Claudia’s temper soared. She assumed Anya must have told her brother a few details. And no doubt he had enough contacts to fill in the rest if he chose to be informed on her background. Given her involvement with his beloved sister, Claudia had to assume he would have done some checking up on her before she arrived on his doorstep.
“I don’t need any man to take care of me!” she snapped. “The last time I let a guy treat me like a pretty little doll he beat me up and tried to prostitute me out to his buddies. If you aren’t going to help me get out of this city, then you can get out of my way. Let me the hell out of this place and I’ll do it on my own. I’ve run before without help, I can do it again.”
Vladimir’s eyebrows lowered and his dark eyes glowed with an unholy light that had Claudia clutching herself and stepping back. What had she been thinking, mouthing off to such a lethal man? A long, jagged scar that bisected his jaw twitched in barely suppressed fury. Well this is it Claudia, she thought with a sigh, you’re about to pay the piper for continually stumbling into the path of terrifying mobster guys.
“I didn’t know this,” he said quietly and almost… soothingly? He continued, “I would not wish that experience on any woman. Of course, it would be my privilege to help you in your moment of need.”
Claudia felt her jaw drop, but she was powerless not to gape. Something about what Dante had tried to do to her got under this guy’s powerful skin. Anya had told her that she could sympathize. Suddenly Claudia felt sick. What had happened to Anya that she could understand Claudia’s situation? What had happened to make her brother more willing to help a woman in distress?
For the first time Claudia pondered the idea of staying and confronting Dante and Franco. With men like Tyson King and Vladimir Sitnikov at her back, and a friend like Anya at her side, she might actually survive. But as soon as the thought occurred to her it flitted out of her brain. She just couldn’t bring herself to trust another man that wanted to lock her up and take care of her, as much as her body craved the possessive touch of her new lover.
Vladimir’s calculating eyes followed her every micro-expression. She was glad she didn’t have to do business with the chilling intense man. She could only imagine the people in his orbit pinned on the other side of that gaze, wondering if he was determining their use to him and whether they were better to him alive or dead. She shivered.
His sharp eyes took note. “I will have Boris show you to a room where you can rest for a few moments while I make arrangements for your journey.”
Relief flooded through her, making Claudia feel light headed. She knew Vladimir Sitnikov was as good as his word. A man in his position would have to be. She wanted to smile and thank him. Tell him that she was grateful.
Instead, in typical Claudia fashion, she said, “Seriously!? Your butler’s name is actually Boris?”
CHAPTER TEN
Tyson King hit disconnect on his cell phone and dropped it onto his desk. He leaned back in his huge chair, ignoring the ominous creak. It’d taken several hours longer than he’d expected, but he finally had a location on the girl. His hands and his dick both pulsed with need. He wanted to strangle her, caress her, chain her to him and fuck her until she couldn’t think of doing anything so stupid again.
The unfamiliar terror he had felt when Mercer had called earlier to say he was looking at her as she rapidly disappeared by herself on a city train was nearly overwhelming. Claudia couldn’t handle herself. She was too soft. If her ex got his hands on her, or even worse, the scum that was Franco Delgado, they would snap her neck without hesitating. She wasn’t safe. And the woman wasn’t doing herself any favours by running the first chance she got. She was too easy to track.
Now, her safety was confirmed and his fear for her life morphed rapidly into all consuming fury. How dare she put herself in danger? His fist crashed down on the desk in front of him causing everything to jump. His water glass rolled onto its side, splashing water across some acquisition papers. He ignored the damage and stood. Rolling his massive shoulders in his suit jacket, he swiftly turned to the window of his office tower, which overlooked the downtown business district.
Popping his knuckles, he picked his phone back up and called Mercer. His loyal man answered the phone on the first ring. “I know where she is.”
“Is she safe?” Mercer asked swiftly.
Any tension Tyson might have felt toward his bodyguard’s loss of Claudia dissipated. Mercer didn’t show emotions. Ever. Yet he unbent enough to inquire after Claudia’s well-being, which indicated he felt some regard for her. Even if it was just as the boss’ woman. Claudia was a clever woman. If she had been determined to run, she would’ve bided her time until the opportunity arose. It was probably only a matter of time before one of them lost her, despite their years of iron control and vigilance. As testified by her ability to stay alive since fleeing Miami, Claudia had a well-honed sense of survival.
“She’s safe. For now,” Tyson said. “I want you and two of your guys to accompany me to her location. Bring bags. We’ll be staying for a few days. I need some time with Claudia, to show her why this behaviour is unacceptable. I don’t want her back in the city until I can trust her.”
“Done,” Mercer replied. “I can get Theo and Brandon. She’s met both of them.”
“Have a car around to pick me up in the next five minutes. We leave the city as soon as you and your men are ready.”
“I’ll have them ready in fifteen.”
“Good.” Tyson hung up. He loosened his tie and dropped his phone into his pocket.
He looked back out over the city, wondering if one of the moving lights far below his tower was his Claudia speeding away from him in the fading light of the evening. He breathed in deeply, attempting to control some of the anger he felt. He would have to teach her why she must never run from him. But he was a big man and he could too easily hurt the delicate woman if he lost his temper with her. He would have to control some of the rage and lust coursing through his veins, demanding him to find his woman and chain her to him irrevocably. Lucky for her, he had a three hour drive ahead of him to contemplate how not to break her while disciplining her.
* * *
The remote cabin hadn’t been easy to find, but Vladimir’s detailed directions, written out in scrawling cursive, led her to the right place on the first try. She had nearly missed the turn off for the road in the heavily forested area, but had seen it in the sweep of her headlights at the last moment. She’d slowed her borrowed car down and pulled it onto the dirt track. She winced a little as the gorgeous black Mercedes bumped along the winding, hole filled drive.
She knew she was in the right place when she drove up to the entrance. It was exactly as Vladimir had described. The lovely cabin looked deceptively small and rustic from the outside. He had assured her it would have all the amenities she would need to last for years if she chose to stay and hide out. Claudia hoped she could somehow resolve things before that long. She was a city girl at heart. Not that she didn’t love the cabin on first sight, but she wasn’t in to roughing it. Bears and ticks were on her list of things that she’d like never to experience up close and personal. Right below Dante and Franco.
With no luggage she made her way easily up to the front door and entered the code that Vladimir had given her. The door unlocked and she pushed it open. She realized immediately just how deceptive the ‘cabin’ was when she wandered in, her mouth opening in delight and awe. It vaguely reminded her of Tyson’s penthouse with its wealthy rustic charm. The main floor boasted wall to ceiling windows that she was sure in daylight would showcase a stunning view of the mountains.
She counted two bedrooms and an office on the main floor as well as a sprawling kitchen with everything she would need. A walk-in pantry proved to her exactly how stocked up she would be. She could survive on many of the items without ever having to figure out the complex looking stove. She decided against exploring the dark basement until daylight. Her tired, overactive imaginati
on was more than likely going to see an axe murderer (or Boris) in every shadow.
Wandering into the living room she looked up and whispered ‘wow’ as she took in the loft that soared high above her head at the top of a wooden staircase. She grinned and trailed her fingers across the smooth wooden railing as she headed up. She wished, when she reached the top, that it was daylight and she could see out across the lake valley.
Instead, she would have to make do with the huge low platform bed that filled the space and all the other luxurious amenities she would be forced to enjoy. A gorgeous painting of what she assumed must be the lake surrounded by autumn trees rested over a fireplace across the room from the bed. In front of the fireplace was a single, huge leather chair that looked well loved and well used.
On further inspection of the top floor, she discovered a massive tub that could double as a pool. “He did tell me to make myself comfortable…” she murmured her hands going to the zipper of her borrowed jacket.
She felt like Goldilocks, discovering a warm, welcoming abode that would fit her quite well after all of her trials. Letting the jacket fall to the floor she leaned over the lip of the huge tub, plugged in the stopper and turned on the water. She trailed her fingers through the pressurized stream and made adjustments until the heat of the water was just right. With a sigh, she stood and began stripping her clothes.
She studied herself in the mirror over the sink as she let each garment fall to her feet. She looked like the same voluptuous blond that had tried and failed to become a showgirl on the Vegas strip. Her big breasts and hips had slowed her down compared to the other girls. But her perfectly shaped lips, prominent cheekbones and innocent green eyes had bought her place on the stage. With a small smile, she struck a showgirl pose. One leg up and bent as though propped up by a four-inch heel. The other leg was long and straight. She threw one arm up over her head in presentation, tilted her head back and curved her spine to thrust her breasts out.
Claudia crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out at the image. She gathered her long, wavy hair on top of her head and tied it with one of the many hair ties she used as accessories so she would always have one available. She slid into the tub with a deep sigh and relaxed completely into the warm embrace as her bare bottom came to rest on a bench. She tilted her head back and sank down until her shoulders and most of her neck was under the water. Tendrils of hair, escapees from her hastily tied up hair, floated in the water around her. She idly trailed fingers across the top of the tub until her exploration yielded a button, which she pushed to turn on the jets, filling the tub with bubbles.
Claudia enjoyed the energetic jets as they danced around her body. She relaxed completely and stared out of the single window in the room into the darkness of her new mountain home. She was definitely liking it here more and more with every passing moment. Lazily, she reached for the soap and began running it over her wet body. Each stroke felt like the hands of her lover caressing her abundant curves. Images of the erotic shower she had shared with Tyson several days ago flooded her mind. Claudia hastily put the soap down. She turned around and kneeled on the bench propping her arms up on the edge of the tub. With a sigh, she lazily stared into the darkness and thought of the generosity of her benefactor.
She was deeply impressed with Vladimir Sitnikov’s good taste. She wouldn’t have expected it of a man that surrounded himself with heavy, masculine furniture that looked old world Russian. In fact, she had even more trouble picturing him out here in the wilderness than her city-raised self. She had no problem picturing Tyson King’s big body resting sprawled out in the massive tub. Or on the huge bed. And in one of the big leather chairs next to the fireplace. And working in the kitchen, with all of its modern amenities.
With a gasp Claudia sat up, water pouring over her shoulders and down her back. “No!” she said out loud, eyes wide and staring into the darkness beyond the door. “He wouldn’t…”
But why would Vladimir Sitnikov set her up? He had seemed so sincere in his wish to help her. Maybe she was being paranoid. Claudia stood up and, ignoring the streaming water, swiftly exited the tub. She snatched a towel from the rack and dabbed at her body as she headed for the bedroom closet, heedless of the watery footprints she left on the hardwood floor.
She flung open the closet, snapped on the light switch and stepped inside. Though most of the clothes in the closet were more suited to wilderness – jeans, T-shirts, sweaters – she saw that there were a few business suits with dress shirts. She reached for one of the dress shirts and, dropping her towel, pulled it on. She ignored the way it clung to her wet body and buttoned it up. With dawning realization she knew, without a doubt, that she was wearing a shirt that belonged to Tyson King. It swam on her, falling down to her knees, the sleeves reaching past her hands.
“Son of a BITCH!”
Whirling around, Claudia ran. She grabbed her purse and car keys, where she had dropped them on the bed and ran down the flight of stairs. She didn’t bother to dress in something more appropriate. She could figure it out along the way. If Vladimir Sitnikov sent her to Tyson King’s cabin deep in the woods, the big dark-skinned devil wouldn’t be far behind. And he would be pissed.
She flung the front door open to find the man himself standing on his own porch, waiting for her. His eyes glinted down at her with a mixture of triumph and something much darker. He was furiously angry with her. Claudia stumbled back a step, clutching tightly to her purse.
“Stop Claudia,” his deep voice growled. He stepped over the threshold and reached for her.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Claudia threw her purse at him and whirled around, sprinting for the back door. Luckily, her perpetually on-edge brain had taken note of its whereabouts. She heard Tyson running behind her and tried for more speed. Her bare feet easily gripped the floor as she rounded the kitchen and reached for the door. She turned the lock, losing precious seconds, and flung it open. She hurtled into the darkness, heedless of the fact that she was unlikely to get far even if she managed to make it to the car barefoot.
“Oomph!” The air rushed out of her as she ran headlong into the rock solid body of Daniel Mercer. The guy she had vowed never to run into in the dark. So far she was doing a terrible job of taking care of herself.
Daniel didn’t even flinch when she hit him full tilt. He simply absorbed her weight, his arms coming down around her, trapping her against his hard body. She squeaked in fear and tried to extricate herself from his punishing grip. He seemed quite determined to hang onto her until his boss arrived, which was a few seconds later. She realized from his terrifying strength that Daniel could snap her in two with little effort. He easily handed her off to Tyson and then melted into the darkness without a word.
Tyson re-entered the house, holding her easily in an iron grip. He shut the door and locked it behind him. Claudia found it disconcerting that Daniel wasn’t coming in the house. She felt certain he, and maybe others, would guard them in the darkness. But whatever Tyson King had planned for her would take place in the privacy of the house. They might be able to hear her screams, but she knew without a doubt that not a single one of them would interfere. She was once more under the control of a very powerful man. And he wasn’t happy with her.
She tried pulling her arm from his grip, but he held her tightly, dragging her along with him as he secured the front door and hefted a bag up over his broad shoulder. Claudia shivered as the cool air caressed her damp body. “Let me go,” she demanded, pulling her arm harder.
Tyson ignored her completely and pulled her along as he turned lights out on his way to the staircase. He dragged her up the stairs and into the bedroom. He finally let her go, pushing her toward the bed. “Stay,” he snapped when she hit the edge and tumbled onto the mattress.
Claudia righted herself and sat up straight, watching warily as he dropped his bag on the floor, turned his back on her and knelt in front of the fireplace, opening the flue and swiftly working to set up kindling and newspaper.
Claudia stood, hugging herself uncertainly and looking toward the stairs. She could probably make it at least partway – maybe all the way – before he caught up with her.
“Don’t,” his voice rumbled. “Mercer isn’t happy with you right now. I wouldn’t recommend giving him a reason to put his hands on you again. He may be my man, but he’s also a viciously effective militant that doesn’t distinguish between the sexes when he decides to take down an enemy.”
Claudia shivered in apprehension and let her legs collapse underneath her until she was perched on the edge of the bed. She decided it would be best to give Daniel some time to forget how she took off on his watch. Even though she sensed an implacable element in Tyson’s movements that didn’t bode well for her future comfort, she knew he was far less likely to do her irreparable harm than his terrifying bodyguard.
“Where did you find him?” she asked curiously, trying to break the heavy silence of the room with conversation.
Tyson didn’t say anything for a minute and she thought he wasn’t going to answer her idle question. When he spoke his voice was low and thoughtful. “His team was recommended to me when I had business in the DPRK. Something came up while we were trying to get back out of the country. Most of Mercer’s guys were killed, cut down in front of us, but he worked like a machine. Taking the attackers on one at a time. He was shot twice. It still took awhile for him to go down, but eventually he weakened. I was able to finish them off and pull him out. He’s stuck by my side ever since. I think he would stay even if I refused to pay him.”
Claudia wasn’t sure why he decided to tell her the truth of their grim story, but somehow it softened her toward them. They had overcome bad odds and made it out alive, forging a bond. Mercer would watch the back of the man he saved, and who had in turn saved him, like a loyal dog ready to rip out the throat of anyone that threatened the giant man. Together they maintained Tyson’s empire. One built it while the other protected it.
King's Command (Fire & Vice Book 3) Page 8
