Words hurled at her, swirling around but nothing lined up right. Bernie had kidnapped her mother? Sold her?
“Dad said she died. He took me to her gravesite, every year on her birthday!” Nora shook her head.
“Your father loved her very much.” Bernie nodded solemnly. “It hurt to see him hurting so much after she was gone.”
Nora turned her anger at him. “My father would have killed you if he’d known!”
Bernie laughed. “He tried. He found out; you see, you let one asshole have too many beers and he let shit slip he shouldn’t. Your father figured it out and tried to find her.”
The truth washed over her like a bucket of hot oil. “Antonio didn’t kill Dad. You did.”
Bernie shrugged with a smirk. “What can I say—you’re quick. He wouldn’t stop looking for her, and it’s not really looked kindly on to take a man’s wife the way I did. If I hadn’t stopped him, Victor would have found out.” Victor Santinelli, the head of the family, wouldn’t have put up with Bernie’s blatant disobedience.
“Antonio was taking the blame.” Her insides shook, everything she’d known about her father, her mother, it was all manufactured. Nothing had been real.
“Well, he was suspect because of the money laundering, but there was never enough evidence to act. Antonio was untouchable, well, officially.”
“Why did he get killed then?” He was right about one thing. Her father hadn’t done her a favor by hiding his real life from her. How could she swim in the pool since he’d never taught her how to swim?
“My guys made him a deal he couldn’t refuse—but he tried. So he had to go,” Bernie explained.
“What deal?”
“He was supposed to deliver you to the buyer. I didn’t want to get involved. I liked you thinking of me as your protector and didn’t want to mess that up. Then when the buyer was too old to keep you, I’d come get you. Rescue you.”
His confession was dizzying. Antonio died because he wouldn’t help Bernie sell her. And she’d been there plotting her revenge against him.
“Your goons could have come to my apartment. Why would you need Antonio involved?”
Bernie’s eyes darkened. “Because you wouldn’t let your father’s death go. You had to get a job at his shop. Did you really think Antonio wouldn’t recognize you? He knew who you were, and he told me. Wanted to let me know he was watching out for you. But the idiot didn’t understand I needed him to hand you over.”
“Still you could have just come to my apartment, asked me to visit you,” she pointed out. He couldn’t have been so stupid.
“I wanted my hands clean of it, don’t you see that? If Victor found out, there needed to be no trace of me involved. Antonio only had to let Teo and Anthony take you from the back of the shop, that’s all. No one else but me knew where you lived, Elenora. It had to be somewhere public but controlled.”
She hadn’t had a chance to get away from Bernie. She’d clung to him as an uncle. She’d relied on him to watch out for her, and he’d been pursuing her in the worst way.
“I’m not going with whoever this monster is. I won’t do it.” She sounded braver than she was. Her insides shook, a cold shiver made her tremble.
“Not really your choice.” Bernie shrugged again. “Eat your sandwich when it comes. Your buyer will be here tomorrow afternoon for you. I have a doctor coming in the morning to check you over and sign the certificate of good health.”
Certificate of good health?
The click of the lock sliding back into place snapped her out of her frozen state.
Bernie had never been on her side, had never been protecting her. Bernie had been holding her in place to replace her mother as a slave.
And she had no way out.
She was going to be sold.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Nora had fallen asleep sometime before the sunrise. She’d tried to stay awake, to remain alert and figure a way out of the condo. Except all she could think about was her mother. How much she’d missed her growing up, how much she had needed her and wanted her, and the entire time her mother was living in a hell of her own.
A hell she would come to know well if she didn’t figure a way out.
Shortly, after the sun brightened up the room, the lock slid open again. She scrambled to her feet, moving to the far corner of the room. She would not go willingly, she would fight and claw and scratch.
A woman entered the room. Her hair was wound into a bun at the base of her neck and she smelled slightly like lilac. Although she had an older woman’s air about her, she appeared to be in her early thirties.
“You must be Elenora.” She smiled brilliantly at her. Didn’t this woman understand what was going on? And what was in the brown leather bag she carried with her?
“Y-yes.” Nora nodded. “Who are you?”
“I’m Dr. Smith.” Such a generic name; Nora doubted it was any more real than the stark red coloring of her hair.
“Doctor?” Bernie had told her she’d needed to have an exam, for a medical certificate of health. The creep buying her wanted to be sure she was in good health before he chained her up in his house and kept her locked away for the rest of her life.
“Yes. A very brief exam. I know you’re scared. I was too when Bernie brought me here. But he’s been very good to me.” She put the bag on the bed and sat on the edge.
“Brought you here? You’re being kept captive?” Nora took a step closer to the bed, drawn in to the woman’s kind voice.
“I suppose you can call it that. I might be free to leave, I haven’t asked in so long I don’t know. Bernie doesn’t keep me locked up. I have my own apartment. I come and go as I please. I simply work for him now, I think. But when he first brought me here I was terrified. I had no idea what would happen to me. I was lucky. Bernie is a good man.”
“A good man?” Nora wanted to scream, but she kept her tone level. “He’s not a good man. He’s not even a man, he’s a monster.”
The doctor’s expression shifted, a sadness touched her eyes. “He can be that, yes.”
Was this woman completely brainwashed or just crazy? How could she say Bernie was good?
“I’m not going to let him do this. I won’t go.” Nora clenched her fists. She may seem like a sweet woman, but she was in the room to help Bernie, and that was a punchable offense, at the very least.
“Well, I’m not going to try to stop you. Like I said, I remember being here for the first time. I’m only here to do the exam. I should warn you though, if you don’t cooperate with me, Bernie will come in and he’ll do it himself.”
“He’s not a doctor.” Nora wrinkled her brow.
“For most of the exam being a physician isn’t necessary.” Dr. Smith’s smile faded. “It will be so much easier for you to allow me to do it. I won’t hurt you, and if there’s anything that makes you too uncomfortable we’ll find a new way to do it.” Her sugar-laced tone reminded Nora of a nurse coaxing a toddler into an exam.
“And Bernie won’t come in?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I promise. He won’t interfere unless you’re uncooperative.”
Uncooperative. Nora had been just that with Greg. But she never had the shivering chill of fear at the thought of him touching her like she did with the idea of Bernie even being in the same room. If she was going to have any hope of getting out of the room—hell, the condo—she needed to play along. Make him drop his guard enough to allow her a chance to escape.
Besides, a little medical exam wasn’t the end of the world.
“What do you need me to do?” Nora asked.
“Good.” Dr. Smith smiled again and rubbed her hands on her knees. “I need you to remove your clothing.”
“Do you have a robe or something?” Nora looked at the bag on the bed beside the good doctor.
“No. I’ll need you nude for this.”
“Nude?”
“Yes, please. And we can’t take too long. Bernie will expect me
any moment.”
Nora sighed, but went about pulling off her clothes. The air conditioning in the room made goose pimples cover her arms and legs. Her nipples beaded up.
“Nice reaction to the chill in the room.” Dr. Smith smiled and pointed to Nora’s breasts. “Stay standing, please,” she said as she opened her bag.
Dr. Smith pulled out a stethoscope and tucked it into her ears. She puckered up her full lips and blew on the stethoscope before placing it against Nora’s chest.
“Yes, very good,” she muttered. She removed the earpieces and hung it around her neck.
Nora jumped when Dr. Smith cupped both of her breasts.
“Shhh. Just relax, this doesn’t hurt.” Dr. Smith’s soothing words had a bite to them. Nora knew if she didn’t cooperate she’d call for Bernie, and things would get much more unpleasant.
Nora closed her eyes, willing the moment to pass. Dr. Smith didn’t let go of her, though. She kneaded her breasts, plucked at her nipples, and twisted them until Nora squealed.
“Ah, very good.” Dr. Smith patted Nora’s shoulder. “Okay, on the bed, please. Scoot your bottom to the edge of the bed and drop your knees to the sides.”
Heat crept up Nora’s chest and neck, covering her face.
“Please, Elenora. I don’t want to get Bernie,” Dr. Smith pleaded softly. Nora nodded and climbed on the bed, positioning herself at the end.
Fisting the quilt beneath her, she clenched her eyes closed, waiting for the speculum. She always hated this part the worst at her annual exams. It didn’t hurt, but there was always a little pinch she hated, and the chill.
Warm lips covered her sex, jolting Nora into a sitting position.
“Back down, please.” Dr. Smith reached up and pressed against Nora’s belly.
“What are you doing?” Nora asked, blinking. Dr. Smith had dragged a chair to the end of the bed and had her mouth hovering over Nora’s pussy.
“Lie back down, Elenora,” Dr. Smith commanded.
Nora wanted to say no, tell her to stop touching her, but she knew the result. Bernie would be doing this instead, and he’d have his men hold her down if she resisted.
Biting her lip, she laid back down.
“Relax, Elenora. This isn’t going to hurt at all.”
Nora would smack the doctor if she did anything more humiliating. It was a promise to herself; a lie, too.
Dr. Smith went back to kissing Nora’s pussy, then spreading her lips and licking her from entrance to clit.
Nora clenched her teeth, willing the warmth spreading through her body to go away, promising her vocal cords the world if they would only keep silent.
Dr. Smith suckled Nora’s clit.
“Very good,” Dr. Smith said, sitting back up. She pressed a finger to her clit. “Your little clit here swells beautifully, and you taste sweet.” She licked her lips, and Nora’s jaw dropped.
What the fuck was happening here?
“Some women have a bitter tasting pussy. It’s my job to check. Yours is perfect. The buyer will be pleased.” Dr. Smith reached into the bag and pulled out a vibrator.
Nora shoved backward on the bed. “What the fuck?”
Dr. Smith sighed. “You’re really making this worse than it needs to be.”
“I’m not letting you touch me with that.” Nora pointed to the cock-shaped toy.
“You don’t have to. What I need to see is how you react to stimulus and if you can achieve orgasm. So, if you don’t want my assistance, then you may do it yourself.” She cradled the toy in her palms.
“What did Bernie do to you to make you so callous?” Nora asked.
“I’m giving you a choice; he won’t.” Dr. Smith’s eyes softened, and Nora could see what Dr. Smith was up to. She was making an indecent situation as decent as she could within her power.
Nora gave a little nod and took the vibrator from her. She flipped it on and lay back, closing her eyes. She only needed to orgasm. She could do that. Just pretend Dr. Smith wasn’t there.
“That’s a good girl. Play with your pussy for me,” Dr. Smith said, ruining Nora’s idea.
“Do you have to do that? Talk?”
“No, but I find it helps the girls hurry along. I can also lick your little clit for you if that will help.”
Nora took a deep breath. This had to be the most absurd situation she’d ever been in. Ever.
Deciding to just get it over with, she flipped on the vibrator to full speed and began to rub her clit with it. She didn’t need the internal stimulation if she was just going straight for the goal.
“Oh, if you aren’t going to insert it, I’ll have to use my finger—”
Tears welled in Nora’s eyes. “Just, I can do this, just don’t,” Nora whispered into the air.
“Go ahead,” Dr. Smith said softly back.
Nora cleared her mind of anything having to do with Dr. Smith or Bernie or the Santinelli family. She found Greg in her memories. His stern jaw, his dark eyes, his warm, full lips. Clinging to his image, she began to run the tip of the dildo across her clit.
Remembering the first time he’d pushed the anal plug into her ass, making her wear that foxtail, she slipped the vibrator lower through her lips then back up to her sensitive nub.
He’d been so commanding, so in control. And when he’d had her all dressed in her fox gear he’d been so pleased. His cock had been so fucking hard for her, wanting her. And she’d had to fight back the urge to touch him. Although she wouldn’t have been able to with her fox paws on.
When he’d caught her and fucked her, he’d made her feel so good. He’d been in complete control then, too, so powerful, so hungry for her.
“That’s a good girl,” Dr. Smith whispered, but Nora didn’t shake away the voice this time. Good girl. She loved being that for Greg. When he pet her, when he played with her and told her how good she was for him.
Her body tensed.
“So good.”
Nora arched her hips upward, gyrating against the vibrating toy. Dr. Smith’s finger slowly entered her pussy, and Nora moaned with the feelings. A second finger followed, and she began to move her hips harder.
“Oh. Greg. Fuck, yes, Greg,” Nora started to chant, imagining him hovering over her, thrusting his cock into her over and over again. Taking what was his. Because that’s what she was. His. Completely his.
“I’m your good pet, your good pet,” she whispered, letting the words wash over her body, taking her arousal up another notch.
“Yes, good pet,” Dr. Smith added.
“Fuck,” Nora yelled out as her orgasm ripped through her. Dr. Smith didn’t slow in her ministrations, instead sped up her thrusts with her fingers and only when the last shockwave died did she remove her touch.
Nora flicked the toy off and dropped it to the bed beside her. Opening her eyes, she watched Dr. Smith lick her middle finger and ring finger with a smile.
“Very sweet. And very responsive, too.”
Nora rolled her eyes back and closed them. What had she just done?
Closing her legs, she sat up. “Are you done yet?” She snapped her question.
Dr. Smith picked up the vibrator, ran her tongue over the end that had collected Nora’s arousal, then dropped it in the bag.
“All done. I’ll write up my notes and be sure to let the buyer know you enjoy being treated like a pet. I’m sure he’ll be very cooperative about that.” Dr. Smith closed her bag and headed back to the door.
Nora watched her leave in silence.
Enjoyed being treated like a pet?
No.
Greg’s pet.
She enjoyed being Greg’s pet.
And she hadn’t told him. Instead when he told her to stay, she’d gone with Bernie. She’d let herself be whisked away.
All Greg had ever done was try to protect her, and all he got for his trouble was pain.
She pulled her knees up to her chin and let the tears fall freely. She’d masturbated to the memory of his touch and hi
s words.
If she didn’t pull herself together and find a way out of the condo, away from Bernie and his fucking doctor, that’s all he’d ever be.
A memory.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“It has to be this one,” Greg spoke. John had tracked down three properties owned by Bernie in Chicago. The first two were empty warehouses, probably used for shipments. The third was a condo. More of an entire floor than a single unit in the sky rise, but it didn’t matter. It had to be it.
“If he took her to one of his own properties, yeah. I think process of elimination would work in our favor,” John said from the driver’s seat.
Greg ignored the doubt laced in his words. This was it. She was here. He could feel it.
“When will Gary call in?” Greg asked, staring out the passenger window at the building across the street. She was up there.
Was she scared? Had Bernie hurt her?
“In a minute. He’s making the delivery now.” John looked at his phone. They’d sent one of his men up to the condo with a pizza delivery. A camera was sewn into the man’s hat, giving them visuals as he made the drop.
Blake leaned between the seats from the back and watched with John and Greg as the door to the condo opened.
A woman, maybe five years older than Nora opened the door. Although quite pretty, she looked as though the world had run her down. An aged appearance on such a young woman.
“We didn’t order a pizza.” The woman spoke softly, looking over her shoulder nervously. “Please, go.”
“I was told to deliver this to this residence. It’s already paid for, you sure?” Gary held out the box. “If I go back with it, I’ll get in trouble. So, if you don’t take it, I’m just gonna throw it in the garbage,” he pressed.
She looked again over her shoulder. “Fine. Just please, go.” She grabbed the box, disappeared back into the condo, and slammed the door.
Becoming His Pet Page 16
