“Punishment?” She whispered as he slapped the long flat, wooden stick against his hand. It made a high-pitched snap and she thought it sounded like a whip.
“What are you going to do with that?”
“Improvise. Unfortunately, I don’t have my usual tools with me. This will have to do.”
She shook her head.
“You’re sick. I’m not going to let you hit me with that thing.”
He went to swing at her and she ducked but then he grabbed a hold of her, turned her body around, and pressed her over the desk. Her ribs hit the hard surface making her scream.
She tried to fight his hands as they tore the sweater from her body and then he yanked the zipper of her dress down.
“You fucking bastard. You’re going to rape me? How could you do this?”
“Oh, I’m not going to rape you, Adelina. I’m going to show you that you’re mine. When I want you, it will be in my bed, and you will not fight me.”
He jerked the material away from her body, so that her back was fully exposed.
He trailed his fingers up and down her spine. She tried to push upward but then he pressed his knee between her thighs and shoved his heavy body against hers.
“Take this punishment, and understand what it means.” He gently stroked her skin, from her shoulders to where the top of her thong panties lay flat against her skin.
“Why are you doing this? I trusted you.”
“No, you didn’t. If you trusted me, then you’d be in my bed right now, and I would be lost inside of you.”
He leaned down and pressed his mouth against her skin.
“I won’t leave any scars, but it will hurt. It’s meant to hurt, Adelina. It will be a reminder to where your loyalties must lie. If you’re not with me, then you will lose those who are closest to you.”
He stood up straight, and she didn’t dare move.
“You’re mine now, Adelina.”
“Oh!” She screamed as the first strike hit her back. She started to move when the second strike hit her. She screamed again, and began to turn when two more strikes hit her hard against her back. Tears poured from her eyes. It burned and the pain radiated against her flesh.
“Please stop. I’ll do anything you want. Please stop hurting me.”
She closed her eyes and waited for another strike from the hard, flat stick.
But it never came. Instead Raymond leaned over her and licked her earlobe before he whispered against her cheek. He kissed her mouth, plunged his tongue between her teeth until she couldn’t breathe and was forced to release her lips.
“You are mine. I have a plan, and you will follow it. Understood?”
She was shaking when she nodded her head and wondered how the hell she was going to get out of this. Why did this man want revenge on Flynn and Jett? How was she going to keep Kaitlin and Bryer alive?
* * * *
“What did you say?” Jett asked Cash and Zane when they showed up to their penthouse with Al, their main security guy.
“I saw it with my own eyes. Adelina was there for more than an hour.”
“And this means what? Maybe a coincidence? Did she meet that guy she’s dating, Raymond, there?” Jett asked.
Al looked at Cash. “Tell them everything. They have a right to know if Adelina is working against them,” Zane stated, and both Flynn and Jett just stared at him.
“I’m sorry. We watched and when she came out, she was moving slowly and walking funny.”
“Walking funny how? Like she was sitting too long?”
“I know what he means, and there’s no way she’s working for this guy, whoever he is.”
“The place is owned by Margliado. Sergio was there. She apparently went in to see him,” Al told them.
“Motherfucker. How could this be? How can she be involved?” Flynn asked aloud.
“She’s been here for two years. Two fucking years. Who is this asshole, Margliado?” Jett asked.
“We’re trying to get a face. What are you two going to do about Adelina?” Zane asked.
“We’re going to confront her. We need to know the truth. And we both know how to get the truth out of criminals,” Flynn stated very seriously before he walked out of the room.
* * * *
“What are we going to do?” Kaitlin asked Adelina. She cried while she placed the bags of ice on Adelina’s back. The sight of the bruised red lines made her feel sick. She was responsible for this mess. If she had never gotten involved with Margliado. Scratch that. If she had never fallen for fucking Chester, her sister wouldn’t be lying here in pain on the bed.
“What choice do I have? We know how men like this operate. They’ll kill you and Bryer. I have no choice.”
“But you can’t help them. You care so much for Flynn and Jett.”
“I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about you and Bryer. You’re both my responsibility. Let me rest a while. I have work tomorrow and I don’t know what Raymond expects me to do. Just leave me be. Please,” Adelina whispered, and Kaitlin felt her sister’s defeat. She slowly walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.
As she watched Bryer play with his toy cars on the rug in the living room, she thought about the situation. Her sister, Adelina, wasn’t thinking with a clear head. Although Kaitlin had never met Flynn and Jett, she could tell by the way Adelina described them and talked about them, that they were tough, resourceful ex-federal agents who knew a lot of people. Adelina was going to sacrifice her body and her life, and give up everything she wanted for Bryer and Kaitlin.
There had to be another way. Together, they would figure it out. After all, this was her mess she created. Adelina was just being a big sister, and taking care of her as usual. But Adelina had friends she could count on. Women who were strong-willed just like Adelina, and had been successful by staying determined and fighting for what they had. She walked over to the couch and picked up Adelina’s purse. She glanced toward the bedroom door but knew Adelina wouldn’t be getting up any time soon. She glanced at her contacts, and then began a group message to Chastity, Toni, Tia Rose, and Chiara. Kaitlin had to help her.
She started the text. My sister needs your help. Please don’t tell your men. She doesn’t know I am texting you, but it is that bad. Can you meet me here at our apartment tomorrow morning? 11:00 a.m.
Kaitlin pressed send and then sat there staring at the phone. She felt as if she were going to be sick as she waited for their responses. She feared that they might not help. Maybe they would tell their men anyway. She wasn’t certain. As the seconds passed, which felt more like minutes, she started tapping her foot and then biting her nail. Maybe they’re not as good friends as Adelina thinks?
Suddenly the phone began to buzz indicating that the first reply came in, and then the next and the next. Chastity said yes. Then Toni replied immediately after asking if Adelina was hurt. Kaitlin immediately texted back, telling her no questions, please just be here tomorrow. Then Tia Rose and Chiara replied yes and Kaitlin sighed in relief. They would come here. They cared so much about Adelina. Kaitlin smiled. The tears filled her eyes. Her sister had a huge heart, and had been there for these women, now they could be here for her.
* * * *
Adelina was moving so slowly. She showered, dried her hair, and then looked at her back in the mirror. She felt the bruises and achiness. But when she looked into the mirror, as she stood sideways, she was shocked that the injuries didn’t look worse. Long, narrow streaks of red, surrounded by lightly black and blue marks crisscrossed over her entire back. But the skin wasn’t broken. She hadn’t bled at all, which is what it felt like as he struck her body. She cringed, just remembering Raymond’s words, his harsh treatment of her, and his threats. Her hands shook, and there was no control over her body’s reaction. She was scared. She was beyond scared.
She pulled the light T-shirt up and over her shoulders. She stretched her arms through the short sleeves, and even that caused pain.
Im
ages of her spread over the desk with Raymond in total control, her hands gripping the sides of the desk, made her feel sick. He could have raped me right there. Why hadn’t he? Does he really think that I’m going to stay with him? Is he Sergio’s boss? Sergio totally didn’t even question his presence. Is Raymond the infamous Margliado? Oh, God, I’m dead. My life is over. She swallowed the rise of bile in her throat and turned away. The tear rolled down her cheek, and she shoved it away with the back of her hand.
Stepping into a pair of relaxed-fit jeans, she took a deep breath and prepared to face Kaitlin. She wished she hadn’t been up last night when she got home. But it was early. Once Raymond completed his forceful act upon her body, he set her free to go home and plan her actions. She would need to start messing with the deliveries, and setting up things in the kitchen and around the club to help the health department close down the place.
She thought about Flynn and Jett. How was she going to hurt them like this? They meant so much to her, despite their refusal to see her as anything more than their club manager. She wouldn’t be the manager much longer. Raymond said he had plans for her that went beyond Jett and Flynn and The Phantom. He kept telling her that she was his, and that very soon they would share his bed, and that she would be part of a world few had the opportunity or the qualities to be part of. She didn’t know what he meant, but as long as Bryer and Kaitlin were safe and set for life, then she would have no choice. Nothing in life had ever truly scared her like this. But if conceding to Raymond’s threats and demands meant keeping Kaitlin and Bryer alive and safe, then God damn it, she would do it.
* * * *
Chiara leaned against the counter in the kitchen along with Toni. Chastity, Kaitlin, and Tia Rose sat at the table. The moment Adelina walked into the kitchen, her expression of shock made Kaitlin feel crushed with guilt. Adelina looked at Kaitlin and then the others.
“Kaitlin, what have you done?” she asked. Adelina gripped the wall. She appeared as if she might faint or something, and Chiara moved to help, but Adelina stopped her.
“No, please, I’m okay. I’ll be okay.”
“Listen, don’t be upset with your sister,” Chiara began to say. “She did the right thing in calling us. We’ve each been through some shit ourselves. We get it. We understand the need to be strong and to feel like facing it alone is the best option.” Adelina held up her hand as she shook her head.
“This is different. She shouldn’t have called you. By doing so, Kaitlin has placed you all in danger.”
“What? How so?” Kaitlin asked.
Adelina gave her a look of disappointment. Had she screwed up again? She thought this was the best way to get Adelina to ask for help. She couldn’t take this guy on alone.
“Yes, Kaitlin. The people involved in this have killed people for probably less. There is nothing they can do to help.”
“That’s not true. She did the right thing. She told us what happened,” Tia Rose whispered as she held her cup of coffee between her hands and stared at Adelina.
“How bad are the bruises?” Chastity asked, and then took Adelina’s hand into her own. Kaitlin knew that Chastity had been abused by her boyfriend before meeting Nash and Riker. Then her ex-boyfriend had attacked her and threatened to kill Nash and Riker.
“Oh, God, Chastity, this is different.”
“How so?” Toni asked, with her arms crossed in front of her chest. She, too, had experienced abuse by the hands of a man. She was tough, despite nearly getting killed by her boyfriend’s stalking ex-girlfriend.
“It just is.” Adelina whispered, then slowly walked toward the chair. She gripped the top of the seat.
“Not good enough. You think that you deserve to be placed in the middle of this shit? What did you do to deserve this? Tell me that? How do you know that this isn’t a person from Jett and Flynn’s past that wants revenge? Maybe someone from their days as agents.”
“It doesn’t matter. Jett and Flynn are my bosses, that’s all,” Adelina said, and then closed her eyes as she looked down.
“Bullshit, woman. You love them. They’ve just been too damn stupid to make a move,” Tia Rose added, and the others agreed.
“They will go crazy when they find out this Raymond guy hurt you,” Chiara said.
Adelina looked up and shook her head.
“They won’t find out. I’m not telling them, and neither are any of you. You can’t tell your boyfriends either.”
“How are you going to handle this Raymond guy and what he wants you to do?” Toni asked.
“I’m going to do what he says. I’m going to protect Bryer and Kaitlin just as I’ve always done, and then I’m leaving New York. He’ll never find me. He’ll never be able to put his hands on me again.”
Chastity cleared her throat as Kaitlin shook her head and felt the tears roll down her cheeks. Her sister was out of her mind. She was so worried about Kaitlin and Bryer that she was willing to sacrifice herself and then run. How did things get so bad, so quickly?
“You can’t run from these types of men. They have resources, abilities, and methods of taking complete control over you in every way. Raymond won’t stop until he finds you, until he gets his revenge on Jett and Flynn and succeeds with his agenda. Men who kill do not back down, Adelina. Men who have killed do not respect life, or anything or anyone. They want complete control.”
Adelina stared at Chastity as she felt the tears rolled down her cheeks.
“He already has control of me, Chastity. I was blindsided by his methods of seduction. I nearly slept with him. I was beginning to trust him, when he did what he did to me. It wasn’t the same man. I know what I need to do. I just need to buy some time, and secure Kaitlin and Bryer so that Raymond can’t kill them.”
“He threatened to kill them?” Toni asked. Adelina nodded her head.
“Adelina, Jett, Flynn, and our men can protect all three of you,” Chiara began to say, but Adelina shook her head.
“I won’t let them get hurt because of me. I’ll handle this, even if it means defying Raymond, accepting his punishments, and dying.”
Chapter 6
Adelina did not want to be at work. And why was it that wearing heels made her back feel worse with every step she took? She had to wear a very tight dress that reached her upper back, but was strapless because she couldn’t wear a bra. The material stretching across her back caused pain.
She leaned against the bar, knowing that she needed to begin her job of sabotaging the club. And no matter how she tried to sugar coat it, that was what she was doing. She was sabotaging The Phantom.
She popped the two painkillers into her mouth and then took a sip from the bottle of water. Murph scrunched his eyebrows at her, and he knew she was in pain. He had asked her what was up three times since she got there, and she lied to him.
She heard the voice in her earpiece and nearly jumped out of her skin. Flynn’s voice commanded her to come upstairs to the office. He said he had something to speak to her about.
She swallowed hard and then turned off the device. She knew that she had been careful to not look suspicious, but the guilt she felt could choke a cow.
She told Murph where she was headed, and he gave her a look. It was an expression of both concern and anger. Could he suspect that Raymond had hurt her? She shook the possibility from her mind and headed toward the elevator.
* * * *
Flynn was pacing the office, and Jett was leaning against the doorframe waiting for Adelina’s arrival.
“Stop pacing. We’ll get to the bottom of this. We have to make sure she realizes that we’re the good guys.”
Flynn stopped and stared at Jett. “We have to find out if she’s working against us to set us up? I’m seeing fucking red. The info from Al is pretty concrete. She went there to see Sergio. Sergio works for Margliado, the man trying to sabotage Uncle Vick and us. I’d say that our instincts had been right in not pursuing Adelina earlier. If we had slept with her, brought her into our hearts, then w
here would we be right now?”
Jett felt so sick just thinking that Adelina could do this to them. For crying out loud, I care so much for her. It hurts so deeply to think that she betrayed me. Why did I fall for her? Why did I let myself hope that she was the one for us? Why?
They heard the knock on the door and Jett walked over to open it.
He stared at her and then motioned for her to enter. Flynn thought she looked stunning, as usual. But she was walking funny. Murph called up and notified them.
“Adelina, please come in and sit down,” Jett stated as Flynn sat his thigh and ass halfway on the edge of the desk. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and stared at her.
“I’ll stand. What’s going on? It’s busy downstairs,” Adelina stated abruptly. She seemed nervous, and anxious to leave. Jett didn’t like the feeling he had.
“They can handle it. We have a full staff down there tonight. And a team of undercover security no one but he and Flynn knew about.
Jett knew how he wanted to play this little interrogation. They had to be smart, and not make complete accusations.
“There’s been a bit of a situation with our uncle’s place. It seems that the board of health clamped down on them hard. They closed him down.”
“I heard about that. The health department is quite strict.”
“They sure are. Are we covered here? You’re in charge of that,” Flynn stated with a tone that surely said he didn’t trust her. She went to speak and then nodded her head.
“I’ll do my best to make sure. Things happen though. The kitchen staff needs to do their part.”
“There’s more to our uncle’s place being targeted,” Jett interrupted.
“Targeted?” She looked at Jett. He stared down at her. Even in heels, she was petite in comparison to them.
“Yes, there are men who want to take over the businesses in that area, and take over The Phantom. We’re next on the list.”
Phantom's Destruction or Destiny [Power Surge: The Billionaire Club 5 ] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 8
