by Lucy Wild
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bullshit. You don’t get to my age without learning a bit about people. If he’s gone rogue, it’s because of you. What did you do, let him take you up the arse?”
“Fuck you.”
“No, thanks. It’s not me you’re marrying.”
“I won’t marry Kingsley!”
“You will or Jake goes bye-bye.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
I thought frantically. Was he bluffing? It didn’t look like he was bluffing. I could attack him and run for it but could I get past his guards? How far would I get before they caught me?
“You promise you won’t hurt Jake?”
“I am an honourable man, Isabel. I will not lay a finger on him if you marry my son.”
“Why me? Why does it have to be me? Why not pick someone else?”
“Because your father offered.”
“What? He said you forced him.”
“Oh, did he? Sorry to disappoint you, Isabel, but that’s not quite true.”
“He…he offered me?”
“He did.”
“But why? Why would he do that?”
“Because he owed me a lot of money.”
“I can’t believe this.”
“I need an answer, Isabel. Are you willing to marry my son or do I have to kill your new best friend?”
“You swear you’ll leave him alone if I agree?”
“I swear.”
So that was how I ended up in the most surreal experience of my life, sat in a gangster’s house, having my hair brushed by his sour faced stylist, a wedding dress hanging up ready for me to step into. It had been only a few hours since I was on Ben’s doorstep and there I was, about to get married to a man I had no interest in, my life over.
As the brush was dragged through my hair, I thought about my father. Was it really possible that he’d offered me up to Tony in lieu of debts? Which of them was more likely to be a liar? A gangster? Or my father? Whatever the answer, I was trapped. If I wanted to keep Jake safe, I had to go through with it.
Tony had explained things very clearly. As long as I didn’t make a fuss, went to the church, said what I had to say, then came back to the mansion afterwards, all would be well. If I ran, if I refused, if I tried to escape at any point, Jake was a dead man.
I still thought Jake might rescue me, even as I stepped into the dress and walked down the drive to the waiting car, I thought there was still a chance he would leap in and save the day. But this was real life, not a fairytale, and he didn’t come. He was probably hiding somewhere, trying to keep out of Tony’s reach. I hoped he was safe, I hoped Tony was telling the truth, that he would leave him alone like he’d promised.
I climbed into the car, my wrists still sore from where they’d been bound. Could I call the police? Could I scream for help? I could do both of those things but then what would happen to Jake if I did? So many questions bounced around my head as I sat there waiting for the car to set off.
“You look beautiful,” Tony said, climbing into the car next to me. “Don’t look so sad. Life will be good. You will want for nothing. I’ll make sure of it.”
Jake wasn’t coming. My shoulders slumped as the engine started and we set off. I was being driven to my doom. There was no other way of seeing it. I was about to marry a man I hadn’t even met, a man who I knew was violent. I was doing it just so that Jake would be safe. What did that mean? Did it mean I loved him?
I thought about his face, I thought about the impact he’d had on me, that he’d turned me from being sure I wanted to return to my past to wanting to look to the future instead, a future that would be brighter with him in it. It was hard to admit to myself but Ben was the past, the past that was gone for a reason. Jake had opened my eyes to that, without doing anything specific, he’d made me see that love wasn’t faded memories of childhood, it was letting someone in who wanted to come in.
I did love him, I realised as we drove slowly out onto the street. I loved him, that was why I was doing this. For love. For him. I was ruining my life to save his.
THIRTY
JAKE
The drive seemed to take forever. I didn’t go straight to Tony’s mansion. I needed something first. I stopped at my flat to retrieve my case. Sitting in the car at the corner of the street, I looked down, my eyes scanning for anything suspicious.
Tony had two men watching the front, they stood out blatantly, leaning against a white van and looking straight at the flat. Subtlety was lost on some of his employees. I could probably have taken them but it would cost me too much time. Plus, they might get chance to warn him I was coming.
Moving round to the alleyway behind the block of flats, I was glad that no one was watching the back. His mistake. I was up the fire escape and at my floor in under a minute.
I was in my flat seconds later. Crossing to the bedroom, I knelt beside the bed and pulled up the loose floorboards. Once two were up, I was able to reach inside and bring out a black case. I carried it out under my arm.
Once back on the street, I climbed back into the car and then sped off towards Tony’s house. I pulled up at the corner of the street that led to his. It was a tree lined avenue with five houses on one side and only his on the other, set in its own ground behind a high stone wall. I leant into the back seat and grabbed the case, putting it on my lap before turning the combination lock and then opening it.
Inside was a dart gun, the perfect silent weapon for what I had planned. With that jammed in my pocket, I stepped out of the car and moved towards the street on foot. I knew the blindspots well enough to get past the external cameras on his wall without being seen, moving up the pavement under the protection of the leafy trees, timing my movements with the turn of the cameras.
I reached the corner of his wall seconds later, glancing around me to make sure no one was watching. Once I was sure, I took a run up then jumped, catching the top of the stonework, lifting myself up onto it.
I was only on top for a brief second before dropping down the other side, landing behind the rose bushes in the dead space that had a thin gap leading through the bushes out onto the lawn. Above me to the right was another camera, this one pointing onto the lawn.
Reaching up, I snapped the camera off its mooring, twisting it so it pointed up at the sky. By the time they sent someone out to work out what had happened, I’d be in. I moved to the edge of the lawn and took a quick glance to make sure the coast was clear. I could hear a quiet conversation over by the house.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped out, not running, just walking. Without the camera looking my way, someone would have to be right on top of me to realise I wasn’t just another guard on patrol. I crossed to the house, forcing myself to still walk slowly.
Once I got to the wall of the house, I peered round the corner, seeing two guards in conversation. I pulled out the gun and aimed. With a squeeze of the trigger, the first man went down, the tip of the dart visible in his neck. The second barely had time to make the first squawk of alarm before I took him out, his body falling on top of the first. They wouldn’t wake for at least ten minutes and by then I should be long gone with Isabel.
I got past their sprawled forms and was just about to pull open the kitchen window when I heard an engine starting. Running on, I avoided the next camera by hugging the wall for the few seconds it took to get past it, then I was able to see out onto the driveway.
A convoy of cars was heading out onto the street and I cursed as I saw Isabel’s face peering out from the rearmost car. There were white ribbons across the bonnet, Tony was clearly wasting no time in getting the wedding over with. Then she’d be locked in the basement while he went to work on her until she was willing to be Kingsley’s submissive little wife. It was sickening to think of it.
I shook my head. No time for emotions. Deal with them later. For now, focus on getting her away from him. Everything else can wait.
; The garage was still open and his second favourite red sports car was just sitting there, as if it was ready for me. The key was hanging on the hook by the door same as always and it was the work of seconds for me to join the back of the convoy, hoping Tony was too stupid to look behind him out the rear window. If he did, he’d see my blank face staring back at him.
They drove for twenty minutes and all the time, I could see Isabel, still staring out of the side window. I wanted to race in front of his car, force it to a stop and grab her. I kept driving though, knowing there was no way I could handle that many people at once, I’d be dead before I even got to her. Then she’d have no one to protect her from Kingsley.
When the cars pulled up outside a church, I drove on past, pulling up around the next corner before climbing out, looking for a back entrance. I found it a few seconds later, a wooden door in the side of the church that clearly entered a sideroom of some kind. I prayed that it wouldn’t be locked. Not sure exactly what my plan was, I tried the handle and it swung open, allowing me into the church.
THIRTY-ONE
ISABEL
I climbed out of the car and looked up at the church, the spire blocking out the sunlight. The doors were open but I didn’t feel welcomed by the place, I felt as if I was walking along the path to my own demise, a feeling that grew stronger when I saw the gravestones lining the path.
I tried to turn away at the last second but Tony gripped my arm, still smiling but with a vice-like hold of me as we walked inside. People lined the pews, all of them looking perfectly respectable. Did they know I was here against my will? Did they care?
I walked slowly forwards, dragging my feet as a man at the front by the altar turned to look at me. That was Kingsley then, the man I was supposed to marry. He looked more miserable than me.
Behind him was the vicar, looking more like a monk than anything else. He had a cowl covering his head, a long robe that brushed the floor. In his hands was a small black book which he opened as I approached.
“Before we begin,” he said, still looking downwards. Was he feeling guilty about doing this? Was that why he wouldn’t even look at me? “I must speak to the bride and groom to be in my chambers.”
He turned and shuffled off, Kingsley following him. “I’ll be right here,” Tony said, letting go of my arm at last. “Don’t try anything stupid.”
I didn’t reply. There was no need. He knew I wasn’t going to do anything. I walked through the door into the vicar’s private room. “Close the door,” the vicar said, moving behind a low wooden table.
I did as he asked and turned round to see him pulling open an intricately carved wardrobe. Reaching inside, he then spun round and lifted what looked like a gun. “No, wait,” Kingsley began but he got no further. The vicar pulled the trigger and Kingsley collapsed to the ground a second later.
“What the…?” I managed to say as he pulled down his hood to reveal his face. “Jake? What the hell? What are you doing here?”
“I came to get my little girl,” he said. “Come on, we better go.”
He grabbed my hand and pushed open the door to the churchyard. As we ran out, I glanced to my left, seeing the slumped body of Kingsley next to that of the vicar who’d been hidden behind the table. “Don’t worry,” he said, noticing my look. “They’ll be right as rain in ten minutes and by then we’ll be long gone.”
He stopped by a red sports car at the edge of the churchyard. We both climbed in and he revved the engine, setting off a second later.
“Shit,” he said, glancing in the rear view mirror. “I guess he noticed.”
“What?” I looked behind me in time to see a car accelerating towards us. “What do we do now?”
“Go faster,” he replied, putting his foot to the floor.
If it was an action movie, we’d probably have raced out of the city, headed into the sunset and lived happily ever after. But instead we ended up weaving our way through traffic with Tony’s car following close behind, getting closer all the time.
“Hold on,” Jake said, yanking the steering wheel to the side just before Redfern Bridge. We turned onto the bridge just as a car appeared at the far end, heading towards us. “That’s not good,” I said, pointing at it.
“No,” Jake said, bringing the car to a halt. “It’s not.”
The two chasing cars drew closer before coming to a halt. The bridge ran over a deep valley, a river far below. There was no chance of escaping on foot. The road was quiet enough that the only vehicles on it were ours and Tony’s.
The car in front of us stopped about fifty yards away, the one behind did the same. Tony got out as I turned to look at his car. He walked slowly towards us, two men getting out of the rear seats. They stood together and just watched their boss.
“All right,” Jake said, as Tony came to a halt a couple of feet away. “You win.”
“I always win,” Tony replied. “Come with me, Isabel.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head and stepping slowly backwards until I was pressed against the railings. “I won’t marry him.”
“The hell you won’t,” Tony snapped, lunging for me, his arms outstretched.
I screamed as Jake shoved me in my side, knocking me to the floor. Tony grabbed hold of empty space, his momentum keeping him moving forwards, his body tipping over the railing.
He screamed, grabbing hold of the bottom of the railing, dangling down off the edge, his feet kicking at nothing. “Help me,” he said, looking up at me with eyes wild.
I ran to grab him, catching his flailing hand and gripping it tightly. “Hold on,” I said, trying to pull him upwards. His men were running over but they were too far away to help. His hand slipped through mine as Jake reached past me, stretching towards him with longer arms than mine.
“No,” Tony muttered, “please, no.”
I tightened my grip but his weight was too much. His fingers slid free of my hand then he was falling, his men reaching us a second too late. We all watched him go, his body hitting the river far below and vanishing from sight.
“Fuck,” one of his men said, turning to look at me. “The boss is dead.”
“Good riddance,” a voice said behind me and I turned to find myself looking at a very pale Kingsley. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. “He never liked me smoking.”
The goons looked to him and then moved to grab me. “He waved them away. “I’m in charge now.”
I stood in silence as the goons walked slowly away, leaving us alone with Kingsley. He leant over the side, flicking cigarette ash downwards. “I never wanted to marry you,” he said quietly. “That was his choice, not mine.”
I stayed silent, Jake standing close beside me, wary in case it was a trap.
“Don’t worry,” Kingsley said, standing up straight again and turning to face us. “It’s over.”
“Just like that?” Jake asked.
“Just like that.”
An hour later, I was sat next to Jake at my father’s house, a glass of whiskey in my hand and my father sat opposite, apologising for the tenth time. Finally, he lapsed into silence before sighing and refilling his glass. He turned to Jake. “So you’ll want paying, I suppose?”
“What for?” he asked.
“For bringing my daughter back.”
“I don’t need your money.”
“Why are you looking at her like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re in love with her.”
“Because I am.”
“What?” me and my father said at the same time.
“I said I’m in love with your daughter.”
“And are you in love with him?” he asked, turning to me.
“I am,” I replied, a smile spreading across her lips.
“Then I think another round of drinks is in order.”
We spent the rest of the day finishing the bottle before Jonathan excused himself, heading off to bed and leaving the two of us alone.
I burrowed herself unde
r his arm, smiling up at him. “So you’re in love with me then?”
“And you’re in love with me apparently.”
“I am. You’re annoying, infuriating even. And you tease me too much but I am.”
“I’m glad,” I said, kissing his cheek.
“Me too.”
“What do we do now?”
“How about we go to bed?” I asked, running my hand down his chest.
“What would your father think?”
“I don’t care what he thinks.”
“You don’t?”
“No, I care what my Daddy thinks.”
EPILOGUE
“Bend over, Izzy,” he said, his voice cold.
I did as he commanded, feeling exposed as he paced back and forth behind me.
“You’ve made your Daddy very cross,” he continued. “Haven’t you?”
“I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“You know I don’t like you wearing clothes in bed.”
“It was only a thong, Daddy.”
“Are you answering back?”
“No, Daddy.”
We’d only been together a few days but already I felt like we’d been doing this for a lifetime, me his little girl, him my Daddy. I’d only mentioned spanking that morning and already he was fulfilling my wishes as he’d fulfilled so many others.
Would this be the time he’d do it? So many times, we’d been so close but again and again he only teased me, telling me he was in charge of deciding when we would fuck.
As his hand slapped down on my rear, I gasped, the stinging sensation bringing my nerves to life. The intensity of it made the stroke of his hand all the harder to handle. He smacked me again a second later and I felt myself growing wet, ready for him.
He’d brought me to the brink of orgasm again and again in the last few days, keeping me on the brink as a special kind of torture, one that I both wanted to last forever and begged him to end.
“You need to be good for Daddy,” he said, spanking me again. “Don’t you?”
