Chapter 9
Slade
“Tell me you’ve got something. What the fuck is going on here?” My voice boomed through the street as I half stared at my men, half watched the ambulance drive away with who I now knew to be Zane Collins. Had it not been for my men alerting me to the gunshot and suspicious activity they picked up on the police scanner, I might have missed the whole episode of the police arriving.
Marcio glanced at Brace, who took over.
“They got him in the chest. Doesn’t look good. There were no witnesses to the attack, but it appears it happened just outside the elevator on the top floor. Witnesses reported a man forcing a screaming woman into a dark SUV in the parking garage.”
“His girlfriend? Shit, his family must have gotten to him.” My hand came up to my mouth while I shook my head. Why the fuck hadn’t he taken me up on my offer? Maybe he would have been safe. Now this, on top of my sister having some kind of break down and running off. I couldn’t stand her not being looked after. I supposed it was time I backed off, but I didn’t like her being so unprotected. Too much shit surrounded us. Bad blood came a dime a dozen in my circle and now she was part of it.
“Boss, there’s more.”
Brace glanced back at Marcio. I knew that look. They were hiding something.
“Well, what the fuck is it?”
What looked to be black lace was pulled from his pocket. The stocking attachments were the first thing to catch my attention.
“Speak, Brace. I’m not a fucking psychic. And stop looking at Marcio. He’s not going to help you. Just tell me.”
I reached for the garter belt and what I soon realized were ripped panties.
“I found these around the side of the building,” he said, pointing off to the distance. “I went shopping with Lily earlier. She bought the replica of those. The call we tried to track…it was a buffer call. It had to be. Holland’s Hotel is on the far side of the city. With traffic like it is, it would have taken her at least a half hour to make it there by car. She was walking. I think your man who just got shot might have something to do with Lily calling. The number you had me track down earlier had similar characteristics. And the description of the woman…it’s Lily to a tee. The hair, the dark dress, the black stockings…”
My head shook, refusing to believe what sounded so certain. “Coincidence. It has to be. Women wear black undergarments all the time. And Lily didn’t sound scared when she called. Angry, a little, but afraid for her life? No. Besides, how would she know Zane Collins? It doesn’t make sense. You’ve seen everyone Lily’s came in contact with. Have you ever seen them together?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “But we both know Zane Collins isn’t his real name.”
Of course I knew that. Why hadn’t I been tempted to find out what it was earlier? There was just something about that guy that made me a little soft and I had no idea what it was.
The more I let everything play out, the faster my heart raced. One by one, the possibilities hit me and I could feel myself freaking the fuck out. Not again.
Lily
. “Well, what have you been waiting for? Get it for me! If my sister had an association with him and she was the one taken, I want to know everything.” I took a few steps closer to the street, not sure of where I was going. “Son of bitch. Marcio, get the car, we’re going to the hospital. If he wakes up, maybe we can learn something.”
Please don’t fucking die. And please tell me they’re wrong. Lily can’t be the one taken. Not again. Fuck…I couldn’t do this again!
I nearly groaned as I let everything sink in. Whether I wanted to admit or not, I already knew in the pit of my stomach. Zane and my sister had been together. How, I had no clue. But it made sense why he kept showing up at random places. And then, asking me for help, and wanting to get his life straight because of the woman he loved. He’d stressed that part, as if he were trying to tell me why it were so important. The woman….it had to be my sister. Fuck! I could kill him for the danger he put her in. Yet, I knew the cost of love. Had lived out my own hell with Mary before we found peace.
The car pulled up next to me as I still stared at the flashing lights. I had to force myself to slide in the back seat. I felt rocked inside, right back in the same spot I’d been when I learned my sister had been taken the first time. I grabbed my phone from my pocket, hating to have to call Mary so late. She’d been so tired lately. It was only just before nine, but she was probably already asleep.
Ringing sent my hand to the door grip and I squeezed tightly.
“Hey, I was wondering where you were.” She yawned. “How’d Lily’s date go?”
My head leaned back against the headrest. The last thing I wanted to do was upset my wife, but we shared everything. If I couldn’t be open with her, she’d know I was hiding something. That would stress her out even more. “She’s gone, baby. I think she’s been taken again.”
“What!” Breathing heavily, her words tumbled over each other as they came out. “How? I thought you were there? How could someone have taken her?”
My head shook. “We were caught off guard. Lily…she fucking tied up Alec in the restroom. Sexually,” I emphasized. “I was shocked, to say the least. She ran out, angrily, while we were getting him untied. She called a little while afterward and said she was okay, that she’d be home when she cooled off, but something has happened.” My hand rubbed at my eyes as I tried to think of how to shorten the story. “You remember the guy I was telling you about earlier? The one who needed a job?”
“Zane,” Mary rushed out.
“Yes. Well, he got shot tonight, right across the street from Lily’s penthouse. A girl was taken.”
“The girlfriend you told me about?”
My head shook. “I don’t know. I think Lily
might
be that girlfriend. It’s really confusing right now. We found some…clothes that she might have been wearing, next to the building. It could be hers, or maybe it belongs to someone else. We might be way off and maybe she is just away for the night. I don’t want to take any chances, though. We’re headed to the hospital now. Maybe we can get in to see Zane somehow.”
“I’m coming.” What sounded like blankets ruffled in the background and I flew forward.
“You leave that room, so help me God.”
“Slade, you can’t just expect me to stay here when—”
“Oh yes, you will stay. Do not leave that room. I want every single door locked. I’m sending Marcio over there to stand guard. We have no idea what the fuck is happening right now. Think of the baby, Mary. If something happened to either one of you…” I trailed off, running my hand through my hair —a habit that had suddenly come back due to all this stress. “Stay. Promise me.”
A few seconds went by before I heard her sigh. “You’re right. I’ll stay.”
“Good girl. Now, lay back and relax as best as you can. You don’t need to worry. I shouldn’t have said anything to begin with, but I knew you’d want to know.”
“Thank you. Be careful, please.”
“Always. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I hung up, sliding the phone back in my pocket. “You’re dropping me off and going to stand guard outside of my room with Caleb. Send Brace and Tor up here. I’m not sure what the fuck is going on with Zane and his family, but I have a feeling it’s not going to be good. If Lily
was
taken, we have to figure out if it had to do with them or something completely different. He knew about my past as far back as Lily returning. He knew about the Brightons. I can’t shake the impression that saying their name set him off. Shit, what the fuck is happening? I can’t think. If she was taken, was this on my and her side, or his?”
My fingers rubbed circles over my temple.
“Boss, can I make a suggestion?”
I looked up, meeting his eyes in the rearview mirror. “Have I ever told you no?”
“No.” He turned, bringing the ambulance in view as it pulled into the hospital entrance. “I think we should call the FBI. Have them check the clothing we found to see if it matches with Lily’s DNA. I’m sorry, but I have a really bad feeling about this and I’d like to bring them in as fast as we can. If you don’t want to take that route just yet, at least allow me to make a few calls. I know someone who has a connection with a man at the FBI office here in the city. His name is Agent Gaige Sullivan. I think he could help us out. It’ll strictly be under the radar. No news crews. No big scene. We can just call him and tell him the story, accompanied with Lily’s history. Although,” he paused, “I’m betting he’s heard all about it.”
“FBI.” I nearly cringed at the bad taste it left in my mouth. But, Marcio was right. Maybe they could help. “Call your connection. Tell him to meet us here.”
Marcio nodded and pulled out his phone as he drove in and parked. I didn’t wait. I threw the door open and raced toward the ER entrance. The ambulance was still parked with the back doors opened, in the process of taking him out. I slowed at the roar that echoed from inside the space.
“Lily! Lily!”
My legs turned weak as I tried to keep them moving. The stretcher was pulled out and a pale body fought against the restraints strapping him in. Zane turned to me as they lowered him out all the way. Blood splatter stood out against his ghostly appearance, dotting his face and staining his neck. My whole world tilted as our eyes met.
“Slade, find Lily. Slade,” he yelled, beginning to cough. “Find her, please.” The last word were weak. I could see how hard he was fighting to stay conscious.
As they began wheeling him in, my body kicked into gear and I rushed to catch up. “Who took her? Who took my sister?”
All he could do was shake his head as his eyes began rolling off to the side.
“Zane! Dammit, you fucking tell me right now. Who has Lily?” I reached forward in desperation when I was cut off by a team of nurses. The paramedics began going over their report as the nurses began taking his vitals.
“Sir, you have to stay here.” Someone was pushing against my chest, but I saw nothing except the last man to see my sister before she was abducted. They were taking him further away, and with it, any information that could help.
“Fuck.” My hand blindly reached out to the wall. “Tell me this isn’t happening.” I turned, catching Marcio coming through the main doors. I rushed forward, grasping his shirt and dragging him outside. “It’s Lily. Someone
has
my sister. God dammit!” My shoe connected with the trashcan mounted to the cement. I punched against the metal next and I didn’t stop swinging until Marcio pulled me back. Blood ran from my numb knuckles, but I barely noticed. Flashes of Lily raging in front of me appeared and it only made me swing again. Hadn’t she seen why I’d been so protective?
“Enough. Gaige is on his way. He already called. Did Zane say anything?”
My head shook as I stared toward the entrance. “I’m going to kill whoever took her. They’ll be in pieces before it’s over with. Nobody fucks with what’s mine. No one.”
“Let’s go get your hand looked at while we wait.”
“It’s fine,” I ground out.
“It’ll give us something to do. Come on, boss.”
Like a zombie, I let Marcio lead me inside. My mind went over every possibility of who could be responsible. Even through the paper work and admitting, I never stopped plotting revenge. Someone was going to pay and I wasn’t going to stop until they did.
Chapter 10
Zain
A blur of colors swirled above me and somewhere within, I knew doctors were working to keep me alive, but all I could focus on was my slave’s face. Her smile beamed above as she leaned down, running her fingers over the stubble on my cheek. It was the moment I knew my heart was hers. We’d just finished making love and I was surprised she was still awake from the punishment I’d put her through. Marks from the spanking and where I’d sucked against her skin marred random places, and exhaustion showed on her face, but that smile and affection…I soaked it in like the starving man I was.
“What was your life like before you got taken?” I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear while she twisted her mouth.
“Lots of school, shopping, the typical college girl stuff.”
“School.” My attention piqued. At twenty-seven, I’d never attended a real college. All my education was done by private teachers that came to my father’s home. “What were you studying?”
She laughed and shrugged. “Nothing too exciting. Just business stuff. My brother owns a really big company. I’m going to work for him when I finish school.” A frown took over her smile. “I was.” Tears appeared and I pulled her to lay down on my chest while I stroked her hair.
“I’m sorry your life has taken a different path. I’ve come to see they often veer from what we expect.”
“No.” She pushed off of me to sit. “I’m going back. I won’t be here forever. Slade will find me. He will. You don’t know my brother.”
“I don’t, but I know my father and his connections. You won’t be going home, Lily. Your life is here now.”
Dark hair spun around her nude body as she turned to get off the bed. My arm wrapped around her waist and I pulled her back, making her lie down again.
“Is it so very bad here with me?” I used the pad of my thumb to wipe the tears from her cheek. “I take care of you, don’t I?”
“Well, yes, but…”
“Stop,” I said, lowly. “The more you think about what can never be, the worse it’ll become. I know this from experience, slave. I was every bit the captive you were. Sometimes we just have to accept what is and continue living with what we’re given.”
Her head lifted while she cupped my cheek. The soft press of her lips had my eyes searching hers.
“Let’s leave together. We can go back to San Francisco and you can get a job while I go to school. You can have a new start. Once my brother knows everything, he’ll destroy this place. We can do it, Master. We can escape.”
The happiness on her face had my hand fitting over her mouth—hard. “No more. You’re living in a fantasy world.” In truth, the temptation rocked me. I wanted to leave with her. Wanted to work a normal job while she went to school. We could get a little place and spend every minute of our free time in each other’s arms. What I liked even more was how she saw us together outside of this place. For some reason, I hadn’t expected that—hadn’t even let myself think of the possibility.
“No,” she said, managing to turn her head away from my palm. “You are the one living in a fantasy. You’re brainwashed into believing your father is more powerful than he is. You watch. My brother is going to kill him when he finds out where I am and what he’s done to all those girls.”
My fingers buried into her hair and I tightened my fist. “The only one killing that bastard is me. Enough of this talk. I want your pussy on me again. Kiss me and let me taste what’s mine.” I spun her underneath me, still holding her head steady and under my control. “You want me?”
Moans poured from her mouth as I let the underside of my cock glide over her wet slit. Her hips pumped, urging me to go faster.
“Yes, Master.”
“You said you wanted to be with me in your little fantasy world. That really true?”
Lily paused and the pink that tinted her cheeks had my mouth crushing into hers. I didn’t need an answer from what I’d just seen.
“I want to be with you, too. There’s no one else for me, Lily. You’re the one.” My hips shifted as I reached down, sliding one of my fingers deep into her pussy. Nails dug into the back of my biceps and I eased another in, thrusting at a slow pace.
No matter what was going through my mind, I couldn’t break my stare from the pleasure on her face. Her sounds grew louder, hypnotizing me. Warmth filled my chest until it resembled nothing short of liquid lava. How had she done it? Come into my life and turned a cold, ruthless killer into a man full of tenderness and love? True, it wasn’t to anyone but her and an outsider would see it differently with the punishment I inflicted on her, but I never thought myself capable to care for someone. To…
“I love you,” I breathed against her lips, telling her for the first time. “God, I do. And nothing will ever break us apart.”
“No matter what?”
Such raw hope on her face. “You have my word, baby girl. No matter what.”
Bright lights shone through the darkness taking Lily away from me. There was something over my mouth and nose that kept rocking my head the slightest amount. For the life of me, I couldn’t react to try to remove whatever was suffocating me…or was it giving me air? I couldn’t think to decide. Fire covered my chest and my body swayed at someone pushing down.
Chest compressions?
Opening my eyes took every ounce of strength I had, but my surroundings didn’t become visible before darkness blanketed me once again. A multitude of voices grabbed my attention and I fought to make out the words.
“Let's do a Dopamine drip to titrate the patient’s blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure of one-forty.” A voice further away, broke through. “We’re going to have to get him into surgery fast. He’s losing too much blood.”
“You’re bleeding.” My voice was cold as I walked forward, pulling Lily from the corner of the room she was huddled in. Nausea and rage mixed, sending my adrenaline through the roof. “What happened? Who hurt you?” I angled her face to the side, taking in the fresh bruise and laceration on her cheek.
“It’s nothing, really. It was my fault.”
It took everything I had not to shake her. “What. Happened?”
Tears rolled down her cheeks, feeding my anger even more.
“There was a slave. She was hurt. I tried to help.”
My head shook and I lifted her hand to kiss her palm. The long sleeve of the robe fell away and my eyes widened at the claw marks embedded deep in her arm.
“Oh…baby. Did they do this to you, too?”
She jerked her hand back. “No, that was the girl. She’s…”A sob broke from her and she threw herself into my chest, crying harder than I’d ever seen her. “She’s dead. She died in my arms while I was trying to comfort her. Then, Saul found me and—”A deep groan vibrated my insides as she broke.
“No more. I’m here now. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.” I covered her face, leaving her eyes showing as I led her to the shower. The moment the robe dropped to the floor, I knew what I had to do. The bruise on her face was enough to convince me, but the damage I saw covering my slave’s body went past simple murder. I was going to carve my uncle up every way I could for putting his hands on what belonged to me.
Lights broke through the darkness again. I blinked, feeling my eyes roll as what looked to be shadows hovered over me.
“He’s waking up.”
The voice sounded distant and my head turned to the side as I tried to figure out which direction it had come from. More talking and movement swirled and I knew I should have been scared, but the only thing on my mind was Lily. Someone had taken her. A man, wearing dark clothes and a ski mask. Was she okay? Was she getting hurt this very moment?
I heard myself groan as pressure pushed into my chest.
Was it my family who’d orchestrated it? Someone she knew and wanted to hurt her because of the murders she committed? How did they know to look on my floor? Did they witness us going inside?
So many question began flooding my mind, but nothing would come in the form of an answer. I was drowning in both theories and what I assumed was my own blood. I was dying, and from my guess, it wasn’t the first time tonight. Was I going to make it out of this room alive and be able to search for my slave, or would she be lost forever?