by Skylar West
Kingsley pulled me onto his lap and held me while I let out a waterfall. I hurt, and I was hungry. I hadn't eaten in almost twenty-four hours.
"King, how did you know? Why were you coming instead of my father? He wouldn't hand over the trust fund, would he?" He wiped my tears.
"No," he sighed, "he wouldn't. I had to fly to London and sign out two billion of my family's fortune, and I had the ten million of my own in a suitcase. Luckily, my very dominant sister got everything in order before we landed."
I processed that. Kingsley went home for me and asked for two billion dollars to save my life. He would have given up everything for me, while my own flesh and blood refused to help, wouldn't part with a single red cent.
"Thank you, Kingsley, I don't know what to say."
"How about you'd love to go to England and meet my family. I promised my sister she could host us for a week if I got you back."
I smiled and said, "That's the least I can do, of course, anytime you want."
"We need to deal with Sean Flannigan first. Devon and I have a plan, but I want to get you to safety first. I've already contacted Sean to make the drop-off."
"Why would you, King? I'm safe; he has no leverage now."
"But you're not safe, darling; you're at risk with that damn two-billion-dollar price tag on your back. Sean will bide his time and then try again to get you, and next time, you may not be so lucky. But we're not actually giving him the money. The Russian mafia will be there. Devon already contacted them. Once they're paid, they will take out Sean, and then our problem is solved, and there is no blood on our hands."
I chewed the side of my lip that wasn't ripped. It seemed like a good plan. "But… King, what's to stop the mafia from taking you or Devon or shooting you both?"
He smiled. "That part is a secret, at least for now. When everything is done, I'll tell you."
We pulled onto a dirt road and into the woods. A mile or so down the dirt drive, there was a cabin. Smoke was coming out of the chimney, and at any other time, I would have felt it was utterly charming.
Devon parked, opened my door, and reached in to pick me up. But King had already gotten out the other side and pushed him out of the way.
"No offense, cousin," he chided Devon.
Devon wore a big grin as he answered, "None taken, cousin."
Kingsley scooped me up and carried me inside. A toasty fire and a table laden with all types of food greeted us. Devon did a look around then used a walkie-talkie that had been left on the table. He talked to whoever was on the other end, while King put me down at the table. I filled my plate with food and began chowing down while King poured me both water and wine.
By the time he took his seat, I was halfway done with what I'd stacked on my plate. When we were both done, he carried me to the bathroom and filled the tub with warm, steamy water and eucalyptus bath oil. He placed me down gently. I sighed with pleasure and sank into the soothing water, my muddy, scratched feet finally able to relax.
When I was finished, King scooped me back out of the tub and carried me to the bedroom, where he examined my feet. He put ointment on several cuts and then wrapped my feet in gauze, put me in bed, and handed me pain killers and water.
"Katarina, when I come back, this will be over. I want to discuss us moving forward from here and what that looks like. For now, rest. You need it."
I was afraid to be alone. I wanted him to stay with me, as the fear of the kidnapping had left me feeling exposed and vulnerable.
"Kingsley, I'm afraid. I don't want to be alone."
He smoothed my hair back from my forehead and kissed my lips gently. "You're not alone. Devon's Secret Service men are here, all over this property. Don't worry, Katarina, I won't let anyone harm you again."
I sighed and kept the tears that had been threatening to fall at bay. "Okay, please be careful, King."
"Don't you worry, my little minx; it takes more than your ex and the mafia to take down Kingsley Deveraux."
I grinned. "I expect it does," I responded. I felt my eyes grow heavy; I was close to falling asleep. To his credit, Kingsley took my hand and stayed with me until I was fast asleep.
Chapter 20
Kingsley
I waited until Katarina had fallen asleep. Then Devon and I made our move. We were meeting at the same location we were to meet earlier, but we already had men in place down at the docks. I was clear on my intention to the events that were to follow—eradicate the threat to my woman and our future life together.
The Russian mafia was under the impression that they were getting the payoff. And they would, until the Secret Service poured in from the nooks and crannies and either shot or arrested them all.
Devon and I had discussed many options, but all of them included this falling back on me and possibly my fortune, which meant my family would also be at risk. We would never know when they would be coming for her or me.
When this was done, Kate would still be in a position to take her trust fund in a few months if she wanted any part of it. I knew her father's betrayal had hurt her deeply, and she may just want to walk away from her family and their fortunes.
Devon and I arrived at the dock; things were dark and quiet. Devon slipped away into the night, and I proceeded with my suitcase of money. I wore a wire in my watch, new technology, thanks to Scotland Yard, and was ready to put an end to the nightmare.
"Ah, I see the new boyfriend has arrived."
Out of the shadows, stepped Sean Flannigan. Six-foot, blond, and rippling with muscle, he would be a challenge, even for me, if we got into a scuffle.
"Ah, the ex-douchebag, I see. So glad you could show up."
He glared at me but didn't respond.
"What assurances do I have that you won't hire the Russian mafia again to try to take what isn't yours?"
"You don't, mate. But I'm a gambling man, Mr. Deveraux, how about you?"
I needed his confession recorded, in the off chance that he managed to escape.
"Not when it comes to the lives of those I love. Stealing a young woman, is that the type of gambling you bank on?"
He glared at me.
"Oh please, her daddy is loaded, and that money is mine rightfully. Dating that spoiled princess for six months was pure torture, almost wasn't worth the big payout. Of course, her father annulling the marriage twenty-four hours after it began wasn't part of the plan. But then, neither was his compliance in this plan of mine."
"What?"
I was in shock. Sean laughed at my evident surprise at his pronouncement.
"Didn't you know that her daddy lost a mint in the stock market? Brilliant, really, to use your money to save Kate. When he finds her, and he will, he'll have her disappear, and your two billion and his two billion will make a tidy sum to start over, after he declares bankruptcy, of course."
More devious than even I'd imagined, the two of them in on it from the beginning.
"I suppose, by telling me this, you plan on making sure I don't leave here alive?"
"That's right, Deveraux, you'll take Kate's place in the container and go for a swim with the fishes in the middle of the Atlantic."
He pulled out a gun and waved at me to walk toward him. I knew Devon's team was in place; all we needed was that distraction. Suddenly, a foghorn went off, startling Sean. I took advantage and slung my briefcase into his head, knocking him unconscious. Then the shooting began.
I dove behind a stack of crates waiting to be loaded onto a ship. I heard accents, Russian and a few Irish as well. Then as quickly as it began, it was over.
"Kingsley?" I heard Devon calling.
"Over here."
As Devon approached, I saw his team, leading men out to the waiting truck.
"How many," I asked?
"Eight dead, six injured and then those six you saw being marched over. The Russians were prepared for an ambush, but my men were here first and saw them setting up. Did you get what you needed?"
"More than I bargained fo
r." I repeated what Sean had said about Katarina's father being involved.
He blew out his breath. "That is quite a conspiracy, and I'm sure Mr. Wallington would have never come through on his end; he would have taken Sean out."
I nodded. "As neither of the men seems like the sharing type, I imagine it also could have gone the other way, with Mr. Wallington being taken out by Sean's men." I handed Devon his watch back for evidence.
"I want to get back to Katarina; are you okay here?"
"I'm fine, cousin. I'll get this cleaned up, then I plan to follow the team and witness the arrest of Mr. Wallington."
I nodded and headed for the car, getting in and closing the door, allowing myself a deep breath for the first time in what felt like days. While I drove back to the cabin, I had a lot of time to think about my future and was excited to share it with Katarina.
She was still sleeping when I arrived, so I quickly stripped and climbed in behind her. She pressed her backside against my crotch and sighed in contentment. I reached around and held one of her breasts in my hand and promptly fell asleep.
I woke to the sun streaming in through the window and the feel of lips wrapped around my cock. Katarina was gazing up at me from her perch between my legs.
She pulled my cock out of her mouth, looking like an indecent little girl popping a large lollypop out from between her perfect lips. It was so hot.
"Good morning, King," she purred and then put my cock back in her mouth. I moaned. And she giggled, clearly enjoying her temporary power over my body. I sat up and flipped her onto her back and plunged into her. She felt so hot, so wet and tight.
"Damn, woman, you're going to be the death of me, but it will be a pleasant death."
She giggled and then gasped as I gave her a particularly deep thrust.
"Oh my God, King, don't stop, please, don't ever stop."
I grinned, my alpha male feeling invincible. "I don't intend to, Katarina. I plan on keeping you in my bed for the rest of my life."
She smiled at me, her eyes filled with love.
"I will hold you to that, Mr. Deveraux."
"Don't I know it; now come for me."
She gripped my cock, her nether muscles clasping and unclasping in quick succession, bringing me to my own orgasm.
I lay on my back with her head on my chest in the aftermath of our lovemaking.
"Kingsley, are we going home today?"
"Yes, back to Los Angeles, I think that was quite a bit of adventure for one trip, don't you?"
She giggled. "I do. Kingsley?"
"Yes, my little she-devil?"
Does the offer still stand? Do you want me to move in?"
"Try to get out of it. Of course, it does, silly minx. And you may as well start thinking about where you want to have your honeymoon; that is, if you'll marry me?"
She lifted her head to see if I was serious.
"Really?"
"Really, what do you say, Katarina, will you be my partner for life?"
She nodded her head vehemently.
"I think I have to; who else understands the dark side of you?"
It was my turn to grin. "Touché, darling, touché!"
The End
Skylar West
Skylar West is a Canadian writer, new on the author scene and making a big impact with her steamy romance books. She loves walks in the rain, hot cups of delicious java, overly large sweaters, and the type of steamy sex she writes about in her novels. A cat lover, this author looks forward to writing many more novels.
Find her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sky.west.1806
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