Persuasion

by Stone, Piper

  “All’s quiet, boss,” he said, his eyes drifting toward the trunk the moment Giliana made a muffled sound. He knew better than to ask questions.

  “I have a guest who will be staying with us for a while. No one outside of you and the other soldiers is to know.”

  “Absolutely, boss.”

  “Let me the fuck out of here!” Giliana screeched. I realized hearing her voice released the tension that was riding high in my body.

  A slight smile curled on his lip. “Anything I can do, boss?”

  I wasn’t in the mood for small talk. “Just do your job right now. Things are going to start getting dicey.”

  “Yes, sir.” He backed away, giving me a respectful nod. Every soldier knew exactly when to leave me alone.

  I waited until he moved around the house before opening up the trunk. She’d been prepared, shoving both feet against the lid the second the lock clicked, something I’d anticipated, taking several steps way. I’d shackled her wrists, the handcuffs only a small item in what I called my ‘go-to’ bag.

  The moment she lunged, the force of her actions as well as the lower height of the trunk ledge allowed her to tumble onto the cobblestone, her body hitting with a hard thud.

  I crouched down, waiting until she moved into a sitting position then grabbing her chin. “You’re going to play nice, Giliana, or things will become very difficult for you quickly. Are we clear?”

  “Like I said before. Fuck. You.”

  Sighing, I glanced at the house. All I wanted was a stiff drink and a long hot shower. Sadly, only one of them was likely to happen. “Come on.” She continued to struggle, forcing me to half carry her in through the front door.

  Once inside, she immediately moved away from me, taking several deep breaths.

  “Are you hurt?” I asked quietly as I turned on the light, glaring up at the massive and ridiculous chandelier hanging by a long chain from the cathedral ceiling. I was beginning to loathe everything about New Orleans.

  “Why? Do you honestly expect me to believe that you give a damn?” Her haughty voice echoed in the space.

  “Actually, I do. My intention isn’t to harm you.” I noticed a bruise on her shin and cringed. Christ. I was going soft. Maybe I needed some time away from the organization and the people I’d been working for.

  She opened her mouth likely to retort, her beautiful green eyes reflecting her fury. Sighing, she lifted her leg, shrugging. “Just a few bumps. Nothing that won’t heal.”

  “Good.”

  “Are you going to take these off? There’s obviously nowhere I can run.” She held out her arms, once again glaring at me with daggers in her eyes.

  I hesitated, chuckling softly before moving closer, ignoring the stiffness of my cock and the fact my blood pressure was increasing. “I will allow you certain freedoms, but there will still be rules to follow.”

  “Whatever you say, Zorro. Or should I call you Mr. Assassin?”

  I ignored her at first, allowing a full minute to pass by. “Make no mistake, you are going to be trained.”

  “Trained?”

  “Yes. You will learn to give me exactly what I need in all things.”

  “What does that mean?” she asked softly, demurely.

  “Pleasure and pain. It’s entirely up to you which will be selected.”

  “Fine, Zorro.”

  I knew I’d have to deal with her haughty attitude and caustic mouth at some point. Right now, I was far too exhausted. “Kostya will do.”

  She eyed me warily then nodded, rubbing her wrists.

  I typed in the code for the beefed-up security system, locking down every window and door. No one was getting in or out without my approval.

  “Home sweet home?” she asked, standing in the middle of the foyer with her arms crossed. She was still quivering, even though her jaw was clenched.

  “This will be your home for now.”

  “For how long?”

  “As long as the situation is active. Follow me.” I walked past her and into the doorway, tipping my head to study her face. I found it difficult to even look at her, the attraction I felt far too intense.

  “What... What now?” she asked in a timid voice.

  I debated the answer. I was a ruthless monster, but the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her. “We will have a conversation.” I pointed toward the door leading to my office.

  Her gaze swept the length of me, lowering her head before taking stilted steps through the doorway. I hadn’t bothered leaving on a light. In my mind, the darkness was comforting. The stream of moonlight was brighter than the night before, but I knew in her mind the shadows would be foreboding. I walked toward the bar, selecting two glasses. “I suggest you sit and relax. We are going to be here for an extended period of time.”

  “I don’t want to sit, Kostya. I don’t want or deserve to be here at all.”

  The way she said my name was entirely different than anyone else, the inflection creating a wave of desire unlike before. Hell, I’d become obsessed with her.

  “Sit. Down. Now.” I snapped my head in her direction, my voice as demanding as possible. She was going to have to learn quickly that I was in charge.

  After only hesitating for a few seconds, she moved toward the couch, sitting down on the edge.

  I took a deep breath, holding it as I prepared two drinks. She would have what I selected for her.

  She remained quiet for only a few minutes, her breathing scattered. “What do you have against my father? What did he do to you? What is this item you abducted me for?”

  “As I said, we are going to have a discussion about your father and his business, Giliana, in which you will tell me everything you know. If you lie to me, you will be punished. If you attempt to escape, you will be punished. Do you understand me?”

  I walked toward the couch, slowly placing the glass in front of her.

  “Do you?” I snarled.

  “Fine. Yes.” She sat back, her mouth twisting.

  “Do you also remember what I mentioned to you in the wine cellar? Respect. You are going to learn that first and foremost.”

  “And do you remember that respect is earned? You’re nothing but a monster. You have no right to do anything to me. I don’t belong to you. I will find a way to get away from you. Trust me.”

  I grabbed her chin, digging my fingers into her skin until she cried out. “I suggest that you realize what you are facing. I am not a nice man, Giliana. In fact, I am everything your nightmares are made of, that monster you accuse me of. The sooner you realize what you are dealing with, the better. You are indeed now my property. Call it a fair exchange. I will do with you what I want. I will taste you, fuck you, and I will punish you as necessary. And when I’m finished, I will start again. Now, do. You. Understand?”

  Her eyes opened wide once again, her body quivering as she placed her hand on my arm. “Yes. Yes, sir.”

  A line had been drawn in the sand.

  I took several deep breaths, finally shifting my thumb back and forth across her mouth. While she didn’t pull away, she clenched her fists. She would continue her rebellious side. That much I knew.

  I inched closer, longing to kiss her succulent lips. This time, she jerked her head out of my grasp, stretching as far away from me as her confines would allow. “I hate you. And you will not break me.” The last words were said as an afterthought, as if she was reading my mind.

  “I would suspect nothing less from you. But Giliana, if I wanted to break you, that would have already occurred.” I moved around the coffee table, easing onto the leather chair. The little vixen was going to push every button. “Take a sip of your drink.”

  “I’m not thirsty.”

  “If I have to ask you again, you will be punished.”

  She hissed, leaning forward. “God damn you.” Her hand was shaking as she reached out, wrapping her fingers around the glass.

  I waited as she debated tossing it in my direction, her entire body tensing.
>
  “If you’re going to do it, please do so now,” I said quietly, taking a sip of the vodka.

  “Do what?”

  “Toss your glass hoping that the heaviness of the dense crystal will buy you some time in order to try and escape.”

  The slight gasp pushing past her lips was my sweet reward. “Bastard.” At least she seemed to resign herself, taking a sip of her drink, wrinkling her nose afterwards.

  “We’ve already established that.” I watched as she processed what she was dealing with, after a few minutes enjoying the drink I’d prepared for her.

  “You accused me of... oh, yes, defusing an operation. I assume you were there to steal one of my father’s pieces of art. You’re nothing but a common criminal. Are the mafia into such crimes?”

  I slowly turned my head, gazing at her as the various well-lit signs and green traffic lights highlighted the fear in her eyes. “I am many things, fairy princess, except there is nothing common about my method of operations.”

  “Mafia. You have to be kidding me. That’s such crap.” She laughed, although the sound was laced with a vibe of fear.

  There was no to need to argue the point one way or the other. She would soon find out what she was dealing with.

  She took several deep breaths, scanning the room. “No matter what you do to me, there’s nothing I can tell you. I already told you the truth. I hate my father and don’t care what happens to him. He’s a bully, a man who thinks he’s oh-so important.”

  I had to admit, her words were fascinating and I honestly believed her, although that didn’t mean she wasn’t a part of the ruse. “Then tell me, why did you single me out last night?”

  “Why?” she asked, laughing softly, tipping her head in my direction.

  The warm glow of the moon illuminated her dazzling skin, highlighting her oversized eyes and voluptuous lips. Once again, my cock stirred. Sighing, I rested the glass on the arm of the chair, trying to maintain my patience. “Yes.”

  “Because I was bored.”

  The answer wasn’t at all what I expected. I burst into laughter, shaking my head. She laughed with me, the lilting sound billowing into my ears, yanking at the beast inside. God damn, I wanted her again. I craved filling her, fucking her. I rubbed my eyes, forcing myself to look away. “Fair enough, fairy princess. Did your father warn you that someone might attempt to steal from him?”

  “He mentioned that his items were priceless and that it was always a possibility. I assure you that my father doesn’t provide details to his daughter. I mean nothing to him.”

  That much I doubted. The picture alone meant he was very proud of her. I took several sips of my drink, debating how to handle the situation. She wasn’t necessarily the kind of woman who would fold under the typical intimidation tactics I often used.

  Then again, I refused to treat her so badly.

  I sat up on the edge, moving the glass from hand to hand. “Tell me about his priceless items. Where does he keep them?”

  “You mean other than in his house?” she snarked, tensing when I remained quiet. “I have no idea. He has a safe in his home office, but other than that, I haven’t asked him. I don’t give a shit. The sooner you get that in your mind, the better.”

  I had to give her credit for her bravery. Or maybe she truly had no understanding of capabilities of the Baranov mafia. Either way, I wasn’t going to allow her to play on her innocence but for so long. “This could end up being a very long night for you, Giliana, unless you start talking to me.”

  “Then tell me whatever the hell it is that you’re looking for. I don’t read minds.”

  She was goading me in every way she could. Sighing, I refused to take the bait. “There is a diamond that is considered priceless. It was stolen several months ago. As you can imagine, the true owner is extremely angry at the situation.”

  “A diamond? That’s not what my father collects. Whoever you received the information from is obviously incorrect. And stupid.” She laughed in a darker manner, shaking her head as if blowing me off.

  I simply took a minute to polish off my drink before moving once again toward the bar. She truly had no comprehension of what she was dealing with or her predicament. As I pulled two ice cubes from the maker, enjoying the clink as they hit the glass, a slight reflection in the window caught my attention.

  But not quickly enough.

  The glass hit the back of my head with enough force I was tossed forward, my hands smashing into several of the bottles, pitching them to the floor. Stars floated in front of my eyes and I was stunned, unable to move for a few seconds.

  Growling, I turned around too quickly, the effects of the hard blow catching me off guard. I stumbled forward, blinking in order to focus and watching as she scampered out of the room. There was no way for her to leave, the doors locked down, only operational when I released the system. My head was exploding from pain and as I lumbered forward, I placed my hand on the back of my head.

  Blood.

  She’d actually used enough force to cause me to bleed. “Giliana!” I roared, still unable to force my limbs to move as directed. Fuck. I was a complete idiot. I caught sight of her attempting to open the door, her soft mews at least giving me comfort.

  “No. Damn you!” She jumped out of my way, racing to another section of the house.

  I trailed after her, finally able to see clearly. I found her in the kitchen, a knife in her hand.

  “Don’t you dare come any closer,” she yelled, moving from foot to foot.

  I stood in the doorway, taking several deep breaths. “There’s nowhere you can go, Giliana. I suggest you put the knife down.”

  “Or what? I’m not going to be held prisoner for something my father did. I can’t help you.”

  “That’s where you are wrong.” I inched closer, keeping my eyes locked on the way she was holding the knife. It was obvious she’d been trained in self-defense, her stance fluid and her eyes never leaving me. I calculated the distance, edging around the island.

  She darted the other direction, yelping when I jumped across the platform, snagging her wrist. Damn if the woman wasn’t stronger than I realized, able to struggle out of my grasp and take a swing, nicking my neck.

  I’d had enough of her and her defiance. With one hand I grabbed her hand holding the knife. With the other I yanked on her hair until I was able to wrap my arm around her throat. As I wrenched her hand, she held fast for several seconds.

  Not only was she brave, she was impervious to a certain level of pain. I finally added enough pressure that she yelped, dropping the knife.

  She took deep and labored breaths, doing everything she could to fight me.

  I dragged her closer, completely out of breath, squeezing until she finally stopped. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Oh, yeah?” she countered, both her hands gripping my forearm.

  “However, I won’t stand for this.”

  “What are you going to do, punish me?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m going to do. You act like a spoiled child then you’re going to be treated like one.” I dragged her toward the kitchen table, doing everything I could to curtail my anger. I’d never had anyone defy me in this manner. I was shocked as well as impressed, my heart racing. God damn, the woman was a ballbuster in every way.

  I pulled away, yanking a towel from the counter. “Undress.”

  “What?” she snapped, turning to face me, watching as I blotted the blood. Her eyes opened wide, her expression one of fear as well as surprise. “What a shame. I hurt you.”

  Still rebellious.

  “We will talk about your attack at a later time, Giliana. Undress. When I give you a command, you’re going to follow it without question or your punishments will be much worse.”

  She swallowed several times, studying me intently as if determining whether or not I was telling her the truth. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  I dropped the towel, glaring at her.

  Her
mouth twisted as before, and she allowed her gaze to fall to the towel before jerking her blouse from her skirt. She turned away, her body trembling.

  Even from where I stood, I could tell her fingers were fumbling as she tried to unfasten the buttons. I was furious with myself for turning my back on her, angry with her for taking such a significant risk.

  And every other emotion rode me hard. I actually found myself caring about her welfare. If Dante or anyone else found out that I’d taken her prisoner and she wasn’t talking, I would be required to end her life. That wasn’t something I planned on doing. As if I would have any choice.

  She laid the blouse carefully over the chair before easing her hands behind her back, tugging on her zipper. I was mesmerized by her stunning beauty, but as she undressed, exposing more of her delicious body, I felt like nothing but a voyeur. I wanted to give her some privacy, but I refused to turn away from her again. I knew she would stop at nothing to gain her freedom.

  A single whimper escaped her mouth when she unfastened her bra, taking far too long to place it over her other clothes. I refused to chastise her, at least for now.

  “Lean over the table,” I directed, debating the implement I wanted to use. As I glanced around the kitchen, the container full of utensils grabbed my attention. A wooden spoon. Perfect. The smooth handle felt solid in my hand. I twirled it several times, satisfied with my selection.

  She darted a glance in my direction, her eyes falling to the choice I’d made. I could see such trepidation on her face, as if she’d never been spanked before I’d come into her life. Maybe I should feel honored. I resisted chuckling at the ridiculous thought.

  There was no hesitation, no additional attempt at misbehaving. She eased over the table, immediately grabbing the edge with both hands. Her slender back rose and fell from her heavy breathing, a warm flush creeping up along her neck.