by HELEN HARDT
Not that I would be able to sleep, but he and Talon should get some. “I’ll keep the first watch,” I said.
“Sounds good to me,” Raj said. “I’m beat.” He sat down on the dirt. “Not the most comfortable bed, but it’s a beautiful night, mon. Nothing like sleeping under the stars.”
“I’ll stay with you until I start to nod off,” Talon said, arching one eyebrow. He’d obviously gotten the group text from Joe.
“Works for me. Just remember, you won’t be at your best without sleep.” Raj lay down on his back and closed his eyes.
I signaled to Talon. We stood until Raj’s breathing had gotten less shallow and steady, a snore after every few breaths, and then we moved away from him.
We each took a seat on the dirt, our backs against what I thought was a banyan tree. Not that I’d had a chance to familiarize myself with the local flora. I kicked off our group text conversation.
We’re here.
Joe: Good. I’ve got a lot to tell you.
Talon: Go ahead.
We waited. Joe was obviously writing a long text. The tiny ellipsis was moving. Finally, after what seemed like hours, his text appeared.
Joe: I finally got in to see Dad’s attorney. The one who read his will when he supposedly died. I demanded to see the will. He was squirrely at first, said I had no right to see it. I got in his face and said as his oldest child and one of his heirs, who the hell had more right? He saw it my way when fists got involved.
Talon: Jesus, Joe. You’ve got the cops questioning you about Larry’s death, and you decide to pick a fight with Dad’s attorney?
Simultaneously, I texted: For God’s sake.
Joe: He had it coming. He finally got the document out of a locked safe behind a portrait in his office. Can you believe it? He kept Dad’s will in a locked safe.
Me: Is that normal?
Joe: No. I called Jade. Attorneys don’t normally lock up their client’s files. At least not in a hidden safe. They might lock their filing cabinets. Anyway, I grabbed it out of his hands. I read through it, and it turns out it was a decoy.
Me: What?
Joe: It wasn’t his real will. Well, it was, but a page was missing. Dad’s attorney had been an idiot and hadn’t bothered renumbering the pages of the will, and I noticed right off that a page was missing.
Talon: Did he have the other page?
Joe: Yeah. After I threatened him with more violence and showed him Rosie strapped to my ankle.
I smiled. Rosie was Joe’s Glock 23. He was a master marksman.
Joe: He got the missing page out of yet another safe. And you won’t believe what it says.
Talon: What?
My skin chilled around me as I waited for Joe’s text. Seconds turned into minutes.
Joe: What he read to us after Dad’s death was all there. All of his property, real and personal, went into the Steel Trust for the benefit of the four of us equally. But there was a sentence on that missing page. Except as detailed in section four. Then, also on that page, was section four.
Neither Talon nor I texted him. We waited for the next text to show up.
Joe: In section four, Dad specifically bequeathed fifty million dollars to the Fleming Corporation.
A brick lodged in my gut. I’d heard that name before.
Joe: In case you don’t remember, the Fleming Corporation is the dummy corp that owns the house where Melanie was kept and also the house where I found Tom Simpson. The house where they kept you, Tal.
I chilled, shivering.
The Fleming Corporation…
Damn.
Talon must be freaking, but when I looked over at him, he was frantically typing.
His text came up a few seconds later.
Talon: What about the Steel Family Trust? Anything about that?
Talon was holding it together better than I was. Good for him. I hadn’t even thought about the Steel Family Trust. It was a separate trust that none of us had known existed. My father had used it to convey by quitclaim the Shane ranch.
Joe: I asked about it. And I’ll get to that. But first, the Fleming Corp. The attorney had nothing to say about it. Said he didn’t know anything about it. He’d only written the will. He was an estate attorney, so I took him at his word. I’m going to go see the registered agent for the corporation tomorrow. Remember Melanie and I went to see him? Frederick Jolley? Anyway, that’s on the agenda for tomorrow or the next day.
A pause. Then,
Joe: Now, back to the Steel Family Trust. He admitted setting up the trust before Dad “died.”
Me: Wait. Does this attorney know that Dad isn’t dead?
Joe: We didn’t get into that. He ushered me out. Said he had an appointment that couldn’t be rescheduled, and he’d call the cops if I didn’t leave. Said he’d cry assault and battery because of my gun. I told him I had a concealed carry and had every right to have the gun. But then I figured, since the cops were already questioning me about Larry, I’d better leave for now.
Talon: Good call.
Me: I agree with Tal.
Joe: I’m not done with him yet, though. Not by a long shot.
Talon: Be careful.
Joe: I’m always careful.
I wasn’t sure I agreed with that, but I didn’t say anything.
Joe: So tomorrow I’m going to try to see Jolley about the Fleming Corp, and then I’m going back to see this joker. He’s going to answer to me.
Talon: Joe, Jade explained to me how trusts work. An attorney sets it up, but after that, it’s just a matter of transferring things into the trust. Dad probably did that himself.
Joe: Maybe. But I’m pretty sure there’s still stuff this guy isn’t telling me. He’s going to talk.
Me: Be careful, brother. What we don’t need is—
My phone fell into the soft dirt when a meaty hand gripped my shoulder.
Chapter Sixteen
Ruby
My father ushered me out of the small office, down a dark hallway, and out a doorway into an unlit alley.
I weighed my options. I could run from him, but where would I go? I had no idea where I was, and my eyes hadn’t yet adjusted to the darkness. I could try to take my father down, though he was probably armed. Again, though, where would I go?
I could go back inside and find Juliet, but if they had her chained up, I had no way of releasing her. I had no way of releasing anyone.
Though guilt permeated me for leaving her and what I assumed were many others as prisoners in that abominable place, I had no choice but to go with Theo. The more I learned about wherever I was, the more I’d have in my arsenal of knowledge.
He led me to a black SUV and opened the door for me. Could have knocked me over with a feather with that one. He got into the driver’s seat while I secured my seat belt.
“Can I have a cell phone?” I asked.
“Your cell phone is at home. In your apartment.”
“I didn’t ask if I could have my cell phone. I asked if I could have a cell phone.”
“Eventually. Maybe.”
“Where are we?”
“On the island. In the Caribbean. The one I told you about.”
“How did you get me all the way out here while I was passed out?”
“You didn’t pass out. You were drugged. A drug that induces amnesia and makes you extremely…pliable.”
“You fucking roofied me? Jesus Christ.”
“It’s an extremely safe medication, Ruby.”
“Medication? It’s not even legal in the US.”
“We’re not in the US.”
“You must have given it to me before—” I shook my head. “Since when do you care what’s legal?”
“I administered it myself in the correct dose. You will have no lasting effects.”
“Yeah? When did you get your medical degree?”
He ignored my snide comment. “I’ve decided to give you a gift,” he said. “It should be here soon.”
“The on
ly gift I want is the Steel brothers’ safety. After that, to go home.”
“I’ve told you the Steels won’t be harmed. Nevertheless, I think you’ll like what’s coming.” He looked out his window. “Ah, here it is now.”
A man dressed all in black walked toward the SUV, dragging a woman with a fabric bag over her head. He opened the back door and shoved her inside. “Get in, bitch.”
“Hey!” I shouted. “Don’t call her that.” I turned around and ripped the fabric off her head. “Juliet!”
She squinted. “Where am I?”
Her hands were cuffed. I bounded into the back seat and started working on them. “Uncuff her,” I demanded to my father.
“Later.”
“No. Now. You said she was my gift. I want her comfortable.”
“For Christ’s sake.” He turned to the masked man. “Release her.”
“She’ll run.”
“Then you’ll catch her, or you’ll wish you had.”
“You’re the boss.” He quickly pulled out a chain of keys and, finding one, unlocked the cuffs.
“Get up here, Ruby,” my father said. “We need to get moving.”
“No way. I’m riding back here with her.”
“You’re riding up here, or we’re not going,” he said.
“It’s all right,” Juliet said, her voice raspy. “I’ll be okay. Do what he says.”
“I don’t follow his orders,” I said.
“You should. He’ll…” She closed her eyes and sighed, not finishing her thought.
“Get the fuck up here, or we’re not going,” Theo said.
Juliet nodded to me and mouthed, “I’ll be okay.”
My father had said he was taking me to better accommodations. Almost anything would be better than where we’d been, and I wasn’t going to screw this up for Juliet.
Of course, my father could very well be lying.
I had to take the chance. If I could get Juliet away from the other goons—and it appeared I might be able to—I had to go for it. Maybe I could figure out a way for the two of us to escape. Then I’d have a better chance of helping all the others trapped at the “dorms.”
The others… I didn’t want to leave them to their fate, but I had to let them go for now. I could only do so much.
The story of my life.
I moved back up to the front seat and yawned despite trying to stay awake.
“Sleep if you want to,” he said. “We’ll be on the road for a few hours.”
I yawned again and then looked back at Juliet. She had put the seat back into a reclining position and closed her eyes. This was probably the most comfort she’d had in almost a month.
The lights on the dashboard were on, but other than that, all I could see was what the headlights illuminated. A yawn split my jaw again, but no way was I falling asleep.
* * *
“Undress.”
I always did what he told me, even though I didn’t understand why. I fingered the sheer silky fabric of the gossamer aqua gown I wore. Where I’d gotten it, I didn’t know. But the softness was heaven against my skin.
Within seconds, it lay on the floor. Because I’d do anything he asked.
Absolutely anything.
He walked toward me then, slowly, stalking me. My nipples hardened, straining forward. I found myself stepping toward him, as if being led by the throbbing in my breasts.
He grabbed one and squeezed it. I gasped without meaning to. It hadn’t hurt, but still I was surprised. Then he tugged on the nipple.
Hard.
Lightning bolted through me, landing between my thighs.
“You’re mine,” he growled. “Mine to do with as I please.” He grabbed my hair, yanking on my ponytail. It was uncomfortable…yet oh, so comfortable.
I wouldn’t stop him.
He could do anything to me.
Anything.
He pulled me toward him, not gently, and bit on my earlobe hard enough to draw blood. “Tell me you know you’re mine, Ruby. Tell me.”
“I…know I’m yours,” I whimpered, my whole body reaching for something… Something…
He took my lips with the force of an angry wolf. He devoured me, stole from me with that kiss.
And I willingly surrendered.
When we were both breathless, he ripped his mouth from mine and turned me around, forcing me facedown onto a bed covered in blue silk, my feet still on the floor.
He thrust inside me hard.
So very fucking hard.
So very fucking good.
Then, a slap to my ass. Another. And another.
The sharp pain morphed to heat and then to pleasure.
“Such a firm, red ass,” he said through a groan. “And it’s mine. It’s all fucking mine.”
I grabbed the bedcovers, each thrust of his pushing me farther into the mattress. Drowning. I was drowning in Ryan Steel.
He slapped me again. Again. Again.
So quickly I hardly knew what was happening, he turned me around and pushed back inside me. His handsome face glistened with sweat, his dark hair sticking to his forehead and cheeks.
“Mine,” he said again. “Mine to do with what I want.”
“Yours,” I repeated. “Yours to do with what you want.” I closed my eyes.
He pushed harder, harder…until—
I sucked in a breath. The sweet plunging of his cock…had turned to…
Sharpness. Stabbing. A knife.
Then the smell…coppery and metallic.
Blood.
Pain.
God, the pain! I shuddered as my body rebelled.
A dark voice. “Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine to hurt. Mine to punish.”
I opened my eyes.
A scream tore from my throat.
It was no longer Ryan forcing himself into me…
* * *
My eyes shot open. I jerked my head to one side and then the other. Where was I?
My father. Yes, he was driving. Juliet lay in the back seat. I rubbed my eyes. How had I fallen asleep? I’d been so determined not to.
The dream pervaded my mind. Ryan had been there…and then not there. Everything had changed. The feelings, the desire…had morphed into pain and fear. My skin prickled, and I rubbed my arms.
My father turned the car onto a desolate road. “We’re here.”
Dawn was breaking, and before us stood a concrete wall with a wrought iron gate in the middle. The thing had to be twenty feet high at least. I looked back at Juliet, who was still sleeping soundly. I hated to wake her, so I didn’t.
“I need to call and get the gate opened,” Theo said.
I yawned. “Who lives here?”
“Several people.”
“We are on the same island, aren’t we? How long were we driving?” I wished I’d stayed awake. I had no phone and no watch, so no way to know what time it was.
This time, Theo yawned. “We’re on an adjacent island. We took a small ferry. You slept through it all.”
The gate opened, and we drove in to what appeared to be a country estate. On an island in the Caribbean. I had to blink a few times to be sure I wasn’t seeing things. “What the hell?”
“You’ll see soon enough,” he said. “It’s just a few more miles from here.”
“Lower your voice. She’s still asleep.” I turned to see Juliet moving a little. “Never mind. You woke her up.”
I tumbled over into the back seat once more. Screw what my father wanted. I touched her arm gently. “How are you?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I think I slept.”
“You did.”
“That’s the best sleep I’ve had in a while.”
In the back of an SUV. I didn’t like it, but I felt a sliver of gratitude toward my father for letting her have this rest. I’d heard that babies found the movement of a car soothing. Apparently, so did abused women.
“Are you hungry?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I stopped being
hungry a while ago. Do you know where we’re going?”
“I don’t have a clue, but you’re safe with me, okay? I’m going to protect you.”
They were empty words, I knew. I hadn’t been able to protect her from being raped in front of my eyes. But I’d do my damndest to make sure that never happened again. I’d take the punishment for her if I had to.
Just the thought made me want to retch.
But I would. I owed her that much.
Melanie would say I didn’t owe Juliet anything, that it wasn’t my fault she was here. Melanie would be right, but that couldn’t negate the guilt that permeated my soul.
Melanie. Just thinking of one member of the Steel family brought Ryan crashing to the forefront of my mind.
Not that he was ever out of my mind.
According to my father, he was here. Near.
My father wasn’t known for his truthfulness, but for some reason, I didn’t think he was lying to me. I didn’t think he’d lied to me at all since he’d made contact with me recently. I had no reason for this—just a gut feeling. Something in him had changed. Whether it was good or bad, I didn’t know.
For a split second, I almost wished my father hadn’t brought Juliet along. I had to keep her safe, and she would take my focus off Ryan. I hated myself for even having the thought. Besides, Ryan and his brothers could take care of themselves, right?
I kept repeating that to myself. Over and over, until—
I inhaled a sharp breath.
We arrived at a sprawling ranch house.
My father stopped the car and looked into the back seat I was sharing with Juliet. “Look familiar?”
Chapter Seventeen
Ryan
“Get the fuck up,” a low voice said.
My heart pumped wildly. A man in black, including a mask, stood above me. Another was gripping Talon.
Talon easily dislodged the grip. “Get your filthy hands off me.” Rage glared in his dark eyes, the moonlight accentuating it. He looked like a wolf gone mad under the full moon.
“Easy, Tal,” I said.
I understood. He’d been grabbed once before, and it had led to the most horrible time in his life.
