Ashley had met Randall Thompson at Davio’s house while she was working on the dining room. She instantly disliked the man and quickly excused herself from his presence. Something about him seemed sinister and she wanted nothing to do with him. Davio was out of town for a couple of days and Ashley was working hard to surprise him when he returned. She had just completed her work for the day and gathered her notes and purse, preparing to leave. She dug out the key Davio had given her key to lock the front door behind her. She opened the door and practically ran over Randall Thompson.
Ashley let out a squeal when she found Randall Thompson on the other side of the door. Randall knew that Davio was out of town and Ashley wondered what he was doing there.
“Please, excuse me. I was just on my way out,” Ashley said.
“Not so fast. You and I have some business to take care of,” Randall said.
“No, I don’t think so. Now please, will you let me by,” Ashley asked. She knew her voice was shaky because she could feel the hair rise on the back of her neck. She did not like this man. No, it was more than that. She was afraid of this man. She didn’t understand why, but she instinctively knew that this man meant to do her harm.
Randall shoved Ashley back into the house, almost causing her to trip and fall. She looked behind him and saw two other men were with him. Both were dressed in black suits and had stern looks on their faces. She noticed that they were huge men, easily towering over her by several inches. Ashely’s fear was quickly turning to panic. What could have brought Randall Thompson here when he knew that Davio was out of town? She feared she knew the answer, and the answer was her.
Randall snapped his fingers in the direction of the two thugs. Immediately they moved forward and grabbed Ashley by her arms. She started kicking and screaming, terrified that her life was about to end.
“You can fight all you want my dear,” Randall said. “But nothing is going to stop me from accomplishing what I came here to do.”
Ashley was really in a panic. She struggled to get away from the death grip the two thugs had on her. They continued moving her up the stairs in spite of all her struggling. Randall was following them, laughing at her futile attempts to escape.
Ashley had a look of terror on her face when she realized the thugs were taking her in the direction of Davio’s bedroom. She found renewed strength and managed to land a kick in Randall’s stomach. This enraged him, causing him to backhand her across the face. The two thugs continued to drag her to Davio’s bedroom. She looked at it, briefly remembering the scene that took place in this very room only two days ago. That scene had given her much pleasure, and Davio had been gently with her, taking her innocence into consideration. Now she ached inside, wishing that she could do something to get away from Randall and his thugs. Nothing good could come from her being in Davio’s bedroom with three strange men. But she could not escape. They were just too powerful.
As soon as Ashley was in the bedroom, Randall reached out and grabbed the top of her blouse, ripping it off her body. She tried vainly to resist, but the truth is, she was getting tired. Trying to overpower the two men who held her tight was useless. Randall continued his task, taking out his knife and cutting her bra off. She was totally naked from the waist up and these men were staring at her like she was some sort of freak show. The two men forced her down on the bed while Randall made quick work of her pants and underpants. She thought she was going to be sick. She had an idea what Randall had in mind to do to her and she didn’t think she could stand it. She had heard stories of women getting raped and how horrible it was. She was certain that Randall intended to rape her, but why? Surely he could find a woman to say yes. He had a lot of money and she knew that women where often attracted to men with large wallets. Why did he feel the need to force himself on her?
Randall stood back and looked at Ashley’s naked body. He could see why Davio was attracted to her. She was actually quite beautiful. Her breasts were round and firm, her waist narrow, and her legs were long and sexy. It was a shame that Davio had developed feelings for her. He almost felt guilty for what he was about to do.
The two men with Randall stood on each side of Ashley. They grabbed her legs and pulled them apart so wide she feared she would split in two. She watched with horror as Randall undid his zipper and released his manhood. She screamed as loud as she could but that only got her another slap across the face. She closed her eyes, unable to watch this vile attack of her body. She felt Randall grab her womanly lips and spread them wide apart. She felt his sickening manhood as he brutally shoved it inside her. She felt hands squeeze her breast so hard she was sure they would be bruised. She didn’t know if it was Randall or one of the two men who held her down.
“At least you got you a looker,” a male voice said. “She has a nice body, and those breasts, well let’s just say they are about as near perfect as any I have ever seen or felt.”
Ashley tried to think about happier days while Randall savagely pumped in and out of her. The two men who were holding her had pulled her legs apart so hard that the pain of Randall’s thrust sent sparks through her head. At one point the pain was so severe she feared she would pass out. She heard several clicks from across the room and she thought she detected a burst of light. She did not dare open her eyes because she didn’t think she could stand watching her body being violated in such a way.
Randall continued his pumping until finally Ashley heard him grunt. She squeezed her eyes tightly shut as she felt him spill something hot inside her. Finally, Randall pulled out and it was over. She started to roll over on her side but Randall grabbed her.
“When Davio sees what you have been doing behind his back, he will never want you again. And you even did it in his bed,” Randall said.
Ashley heard the men leave the room. She listened as the front door opened, then closed. Hot tears were streaming down her cheeks and falling onto Davio’s bed. Why? Why did Randall do this to her? She had done nothing to him. She finally sat on the side of the bed and looked down at her body. There were bruises on her breasts where one of those beasts had squeezed them so hard, and she saw blood between her legs. Still crying, she managed to get up and make it to the bathroom. She grabbed a washcloth and washed herself as good as she could. She returned to the bedroom to find her blouse and bra torn up, but thankfully her pants were still intact. She pulled them on then went to Davio’s closet to find something she could wear home. She found a pullover and quickly pulled it over her head. It was a mile too big, but it would have to do. She had to get out of this place before those vile men decided to come back for seconds.
Ashley gathered her things and once more started out the door. As she started to leave, she turned and gave the place one last look. She had high hopes when Davio had hired her for this job, but now those hopes lay in shreds, much like her clothing.
Ashely could barely see to drive home. She was crying so hard that she was constantly wiping the tears out of her eyes. When she pulled up to her apartment she got out and headed straight for the bathroom. She turned on the shower and got in, hoping to wash away the memory of Randall’s savage attack. She turned the water as hot as she could stand it and just stood there, allowing the hot water to sooth her aching body.
Finally, Ashley stepped out of the shower, but she still felt dirty. She didn’t think she would ever get Randall’s filth off her body. She knew that she would never again enjoy the pleasures of passion the way Davio had taught her. She started crying again, mourning the loss of her innocence.
Chapter 2
Davio was livid. He sat behind his desk looking at the photos Randall showed him. The photos showed Randall and Ashley having sex, in his bedroom, on his bed. He saw that Ashley’s head was thrown back and her eyes were closed tightly shut. Randall would have him believe that Ashely had thrown her head back in pleasure. But he knew better. He saw the signs of blood on Ashley’s legs where Randal had brutally forced himself on her. It made him sick to see Randall standing there,
pumping his vile manhood into her body. Randall was telling him that he stopped by to check on Ashley’s progress when she started coming on to him.
“Oh well,” Randall said. “It’s better that you found her out now. Just think how hard it would have been if you had actually developed feelings for her. Oh, and by the way, I am sorry for using your bed. That was Ashley’s choice actually.”
Davio did not believe one word Randall was saying. Ashley would never voluntarily go to bed with him, and especially not in his bed. No, he suspected Randall cooked up this scheme to get Ashley out of his life so that he could concentrate his attentions on Sarah. Well, Randall would pay for this discretion with his life. In Davio’s world another man just did not touch the woman of a brother. If he did, their code allowed for the wronged brother to take the life of the perpetrator. He reached into the drawer of his desk and drew out his 357 Magnum, leveled it at Randall’s black heart, and fired. It was with satisfaction that he saw the surprise in Randall’s eyes just before he pulled the trigger.
Davio knew that he must get to Ashley. He had to let her know that she was not to blame for what happened to her. He groaned at the thought of what Randall had done to her. Ashely is young and innocent. She had done nothing to deserve this. Damn, his conniving business associate! He now realized that Randall had cooked up his trip just so he could do this to Ashley. If he could kill Randall twice, he would do so.
Davio pulled up to Ashley’s apartment and noticed that her car was there. He suspected that she had not left her apartment since the attack. He walked up to the door and knocked.
Ashley had done nothing but cry and stand in the shower for the past two days. She looked in the mirror and did not recognize the face that stared back at her. The bruises on her breasts were still dark purple, and her cheek bore the imprint of Randall’s hand when he slapped her. Her eyes were almost swollen shut from crying. She heard a knock at her door, but she did not want to see anybody. She went to the door and asked who was there.
“Ashley, it’s me, Davio. Please let me in.”
“Go away. I don’t want to see you. I have nothing to say to you. Please, just leave me alone,” she said.
“Ashley, I am not going to leave until you let me in. I will stand out here all night if I have to. I know what Randall did to you and it is not your fault. I give you my word, he will never hurt you again,” he pleaded. “Now please, open the door and let me in.”
Davio stood there for what seemed like an eternity before Ashley slowly opened the door. His heart skipped a few beats when he saw the condition she was in. It was obvious that she had been crying for days. She looked at him through small slits in her eyes. She was wearing a housecoat, but he suspected that beneath it were bruises from Randall’s brutal attack.
“Oh Ashley, I am so sorry,” Davio said. “I had no idea that this was going to happen. Randall has always been ruthless in business, but I thought he knew better than this. I promise, he will never hurt you again.”
Ashely felt a new round of tears start to pour down from her already swollen eyes. She felt so dirty and so ashamed. She didn’t think she would ever be the same. Randall had taken something from her that could never be given back. He had taken her innocence and lifted that veil from her eyes that shielded her from the ugly part of life she had not known existed.
Davio put his arms around her, just holding her. He felt the trembling in her body and dammed Randall once more. He felt helpless as to what to do. He knew that Ashley was in great pain, but all he could do was stand there and hold her. Finally, he led her to the couch and sat down beside her.
“How did you know,” Ashley asked. “How did you know that I did not willingly consent? Why did he do this to me? I have never done anything to him. The only time I met him was that day at your house before you left on your trip.”
“He bragged to me that you came onto him. I knew immediately that you would not do such a thing. You have a pure heart. You were innocent to the ways of the world and I never should have left you at my house alone. I just didn’t have any idea this would happen,” Davio said.
Ashley was humiliated all over again. Randall had actually told Davio that she wanted him? How arrogant that bastard was. She would not come onto him if he were the only man on earth! On second thought, he couldn’t even be considered a man. He was a brutal beast that had ravaged her body and left her bleeding and crying on Davio’s bed. Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks at the thought of what he did to her.
“Ashley, I know you need to take some time, but I still want you to complete your work on my house,” Davio said.
“I don’t think I could ever come there again. I am too afraid of running into Randall again,” she said.
“I promise you, you will never see him again. He will never step foot on my property again. Please believe me, he will not hurt you again,” Davio pleaded.
Ashley wanted to believe him, but her wounds were too fresh. She wasn’t sure when she would ever feel whole enough to go out into the world again. All she had done for the past two days was grieve for the part of her life Randall had taken from her.
“How can you promise me that I will never see Randall again,” Ashley asked. “What if he shows up at your house one day like he did this week?”
“I am asking you to trust me,” Davio said. “You will never see Randall again.”
“I will give it some thought and get back with you. Right now I am still in too much pain to come back to work,” Ashley said.
Davio agreed to give her a few days, but he told her he would be back to check on her. After asking if there was anything she needed, Davio left.
Ashley was torn, not knowing what to do. She wanted to work for Davio, but she never wanted to take a chance of running into Randall again. Also, she felt like she was damaged goods, and Davio would never want her in his bed again. Randall had told her so before he left her. She wasn’t sure if she would ever again want a man to touch her in that manner.
The following morning Ashley got out of bed and went to the kitchen to fix herself a cup of coffee. She flipped on the television just to have some noise. The news headlines that stared back at her made her blood run cold. On the screen was a photo of Randall Thompson. The headlines read that he had been reported missing by his wife. Ashley turned up the volume to hear what was being said.
Ashley sat transfixed as she listened to a reporter tell the audience that prominent business man Randall Thompson had left his home on North Highland yesterday morning around 9 a.m. His wife became concerned when he did not return home last evening. She had contacted police and filed a missing person report, citing Randall’s predictability of coming home each evening before dark. According to his wife, Randall has difficulty seeing after dark and always comes home well in advance of dark.
Ashley’s brain was turning flips. She recalled Davio promising her that she would never see Randall again. Could it be possible that Davio had done something to Randall? If so, what did he do? If Davio was indeed connected to the mafia, perhaps he put out a hit on Randall. She didn’t know much about the mafia, but she had seen movies where crime lords disappeared and were never seen again. The thought made a shiver run up her spine.
For the next week Ashley got up early enough to catch the morning news. Each morning they reported that no sign of Randall Thompson could be found. Police had questioned some of his business associates, but nobody could shed any light on his disappearance. The more Ashley thought about it, the more she was sure that Davio was somehow involved.
Ashley went from planning on returning to Davio’s house to complete her work, to wondering what had happened to Randall, and if Davio was involved. She paced the floor, wondering what she should do. She knew that soon she would have to go back to work because she had bills to pay. She knew that she should probably be sorry that Randall had disappeared, but she wasn’t. That bastard deserved whatever he got. Nobody had the right to do to her what he did.
That evenin
g Ashley heard another knock on her door and figured it was Davio. She opened the door to find Davio holding a dozen red roses. Not knowing what was going on, she invited him in.
“These are or you,” Davio said. “I thought you might need a little cheering up.”
“You did not have to do this. I was planning on getting in contact with you in a few days. ,” Ashley said. “I have decided that I will continue working on your house, so long as you make sure I never run into Randall while I am there.”
“I told you, Randall is out of your life. You will be safe at my house. I made you a promise, and I always keep my promises,” he said.
“Then I will see you again on Monday. I am going to take the rest of this week to rest. I still have my notes that I made in your dining room. Maybe I will give them some more thought. I am ready to get out of this apartment and get back to the world of the living,” Ashley said.
Davio noticed a difference in her. She somehow seemed more confident of herself. He didn’t detect any of the innocence he had found when he first met her. He guessed he had Randall to blame for that. Damn his soul to hell!
Mafia Romance Series Page 4
