by Stone, Piper
“Oh, no, you’re going to let me do the talking,” she snapped then took a few seconds to regain her composure. “I came here wanting nothing more than to find a way to have my vengeance against you, pretending to give a shit because yes, you are my enemy.” Her tone was soft, without any sign of anger, yet the words and the remembrance of how we started fueling the self-pity and anger.
“Is that what you’re doing now? Pretending to care?”
Lola sucked in her breath and walked closer, until we were only inches apart. “The truth is I want to hate you. Hating you would be easier and in that airplane, I could have killed you.”
“And now?” I wasn’t entirely certain I wanted to hear the answer.
“And now, I realize you’re just as much of a pawn as I am, maybe more and I feel sorry for you. But there’s more.” She walked closer until she stood just on the other side of the kitchen island. “When you let your guard down, when I’m allowed to see the man inside, I know that you aren’t my enemy. You’re so much more. All those years ago when we were just kids, I knew one thing. That I could fall head over heels in love with you, Jagger. You certainly had no intention of doing so then. And now?”
I had no idea what to say.
“Will you?”
I was touched, her words slicing through years of lies and deceit, of pain and abandonment. I adored her, every aspect of this beautiful and caring woman, but this atrocity, no matter if there was any merit to my instinct, had further reinforced that our lives were far too different. There would be no way to protect her twenty-four hours a day and she would become a target. She would be taken from me almost as soon as she was mine. And even if I died trying to protect her, she would be slaughtered, ending my happiness.
I’d been a fool to bring her here. An absolute fool. So, the game would continue, but the rules had to change. This understanding, this acceptance would indeed break me. For I’d fallen madly and deeply in love with her. I rubbed my temple, buying time, praying I could pull this off yet wanting nothing more than to wrap my arms around her, keep her safe and happy.
I chuckled and gave her a look of discord, as if I didn’t give a shit about anything. “Don’t worry, sunshine. What I said to you earlier was nothing more than a ploy. Just like you, I came down here with a plan in mind, only mine I mentioned right from the start.” There was a wretched silence before she answered, and I found it difficult to maintain the charade, but it was an absolute necessity.
“What?” she asked, narrowing her eyes. “I know you felt something. Last night. The night before. Hell, the fucking in the bar?”
“You bet I felt something. The sex is amazing. Great legs. Wet pussy. I can’t lie to you and there will be more, but that’s it.” I laughed again in a careless manner. “I wanted your guard down, nothing more.” Seeing her reaction gave me the kind of cold chill that stilled a man and would for weeks to come.
“I don’t believe you.”
Ignoring the wine, I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, trying to keep my facial expression even. Goddamn, the last thing I wanted to do was destroy her. “Believe what you want to believe, Lola. The money you mentioned as well as business opportunities are important to my family. I want nothing more than to make certain my father is proud of me. I have my reasons. We are leaving tomorrow, princess.” I could see the incredulous look on her face. The lie would help me burn in hell, but I’d gladly accept if that would keep her safe. “You’re very much your father’s daughter, naïve.”
I didn’t need to see her face to know I’d hurt her. This horrific moment in time wasn’t my intention. This wasn’t anything that I’d planned. Christ. What the hell was I doing? I was going to find out if there was any cause for concern and I would indeed deal with it if necessary.
Even if that meant turning into the likeness of my father.
“You are such an asshole. To think I trusted you for even a little while, for even...” A single sob pushed up from her throat. “You finally won, you son of a bitch. I fucking hate you.”
No more than I hated myself.
Chapter Eleven
Lola
You’re an absolute idiot.
The words continued to play like a broken iPod, fueled by the damning little voice screaming inside my head. I was shell-shocked, bitter, and ready to lash at anything or anyone.
Especially me, myself, and I.
I’d bought into the entire game, lowering my standards, my guard. Hell, I’d lost my entire mind. To think I could actually not only fall for his crappy ass lines, but enjoy being spanked by the man? Atrocious.
I knew my heels were clipping against the floor and I thumped, hoping he’d hear my disregard for his arrogance.
“Bastard!” The shrill word echoed in the room. He heard me. As he said, he knew everything about me. Bullshit. Bull. Shitto. I snickered, raking my hand through my hair. Stopping short, I cringed when I lifted my dress, touching my sensitive skin. The beautiful white rose, the swirling banner, and the words had honestly given me such an amazing feeling inside, as if we’d always be connected. Why had he seemed so happy to share in my fantasy? Why had he brought me to a special shop, making certain the technician paid extra care under threat of violence? I twisted hard in an effort to see the art to no avail.
I tossed my heels before moving toward the dresser, straining as I shifted until I was able to concentrate on the lovely ink. Bad Girl. Yeah, anyone could say that after this experience. I would wear the permanent ink with pride. For what reason? For. What. Reason? He hated me. He’d used me. I was nothing to him but a piece of ass.
No. No! I refused to believe the bullshit he’d just handed out. Jagger was terrified, that was easy to see. Something must have happened that I wasn’t aware of. It seemed his life was unraveling, and I just happened to be smack in the middle. Yes, I’d managed to put together a few pieces of my own. The phone call had been from someone back in the States, no doubt a warning that our whereabouts were well known, which mean a direct threat. The why, I wasn’t certain of, but whatever had been said had rattled Jagger to the core.
Another part of this story? You bet.
A significant event had changed the man himself, let alone his emotions. I’d seen him on the phone only minutes earlier, the conversation stilted as he hunted for unwanted guests. Yes, I realized that he had friends here on the island, ones who no doubt looked out for him and knew every gory detail about his life, but this wasn’t the first time he’d been to St. Martin either. Was my presence the very reason for this change? I was the cog in the wheel or he’d have hunkered down, preparing for some enemy attack. His brother had some influence on his mood swings, let alone his father. The pressure was on in an entirely different manner. I could only think that what I’d surmised was correct.
I had no computer to search for any news, no phone to call anyone. I was still Jagger’s prisoner, unable to break through the man’s walls. “Damn you. Damn this shit. Damn everything!” I didn’t care if he heard me. I was sick and tired of playing the fool, let alone the damsel in distress. I could take care of myself, even against that boogeyman he was so terrified of finding. What in the hell was going on? If he wanted to act like a child, fine, but I refused to fall into the game. And he was right. I had a life to go back to. I’d make certain he held up to his end of the deal and I’d be rich, my little bistro he made so much fun of on the high hog for several years. Yeah, the fucker had called me princess of all things. To hell with him, the haughty, holier than thou, jerkoff creep.
Fuck. Him.
There you go, girl. You got the spirit.
Then why did I want to crawl under a rock?
Slumping onto the bed, I remained locked in my room, refusing to even deal with him for well over an hour. He hadn’t bothered to come check on me and I hadn’t even opened the door, venturing outside once. He could rot in hell as far as I was concerned. Now, I was thirsty, hungry, and pissed off. Not a good combination.
Throwing on s
horts and a tee-shirt, I grabbed a pair of shoes from the closet, snarling as I eyed the rest of them. Whoever this Maceo was certainly had determined that I’d be in slinky clothes for the entire time I was here. The clothes were beautiful, yet not functional in any manner. The single pair of shorts was meant for a cheerleader, pumping her wares. The tee-shirt? Barbie might be calling. Thank God for a single pair of ugly loafers. I snorted as I slipped them onto my feet. At least the size was close enough. At this point, I wanted to demand answers, but did it matter? He was the same monster that he’d been when we left, just much more polished than I had imagined. Yeah, he’d fooled me. But I’d allowed myself to be duped. Never again.
I moved to the door, listening for any signs of him. Hearing nothing, I poked my head outside then carefully walked down the hallway. His bedroom door was closed. Maybe he was hunkered down inside either fuming or laughing at me. Either way, I didn’t give a damn. I was angry, sickened by the fact I’d allowed my guard to fall, to actually care about this man. I was such a damn fool. I might be forced to obey him for another few days, but at least I wouldn’t bother even pretending I cared. Not for a red second.
I took careful steps, moving into the living room. He was nowhere to be seen. The kitchen was also empty, the bottle of water he’d been drinking remaining on the counter. He’d also taken the car keys, ensuring that I couldn’t escape. God, what a bastard. I checked outside, waiting by the window for a few seconds before moving onto the deck, peering over. From where I stood, I could see the same beach where we’d kissed before, the tide starting to recede, the gorgeous setting sun creating shimmer dancing across the water. I wanted nothing more than to take a walk but completely alone.
I knew from the expansive windows, Jagger would be able to see clearly if he was looking. Ah, hell, he didn’t care.
There was a small clearing to the right, a set of rocks that appeared to also lead to the beach. What did I have to lose? I was adventurous. After glancing over my shoulder, I walked down the stairs, moving on the outskirts of the pool. The water called to me, the lapping waves cresting over the fake rocks similar to the way my heart felt at this moment.
Unsettled.
There was a word. At least my intense anger would keep my heart from being wounded any further. I made my way to the slope, keeping as far away from the view of the house as possible, and glanced down. Terrified of heights, the embankment appeared dangerous with no way to climb down. I walked the small area, finally noticing a narrow path. Well, what the hell. He certainly wouldn’t miss me. Asshole. Jerkoff. Motherfucker.
The words made me smile. I managed to make it a few steps, growing more confident I could get all the way down. There was a small landing and I was able to see just how blue the water really was, so crystal clear and turquoise that even from where I stood, I was able to make out a few objects. Maybe coral. Maybe fish.
Maybe sharks.
Rolling my eyes, I snickered knowing the only shark around had a name attached to it. I set off again, darting another look over my shoulder. Jagger wasn’t watching. He wasn’t standing on the deck, begging for my return or my forgiveness. I crept down a few more inches, panting when my foot lost hold. “Fuck.” Hanging to the rocks, I waited, counting to ten until I caught my breath. Okay, so maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, but I was so close.
As I pressed on, the words he’d said about his father just didn’t ring true. If there was one thing I knew was the truth, it was that he hated his father, loathed the man in fact. Why would he tell me such crap? I didn’t know, and I doubted I was going to find out. I was forced to stop again and pressed my back against the craggy rocks, sharp edges digging into my skin. Worthless attire, shitty shoes, and a bad attitude weren’t in my best interest, but I was determined.
After another two or three minutes, I found the courage to press on and when I was able to make a giant leap, I also screamed out my satisfaction. Gleeful, I walked immediately toward the beach, taking off my shoes and breathing in the warm air. I was surprised how turbulent the water seemed, waves slicing against the shore, the white foam leaving behind broken shells and small crabs. Even the wind had kicked up in the short time it had taken me to climb down the rocks.
I noticed a bank of clouds moving quickly across the horizon. A storm was no doubt rolling in. Fantastic. An entire evening locked inside during the middle of a thunderstorm. I dug my toes into the wet sand, concentrating on the squishing sounds, trying to find some reason to smile. Jagger and I had never been destined for anything but being adversaries. He could never understand my ethics, or perhaps even my honesty. I could never tolerate his lack of decency. And no, the same little nagging voice wasn’t going to change my mind. Not for any reason.
I rolled my eyes to the point I thought they’d get stuck in that position, laughing as I bent over, dragging my hand through the rippling sand. A single rumble of thunder was a solid reminder that a summer storm was quick to approach. I was determined to walk this off, find a medium ground of diplomacy until I was safely back on American soil. Then, I’d wallop his ass in court if necessary.
On one side, the water remained too high to pass by the boulders protruding from the sand. On the other side, the solid mass of evergreens was none too inviting, ominous in appearance given the darkening skies. But I had no choice if I wanted to find any solace, even for a little while.
The walk was refreshing, even though the increasing wind lashed various branches in my direction. There was actually a path through the line of trees, the dirt and fallen twigs creating a bed along the way. I stopped after a few yards to shove my feet into the shoes, grateful for the thick soles. The further I trekked through the forest, the more I thought about how the track itself seemed crudely but definitely man made, as if someone had designed the pathway on purpose. I could see a portion of the beach, even through the thick branches, but the amount of sand was minimal at best. What was the draw?
The darkness became foreboding and I was about to turn back when I noticed what had to be an opening. My curiosity got the better of me. The nearer I came, the more my skin crawled. A powerboat had been driven onto the sand, a very unusual occurrence for an expensive boat, and most likely during high tide. I was that kind of girl, the one who would get herself slaughtered in the first few screens of a horror movie, but the prickles on my skin were telling. I hid behind a tree, trying to listen over the sound of the moaning wind for any sign of a visitor.
I inched around one tree then another until I was almost at the opening. The small Sleekcraft cruiser wasn’t designed for the open seas, at least not for any length of time, and definitely not for a typical fishing trip. I knew my boats, one unrequited love my father had shared with me from various magazines. Approaching with caution, I noticed the foreign tags. I would guess given the careless attitude for the condition, the boat was a rental. After standing on my tiptoes, I was able to catch a glimpse inside.
Shit. There was either a dark-colored harpoon near the helm or a rifle. Either way, the red flags were in position, flying high. The danger Jagger mentioned was real.
I could swear I heard voices, booming men’s voices to be exact. With the wind continuing to increase in speed, I had no way of knowing from which direction the sound came from, but I took off running. I was in yet another bad ‘B’-rated movie, the oversized shoes slipping, causing me to trip not once, but twice in my effort to clear the beach. By that point, I was gasping for air, my lungs constricted by panic. A rumble of thunder in the distance, forced a short but crisp enough whimper that if the mystery guests were as close as I believed, they could have heard.
Shit. Shit. Shit. I was one stupid girl for taking off on my own, brazen, refusing to heed any kind of authority. A series of snapping twigs meant they were following me and there was nowhere for me to go but straight to the house. Just as I cleared the forest on the other side, I caught a single syllable, the rest carried off by the now distinct howl. Tripping again, I ripped off my shoes, racing forwar
d. I ran blindly, sand whipping into my eyes, desperate to get back to the safety of the house.
And into Jagger’s arms.
Darkness surrounded me, the rumbles of thunder intensifying, the first flash of lightning jetting into the middle of the ocean. I was almost to the lower deck platform when I was jerked back, yelping until a hand was slapped over my mouth, strong arms pulling me under the stairs.
“Quiet.” Warm breath cascaded across my cheek, the hold so tight that I had difficulty breathing.
I gripped his arm with both hands, kicking his shin until I realized my captor was my lover.
Jagger relaxed his hold, releasing his hand.
“Jagger, I—”
“Shush,” he silenced me, placing his index finger over my lip. He waited for what had to be a full five minutes before letting me go, slapping his hands on his hips. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”
“Listen to me. You were right. There’s a boat just past the trees, a Sleekcraft, twenty-six, twenty-eight footer. They have guns. I think they were following me.”
He narrowed his eyes and even in the shadows, I could see the disbelief in his eyes. “What?”
I nodded several times, half chuckling. He didn’t believe me. The same man who’d been tossing around aspects of danger for days didn’t buy my story. “Why don’t you go take a look for yourself?”
He peered over my shoulder, searching the area. “I intend on it. Go up to the house and lock the doors. Keep the lights off. There is a flashlight in the kitchen drawer. Find it. If what you say is true, they will be coming.”
“What the hell do you think you’re going to do?” I already knew the answer but as yanked his gun from behind his back, I still shivered, more than cognizant of the increasing danger.
“Do as I say. I’ll knock three times. Do you hear me?”
The answer was caught in my throat.
He gripped and wrenched my chin as he lowered his head. “Do you?”
