“Carrie, you are my grandchild. Believe me when I say none would dare harm you. The safe room is a precaution for you mainly involving other overzealous...people, who would be coming for me or your father or one of the other men here who have angered them. Perhaps it would help you to know it’s only been needed once in the last twenty-five years,” James said kindly, while placing a hand on her shaking shoulder.
He took in her pale expression and frightened features. She looked so remarkably like his beloved deceased wife, a wife who would have been thrilled
to hold her, love her. He couldn’t resist running a gentle thumb over a silken pale cheek.
He then looked sternly at Dirk. “Now would be a
good time to show Carrie to her new room. It would be best for her to be sequestered safely away while we make plans. This is still very new to her and I don’t want her frightened by too much information.”
“Come on, baby. It’s not like Seth’s massive rooms, but I doubt you’ll be disappointed,” Dirk said, while gently propelling her from the room. She offered a small smile to her grandfather and Damien
as she left.
* * * *
Carrie was more than eager to comply. She grasped her father’s arm as they left the room. The world seemed to be coming at her too fast all of a sudden. So many powerful men who controlled the lives of others. The dangers in her midst. This would definitely take some time getting used to.
Chapter Nineteen
“She’s in there?” Tyr asked with an air of excitement in his voice Wolf could easily detect.
Both he and Tyr sat in the black Mercedes with deeply tinted windows, staring through binoculars at a massive, three-story white house situated back in the knoll. A stunning lawn of hunter green grass flowed over the many small, rolling hills. Not a tree nor a bush or shrub could be seen, although many patches of brightly colored perennials were in abundance. Wolf couldn’t help but be impressed by the layout. There was not one place a sniper could hide to escape detection. Everything was far too open, too far from the mercy of a high powered rifle.
“Yes,” Wolf said.
“How do we get in?” Tyr asked with some concern.
“We go through the front door,” Wolf said, his lips
set in a grim line.
“Wolf, I don’t want Carrie hurt,” Tyr said.
“Don’t worry, little brother, I promise you she will be well guarded. The house would be harder to breach than Seth’s compound; I imagine the security since her arrival has tripled,” Wolf replied.
Wolf had a sinking feeling in his belly. He knew the powerhouse who lived here, knew him well. He had been an icon for years. Suddenly this entire situation was beginning to make some sense to him. Tyr had gone over in great detail what Carrie looked like, the thick blond hair, the beautiful blue eyes.
Wolf ran a quick hand across his face, pondering.
There would be only one reason the ‘Iron Hand’, James D. Flare, would offer his protection to the girl; it was a powerful indicator. In some way she must be related.
The thought almost floored Wolf. If he were to enter into this domain he would need to keep his little brother close. This was not a family to have
‘bow ties’ as Wolf called them, something easily
pulled apart; no, nothing could loosen their hold on relatives, nothing would slip, the family was more of a
‘bowline’ one would use as a lifeline. The only way the girl would be leaving with them is because she wanted to, and perhaps not even then, depending on the tie.
“The front door?” Tyr said skeptically. “Friends of
yours?”
“Business associates,” Wolf replied.
Wolf backed the car up, turned, and then slowly made his way to the massive iron gates barring the entrance to the property. He stopped and buzzed at a metal box.
Wolf was not surprised when James himself
answered. “I’ve been expecting you, Wolf.”
The gates moved slowly open, beckoning in an ominous gesture. Casting a quick reassuring grin to his brother, Wolf drove up to the house.
* * * *
Dirk paced, knowing each of the armed ten men in the room watched him apprehensively, wondering if the situation was about to lead to war. Regardless, Dirk knew they had his back. When he realized the man who had purchased his child was about to enter his domicile his immediate reaction was to check his gun. At his father's raised eyes he carefully re- holstered it, but kept it in view and easily accessible. All were aware of the man Tyr’s uncanny marksmanship with any weapon.
“I don’t want Carrie down here,” Dirk snapped.
“I already have a man on it,” his father stated calmly.
Dirk heard voices in the hall. His muscles bunched. Wolf entered the room, followed by an equally large man. Dirk’s rage engulfed him. The man, Tyr, was as large as himself, perhaps bigger. This was the man who had stolen his little baby girl’s innocence and used her as his sex slave. Without hesitation Dirk lunged.
His large fist connected soundly with Tyr’s jaw.
Tyr stumbled back into Wolf but, ever on the defensive, he immediately launched his own attack. The two exchanged heated, brutal blows before Wolf
and Damien were able to separate them. “Enough!” James yelled.
“He raped my baby girl!” Dirk howled, struggling
to free himself from his brother’s grasp.
“Carrie wanted me!” Tyr shouted back, equally struggling against his own brother.
“Like she wanted to be stolen and bought! She
gave herself to you in desperation, you vile piece of filth. She was only hoping for some kind of protection against all the numerous others, wanting, praying, for a small measure of kindness. Damn you to hell for stealing my child!” Dirk raged, still struggling within Damien’s grasp.
Dirk’s point was not lost on all. It was indeed possible. The more Carrie cooperated the less she would be harmed. One man as opposed to many would have been more preferable.
“Perhaps we should all sit,” James said lightly, but all heard the command.
Dirk was propelled towards the couch by his
brother, still snapping and snarling. His face remained set in furious glare, his jaw clenched tight, his hand
rested upon his weapon.
* * * *
Tyr rubbed his aching jaw. And they call his father the Iron Hand! he thought. He noted with some satisfaction the discoloration already blooming on Dirk’s face.
“I never knew Carrie was your daughter,” Tyr
grumbled.
“So you just go around stealing young girls' innocence for sport! Dragging them off to a convenient location while you bend them to your will, knowing they will be forced to obey! Teaching them to submit and accept and depend on you!” Dirk snapped.
“Carrie was in danger! You know Roll could have made her disappear for good, you must know of the man’s connections. I had to get her out of the cabin and I couldn’t have killed him, we would have been stuck at his hideout forever. Cell phones don’t work there, the human population is nil for hundreds of miles, and I’ve never disclosed the location to anyone.
“I could have hijacked him, but thought both he and his comrades and associates would have hunted us eternally. I had no idea she has such a powerful family to back her! Even she was unaware! I honestly felt there was nowhere else I could have taken her where Roll wouldn’t have gotten suspicious, and there was nowhere safer than Seth’s. He is the gentlest of all the dealers I know, and my friend.
“If I had asked Roll to fly us to another
destination point he would have known I was up to something, intending something different. Once we landed he would have had reinforcements waiting. And damn you, I have never once owned a woman!” Tyr concluded defensively.
“Just what were you intending with my granddaughter?” James inquired coldly.
“Seth and I are old friends. He would have kept
Carrie safe for me until I changed her identity. I would have gotten her away from them. I contacted a trusted friend to fly me into and out of Seth’s. After staying a few more short days I was going to spend the time declaring to all how enamored I was of her, how cherished she was to me. I know a reliable woman who is adept at preparing exotic sleeping potions and I acquired one, once given to Carrie, it would have appeared to all she had died—pulse rate is nonexistent, and heartbeat appears stopped, even the body temp drops and the limbs go rigid as if in rigor.
“In my overwhelming grief I would have snatched
her up to take her away, playing the bereaved lost soul, and none would have been the wiser. I would have told Seth I was taking her to be buried at a place near my home where I could put flowers on her grave. Damn it! I had a secluded place picked out, money put aside for her. I could have claimed to all she died and Seth would have backed me, she would have been safe from Roll and others like him, you know how they stick together,” he said, his frustration mounting.
“You would have turned her into a kept woman. You would have kept her in a different kind of slavery,” Dirk spit out, obviously ready to lunge once more.
“I would have loved her!” Tyr raged with
conviction, jumping to his feet. “I’m in love with her! I want to marry her. Why the hell do you think I would go to all of this trouble? Walk willingly into a viper's den, not even knowing who you are, unless I was concerned for her, feared for her, her well being. She is not just mine; she is in my heart too!”
“You love me?” came a small voice from the door.
They all turned to see Carrie standing in the doorway, shaking. A large man who had turned crimson with embarrassment stood not far from her. He was supposed to be watching her. He had thought her to be asleep, but upon returning from the washroom he had raced from the room when he noticed she was no longer in her bed.
Carrie moved forward. “You would have kept your
promise?” she asked Tyr, her eyes fixed on him.
Tyr moved to take her into his arms with relief. He felt overwhelmed; finally they were reunited. “I missed you, little one,” he said, gathering her close. His hand clutched her hair possessively. He breathed in her sweet, familiar scent. His heart had ached without her. His cheek pressed to hers.
Dirk stood watching, a scowl upon his lips. “Carrie!” he called out gruffly.
Carrie looked over at her enraged father and reached out her hand to him without releasing Tyr. The gesture was not lost on Tyr. He knew Carrie wanted him to accept her father. He was unsure he would be able to. He had agonized every second while
looking for Carrie, wondering if she were dead; the man before him had put him through hell and back. Hearing where she had been taken had intensified his emotions. Dirk looked like he wanted to kill him.
“Carrie,” Dirk said again, his voice an agony of
indecisiveness.
“Please, Daddy,” Carrie whimpered. “Don’t make me choose, it will kill me, I can’t, please?”
Seeing the sudden agony on Carrie’s face had Dirk
in action. He clasped her hand firmly and pulled her to his side. Tyr did not release her. He was more familiar with her. Dirk may have always known of her existence, but Carrie had only known of him for two short weeks. For a fleeting moment Tyr felt triumphant. He would never let her go.
“I will try, baby. For you I will try. But please understand my reasoning. You were stolen from me,” Dirk said, his look imploring her to understand his anger and reluctance.
“You stole her from me!” Tyr now raged. He
pulled her back within his grasp
“Because of you for weeks I agonized over the loss of my child, wondering if she were dead, wondering if someone was abusing her!” Dirk snapped, his voice cracked from the pain he suffered. Tyr cringed as the man had just spit his own emotions into his face. Dirk’s murderous eyes settled upon him. Tyr could sense the man’s frustration and from his look, he could tell if Carrie had not been shaking so hard he
would have shot him on the spot.
“It would seem we have a great deal to discuss,” James interjected before blood was drawn. “Carrie, I think it’s time you and Tyr went for a walk in the gardens while I speak with your father and Wolf.”
“No.” Wolf’s harsh voice surprised Tyr and everyone else. “Tyr is my brother. Love may be blinding him, but I’m the one who brought him here. He is my responsibility.”
Tyr watched James, who seemed to be sizing Wolf up, but instead of being angry he chuckled. “You have my word no harm will come to your brother. While he is here he is under my protection.”
“No disrespect intended, James, but while we are here Tyr is under my protection,” Wolf countered. He leveled an impassive look upon the man, and the threat was unmistakable.
Smiling, eyes narrowed, James grandly waved a hand. “By all means.”
Tyr shook his head at the altercation. Carrie was
in his arms, and nothing else mattered.
* * * *
Carrie was uncertain about the exchange. Her father looked furious. Even Damien, unshakable Damien, looked uncomfortable and a bit angry. Carrie felt certain a threat had been made, but who had threatened whom?
“Carrie, go speak with Tyr. Have no fear, your
granddad will keep an eye out for you,” James said
lightly, though his challenging, smug look rested on
Wolf.
Carrie could see Wolf’s face redden in anger. She did not understand the two men had insulted each other by blatantly disregarding their words of honor. She had no idea her grandfather had insinuated Wolf might harm her. Neither had she known Wolf had felt his brother was in danger.
“Daddy?” she finally said with uncertainty.
Her father stroked his thumb down her silken cheek. “It’s all right, baby. Both Wolf and I have things in the garden to discuss as well. We’ll walk you both out but will keep our distance, to offer you privacy. After all, I’m certain Wolf has been informed of how bad your asthma kicks up when you’re frightened and how very upset it makes me.”
But the statement only added to Carrie’s
confusion. “But, Daddy, I’m not frightened to be alone with Tyr.”
“Of course you’re not, baby,” Dirk said, smiling.
Carrie didn’t know Dirk’s statement had been intended for Wolf. Her father was making it very clear to the angry man no one within his father's compound would dare harm Tyr and risk Carrie’s distress. If they did they would face Dirk’s wrath as well as Wolf’s. He was only stressing to Wolf he cared not for foolish, bruised honor, nor anyone’s, while he protected his only child.
Carrie knew something had passed between the
men when Wolf nodded. Shrugging off her confusion, Carrie grasped Tyr’s hand and led him to the gardens. Their separation had been far too long.
Wolf and Dirk walked closely behind, guarding their own interests.
Chapter Twenty
Tyr settled Carrie on a beautiful oak bench. The trickling of a fountain could be heard close by. Tyr ignored it. He had eyes only for Carrie.
“I’m so sorry about Seth, I’m sorry about a lot of things, Carrie,” Tyr began.
“Why didn’t you tell me what you planned?” Carrie asked.
“I couldn’t. Seth can sense deception. One small slip up and I would have been sent packing, unpleasantly, and ordered never to return. They would have held your life over my head. They might even have moved you to one of many of Seth’s different holdings. This is a way of life for Seth; he will not allow it to be threatened.
“He grew up knowing nothing else, he grew up not
seeing his mother was owned by his father but was wanted, protected, pampered and loved beyond belief. He honestly feels he is saving women and giving them a better life than what they would have initially had. It was his destiny, as was my own profession.”
Carrie shuddered. �
��You told me before you have
only killed the evil. Why does Seth steal the
innocent?”
“I have only ever known Seth to take women who had no one. Yes, a few have fallen in his lap who mourned the loss of their families, but when dealing with them he exercises a great deal of patience. Carrie, there is far worse out there,” Tyr said.
“I was so frightened without you,” Carrie said
accusingly.
“I’m so sorry. I had to leave you to find a safe place for you. I did, Carrie, in Brazil. It’s in the most beautiful village, and I honestly felt you would have loved it. I returned as quickly as I was able, but your father had already taken you.”
“Daddy said I was only in love with you because you protected me,” Carrie said.
Tyr grasped her chin softly. “Is that what you think?” he asked. It was a possibility he had struggled with himself.
“When you left there was an uprising with Sergio and his men. I had to hide in a closet for hours with Maggie’s daughter until Seth found me. I had disobeyed a direct order from Ace and was given to him. He took care of me while you were gone. He never...he never, Tyr, I swear, he didn’t take me completely, but he came close many times. I learned to trust him; I knew he would not harm me. He told me if you never came back I would be his and he would allow no one to harm me. He said he would give me children, he wanted me to have his children,”
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