by Maren Smith
She could have told him he wouldn’t find Carmen so easily, especially since Flint had purposely misdirected him. Given their secretive conversation, she suspected he was another agent. The other couple soon left, the Master speaking very sternly to his submissive.
Once they were out of sight, Flint asked, “Tell me the truth. Are you okay?”
“Nope. I’m about to wet myself.” She tried for a grin but it fell flat.
He pulled her into his arms and she laid her cheek against his chest. “I have a few hours before I have to meet Carmen again. Let’s go outside. It’s too nice a day to waste.”
Chapter 14
Flint walked hand in hand with Holly, ignoring the leash dangling between her breasts. They stopped to watch a fire-cupping scene for a few minutes, and he marveled at the safety measures in place for the submissive on the table. Attendants with fire extinguishers stood close by, their attention fixed solely on her as the Master plied his craft on her bare skin.
“Have you ever tried that,” he asked Holly.
Wrinkling her nose, she said, “No. I have a healthy respect for fire, though I’d be more likely to do that than needle play or sounding.” She shook all over like a pony shooing a fly and laughed. “I’m afraid of needles, and the thought of someone putting in a catheter when I don’t need one is horrifying to me.”
“Agreed. I have no interest, either,” Flint said.
She chuckled and shook her head. “I even have to talk myself into donating blood. I’m a coward about stuff like that.” She glanced back at the cupping scene as they walked away. “The cupping is interesting from a distance, though. I really like the marks.”
They walked further, enjoying the beautiful summer day and the outdoor demonstrations. Flint talked Holly into trying on a finished chainmail corset at the blacksmith’s stall. She giggled as she modeled it for him, but it was everything he’d imagined. Her plump, beautiful breasts were a succulent treat above the unforgiving metal, and he couldn’t resist nuzzling her ample flesh. She led him away for a cake pop from a stall, though he wished he had his phone to capture the image of her in that corset.
It had grown late by the time they finished enjoying the carnival atmosphere of the Castle’s exterior. He knew he didn’t have much time left but wanted to take her through the hedge maze, hoping they could find a quiet nook to enjoy each other one last time before he had to take her back to the suite.
He’d kept his eyes peeled for Carmen the whole day, though he hadn’t seen a single red cape outside. The maze was shady and quiet, cool after the heat of the day as the sun descended behind the high walls. Martins swooped and danced above their heads, catching early evening insects.
Inhaling the earthy scents of mulch and evergreen hedges, he said, “It’s beautiful in here. So quiet and peaceful.”
“I’ve always liked the maze. There are some great running trails through the woods, too. We go out every spring to tend them so they’re safe for guests and employees.” She dropped his hand and took a few steps forward.
Turning to face him, she smiled. “My mother is Irish, and she says there’s a secret to hedge mazes.”
“Oh? What’s the secret?” He walked forward but she danced away, laughing.
“She says you need to turn widdershins at the start of a maze, and then you can find your way out of anything.”
Her joy was infectious and he grinned. “Does it work?”
“No, it just makes you dizzy.” Despite her words, she spun counterclockwise, her bare feet flashing. Stopping after a few turns, she said, “The real secret is to lay your right hand on the hedges and keep it there. You’ll eventually wind up in the center.”
“Does the left hand work?” He stalked forward and caught her, kissing the back of her neck as she giggled.
“I don’t know. Want to try it?”
He glanced up at the setting sun and decided to let Carmen wait. “I’d love to.”
She raced forward, laughing, and he darted after her. They chased each other through the maze, and he forgot for a few seconds too long that he had a job to do as she raced ahead of him.
A red-clad arm shot out from behind a corner of the hedges, clotheslining Holly. She fell to her back and Flint heard the breath rasp in her throat as she tried to breathe. Racing forward, he reached her just as Carmen knelt and slammed his fist into her face. Blood trickled from her nose and she didn’t move when he punched her a second time.
Carmen’s ugly laughter was loud, disturbing the quiet of the maze. “I cannot believe you found Holly Dansen.” He stood and prodded her ribs with the toe of his boot. “With that red hair, you probably didn’t even recognize her, did you?” Shaking his head, he spat on the ground. “Hell, I didn’t until just now when I saw her eyes.”
Flint had to think fast. If Carmen thought for a single moment he knew who Holly was and had kept him from her, they’d both be dead. Though he desperately wanted to see if she was okay, he asked, “Who’s Holly Dansen? I never caught this one’s name. I’ve just been calling her slave.”
Carmen blinked, then shook his head in disgust. “Jesus, Mario! Did you get dropped on your head as a kid? Holly was my girlfriend when you started working for me. She’s the one you thought had weird eyes.”
Pretending to look down at Holly, Flint said, “Nah, boss. Wasn’t that girl really fat and blonde? Can’t say that I’ve looked at this chick’s eyes, though. She’s usually on her knees.”
“Yeah, and this is her.” Carmen smirked and added, “How does it feel to get my sloppy seconds?”
He leaned down and yanked Holly’s costume over her hips, making Flint see red. It was all he could do to stop himself from killing Carmen with his bare hands.
“Shit.” Carmen spat again. “I was going to prove the red hair is a bad dye job, but there ain’t no carpet.”
“So what if it is Holly? Who cares?”
Carmen sneered. “You really are a stupid fucker, you know that? She knows who I am, so I need you to take her into those woods and get rid of her, and hurry it up. When you get back, we need to finish what we came here to do.”
“Sure, boss, whatever you say.” Flint bent down and lifted Holly into his arms. Blood covered her face and one eye was swollen shut, but she opened the green one into a narrow slit. Turning away so Carmen couldn’t see, he whispered, “Shhh. I’ll keep you safe.”
There was a tiny part of Holly that wondered if she’d once again placed her trust in the wrong person. Flint carried her unerringly to the maze exit, careful to avoid other people. When he couldn’t, he sang lullabies in lilting Spanish, holding her face to his chest to hide the damage Carmen had inflicted. She heard a few murmured bits of encouragement, one Master to another, for taking care of a sleepy kajira, but no one stopped them.
And holy fuck, her head hurt! Carmen had cleaned her clock. Working her tongue around her mouth, she found all her teeth in place, though a few of her upper molars were loose. Her nose had swollen shut, forcing her to breathe through her mouth, and she couldn’t see out of her right eye. Her throat ached where Carmen had clotheslined her and it hurt to breathe.
She closed her eyes as Flint carried her into the woods. Yes, she wondered if she was going to die. She couldn’t help it, though she didn’t truly believe Flint would hurt her of his own volition. But she knew he had his orders, and she was expendable, just like Grace Barnes.
When they reached the deepest part of the woods, well off the running trails, he laid her down in a bed of fallen leaves.
“Babygirl, I need you to look at me,” he whispered.
She cracked open her one working eye. “Just make it fast, please.”
“Huh? Make what fast, honey?”
“If you’re going to kill me, make it fast.”
“Shit!” He bent down and kissed the corner of her mouth. “I’m doing everything in my power to keep you alive, and I’m going to do the same thing for Grace. You’ll just have to trust me a little while longer.”<
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“Okay. Just leave me here and go do what you need to.” She closed her eye and turned her face away. It was nice to get confirmation that she wasn’t going to die, but she felt sick and her head hurt so badly.
“No. Here’s what’s going to happen.” He stroked her hair. “I’m going to find someone in Security and say we were playing hide and seek and that I lost you in the woods. You’re going to tell them you fell and didn’t hear me calling for you because you were knocked out.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she muttered. “I’ll just hang out here.” Using the last of her strength, she threw an arm over her eyes to protect them from the glaring moonlight.
“Good girl.” He kissed her again. It hurt but she didn’t complain. “I’m going to try to fix it so Carmen is busy while you’re taken to a hospital. That’s the safest place for you right now.”
“Okay. You’d better go.” She considered arguing, but knew she was in no condition to stop him. It wasn’t like she could walk out of these woods under her own power.
“All right.” He laid a hand on her bruised face. “I will keep you safe, Holly. I promise.”
Without another word, he left her alone. She closed her eyes and tried to ignore the pain in her face.
Sometime later, she heard footsteps. Dragging herself painfully into a thicket, she waited to see who it was. When she heard her name called by Master David, she crept from her hiding place.
“I’m here!” she called. Though her voice was raspy and too soft, Master David heard her.
“Jesus, Holly!” Meghan knelt on her blind side as Master David wiped the blood from her face. “What happened?” Meghan asked.
“I’m so sorry. Master Miguel and I were playing tag and I tripped over something. I hit my face on a rock.”
“We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Master David said.
“I’m sorry I’m so clumsy. Is Master Miguel okay?”
“He’s fine,” Meghan said. “But he’s worried sick. We’re going to take you to the hospital, okay?”
“Yeah, that’s good.”
Master David carried Holly to a waiting ambulance. She let the paramedics care for her but her thoughts were centered on Flint. The nurses at the hospital gave her a set of scrubs to wear before sending her for x-rays. Thankfully, nothing was broken. The doctor wanted to keep her overnight for the concussion, but Holly just wanted to go home. She had only one night left with Flint, and she wanted to spend it wrapped in his arms.
Master David and Meghan drove her home, and by the time they crossed the moat, she could see out of her right eye and her head felt a little better thanks to some excellent pain relievers. They helped her up the stairs and led her toward the door to the third floor.
“My room is the other way,” Holly said.
David and Meghan looked at each other. “The doctor said you need someone to keep an eye on you,” Master David said.
“There will be people in the dormitory. I’ll be fine, and I don’t want to ruin your Saturday night beyond what I’ve already done.”
“If you’re sure, I suppose that will be okay,” Master David said, though he didn’t appear entirely convinced.
When she nodded, they escorted her to the Little Maids’ dormitory, helping her inside to her bed. She waited only long enough to ensure they were safely upstairs before creeping down the hall to the suite she shared with Flint, her hand on one wall to help her balance. She saw no one, but heard the sounds of people from the stairs. She reached the door and listened for a few seconds, then tapped out SOS with her knuckles.
A few seconds later, the door opened and she fell into Flint’s arms.
He squeezed her tight enough that she couldn’t breathe, but she didn’t care. “Fuck, Holly. Why didn’t you stay where it was safe?”
“I’m safe here. With you.”
He picked her up and carried her to the huge bed, laying her down gently before covering her. “I’ll get some ice for your face and then you can sleep, okay?”
Holly turned over, careful of the bruises as she snuggled under the covers. The painkillers were making her too sleepy to converse and she was only half aware as Flint tended to her.
Chapter 15
Flint lay awake most of the night watching Holly sleep. The bruises on her face where Carmen had struck her shone lividly at him. Accusing. He’d failed to keep her safe, but after today, he and Carmen would both be gone. There would be no reason for them to stay once Grace Barnes was dead, after all, but he spent most of the night wracking his brain for a way to protect her without risking the case he’d spent so much time building against Carmen.
She turned over, nuzzling against his chest. His heart thumped, stalling before it returned to the measured beat that was consistent with life. Despite his failure to keep Carmen away from her, she still trusted him.
He slipped out of bed and got dressed. He was supposed to assist Carmen with the explosives for the third floor just after dawn, when everyone was still asleep or at breakfast. He wasn’t going to help, of course, but he couldn’t stop it. The best he could do would be to snip a few detonation cords and minimize the damage.
Holly wouldn’t leave the room. Not when she was supposed to be dead already. He brushed a kiss over her temple, wishing he didn’t have to leave her.
Carmen met him at the base of the stairs, carrying a small canvas backpack. He scowled and said, “Let’s get this over with. I want to be back in Wabasha before supper. Did you take care of the little problem we found last night?”
“Yeah, boss. It’s done.” Holly certainly wasn’t taken care of in the manner Carmen expected, but she would be safe in the Castle.
Grunting in response, Carmen swiped his homemade card through the reader at the door to the third floor and they crept up the stairs, listening carefully for anyone who might still be in their rooms. To Flint’s surprise, the floor was empty.
Carmen grinned as he set the pack on the floor at the head of the stairs. “It’s good to have friends in low places,” he said, holding up a plastic container filled with reddish-orange lumps.
Flint hid a grimace of distaste. How had Carmen gotten hold of Semtex? Though stable to handle, it was deadly and highly explosive. “How about I keep watch while you set that stuff, boss?”
“Whatever.” Carmen shrugged and pulled out a small spool of detonation cord. “Just stay out of my way and kill anyone who comes up those stairs.”
Flint watched as Carmen set small lumps of explosive at regular intervals along the corridor, hidden around the baseboards.
“Come here and hold this for me,” Carmen ordered.
Flint joined him at an innocuous door at the end of the corridor and gingerly took the spool of detonation cord. “What’s up?”
Carmen slid the keycard into the lock, making the light flash green. “All I had to do was watch for one of the resident Masters to take a blindfolded girl upstairs. I copied his card, and there ya go. Wish I’d have thought of that earlier, but I wasted too much time looking for her when I should have been watching the door.” He grimaced and shook his head. “Too many damn distractions. How can a man be expected to think with all the pussy running around?”
God damn it! Flint had been hoping whoever guarded Grace would be smarter than that, but there was no help for it now. “Yeah, boss.”
Shooting him a murderous glare, Carmen said, “And you were too busy fucking Holly to pay any damn attention. I should have left you at home, but at least she’s not a worry any longer.” He pushed the door open. “Let’s wire this place up. The rest of the floor will be too damaged to pass through while this one goes up in flames. No more little blind chick.”
Flint would get no help from outside, but he could do something to lessen the damage. “I’m gonna keep watch outside, boss. Looks like you’ve got this under control.”
Not looking up from his work, Carmen said, “About time you made yourself useful. Get out of here and let me work.”
Flint walked into the corridor and started carefully snipping the detonation cord between each charge, hiding the evidence behind the carpet. The ends needed to be far enough apart they didn’t spark each other, and though he didn’t reach them all before Carmen returned, he got enough that the rest of the floor wouldn’t go off. The damage would be contained to Grace’s suite and that section of hallway.
Using strips of clear tape, Carmen strung detonation cord between the explosive charges surrounding the door frame and set a small timer at one end, smirking as he twisted the dial and started it. He yawned widely and stowed his remaining supplies in his bag. “I’m going to bed for a few hours. You should probably get packed and ready to go before the noon bus rolls around. I’m not waiting around for your lazy ass.”
After creeping down the stairs to the second floor, Flint made sure Carmen had vanished around a corner before going down for breakfast. He got a few simple choices for himself and Holly to share, though he didn’t have much of an appetite. As he slipped into the suite, he heard water running in the bathroom. Setting the tray down, he packed his belongings and dressed in jeans and a soft t-shirt. He left the kilt and vest on the unmade bed.
Holly came out of the bathroom as he was lacing his shoes. Though she was dressed in the hospital scrubs she’d been wearing last night, a towel was wrapped around her wet hair. She said nothing as she sat at the table and chose a bowl of cut fruit from the tray. Her swollen eye glared at him accusingly and he winced.
“You need to put some ice on that eye, honey,” he said.
“It’s probably too late to do much for it, but I’ll find an ice pack after…” Her voice trailed off and she took a bite of her food.
“Hey.” He reached over and touched her chin. “Look at me.”
She lifted her head and his heart clenched as her eyes filled with tears. She stood up and looked away. “I can’t do this, Flint. I can’t watch you let Carmen kill an innocent woman.”
“Holly, I—”
