door, she stepped to the side and around a table, trying to slip out of Pritchert’s grip. His fingers tightened until she swore he was touching the bones in her arm.

  “Be still, chickie. I don’t have permission to actually kill you, but I can do a little damage and you’ll still make us a profit at auction.”

  Hunter moved further into the room ahead of them. He placed Jase against a wall and stood in front of her, and Kerri appreciated his care of her friend, but worried he would end up being the target of their captors. As much as she’d tried to stay away from him, she knew giving him up would destroy her. And if he was hurt, she wouldn’t be able to stand his pain.

  “Well, Pritchert? We’re in Menton’s office. What now?” Hunter used his voice, his dominant attitude, to tip the scales, but Pritchert wasn’t budging.

  “Sit. Wait. Someone will be here to deal with you soon.” Pritchert waved the gun around then stuck it in Kerri’s ribs again.

  “So, you’re just a lowlife flunky, hmm? Who’s the boss?” Hunter didn’t sit, didn’t move. His hands settled across his chest like he was examining a hostile witness. “What kind of operation are you involved in, Pritchert? Are you willing to take the fall for someone else’s profit margin?”

  “I’m a partner, you son-of-a-bitch. Not a fall guy. And once we get things settled, I’ll be happy to put a bullet in your head. Maybe the ladies here will get to watch. Seeing blood splatter against a wall makes a woman highly motivated to follow directions.”

  “Enough, Alan. I’ll take it from here.”

  Kerri sucked
in air, unable to believe her own ears. The voice, the grating voice she couldn’t bear to hear. How could he be a part of this? She’d always known he had a mean streak, but to kidnap and sell women, to murder people? She honestly hadn’t thought he had the guts for actual violence. How terribly wrong she’d been.

  “Surely you’re not the boss he was waiting on, Hudson? Tell me it isn’t so. You’re not smart enough to run an operation this big.”

  Kerri watched through a haze while Hunter goaded, pushed for a break in what they both knew was Hudson’s temper. Anger would lead to deadly mistakes, and he needed Hudson to make a mistake, and make it quick. Pritchert was too edgy, ready to fight. And there were too many targets in the room.

  “Hunter Merritt, Mister Big Shot. I knew you’d be a thorn in my side when we hired you, but I didn’t get a vote.”

  “Sad to say you can’t participate in running the firm when your name’s on the door.” Hunter hadn’t relaxed his position, his body announcing he was calm, confident and in charge.

  Kerri stepped to the side, and Pritchert jerked her back against him.

  “Let her go, Pritchert. She won’t fight back, knowing we have her friend and her lover.” Devin separated Kerri from her captor and pushed her deeper into the room.

  Dropping the submissive attitude, she glared openly, defying him with her stare. “You’re disgusting. Grandfather would be so proud.”

  The back of his hand made solid contact with her face, sending her sprawling across the floor. Hunter lunged in her direction only to be stopped with a raised hand from Kerri. She wanted to deal with Devin on her own.

  Pain lanced through her body, the fire centering on her left cheek and jaw. But she refused to let Devin see her cry. And if she cried in front of Hunter, he’d tear Devin apart before they got any information from him. She pressed her palms to the floor and gulped air, trying to keep her body from responding to Devin’s derision. Then she stood and faced him.

  “Always a bully, Uncle. It’s been the one constant in our relationship. Maybe it’s why you never found a woman willing to marry you.”

  “Interesting observation, Kerri,” Hunter said. “I couldn’t have said it better myself. Now, step away from him.”

  Devin snaked out a hand and grasped her wrist, but before he could pull her close enough for another blow, she crowded into him and slammed her knee into his balls. Since his only weapon against her—his hands—were suddenly occupied cupping his privates, Kerri was able to shove him to the floor. Menton’s office was nothing if not a showroom for bondage accessories. She grabbed the first thing she saw, not sure what it was, but it was sturdy. One quick chop against the side of her uncle’s head left him unconscious.

  Hunter hadn’t been waiting around for her to finish Devon off. He’d obviously moved as soon as she had. Pritchert’s gun lay on the floor near Jase’s feet, while Hunter’s knee was firmly in Pritchert’s back.

  “Find me a pair of handcuffs, Kerri. Richard keeps a few sets in the drawer just to your left.”

  He hardly sounded out of breath, and Kerri fought to keep her mind on what she was supposed to be doing.

  The door clicked and slid open.

  Handcuffs in her hand, Kerri screamed, her head on fire as she was jerked against a hard chest.

  Jase’s voice floated across the room, a mix of fear and disgust. “It’s—her.”

  “Shut up, skinny bitch,” the man holding Kerri growled.

  “Good work, Jeffrey, darling. Such wonderful anticipation of my needs. Don’t you agree, Hunter?”

  “I knew you were an extremist, Lillian, but this is excessive, even for you.”

  Kerri balanced on her toes, trying to take some of the pressure off her head, but the pain didn’t diminish. Hunter scooped up the cuffs she’d dropped and slipped them around Pritchert’s wrists before he stood to face the man holding her against his body.

  She watched his eyes flash when Jeffrey’s wrist pressed into her chest. Something cold and hard touched the bare skin of her throat for a moment, and Hunter blinked, his eyes narrowing to slits.

  “Oh, you noticed? The blade is sharp enough to cut into her skin with a mere touch.”

  The sting was mild, little more than a scratch when shaving her legs—definitely less than the wax job—but the trickle of warm blood across her collarbone had her wondering how deep the cut was. She avoided Hunter’s expression, afraid of what she might see, and looked at the dominatrix. Pleasure in her eyes and a small smile greeted Kerri, reminding her of Lillian’s cruel nature.

  The knife flashed into her peripheral vision, and Kerri sucked in a breath. It was long and thin and held casually in Jeffrey’s palm, his index finger stroking the base of the blade like a lover.

  “Call him off, Lillian.” The words were Hunter’s, but in a tone Kerri had never heard from him. Cold. Dangerous.

  “Why would I do something so foolish, Hunter?” Lillian stepped around Jeffrey and Kerri to face Hunter. “My boys are well trained, especially when it comes to protecting me.”

  The woman’s hand lifted, and Kerri clenched her leg muscles, ready to do whatever necessary to avoid contact with the dominatrix, even if it meant losing some hair. But Lillian’s hand bypassed her to stroke Jeffrey’s hair.

  “Let him go,” Lillian said to Hunter, her eyes taking in the sight of Pritchert in handcuffs. “While I enjoy the sight of a man in cuffs, I need him.”

  Hunter smiled.

  Didn’t move.

  Kerri let her eyes drift closed for a second, sure he was working on a way to free her but unable to follow his train of thought without verbal directions he couldn’t give her at the moment.

  Lillian’s hand waved in Jeffrey’s direction and he spoke.

  “Quick, now, or I’ll spill just enough blood to make you puke.”

  The guttural words drew her attention. The knife wavered near her face before dancing around her chest.

  “I said now. Get busy, or I’ll add some character to her pretty face. Her body’s hot enough that even with a scar, she’ll sell quick.”

  Hunter crossed his arms, only his eyes revealing his thoughts to Kerri. He looked pissed, tense, and hostile.

  But only to her.

  To Jeffrey, he projected the cool attorney persona.

  “Why should I let him go, or you for that matter? What’s in it for me?”

  “Don’t fuck with me. I know you’re investigating my business transactions.” Lillian gestured toward Pritchert, her long fingers tipped with sharp red nails pointing at the man squirming on the floor. “I need him alive and well for the next twenty-four hours. After that, you can have him.”

  “Mistress, you promised we would be together. Please don’t throw me away.”

  “I may not have a choice, Alan. But I’ll try to keep you with me when I leave. Trust me, darling.”

  “But, Mistress, I was chosen to leave with you when this ended.” Jeffrey’s sour breath slid past Kerri’s cheek. “Please don’t change your mind, Mistress.”

  The chest behind her tensed, shifted marginally, and the tension from her hair eased enough for Kerri to put her heels on the floor and still have room to move her head.

  She didn’t.

  Hunter’s brow quirked, and she knew, knew he was plotting a way out of this. His torso didn’t move an inch, but his feet squared up like he was about to do battle. The when and what were still beyond her knowledge. She watched and waited as he turned to face Lillian.

  “Why do you need Pritchert?” he asked carelessly, a simple conversation between equally dominant acquaintances.

  “He handles the money. Beyond that, he’s worthless.” Jeffrey chuckled and slid his hand out of Kerri’s hair. “Money may be the root of all evil, but sex is where the root grows.”

  “Shut your mouth, Jeffrey. This isn’t a conversation for you.” Lillian’s acid tongue lashed out. “You will obey and be silent.”

  “But, Mistress, I only meant to support you,” he wheedl
ed.

  “Silence. And mind the girl, you fool.”

  Kerri didn’t want to flinch at the feel of his palm crawling from her shoulder to her arm, across her chest to cup her breast through the tight material of her blouse. Deep cleansing breaths through her nose kept her steady while she watched Hunter.

  Behind Hunter, Jase stood with her arms clenched around her body and cried silent tears with occasional curses in Lillian’s direction. Kerri could see the pain on her face. Harvey’s involvement with this woman and his ultimate betrayal was unexpected and devastating.

  Hunter’s feet moved a sly few inches in her direction, and Kerri turned her body enough to bump Jeffrey’s arm. The distraction earned her a pinch where he grasped her breast, but put Hunter a small step closer.

  Kerri flinched again at the pinch and allowed Hunter another step. Still, the distance between them was too far. Lillian continued to rail at Jeffrey for insubordination while keeping a wary eye on Hunter.

  Pritchert squirmed on the floor, cursing and kicking at anyone within reach. When his foot connected with Hunter’s leg, Hunter cursed and kicked back, using the momentum to move a few steps closer to Kerri.

  “You need me, Mistress. You can’t get the money without me.” Pritchert managed to get his legs under him and sat upright. “The account numbers are in my head. Without me, this is a bust.”

  Lillian stamped her foot. “Shut up, both of you. I need to think.”

  Still watching Hunter’s face, Kerri lifted her shoulder to create another distraction. His mouth tensed and both eyebrows lowered, an expression she hadn’t seen yet. Unsure what it meant, she froze.

  “Son of a bitch.”

  The body behind her stopped moving, stopped breathing as far as she could tell, when those words left his mouth.

  Then she heard an unwelcome voice speaking unforgettable words. “Take your hands off the girl and drop the knife.” Deep, smooth, solid steel tones commanding compliance. The blade at her throat wavered, floated into her sight again, but the hand on her breast squeezed. He wasn’t ready to give up his hostage.

  Kerri shifted her weight just far enough to get one foot off the ground. Lifting her foot, she slammed the three-inch heel of her shoe into what she hoped was the top of Jeffrey’s foot.