by Lara Swann
Thank god.
Once I’d pulled out the bag I was looking for I turned and nodded at her.
Her eyes narrowed on the duffel bag, and I could see her swallow even from across the room.
“What—”
“Turn around, back out and to the left.” I interrupted her with the directions before she could say anything more.
She watched me for a few quiet moments, as if weighing her chances and options, before biting her lip again and turning to do as I’d insisted.
If I stopped to think about it, I would probably feel unbearably awkward about with her around, but as it was I was focusing purely on getting this done, and my mind was occupied with a simple list of tasks to complete.
I’d already worked out the safest place to keep her here, and I wanted that done and her out of my way so I could focus on more important matters. It had already been too distracting having those large, dark eyes looking up at me - her questions and thoughts and fears so obvious that they interfered with my concentration.
I followed her down the corridor I’d indicated until we came to another door to the right. It had a bolt lock on it from this side, and I stepped up to it to unlock the room while she regarded it - and me - with trepidation. She’d clearly already worked out what I was intending.
She cleared her throat uncertainly. “Listen, I—”
“Get in.”
Discussing this was the last thing I wanted to do right now.
She met my eyes briefly before obeying, and I cursed myself yet again for ever bringing her with me - getting her involved in this.
But she was already involved, and I figured this had to be better than simply killing her. Even if it was going to be one big headache.
It’s just until you work out what’s going on and sort everything out. You can deal with this until then.
I followed her in and shut the door. The room wasn’t large - nothing in this house was - with only a small bed pressed up against the narrow wall at the back, and a worn desk and chair at the other end, opposite the door. The bed had a few thin coverings to provide some comfort, but the main attraction for me was the metal frame it boasted, complete with thin rails at the headstand.
I glanced at the woman and gestured over at it. “Go and sit down.”
Her eyes flicked to me in alarm and I could see her pulse start to race at her throat, but I moved forward insistently, my large frame blocking the rest of the room and not offering her much choice. I didn’t like myself for the intimidation tactic, but I didn’t have time to deal with her fear or hesitation.
I was already losing precious time with this as it was.
Biting those soft, full lips again, she perched on the end of the bed, her breathing coming fast as she looked up at me. I met her eyes, and couldn’t control the sudden heat that ran through me as I watched her pupils dilate. My pulse beat hard in my head and I could almost believe that her heart rate had doubled for the same reason. Without thinking, I leaned in close, feeling her breath catch while I struggled to focus on the task at hand.
She made a pretty picture, sitting on the bed with my jacket still flung over her shoulders, and my eyes traced her elegant neckline to the round outline of her breasts. The way she was looking at me, I could almost believe I saw an invitation there…
I forced my mind back on track. The wide-eyed, mesmerized look had been born of fear, nerves, anxiety - damn it.
I’d kidnapped the damn girl. The last thing I could expect was for her to be interested in that.
And I had more important things to think about tonight. My chance of getting laid had died when the hit had gone wrong - and my body needed to fucking accept it.
With an irritated grunt, I withdrew the item I’d been looking for in my bag - handcuffs - and before she could react, attached them to both her wrist then the bed’s metal railing. I stepped back as she jerked up with a surprised exclamation, tugging on the restraints, and I refused to look at her as I spoke. Her pretty dark eyes were tempting as a siren, and I couldn’t afford that.
“I’ll be back later.”
I turned to leave, to a loud clank of metal and an outraged cry. “Wait! You’re just going to leave me here?!”
Pausing in the doorway, I looked back at her, surprised. I would have thought she’d prefer to be alone. Either way, it didn’t change things.
“Yes.” There was no inflection in my voice as I met her furious gaze. With my focus back on business, I was calm again.
“You can’t just keep me here, you bastard. My father will kill you for this.” Her eyes gleamed with an anger that had finally overcome all of the caution she’d mustered so far. I couldn’t blame her for it, but seeing the passion written so clearly on her face had a strange mixture of lust and guilt flaring within me. I forced myself to focus on her words, regarding her with a raised eyebrow.
“And who would he be?”
Whoever it was, he’d have to get in line.
“You don’t know? My name is Alessa Santini. That makes my father Antonio Santini.” Haughty triumph flickered over her face for a moment, and she straightened her spine with a tight smile.
Oh fuck.
Antonio Santini was one of the two Santini brothers to share complete and absolute authority over their family - and the whole NYC Italian mafia.
This was an even bigger fuck-up than I’d thought.
She couldn’t be…could she?
My eyes narrowed as I watched her smile widen at my expression, an unpleasant sinking feeling forming in my stomach.
Fuck it, I believed her. But now…I had to know more.
“You expect me to believe that Antonio Santini would let his daughter near a Russian mafia boss?” I challenged.
Her beautiful eyes flashed again. “He was my fiance - until you murdered him, you cold bastard.”
I didn’t say anything for a long moment, silent and still.
What the fuck had I gotten myself in the middle of?
There were too many ramifications here. Too much to understand, and too much I didn’t know.
Without another word, I turned and walked out the door, shutting it and locking my kidnapped Italian mafia princess in behind me.
Fuck.
Chapter Three
Alessa
I stared after my unknown kidnapper, hearing the bolt sliding into place echoing in my head far louder than it did in reality.
Anger consumed me as I fixated on the place where he’d been standing. I should be glad that he was gone, but for some reason I was furious that he’d left me here alone. Annoyed, I tugged ineffectually at the handcuffs, feeling the metal bite into my wrist and cursing again.
That outrage kept me upright and glaring after him - for a few brief moments. Then the shock and stress of it all welled up inside me, and now that I was alone and had nothing to prove to anyone, I couldn’t fight back the wave of sobs that hiccuped up through my body.
I brought my knees up against my chest, and clutched them tightly as I let myself rock backwards and forwards, trying to process everything that had happened as the horror of the evening overtook me, playing out again and again in my mind.
I’d always known that tonight would be scary - but not like this.
Not like this.
I’d spent my whole life preparing for the moment my father would decide who I was going to marry. I’d been prepared for all the nerves and uncertainty I felt on meeting my future husband. I knew it wasn’t a fairytale, and that I might have to work to love - or even like - the alliance he’d chosen. But I’d been raised for that duty - family was everything, and I wasn’t going to let them down.
So when we met for the first time tonight, in front of his people and my father’s, it had been okay that I didn’t feel an instant attraction. That he’d been older than me, and a little bit coarse and demanding.
That’s what you’d expect from someone in his position, right?
And our arrangement hadn’t been about any o
f that - it had been about an alliance that would position our families for the future. I understood that.
So I’d dealt with the occasional moments of fear without letting anyone else see them. I was a Santini - and I was determined to represent my family well.
And when I’d retired alone with him - a carefully negotiated and orchestrated thing to ensure that neither party knew our location or could take advantage - to make sure that he’d be satisfied with this alliance, I’d expected the nerves as well…but truth be told, part of me had been a little excited as well. He might not have been the kind of man I’d fantasized of, but we were about to do something I was so curious about. I was about to give myself away for the first time, and finally understand what all the giggling girls in my classes talked about under hushed breath.
I’d been excited, on edge but…ready.
The little outfit he’d wanted me to change into had surprised me, but I didn’t mind it. I’d never worn clothes like that before, and it had made me feel…sexy.
So after I’d followed his instructions and refreshed myself as he wanted, I’d come out of the bathroom ready to give him my innocence and please him enough to settle this alliance for my family.
I was scared, yes, but only a little. I knew I could go through with it.
Except - that wasn’t what had been waiting for me.
I shuddered as the gruesome scene replayed in my mind again.
My…fiance lying there on the floor in front of me, face twisted and purple. The flat, unremarkable features turned ugly in death as I couldn’t stop looking.
My virgin night had all gone so horribly, horribly wrong - that hesitant uncertainty I’d expected replaced by pure terror and confusion as I was snatched and taken.
Maybe I’d known this sort of thing was a possibility, in the back of my mind. But my father’s business dealings were largely hidden from me. I’d known parts of it, of course, and I’d had glimpses of what he did - but it wasn’t my place to get involved. That was only for my brother to know. And I’d always thought my father’s name…our family…gave me some protection. I’d never really thought about what might happen to me because of it.
I felt myself shaking as sobs ripped through me, reliving that moment again and letting myself feel the never-ending terror of that slow, soul-destroying journey away from safety. I hated myself for not resisting, for not drawing attention somehow and getting the hell out of there. But I’d felt sure that if I made one wrong move…that gun would have ended it all.
I couldn’t remember ever feeling as helpless or terrified as I’d been with that horrible weapon pressed up against me, his harsh voice giving instructions in my ear. Except for a few times with my father, maybe - when I’d struggled with my duty to my family.
But this…this was different.
I shuddered again as my kidnapper appeared in my mind - the way he’d leapt at me, strong and fast and so powerful it had made my breath catch in my throat.
There was nothing I could have done in the face of that, no way to fight him. And that hard, ripped body I’d felt pressed up against mine had only made it worse as I’d been torn between my repulsion and…the way I’d responded to the heat radiating from that powerful presence.
Tonight had obviously screwed with my mind. There was no way a girl should react that way to her kidnapper.
But maybe…I’d spent too long mentally preparing myself for a night that I’d hoped would be full of pleasure. Even after Viktor’s death, some crazed part of me hadn’t been able to stop wanting it.
And it didn’t help that this was the kind of man I’d fantasized about - apart from the cold-blooded killer part, anyway. He was ruggedly handsome - grim, maybe, with sharp lines across the strong features of his face, but he had the sort of masculinity that set my heart beating out of control in my chest. And the way he looked at me…like he was going to devour me slowly, and leave me begging for more…
Oh, god help me.
That must have been why I’d been unable to resist that electricity between us, why I’d felt almost willing when he’d gestured me over to the bed and I’d thought he was going to take me - whether I wanted it or not. And fuck me, I’d wanted it. For a brief moment as I’d felt that sinfully hot stare on me, I’d thought every stupid, traitorous thought - before he’d withdrawn and I could remember again: he was a killer. A murderous bastard. He’d stolen me away and threatened my life more times than I could count.
I hated him - and this - and I was going to get the fuck away from here and back to my family.
And once I got over this damned shock, then maybe my head would be back on straight and I’d stop projecting what I’d wanted from this evening onto a merciless killer.
Maybe.
I sighed deeply, my mind in turmoil even as my shudders started to abate and my earlier terror began to give way to a deep exhaustion.
As the nightmare of it all washed over me and left me empty in its wake, I made myself start to regain control again and think.
I wiped my eyes, then stared at the loose jacket sleeve I’d used in sudden disgust - his jacket sleeve. I ripped it off from where it hung on my shoulders in one sudden motion and threw it across the room, heart pounding with the flash of anger. Then I shivered at the cool air on my shoulders, feeling both petulant and defiant as I stared at where it slumped against the wall.
I took a couple of quick breaths, feeling shaken and scared but unable to just sit here and let it all overwhelm me.
Instead, I started looking around the room and tried to work out what I could do. I hoped my father would find me soon, but until then…I couldn’t just wait.
I still didn’t know why I was here - what my kidnapper wanted with me. At first I’d thought it must be related to my father - hostage, ransom, something like that. But I’d seen him pause when I’d mentioned the Santini name.
He hadn’t known.
And that made this even more dangerous. I didn’t know whether I could rely on my family’s name to keep me safe.
My second thought had been that he’d brought me here with worse intentions…the way he’d looked at me with hot, lustful eyes certainly had my mind running in that direction. But he didn’t do that either - even though I didn’t yell or scream or resist. Even though I’d been picturing his mouth against mine, his warm breath and rough stubble rubbing my face.
Which you should definitely not have done, Alessa. Damn you, this is not the way to sate that curiosity.
And now he was gone - and I was left here without a clue as to what he intended.
Doesn’t matter. You’re not going to give him a chance to act on it. Somehow.
I took a deep breath and tugged on the handcuffs again. They were solid and weren’t going to budge.
Another tremor of helplessness took me before I beat it down and looked around again. The room was unhelpfully bare - just the bed, its coverings and the desk and chair in the corner opposite the door. There were a couple of drawers on the desk, but I couldn’t believe he would have left me with anything useful - and I couldn’t even reach it.
With a frown I stood up, looking at the way I was attached to the bed. I couldn’t get out of the handcuffs, but maybe…
I pulled on the frame with both hands, and to my surprise it wasn’t that heavy - the bed was small, and it was just a simple metal frame with mattress and covers. I pulled off the covers quickly, then awkwardly tried to maneuver the mattress with mostly one hand. I managed to get it off the bed, before realizing that there wasn’t enough room to turn the bed with the mattress against the opposite wall. This room wasn’t that big.
It took a lot of effort, and enough time that I started glancing uneasily towards the door, but I eventually managed to twist and turn the bed frame to get it onto its side and turned around - letting me move into the other half of the room and drag the bed behind me, until I reached the door. My wrist was stinging from pressing against the harsh metal of the handcuff as I’d pulled and tugged a
t the bed and mattress, but I ignored it. It felt like I was finally getting somewhere.
Even if that somewhere was just to the other half of the room.
I glanced at the desk, moving over to pull out the drawers and rummage through. It was in pretty bad condition - any varnish had long since faded, with the wood cracking at the top. The drawers came out after a few sharp tugs, stuck initially but far lighter than I’d expected. Nothing inside. Disappointment flared, even if I had expected exactly that.
Sighing, I turned away and looked up at the door instead. Letting my anger and annoyance bubble up, I slammed my shoulder into it. It was only locked through a deadbolt on the other side, so if I could break that…
Except the door was clearly made of sturdier stuff than the desk, and when my shoulder turned numb after a few attempts, I gave up with a large indrawn breath. My wrist was throbbing from the awkward angle of pounding against the door with my hand attached to the bed-frame behind me, and when I glanced down at it, I could see the ugly red mark that had formed.
Then I laughed derisively - even if I’d broken down the door, there was no way I was getting through with this bed attached to my wrist. That never would have worked. Closing my eyes and hating myself for both my stupidity and helplessness, I leaned back against the door and blinked against the tears prickling my eyes.
There has to be some way, there has to be…
Of course, because you’re better than a killer that’s probably done this dozens of times? Because somehow, out of all the kidnap victims in the world, you’re smarter, stronger, braver? Fuck you, Alessa.
I let the fear and self-pity wash over me, sinking down to a crouch against the door and burying my head in the crook of my elbow. These were the things I never let anyone else see. As the eldest daughter of an Italian mafia boss, I was expected to be an example - I had been, ever since my mother had died and I’d helped raise my two younger sisters. And examples didn’t give in to fear, or wallow in self-pity at their already over-privileged lives.
I was a happy, polite, obedient girl. Bright and smiling and dutiful. A source of pride to my family.
