When he came around the corner and entered the room, he saw a large, dark cherry desk with intricately detailed carved birds on the legs. There was a large black leather wingback chair that faced away from them. Alex wanted to go over, spin it around, and knock the son of a bitch out.
“Boss, Henderson is here,” the tall guard announced.
The chair slowly spun around. Alex almost dropped on the floor in disbelief. There is no way. No fucking way.
Alex had pictured the scum on so many different occasions, as big, tough, and ugly as hell. Everything that matched how he ruled this country. A cold-hearted, ruthless bastard. His mind was having a difficult time comprehending what he saw before him. Impossible.
He’d never imagined the boss was some high-class snooty woman, who appeared to be even tinier than Ziva and not much older. There has to be some mistake. There is no way she is the one running this country. Who would fear her?
Alex remembered his father hadn’t looked particularly intimidating either. If you were to judge a book by its cover, James Henderson appeared to be wholesome. A father you’d see cheering on his son at a little league game. But his father never supported anything that any of his children had participated in. If anything, he’d tried to break what little self-confidence they had. He was a master manipulator and one of the cruelest men he’d ever had the displeasure of knowing.
But this? This woman? He was floored.
He could get past the boss wasn’t what he expected, but he struggled to believe a woman would allow and dictate the selling and abuse of other females. He’d envisioned as a child that his life would’ve been so different had there been a woman in the house. Looking at the one sitting in front of him, he was no longer sure of that.
The look in her eyes contradicted her natural beauty. She was undoubtedly the one in control. You’d have been the perfect match for my father. “You’re the boss?” Alex asked.
She removed her glasses and looked Alex over from head to toe. “You’re not what I expected either.” Her voice was a mixture of venomous and sultry.
I don’t know why you brought me here, but it sure as hell isn’t that. She was eyeing him as though he was dessert. I’d take a bullet before I’d touch you, you sadistic bitch.
Alex wasn’t about to play whatever game she had in mind. He was here for one reason, and one reason only, and that was to take Ziva back with him. Once he’d seen her tied up, he knew it wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d hoped. Now meeting the boss, it had gotten worse. For the first time, he was glad Bennett ignored his instructions and contacted Brice. If either he or Ziva had any hope of making it out alive, it was going to require some major help from the outside. He already knew there wasn’t anyone in Tabiq who could be trusted. The only one I trust is in the same boat as I am.
“You know why I’m here,” Alex said in a tone that said he wasn’t amused at all.
“I do.”
“Then let’s cut the bullshit. Tell me what the price is.” Alex knew it was all about money. Or so he thought.
“You insult my intelligence, Mr. Henderson. You come to my country and try to make a mockery out of me. If I let either of you go, the people will think I’m weak. My authority will no longer hold any power. No amount of money you offer is worth that.”
He had to admit, she was feared throughout the country. He doubted many knew the boss was a woman.
“Then why am I here?” Alex wasn’t sure he wanted to hear the answer, but it would determine his next move.
“Our families have a long history of working together. You come here so arrogantly, thinking you can change what was started by our fathers.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I’m saying that Tabiq was a third-world country until your father came here. He was searching for a location to build a plant to support the growing plastic industry. He was told there was oil here, which he’d hoped would reduce the cost of production. When he discovered he was misled, and we had no oil to offer, he found another natural resource that was even more lucrative.”
“Are you suggesting that my father encouraged Tabiq to partake in human trafficking?” Alex yelled from across the room.
She smiled at him. “Encouraged? I believe the word you’re looking for is partnered.”
Alex wanted to hurl. That was something he couldn’t accept. This woman was telling him everything he’d ever known about his father, and their past, was a lie.
“My father was many things, including a shrewd businessman. There was no need to involve himself in such a disgusting enterprise.”
“You believe because your father was so wealthy, he wasn’t driven by wanting more? If that’s what you believe, you know nothing about him. All he thought about was money and how to make more. I was told when my father presented his idea to James, your father leaped at the chance to invest with the others.”
Others? Alex was gaining a lot of information. Unfortunately, he was sure she was only sharing it with him because she planned to kill him.
“You seem to know a lot about my family, yet I don’t even know your name.”
“Rajani.”
Alex had hoped to recognize the name. Tie it somehow to anyone his father had dealt with. He wished he’d chosen to work at Poly-Shyn so he’d be up to date with their counterparts. Then again, if they were anything like Rajani and her family, I’m glad I stayed out. “It’s not a name I’m familiar with.”
“It was my father’s name. It means dark.”
Appropriate. So was bitch. “Who are these others you mentioned?”
“Businessman like your father. Investors.”
“And what exactly did these investors do?” Besides sleep with young women.
“They put Tabiq on the map. Money draws more money. They let their friends know about the special accommodations we were able to provide.”
“By accommodations you mean innocent young women.”
“Oh, you naïve fool. We provide more than that.”
Alex arched a brow. He wasn’t sure what more there could be. “And what is that exactly?”
“None of your concern. I didn’t bring you here to keep you up to date on my business. You’re here so you understand I will not tolerate your interference in any way.”
“And how do you believe you can stop me?”
“My dear Alexander, you really don’t know who you’re dealing with, do you? My father, like yours, is no longer alive. I run everything now and have for several years. Your father came here shortly before he passed. He never believed any of you would come here in search of your mothers, but he had a plan in place should that happen. And here you are,” she said snidely as she looked him over from head to toe. “I can’t decide if you are incredibly stupid or if he was right to be so arrogant in his forward planning.”
Our father didn’t care if we were killed in a quest for truth? Was the man pure evil? It wasn’t a real question. Pure didn’t come close to James’s level of evil.
Alex wasn’t sure who he hated more at this moment: his father or Rajani. It was something he could dispute forever and still not decide. He had more important things on his agenda. “Do you know who my mother is?”
Rajani smiled. “I take it you don’t.”
She hadn’t answered his question. He only believed half of what she told him. As Rajani appeared to be a few years younger than he was, she wouldn’t have been born when his father first came to Tabiq and . . . taken his mother. Although James didn’t want them to find their mothers, he also hadn’t been one who went to another for help. Not even a so-called partner. I’m not buying it. She’s bluffing. At least that was what his gut was telling him. Either way, his patience had reached its limit. Snapping back, he said, “Don’t fucking trifle with me, Rajani. I’m not my father, but you’d be making a huge mistake if you underestimated me.”
Rajani glared at him before she chuckled. “You hold no power here. Unless you missed the armed guards outside m
y door as well as those surrounding the entire estate.”
He hadn’t missed a thing. That didn’t mean he was about to bow to her will. She may run her country, but she sure as hell didn’t run him. This Henderson is going to make you wish you never heard our name.
Alex had so many questions but needed to put some time and space between the two of them. The longer he could drag it out, the more likely he’d still be alive when the cavalry showed up. There was one thing left unaddressed.
“Why bring Ziva here?”
“So you would come.”
“She means nothing to me. Let her go.”
Rajani laughed. “There is only one way either of you is leaving this place. If you do not cooperate with my demands, she’ll be the first to exit.” Rajani leaned her arms onto the desk and met Alex’s gaze as she said, “In a box, in pieces, that is.”
Alex knew she meant exactly what she was saying. “What do you want me to do?” He was willing to do just about anything if it meant saving Ziva.
Rajani sat back in her leather chair. “We’ll discuss this tomorrow. For now, you can be with this woman who means nothing to you. Enjoy it, because if you don’t comply with my request tomorrow, it’s all the time you two will ever have.”
The guards came, grabbed Alex by the arms, and dragged him out of the office. It was hard holding back, especially when he wanted to choke the life out of that evil sadistic bitch, but he knew he was joining Ziva. Thinking they may only have tonight wasn’t comforting. Yet, he wasn’t going to share any of what he’d learned with Ziva. He’d fill her with hope that they’d be out of there soon. And hopefully not in a box.
Chapter Ten
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Ziva had been tossed onto the floor, her right cheek making contact on impact. She was still so sore. Everything ached from being bounced around in the trunk of the car. If she hadn’t known any better, she would’ve thought they’d beaten her. I’m sure that is yet to come.
She listened intensely, trying to hear if anyone was in the room with her. The only thing she could hear was the ticking of a clock. Hopefully not a bomb.
Ziva tried to stand. She rolled over and was able to get onto her knees. Pain shot through her right knee. She recalled smashing it on a rock when she’d dropped to her knees in surrender. It was only one of the injuries she’d suffered. Thorns on bushes had battered her legs as she ran from the police. She’d been wearing shorts and a T-shirt at the time, which hadn’t offered much protection. The smell of dried blood filled her nostrils, and she tried not to heave.
She tried to steady herself to stand, yet as she did, the pain in the back of her head returned. With the blindfold snugly in place and her hands tightly duct taped behind her, she couldn’t get her bearings enough to stand. Giving up, Ziva dropped back down in the sitting position and then rolled onto her left side. Instantly, she felt relief.
The only thing the guards had removed was her gag. Wherever she was, they didn’t want her to see anything, but they weren’t worried about her calling out for help. I won’t waste my breath. I already know no one will come.
Ziva had held on to a sliver of hope that Myla would’ve reached Alex, and he’d be her knight in shining armor, rescuing her from her captors. But as more time had passed, that sliver diminished. It was too late. There was no way he’d find her. She might not know exactly where she was, but she knew the countryside well enough to know there weren’t any steep hills within two hundred miles from the town she’d been in.
She had anticipated death, which is why she’d dropped to her knees in the first place. Fighting them would’ve been futile and would’ve dragged out the inevitable. Or so she’d thought. Yet, she was still alive. She’d been trying to figure out why since they’d grabbed her.
Ziva played out each scenario in her head. If she’d been from a family with money, it was possible they’d hold her for ransom. Since she had no living family that was easily crossed off the list, so why would they bother keeping her alive? It didn’t make sense.
If they’d believed her to be a virgin, they could hold her and sell her. Men weren’t coming here and paying good money for someone her age. They wanted the young beauties. Even if they had considered it, they would’ve been more delicate with their treatment. What man, cruel enough to pay for a virgin, wanted damaged goods?
Ziva had a hard time believing they thought she was innocent. Years ago, she made public she wasn’t innocent. People of her culture didn’t forget such things. That was why I never married.
That left only one thing. They’re going to torture me for information. Her best guess: they’d seen her with Alex and were going to use her to flush him out. Make him reveal his hand that he’s not a scum-sucking bastard like his father.
I’ll die before I give up any information about Alex. Have I put him in danger? I did him an injustice before, and I won’t make that mistake twice.
Her lips were dry and cracked from the gag. “Can I have some water?” She didn’t expect an answer, but she had to try. If she were dead, she’d be no good to any of them. Trying again, she called out louder, “I’m thirsty.”
To her surprise, she heard the sound of a key, and the door creaked open. Footsteps came closer to where she lay on the floor. Then she heard the door slam shut again, and the key turned. She was no longer alone. Crap.
Ziva felt a hand reaching behind her knees and another behind her back. Strong arms lifted her into the air. She was being carried off. Hopefully not to be dropped on the floor again. My body is done with this.
When she was placed down, she felt herself sink into the comfort of a soft bed. The cool silk sheets against her tattered body felt heavenly. Then she stiffened. A bed meant one thing. She wanted to scream, but she knew there was no hope.
Ziva was rolled onto her stomach. She held her breath as the duct tape was gently peeled away. The parts that had been in contact with her skin were tender and irritated. Moving her hands, she was about to rub them when she felt lips touch one wrist then the other.
She didn’t move at all. Whoever was there wasn’t speaking, and she was sure there was a reason for that. Still on her stomach, she felt hands untie the blindfold. Instantly the pressure was released, and she let out a heavy sigh. Thank you, whoever you are.
Ziva had to see who this was. As she rolled, a hand came up and covered her mouth. Her eyes widened, and her heart filled with joy. Alex! What is he doing here?
He put a finger to his lips to tell her to be quiet. Then he pointed to his ear. She understood. Her captors were listening to them. Ziva nodded.
Alex removed his hand from her lips. He stood by the bedside, and she could feel his eyes examining her. Each time he saw a bruise or cut, his jaw clenched tightly. Reaching her right hand up, she touched his cheek. With her eyes, she tried to let him know it was okay. That she was okay.
Alex covered her hand with his and closed his eyes, as though absorbing her loving message. When he opened them again, he continued to hold her hand, as he joined her on the bed. As though she were a china doll, he gently pulled her close and wrapped her in his arms. Her body melted into his. It didn’t matter how sore she was, being close to Alex was where she wanted, no, needed to be.
She had so many questions for him, but they’d have to wait. All she knew was he was here with her. Ziva wasn’t foolish enough to believe this would last. She lived in a reality that wasn’t very pretty. Tomorrows were a gift, even the next few minutes weren’t guaranteed.
Ziva turned her face toward his. His eyes held such sadness in them. He didn’t appear to be hurt physically, but there was a pain that seemed as sharp as a knife to the heart. Alex didn’t have to say the words. She could tell he knew something, and he not only couldn’t tell her, but didn’t want to, and it was tearing him up.
They had started with secrets and most likely would die with them as well. One thing Ziva refused to leave unsaid was that she cared about Alex very much. Knowing she couldn’t utter the words, she had
to show him.
Leaning closer to him her lips touched his. It was bittersweet. She knew if they were listening, most likely they were watching as well. Anything that transpired would be used against them later, so she had to keep it brief. If we make it out of here, Alex. I promise no more secrets. No more lies.
Alex closed his eyes and held her the entire night. He could tell she wasn’t asleep either. His heart was breaking from the moment the guards delivered him to the room. He hadn’t had a chance to look at her too closely when they’d first entered the house. The lighting had been dim, and she’d been too far off for him to see clearly.
Now in the bedroom, with the bright light overhead, he was able to see the dried blood on her legs and the bruise on her face. That was all he could see. He could only imagine what he couldn’t see.
He wanted a basin of water or something so he could clean her wounds. It pissed him off that Rajani had let Ziva be treated so poorly. He had a feeling this was better than what could’ve taken place. If Rajani hadn’t thought Ziva would be useful to obtain whatever she wanted, Alex was positive Ziva wouldn’t be alive right now. Why had they believed this was the only way to get me here? Why involve her?
Nothing eased his mind. Rajani’s words hadn’t been an idle threat. He knew if he didn’t comply, she’d have Ziva killed. Alex wasn’t sure what Rajani wanted, but he knew he would say yes. Even if it costs me my life, the answer will be yes.
Rajani had told him all they had was one night. He knew the guards would come for him at some point, and his time with Ziva would be over. Once they took him from this room, he might never see her again. Never before had he felt such pain within him. Pain had surrounded him his entire life, yet this by far exceeded any.
Alex wasn’t sure what he felt. He wasn’t one who believed in love, especially after knowing someone for such a short time. This feeling wasn’t lust because it wasn’t his cock aching. It was an indescribable tightness in his chest. The thought of Ziva suffering or dying made him physically ill.
His For Five Nights Page 11
