SLADE: Captive to the Dark

by Alaska Angelini

  Today was what looked like potato soup. The man walked away in his fancy black suit and I picked up the spoon, refusing to even look in Slade’s direction. He probably had a big fat smile on his face. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing how annoyed I was.

  Lily. She probably wasn’t eating this good. Guilt ate at me. My father was responsible for that, as were my sister, Charles, and Jordan. I brought the spoon to my lips and blew. It wasn’t fair. I should be happy that I was getting treated this good and wasn’t in that underground room getting raped and tortured like she possibly could have been. Or even drugged. I’d heard horror stories of trafficking in one of my classes. They kept the women dependent on drugs so they wouldn’t leave. Here I was, getting the royal treatment as far as sex slaves were concerned.

  “Mary.”

  I glanced up, torn from imagining poor Lily bound and suffering.

  Slade pushed his plate toward me and all I could do was shake my head. Confusion lit his features, but he remained quiet. Garlic took over my senses. The soup was a bit strong for my taste, but I didn’t care. I continued to eat until the bowl was gone. When I finished, I stared straight ahead. Waiting. Thinking.

  Would my father find her? Was Lily okay? Flashes of the picture Slade held on his desk took over my vision and I wondered if she even looked like the same girl she’d been there. My attention lowered to the silk dress and I hated it. Silk. So expensive for a captive. No more nice clothes. Not until Lily was found.

  “May I ask a favor?” I looked over for the first time in what felt like half an hour.

  “You can ask, it doesn’t mean you’ll get it.”

  Fair enough. “I want to speak with Victor.”

  Slade’s eyes narrowed. “About what?”

  Truthfully, I had no idea. I just needed to. I knew what I wanted would come out when I began talking. My thoughts swirled and it hit me. “I want him to feel bad for what he’s done. But not just bad, I want it to eat into his soul.”

  Tapping brought my eyes down to his hand. He seemed to do that a lot.

  “How do I know you’re not going to try something that will make me angry?”

  I lowered my gaze. “You’re going to have to trust me. If I upset you, you have my permission to do as you see fit.”

  Well, that lit him up. I saw the interest flare behind his eyes like a kid in a candy store. That’s what I was, his treat. His guilty pleasure. I had no doubt he didn’t feel the least bit remorseful for what he’d done. Slade stood and walked to the door. Not a word was spoken. He waved his hand and Marcio came over. “I want Governor Hagen awaiting my call in fifteen minutes.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Marcio headed toward the kitchen entrance I’d seen before. Slowly, I stood from the table and pushed in my chair. “Thank you. It’s more than I deserve. I’ll try not to ask for anything else.”

  “You’re acting different.” He strode forward and I braced myself. Whether he was going to grab me or choke me, I wasn’t sure, but I wasn’t taking any chances of being unprepared.

  Slade’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt. “What have you done?”

  “I beg your pardon?

  “You’re different, God dammit. I want to know why, right now.”

  Realization. Guilt. That’s why. I was taking on my father’s sins, even though I shouldn’t have. The responsibility of all those girls wasn’t my fault, but I felt like they were.

  “I’m going to need different clothes. I don’t want him to see me like this.”

  “Like what? Dressed?” He didn’t understand. Anger swelled and I didn’t feel like explaining. I burst from the dining room in a dead sprint and headed for the stairs. Footsteps pounded behind me and I knew it was only a matter of time before he caught me. I was halfway up the stairs when hands locked on my ankle and I flew forward into the marble.

  My foot kicked and I slipped through his grasp. By the time I was in the bedroom, he was hot on my trail. I dove to the closet and pulled back the door. Designer clothing littered my side and I screamed the rage that I’d been bottling up for days.

  “Talk to me.” Slade shook me hard, but it only intensified the fit I was immersed in.

  “I need clothes. Slave clothes. Not this.” I reached back, trying to tear at them. “Lily isn’t in a dress that cost hundreds of dollars.” I pulled at the black silk trying to get it off me. Slade locked his hand around my face and one look into his eyes washed the tantrum I had right down the drain.

  “You wear what I tell you to. That is final.” His hand pushed in between my breasts. The loud rip jerked me forward. Material hung loosely, showing my cleavage. He could have done worse, I knew it, yet he let it stay just as it was. “There. It looks like I’ve ravaged you. Feel better?”

  Well, I did, a little. My head lowered. “He’ll never look his hardest for Lily if he doesn’t see me at my worst.” I stepped back and held up my arm. “I want you to put a bite mark on each one. Victor has to see what he’s done.”

  Slade just stared. What he was thinking was beyond me. Although the teeth marks would be a great touch to the ones I already carried, I was only beginning. While I walked to the nightstand, he watched, not stopping me like I thought he would. He was beginning to trust me. It was a good thing. That meant I might possibly be able to escape if the time came down to it. But, could I? I was determined to make my father find Lily. If I left, he’d have no more motivation. Slade would lose his sister for good and it truly would be my fault.

  Tears welled in my eyes. For thirty days I was his. That was it. I’d stay that long, and if there was no luck finding his sister, I’d leave.

  Contents slid in the drawer as I pulled it open. Slade’s eyes were narrowed, watching, waiting. Lube, condoms, and a mix of things like pens and a pad of paper rushed to the front. I saw none of it. My sight was set on one thing, and one thing only. My fingers connected with the folded up knife and I walked back to him, placing it in his palm. Shaking took over my hands as I grabbed the torn material and spread it open even wider.

  “I want you to mark me. Carve your name into my chest, like you said. Let my father see what he’s done.”

  Slade’s nostrils flared. “You want me to permanently scar your skin to prove a point to your father?” The sudden lock around my neck was not gentle. It was full of anger, astonishment, but most of all, eagerness.

  “Do it,” I whispered. “I know you want to. Show my father who I really belong to.”

  Yes, I was playing off of his emotions, but I suddenly didn’t care. If I ever was going to get my life back, Lily had to be found. I’d wear Slade’s name on my skin forever if it meant the possibility of bringing her home, safe.

  The beast flared and he slowly eased me back until I was lying halfway on the bed. The blade appeared with a flick of his wrist causing my breath to quicken.

  “I want to. Fuck, I do.” His eyes were burning a hole through my chest. With more calmness than I felt, my hand reached for his wrist. Tightening on my neck increased at my movement, but my fingers connected with his skin and I eased his hand down.

  “Think of Lily. Let’s get her back.”

  Slade’s eyes met mine for the briefest moments. Excruciating agony nearly had me flying up at the searing that branded my chest. His hand slid from my throat down to my shoulder, holding me down.

  A pause sent me into panic. “Don’t you dare stop.” The S was done, but I wasn’t going to let him give in. I wanted every single letter.

  “You don’t get to decide what I do,” he snapped. The L had a deep sound coming from my mouth. The rest of his name followed so fast that stars flickered across my eyes. The cross between haunted and fascinated was permanently etched on his face. He didn’t stop staring until my head rolled to the side. Warmth ran down toward my neck. I knew he hadn’t cut deep enough to cause much damage, but his name would definitely always be there.

  The knife dropped to the bed and his lips crushed into mine, hungrily. The stinging
across my chest only added to the arousal that was sizzling in my core. I was on fire, more so than I’d ever been.

  “God, you’re fucking amazing.” The hardness of his cock pushed into my pussy and he gripped to my hip, grinding against me. “Now you’re really mine. Mine,” he whispered, catching my mouth again. My moan was drowned out by knocking on the door. Both of our heads looked toward the interruption.

  “It’s time to speak to your daddy,” Slade said, looking down at me.

  My teeth ground into each other. “Victor. He’s not my dad, not anymore.” But my father wouldn’t know that. I’d play up his parental card until it returned Lily, then I’d be free.

  Chapter 8

  Slade

  The red jagged marks surrounded by blood called to me.SLADE. Right there across her chest for the world to see. My mouth turned dry just looking at my work. With the bright lights shining down on Mary, she looked spotlighted. Displayed, just for me. Like a woman on a pedestal with all the attention being sucked in to her. And, soon, it would be.

  Blonde hair flared out wildly around her solemn face. The black dress hung open as if she’d been the victim of some horrible attack. And right there, centerpieced on her glorious body, my signature. My teeth imprints. Mine. Fucking fantastic.

  The odd dial tone filled the room, and I waited, wondering exactly what she planned on saying. All Mary had made clear was that I needed to act like myself. She’d said it sarcastically, but I knew what she had meant.

  Victor’s face flashed on the screen. Next to him, Bethany. Swollen eyes and all. It was apparent she’d been crying. Maybe the ice queen actually had a heart. Maybe she was just upset because they’d been caught. Who knew where that bitch’s thoughts were?

  “Mary.” Bethany gripped Victor’s arm as her sister’s name came out in sobs. Blonde hair fell into Mary’s face as she looked down at her lap. The ropes had her hands bound behind her back, making her chest stick out even more. Bethany came a little closer to the screen. “I’m so sorry. We’re going to bring you home, Mary. We are.” The crying got harder and Mary looked back up at the monitor, her own tears flowing down her face like an open faucet.

  A shuddering breath left her mouth before she gained composure. “Daddy, I want to go home. I’m scared. Please tell me you’ve found something.”

  The anger across Victor Hagen’s face couldn’t be disguised no matter how hard he tried. I stood in the background, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “We’re following a lot of leads, sweetie. Give us some time. There’s a couple of different places she could be. My men are looking into them all. Just hang in there. We’ll have you back home before you know it.”

  “That’s it? Hang in there? I want to come home. Find her. Get evidence to prove she’s okay that way he’ll stop this. I know you can do it. You can. You have the power to do anything, Dad. Please.”

  Mary began to crying harder. I couldn’t stand to see her break down so fully. To see her beg that bastard. After everything I’d done, never once had she broken like that in my care. Seeing her so weak here, in front of her family, made me want to pull out her spirit; have her fighting again.

  I couldn’t help it. I took long strides forward, coming in from behind her. Silky hair slid through my fingers and my hand pulled her head back. Bethany screamed, angrily, at the same time, sobbing just as hard as Mary.

  “You better hope you find her soon. My patience is running thin. Every week you don’t have Lily home, I’ll carve my name into her again. It’ll continue until there’s no place for me to write.” I pulled Mary to her feet and she did it. She fought, making my heart soar. Wild thrashing made me tighten my arms. What came next, though, diminished my relief.

  “Daddy! Daddy, don’t let him hurt me!” Mary screamed so heartbreakingly, to the point where I wasn’t sure if she was truly begging him or acting. I swung her around and motioned with my head for Brace to turn off the camera. The moment he nodded, indicating Victor couldn’t see anymore, Mary went limp.

  What the hell had just happened? I couldn’t process it. My mind swirled with seeing my slave so upset. Nothing made sense. Sweat began coating my skin. Never had I felt like the bad guy in this, but suddenly, I wasn’t so sure.

  “Suppose I deserve an Oscar for that.” Mary wiggled and I placed her on her feet. A smile came to her face and she lifted her arms off her back, waiting for me to untie her. Instinct kicked in and I spun her around, clutching to her hair so she had to look at me.

  “That was…” What was that? Fucking brilliant? Terrifying as hell to know how it looked when she was broken and truly afraid? The depths she was willing to go to get my sister back had me embracing her so hard I was sure she would snap in two. “Thank you.” My mouth pressed against her temple and I didn’t bother untying her. I clutched to her like an anchor while I raced for my bedroom.

  Whatever she wanted, I was ready to give it to her. All she had to do was say the words and I’d make it happen. As long as it wasn’t freedom. That I wasn’t willing to grant. Anything else, yes.

  My door slammed into the wall and I pushed it shut behind us. “Name something. Anything. It’s yours.”

  Mary’s eyebrows drew in. “You know what I want.”

  “Not going to happen. Name something else.”

  A grunt left her mouth and she hopped to the bed, doing one last jump to land herself on the mattress. “I don’t want anything.” Her arms adjusted behind her and I walked over, undoing the ropes.

  Maybe it was guilt, for the first time, but I wasn’t letting her get out of this. “You have to name something. I won’t take no for an answer.” The rope landed at the far end of the bed at my toss. Intrigue lit up her face. I knew something had entered her mind, but she shook her head.

  “Sorry, I don’t want anything.”

  “You lie. You’re very good at that.”

  Mary reached for her feet and began undoing the rope. “What do you expect? I learned from the best.” While she unraveled it, I leaned against the wall, content to watch my name move with every motion of her body.

  “Enlighten me. I know something came to your mind while I was asking.”

  The hemp fell to the floor and she straightened her back, almost proudly. “Fine. You want to know, I’ll tell you. My apartment. I can’t afford to keep it when I leave and I won’t allow my father to take care of me anymore. If you can take care of the rent until I finish school, I’ll pay you back after I get on my feet. And, I will pay you back.”

  Pay me back? I should have known she was going to say a ridiculous statement like that. In my mind, I figured she was dreaming of some fancy car or even jewelry. I was way off. Mary wasn’t flashy like the women of my past. I’d have to learn to stop comparing her.

  And just rent? No fancy penthouse or apartment in Paris? It made me sigh. It didn’t matter. As far as I was concerned, she wasn’t going anywhere anyway. Real estate was always good to have. Maybe I’d convince her to lease it out while she stayed here, or maybe the peace of mind would help her overall. That was only better for me.

  “Rent isn’t going to work. I’ll buy it and put it in your name so you know no one can ever take it from you. It’s my gift. Don’t you dare deny it either.”

  The way her lips parted in surprise made me happy. I could tell she didn’t necessarily like what I’d said, but she wasn’t arguing. It was settled. Now I didn’t feel like such a bastard for taking her, not that I really had to begin with. Only a little. But it had to be done. Maybe with her dramatics, Victor would search in earnest. Hell, maybe they’d actually locate Lily. I’d given up all hope, knowing I had to do this as my last shot, but what if they could really find her? For the first time in over two months, hope sparked, and I hated it. If she didn’t come home, nothing would be different. My mourning would be the same. Now that I’d let her become alive in my heart again, the all too familiar need for vengeance was renewed. God, help me.

  “How are you? Did you eat enough dinne
r?”

  Mary stood and narrowed her eyes, walking around me like she wasn’t sure what to think of my question.

  “I’m fine. You’re acting different.”

  “Different?” Well, maybe a little. I couldn’t get the way she’d broken down out of my head. The need to protect her from reaching pain of that magnitude ever again nearly made me sick. No one would hurt her. Not even myself. Not like that.

  The tip of her tongue traced over her lips while she continued to stare. It drew my attention and all I could think about was her flavor. She had the sweetest mouth, always pulling me in to taste more.

  “Yeah. You’re being very…nice.”

  Anger flickered within. Wasn’t I always? I mean, true, she was held here, but she ate, slept in my bed, was taken care of. That was better than I’d planned from the beginning. My intention was to hurt her. Badly. I hadn’t done that.

  SLADE.Dammit. That hadn’t counted. My name on her chest was something we both wanted. That wasn’t hurting her. The more I looked at the letters, the harder my cock got. Fuck, I wanted her again.

  A deep breath drew my eyes up. Mary’s head was slightly angled while she took me in. Something sparkled behind her eyes and then she did it. A big smile covered her face. Air constricted in my chest. That happiness was aimed at me…and I wanted more. So much more.

  “You’re so quiet. What are you thinking?”

  If she only knew. I cleared my throat. My weakness for her wasn’t something she needed to figure out. The time for niceness was over. “I was thinking how good it was going to be when I tied you up and stripped you of your virginity. Do you think you’ll enjoy the pain like you do when I physically hurt you?”