by Piper Stone
“Go on. What does this have to do with Dante?”
“Dante was just another client with the people I worked for. Okay? He was nothing more than a name on a piece of paper, a tax return. It wasn’t my place to check out every client to ensure they weren’t criminals before I did my job!” My exclamation was louder than I’d wanted, but the way Reaper was looking at me, as if I was the criminal, pissed me the fuck off.
The bastard remained quiet, his eyes still flashing. Goddamn him.
“Look, I didn’t know who the hell he was before I met him. Hell, there were almost a thousand clients. I had questions about some of his numbers and Dante suggested we meet for coffee. That’s exactly how the whole thing started. He was charming and polite, answering every single question without pushback.”
He turned his heated gaze in my direction, a smirk on his face. “All right. That sounds plausible. When did you realize something was off about him?”
I hesitated before answering, perhaps realizing for the first time just how stupid I’d been. “From what I’d been told, Dante ran a credible real estate development firm, but after about a week, I noticed that some of the numbers had been inflated. That’s when I became curious. Dante assured me that it was a simple mistake with a new hire on his accounting staff. When I pressed him after another week, he asked me out for a drink given his busy schedule. One thing led to another.”
“So he snowed you.”
I held back the nasty words, barely able to nod.
After taking a gulp of his drink, he nodded several times. God, the man could be such an asshole. “A legitimate business that he could use in order to run monies he’d illegally made through. If I had to venture a guess, your boss knew what Dante did. He would have certainly known about Dante’s reputation. He simply figured that you were too green to figure it all out.”
“Apparently. However, I wasn’t tossed off a turnip truck. I started digging into other files, earlier tax returns and financial records. It became clear that my boss had aided Dante in skirting around paying taxes at minimum. My guess is there was more. Maybe I tried to get closer to him personally so I could figure out the truth.”
Reaper chuckled. “Including sexually?”
“I told you, I never allowed that asshole to touch me that way. But I did go out to dinner with him, the bastard luring me by saying he’d provide everything I needed. When I balked at some of Dante’s answers, that’s when he got rough, his innuendoes starting. Did I have some emotional attachment at that point? Yes, and I crossed a huge line. Did I buy his bullshit? No. I’m not a stupid woman, but I felt trapped. Dante knew where I worked, where I lived. Hell, he knew how much money I had in my bank account. What was I supposed to do? I kept my head down, pretending to play along until I gathered actual evidence. While what I did was risky, I was on a mission, even finding some damning information on my boss. Things started to get out of hand after that and quickly.”
His laugh was guttural and disgusting in every way, as if he would have never made the same wrong choice. “It would appear you were played. Dante thought he could keep you quiet. First by romancing you, then when that didn’t work, threats.”
“Yes.” I couldn’t help but laugh, the feeling tickling my throat to the point of closing off. “The murder I witnessed was completely unexpected, but he didn’t seem to give a shit about that. I realized soon after searching through various newspapers from the past and after what the DA told me, Dante had been in front of a judge several times. He was never given jail time. And why? Well, he’d paid off plenty of people along the way. I’d just wasted my time testifying in court. But at least with what I’d found, the Feds could get him on white collar crimes, forcing other hands to intervene.”
“A brilliant idea except you were placed in the middle of a situation that was too much for you to handle alone,” he said, snarling under his breath. He fisted his hand as he stared at me. Then his eyes twinkled all over again. “I’m going to venture a guess that you removed certain valuable information from where you worked in order to help with the investigation. I’m also going to assume that given your tenacious nature, you kept some of that information for yourself as a level of protection.”
I studied him as he took another sip of his drink, rolling my glass between my hands before I answered. “Yes. As I said, I’m not stupid. What I have could put Dante away for one hell of a long time. I wasn’t certain who I could trust at that point. My boss wasn’t who he purported himself to be.”
“Dante suspected just how smart you were.”
“That would be my guess.” I could barely whisper.
“And let me guess. That information is somewhere in the vehicle you crashed on the mountain.” He shifted his gaze in my direction, his expression bland.
“I wasn’t going to allow a man like Dante Giordani to continue skating the system. So, yes, before I was fired, I copied every computer file I could get my hands on. My intention was to offload more of them to Mr. Porter, but there was no time. He had street sources telling him that there was a price tag on my head. Supposedly, there was internet connection at the cabin he sent me to, allowing me to forward everything I’d gathered to him, but I could also keep it as some crazy kind of insurance on my life. And don’t you dare say I’m fucking stupid. I did what I had to in order to survive. I had enough that at least he would be arrested for extortion among other criminal acts.”
Damn the man. He was so calm as he shifted his gaze toward the fire, acting as if we were discussing something normal.
Whatever the hell that was.
“You’re not a stupid woman. What you did was courageous, albeit not as well thought out as it should have been.”
“Damn you! I’m not some master criminal. I was terrified. I had about ten minutes to figure out a plan.”
He smiled. The fucker actually smiled at me. “You did all right. Now, I know what we’re dealing with. Still, something is off about this.”
At this point, I was exasperated, more exhausted than I’d ever been in my life. “Stop. Just stop! I’ve told you everything I know. Okay?” I huddled closer to the fire, praying the warmth would stop me from shivering.
“I believe you; however, our DA made a fatal flaw, although it was one you couldn’t have known about. There is no internet connection on the mountains.”
“What does that mean?” I wasn’t following him.
At least at first.
Then it dawned on me.
“Oh, God. He was the one who betrayed me.” I issued the words with no emotion. Perhaps I’d known it all along.
“That’s what it would appear.”
“He wanted me in a location where no one would hear me scream and I couldn’t contact anyone for help. I am a fucking idiot.” When he took my hand into his, I shuddered, but the warmth was exactly what I needed.
“You’re not an idiot. You are a brave and brilliant woman. Where did you hide this information in your vehicle?”
“It’s on a jump drive. I found a little pocket behind the seat. I wasn’t that stupid to leave it in plain sight, Nash, but I couldn’t take the time to grab it before I ran.”
“Which means you knew the assassins were out there.”
I rubbed my eyes. “I noticed the damn vehicle you damaged in the rearview mirror more than once. My gut told me I’d been located. The best I could do was try and get away without leading them to the cabin. When I crashed the truck, I had no recourse but to try and find some help. I had to leave the drive hidden. Even if the truck was tossed, I doubt anyone would find it. Unless they had some electronic method of finding it.”
The moment I said his real name, he narrowed his eyes, an emptiness settling in. I shrank back, unable to look him in the eyes. When he moved to the floor, settling beside me, I was no longer shocked how my body reacted.
Tingling with anticipation.
Hungering to the point of losing my breath.
Longing to reach out and yank him closer.
When he reached out, grasping my fingers, slowly intertwining them, a strangled moan slipped past my lips.
He exhaled, bringing my hand to his lips and pressing them against my fingers. “While I don’t know if it’s possible, I do think it’s imperative that we find your truck.”
“How can we do that given the snowstorm?”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
A quiet settled between us, as well as an odd sadness. We were in this together whether we liked it or not.
“I knew I was heading into danger, Reaper. I also realized my chances at surviving were slim to nil. But you know what? My parents didn’t raise either a stupid woman or one who would ever back down from danger. So, I fucked up, not anticipating a freaking snowstorm. It doesn’t give you the right to treat me like an enemy. I’ve been through some shit myself these past few weeks. Why don’t you give me a fucking break?”
Now the silence between us was deafening.
A minute passed.
Two.
Three.
The glass in my hand shook given my increased anxiety.
“You took a significant risk,” he finally said.
“Yes, I did.”
“To do the right thing.”
His tone of voice had softened. “I didn’t set out to deal with a monster.”
Reaper laughed, lifting his glass toward the fire. “Yet you found two.”
The words were far too haunting.
When he let go of my hand, using the tip of his finger to lift my chin, I saw something entirely different in his gorgeous eyes.
Admiration.
“Now, you’re going to need to learn to trust me. Can you do that?” he asked in such a quiet voice.
“I don’t know. I just don’t… know.” The words felt strangled in my throat.
“Fair enough. However, I’m the only help you have. Fortunately, I have some pretty amazing friends who are more than willing to try and get you through this mess, but you’re going to have to follow my directions. No bullshit. No more lies or holding anything back. And no more attempts at running. Can you do that?”
I swear it was like making a deal with the most gorgeous devil on earth, but he was right. The man was my hero, whether he liked it or not. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“If you’re looking for sir, you’re sorely mistaken.”
His laugh was full of the rough and tumble vibe I’d come to adore, making me swoon all over again. My nipples immediately hardened, my legs trembling like I was some high-school girl. “What I’m looking for is a promise.”
I bit my lip before I said anything. “Okay. I promise.”
He eased his hand around my head, entangling his fingers in my hair. “Better, although there’s still an infraction that we need to deal with.”
“Meaning?”
Tugging on my head, he brought me closer to the heat of his body. Between the weight of the hulking man and the electricity soaring between us, stars floated in front of my eyes, my heart racing.
“Meaning, little brat, you’re going to get one hell of a spanking.”
Before I had time to object or say a single word, he crushed his mouth over mine and within seconds, I melted into him, unable to stop my pulse from skyrocketing.
Or my pussy from quivering.
I wrapped my arm around his neck, tugging him as close as possible. He tugged my legs around his hips, easing me onto his lap. Very slowly I crawled the tips of my fingers down his chest, stroking his jean-covered cock. I couldn’t stop the moan from erupting around the kiss, the way his shaft throbbed against my hand reigniting the embers. Everything was a fabulous blur, even though what was left of my rational brain knew this wasn’t a good idea.
But I couldn’t stop myself. I wanted this man. I hungered to have him touch me, hold me.
Taste me.
Train me.
Fuck me.
As he thrust his tongue inside, dominating mine, I whimpered, unable to stop shaking. He was so powerful, so comforting and in his arms, I felt as if nothing and no one could hurt me.
Even if death loomed over both our lives.
The kiss became a passionate roar, a hunger that would never be sated. It was as if the world around us no longer existed. There was only the two of us.
Two hearts.
Two souls.
Two strangers.
The thought brought another round of shivers. I continued stroking him, enjoying the feel of his thick cock in my hands. Even the way he growled was inviting, the longing increasing.
When he broke the kiss, nipping my lower lip, another sigh burst from my throat. Yet a moment of terror raced through me.
Dante would never stop until he killed one or both of us.
I couldn’t allow that to happen, not to the man I…
Chapter 14
Mitch
“I don’t want to die,” I said quietly as I glanced toward the blind-covered window. I usually loved winter, everything about it. The cold temperatures, the various holidays and even the way ice crunched under my feet had always seemed special, as if the quiet realm of a snowstorm blanketed the world with peace and even love.
Hope.
There was a word I hadn’t thought of in a long time. Snow meant there was hope for the world and all the people in it. Tonight, the lightly falling flakes seemed oppressive, pushing a heavy weight against my chest, even though he’d made certain that every blind was closed, all the windows and doors locked. While he said it was merely a precaution, I knew he was worried, calculating the odds. I was no fool.
Dante was coming.
Reaper pulled away, brushing the rough pads of his fingers across my cheek.
“You’re not going to die. We will figure this out. Together,” he stated in a firm voice, although his words were stilted.
“What if he finds us?”
The warm glow of the fire highlighted his grim expression, although he attempted to smile. “Then the motherfucker is going to die by my hands.”
The man would actually put his life in danger to save mine. I still found that difficult to believe. I was no one to him, just a girl who needed to be hidden for a long time.
Sadly, I had no doubt that Dante had a long memory.
Trepidation.
Fear.
Excitement.
I felt all three things as we’d settled into the little house that wasn’t our own, putting groceries away as if we were a couple. It felt equal parts normal and surreal. We were pretending to be something we weren’t, attempting to find some kind of normalcy when the future looked bleak. Or maybe that was my closet hysteria ready to break through all the layers I’d secured around myself.
Everything was well organized, the house still furnished with all the necessities that anyone would need, but it didn’t belong to us.
I was surprised that Hawk’s fiancée had kept a house she’d purchased soon after they’d met, but I didn’t know her. At least it would keep us safe from the ominous shadows brought on by the falling snow. Everything was so quiet, the only sound that of the refrigerator humming. Accepting the graciousness of others had never been something I’d wanted to do, but we had no clothes, no money and were living on borrowed time.
Reaper chuckled in the same dark and delicious manner he’d done so many times. As he took the drink from my hand, placing both on the hearth, he studied me intently. “I think it’s time.”
“Time?”
“For that spanking I mentioned.”
With those few little words, he yanked me out of the darkness I’d fully intended on submersing myself in. “That’s not fair. We’re enjoying time by the fire.”
“And we’re going to continue doing so. However…” He allowed the words to die off, his eyes remaining shimmering pools of lust.
And domination.
“You’re just… mean.” The words were ridiculous. Even my tone had drifted into one I didn’t recognize. “Bes
ides, you’ve spanked me several times.”
“Uh-huh,” he said as he moved to a standing position, still hovering over me. When he shifted his hands toward the buckle on his belt, I couldn’t stop a series of moans from slipping past my lips. He was using the big, thick strap of leather on me. Fuck. Shit. Damn it. Was I actually going to allow this to happen?
The answer was just as terrifying as some crazy realization that I knew I deserved it. For lying. For keeping things from him. There were far too many reasons to pick just one.
“It would seem that the spankings I gave you before didn’t seem to matter. It’s time to make certain you fully understand that I’m in charge.”
The woman inside of me wanted to argue, but what was the point? I believed him that he’d tie me to the bed again, only this time, it was likely that he wouldn’t let me go. “Fine.”
“I also think it’s time you learned respect.”
“Meaning?”
“Time to call me sir all the time.”
I opened my eyes wide, grumbling under my breath. My God, the man was amused, as if this was a joke. The naughty girl inside of me almost lashed out.
Almost.
Somehow, I knew better than to do it tonight. I had a feeling the spanking would be far more painful if I did. “Fine. Sir.”
“That’s a start. Undress.”
“As in entirely?”
“You bet. I prefer spanking women when they’re entirely naked.”
I moved to a standing position on shaky legs, still glaring at him. “Do you spank women a lot?”
As he took his time unfastening his belt, very slowly starting to pull it through his belt loops, he crinkled his forehead and I knew it was on purpose. “Let me think. Well… There were a couple.”
“Of the hundreds of women that you’ve had?”
He laughed as he released the last few inches of the strap, still staring down at me. “Before I left for the Marines, I had a girlfriend. She was sweet and innocent, but she had no intention of waiting for me to return and I didn’t blame her. During my time overseas, there was a single woman that I cared about. However, long-distance relationships don’t last, especially in a time of war. Now, if that’s the last of your questions, I suggest you follow my commands.”
