by HELEN HARDT
“Nicely done,” Rock said. “And thanks. For not…”
“Do you all think I’m nothing but a complete asshole?”
“No. But—”
“You do.” I sighed. “I guess I haven’t done a lot to prove you wrong. I learned from the best.”
“Hey,” Rock said. “None of us thinks you’re a carbon copy of Dad.”
“Right.”
“We don’t. But you learned at his side, so business-wise, you’re used to getting what you want at any price.”
I couldn’t deny his words. “Whatever. We need to find out who made that call from my office to your place in Montana. I swear to God it wasn’t me.”
“We all believe you.”
“Do you?”
“Of course. Your ass is on the line just like all of ours. We’re in this together, Reid. We have to trust each other.”
“Good.”
“Once Zee tells her story to Morgan, they’ll search our building from top to bottom.”
“And they won’t care what they destroy in the process,” I added.
“Right. So we need to find Dad’s shit first. He may have destroyed the bottom floor after Roy saw it. Which means he and Father Jim found a new place.”
“Right.”
“Damn.” Rock rubbed his temple. “We need to find out what that sicko priest is hiding. But Morgan is keeping us all busy with this nonstop questioning.”
“Why exactly is he talking to all of us again?”
“I don’t know. Like I said, he didn’t really ask anything new. But he’s got something up his sleeve. I can feel it.”
I felt it too. It was like an icicle had dropped into my shirt and freezing shards were spiking into me all over.
Something was going down.
And it wasn’t going to be good.
“All right. Let’s touch base in—”
I jerked when someone knocked on my door.
Monique would use the intercom, so it could only be…
“Hold on for a minute,” I said to Rock.
I walked to the door and opened it. Zee stood, her body clad in one of the lush white robes, her feet bare and toenails painted blue.
My dick hardened. Really hardened. She looked so innocent, especially with her new blond hair. How easy it would be to take her in my arms, kiss her, say the right words, and seduce her. Take her into my bed and fuck her slowly, get her used to me, and then take her hard and fast, pounding her body all night.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
She nodded. “I wanted to…”
“What?”
“Say goodnight.”
“Oh. Okay. Goodnight, Zee.”
“Goodnight…” She didn’t move.
I waited a few seconds. Then, “I’m on a call.”
“Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you.”
“You’re not a bother. Something is obviously disturbing you. Is it the room? Do you want to go back to the other one?”
“No, I… I’m scared.”
“This is the most secure building in Manhattan. I swear you’re safe here.”
“But it’s still the building where…”
I inhaled deeply. “I know. Would you like me to have Wayne take you to a hotel after all?”
“It’s so late.”
“Hotels are open all night.”
“I know…”
“Would you excuse me for just a minute?” I asked.
She nodded.
I walked far enough away that I could mumble into the phone without her hearing me. “Rock, I have to go. Zee is… I’m not sure, but I think she wants to stay in my room with me.”
“Don’t,” he said.
“I won’t. Which is why she can’t stay with me. I need to take care of this. We can touch base in the morning.”
“Good enough. Stay strong, bro.”
I tossed my phone onto the night table and walked back to Zee. “Sorry about that.”
“I’m sorry I interrupted your phone call.”
“So…a hotel?”
“No.”
“Then tell me. What can I do for you? What do you need? Anything.”
“I want to stay with you.”
Yeah, I nailed it.
“All right. Come on in. I guess I can sleep on one of the chairs.”
“No, I’ll sleep on the chair. I won’t take your bed.”
“I insist.”
“No,” she said. “I insist. You gave me a perfectly lovely bedroom. It’s not your fault I can’t be alone in this building. Besides, you’re a lot bigger than I am. You’ll be uncomfortable on a chair.”
“Zee—”
She walked to my two oversized wingback chairs. “We can push them together. I’ll be fine.”
She wasn’t exactly short, but she was shorter than I was. Still, she wouldn’t be able to stretch out fully, and I wanted her comfortable.
“Take the bed,” I said.
Good God, this was going to be a long night.
25
Zee
Reid pulled extra blankets out of his closet and pushed the wingback chairs together.
I bit on my lower lip.
This wasn’t right. He had two other beds only steps away, and I was making him sleep uncomfortably in his own home.
And the truth?
I wanted to be in the same bed with him.
Sure, I was frightened beyond everything of having a man that near to me, but my apprehension about this building seemed to supersede that.
Or did it?
I was attracted to Reid. More attracted than I thought I’d ever be to any man. Even though he looked so much like…
Even though he was his son.
What was wrong with me?
Just ask him. Ask him to sleep with you.
I opened my mouth. “Reid…”
“Yeah?” A yawn split his handsome face.
“This isn’t right.”
“It’s fine, Zee. You need rest.”
“So do you.”
“I’ll be fine. I don’t need a lot of sleep, and I’ve pulled more all-nighters than you can imagine.”
“We can both sleep in the bed,” I said.
“Zee, trust me when I tell you that’s a terrible idea.”
“I…trust you.”
“Then trust me when I say again what a terrible idea that is.”
“Why?”
He shook his head, his hair an unruly and gorgeous mess. “Do I have to spell it out for you? I’m attracted to you. I’ve wanted you since I first laid eyes on you.”
My heart beat double-time. Sure, he’d kissed me. Wanted to kiss me. But to actually say the words… “Did you think that maybe…?” I hedged.
“Maybe what?”
“Maybe I’m attracted to you too?”
He wrinkled his forehead. “Are you?”
“Who wouldn’t be? But…”
“What?”
“You look so much like…him.”
Reid pushed his fingers through his hair, making it even more disheveled and sexy. “I can’t change who fathered me. I can’t change my looks.”
“Why would you? You’re gorgeous.”
“Jesus Christ.” His fingers trailed through his hair once more. “Are you trying to drive me insane? Or does it just come naturally?”
His tone. It wasn’t anger so much as…frustration.
I wasn’t being fair to him at all.
Still…for some reason—even though he looked so much like the man who’d tormented me—I felt safe with him.
Safer than I had in a long time.
I liked the feeling, and I needed it.
“I need to feel safe,” I admitted. “And I feel safe in here. With you.”
He sighed. “Fine. We’ll share the bed.” Then he mumbled something else under his breath.
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you,” I said.
“Nothing.” He curled his hands into fists.
H
e was so handsome, with his unruly hair, his shirt halfway unbuttoned, and—
My eyes widened.
His black trousers were bulging.
Chills erupted over me. I wasn’t sure why I was surprised. He’d said he found me attractive. Still…
Before I could change my mind, I walked swiftly toward the bed and pulled down the comforter. Then I turned to Reid. “Which side do you sleep on?”
“That one,” he replied.
“Okay.” I walked to the other side. Beneath my robe I wore white pajama pants and an old Iron Maiden T-shirt. Nothing sexy that would entice him. I removed the robe and slid under the covers.
“For crying out loud,” Reid muttered just loud enough for me to hear.
I closed my eyes. The softness of the mattress and pillows made me feel like I was nestling into a cloud.
The sounds of Reid getting ready for bed gave me comfort as I lay there, waiting for sleep to come. Then the movement of the bed as he lay down, and the change under my eyelids when he turned off the lights.
No reason to fear the dark.
Reid was next to me.
Reid would protect me.
I fell into slumber.
“They’re ready for you.”
Strong arms yanked me out of my bed.
How long had I been here? In this room?
They’re ready for you. The words played in my mind.
It was time. I’d be beaten up. Or raped. Then killed. Today would be the end of my life. I’d thought about it these several days I was here, being held captive but fed oddly well. Funny. I’d become numb to the concept.
Until now.
Now, I had to face it.
This would be my last day on earth.
There was no escape.
The person grabbing me was masked.
“Who are you?”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said.
“Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
He led me through what seemed to be a maze of hallways. From the corner of my eye, I spied cages. Women in cages. “Who are they?”
“Not your concern.”
I hadn’t been kept in a cage. Was that a good thing?
God, no. None of this was a good thing.
Saliva pooled in my mouth as my throat got ready to explode. “I’m…” I heaved on the man’s arm.
“Fuck you, bitch!” He let go of me to wipe off my puke.
And I ran.
Where? I had no idea. This place was a carpeted maze. Doors here and there, hallways shifting off in strange directions.
Find a door. Find an escape. Run!
But there was no escape. Each door seemed to lead nowhere, and I had no idea from which direction I had started.
I ran, tears blinding me. Until—
My body hit something hard and I fell to the ground with a thud.
“Another one got away, I see,” a voice said. “I told you it’s a mistake to feed them so well.”
“No, Jim,” said another. “What good is a hunt without strong prey? There’s no challenge.”
I panted, trying desperately to catch my breath. When I looked up, two blurred figures stood above me. Both dark-haired, and one…
Was he wearing a clergy collar?
Thank God!
“Father, help me!” I screamed.
The one dressed in hunting garb laughed. “You’ll get some help, but not from us. You’re definitely worthy prey.”
Pray. That was a good idea. I squeezed my eyes shut.
Help me, God. Please! Our Father, who art in heaven…
Strong arms lifted me to my feet.
“Stop the blubbering,” one voice said.
…Hallowed be thy name…
“Look at the body on her.”
“Tall too. Long legs. Definitely worthy.”
…Thy kingdom come…
They dragged me, my toes scraping the carpeting.
…Thy will be done…
A door slammed, and someone pushed me onto a steel table.
…On earth as it is in heaven…
“Let’s get her ready.”
…Give us this day our daily bread…
Something cold and hard touched my flesh.
…And forgive us our trespasses…
I screamed as something punctured me.
And I never prayed again.
26
Reid
I jerked upward.
“No!” Zee thrashed in bed next to me.
I rolled toward her and grabbed her shoulders. “Zee! Wake up!”
“No! Don’t hurt me! Please!”
“Zee!”
Her eyes popped open. “Help me!”
“Shh. It’s okay. You’re safe.”
“No, please!”
I moved away slightly so as not to alarm her. “It’s me, Zee. It’s Reid. You’re safe here.”
Her eyes changed then. They were still wide but she turned and looked at me. “You…”
“Yes, me. Reid.”
“Thank God.” She rolled toward me and plastered her body against mine.
This wasn’t going to help my hard dick.
“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for keeping me safe.”
“You must have been dreaming.”
“Yeah. It happens sometimes. Especially if I’m in a new place.”
I caressed her soft hair. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m okay now. I rarely remember the dreams. Thank you.” She nuzzled my shoulder.
“Zee…”
“Please,” she said. “Just hold me. It’s been so long since I’ve been held.”
So much for sleep tonight. I couldn’t turn her down, but this was going to slowly kill me. How was I supposed to deal with the blue balls?
I wrapped her in my arms and gently kissed her forehead. “Easy. Go back to sleep.”
She closed her eyes.
Mine stayed open.
All fucking night.
My phone alarm went off as scheduled at six a.m. Had I slept once Zee got settled, I’d have gotten a little less than four hours. Because I’d stayed awake all night, though, with a perpetual hard-on, I got zero hours. Not even a damned millisecond.
Zee slept soundly beside me. Even my blaring alarm didn’t wake her. I eased away from her as gently as I could so as not to wake her and turned off the alarm. I rose and padded to the bathroom. At least I could jack off in the shower. I’d considered taking care of it in bed after Zee fell asleep, but then decided that was a little too creepy.
Yeah. Way too creepy.
So I’d nursed the balls of blue all freaking night, and now I still had an erection and couldn’t even take my morning piss.
For God’s sake.
I relaxed—or tried to—and finally got my dick soft enough to pee. Then I got in the shower and masturbated to Zee’s gorgeous body, how she’d looked with those bright red painted nipples in the show.
Fuck, she was sexy.
I stroked my cock as the shower pelted me in warmth, and with each stroke, I imagined Zee’s lips around me.
Yes, good. Really good. I groaned aloud, backing up against the shower wall. The shower had four heads, so no matter where I stood, water drizzled over me.
I closed my eyes. “Yeah, Zee, just like—”
“Reid?”
My eyes popped open as I dropped my erection.
Seriously?
“Zee”—I cleared my throat—“I’m kind of indisposed at the moment.” Thinking about you giving me a masterful blow job. Yeah.
“I’m sorry. I woke up, and you were gone. I got kind of…scared.”
“Everything’s fine. I’m just taking a shower.”
“Yeah, I figured that out.”
“Which I usually do privately,” I continued.
“Yeah…”
Except the expected sound of the door closing with Zee’s departure didn’t happen. In fact, even with the shower n
oise, I heard her breathing. The glass doors were coated in steam, but still I saw her—a blur in white.
She was breathing…hard.
God, give me strength.
“If you’d like a shower,” I said, trying to make my voice sound normal through gritted teeth, “there’s a great shower in your guest room. Or if you need to go to the bathroom.”
“I already went to the bathroom,” she said.
“Okay, good. Why didn’t you take a shower in there, then?”
“Because…”
“What?” For God’s sake, what?
“I want to shower with you.”
My hard-on swelled larger than ever. This was a damned test, and I was going to fail miserably.
How the hell was I supposed to shower with Zee and her amazing body without fucking her?
Answer—no way in hell could I, so she was not getting into the shower with me.
“That’s not a good idea,” I said.
“But…you…”
“What?”
“You calm me, Reid. I can’t really describe it any better than that. I’m more relaxed with you than I’ve ever been, and I know it doesn’t make any sense. I mean, you’re his son.” Silence for a few seconds. “I don’t get it, but it’s true.”
“Fine. I’ll finish my shower and then you can use this one. I’ll sit in the bathroom if that’s what you want, but you’re absolutely not—”
She opened the glass shower door, clad in the white fluffy robe.
“For God’s sake,” I muttered.
She dropped the robe, and—
I sucked in a gasping breath.
Her body. I always knew it would be spectacular, but even I wasn’t prepared for her magnificence.
Perfect breasts—which of course I’d seen before but not this close up—and the nipples weren’t bright red, of course. They were dark pink. Dark pink and perfect.
She was tall and broad-shouldered, which of course was why she could handle those huge headdresses she wore in the show. She had just enough indentation at her waist to make her narrow hips shapely. And her rear end. I was never an ass man, but dancing had giving her a perfect booty.
My erection throbbed.
Her gaze dropped, and an audible gasp escaped her throat.
Well, what did she expect? She opened the shower doors. Did she expect me to be hanging flaccid?
