Dark Bastard: A Dark Sparrow Novel

by India Kells

  “My dear son, I can’t wait to have you by my side as we work together. There’s so much we need to rebuild, so many things you have to learn.”

  Ellie slid a gaze toward Sam who looked at his father with that neutral, almost welcoming expression. “Yes, Father.”

  “Oh! I know you’re playing games with me, but you’ll see. When you learn everything about me, about what I do, you’ll change your mind and come to me of your own free will. And you’ll see that I’m telling you the truth.”

  Was the man delusional? Or mad? Ellie couldn’t see any other explanation. Sam’s hand on the table slowly turned into a fist, his knuckles white, although the rest of his body remained compliant. She had to give Sam a break.

  “And what I am to do while you men try to rebuild the family business?” She was glad she kept her voice light, especially when sarcasm threatened to taint her every word.

  As she’d intended, Finch turned his attention to her, and again, it creeped her out. “You’re here for my son’s enjoyment. That is your only task and the only reason you’re still here, my dear.” As he spoke, a light in his eyes brightened the older man’s face. “I didn’t think about it at first, but I think a grandchild would be a splendid idea. A son for my son, the future heir of our rebuilt empire.”

  Images of Sam as a child flipped through her head and she felt herself blanch, ready to bolt. She wasn’t pregnant, but the idea of bringing an innocent child into the world and into the claws of that man revolted her. Only the unexpected touch of Sam’s foot against hers under the table in a silent show of support and warning, replaced the words she was about to spew at Finch. “It’s a great idea. I always wanted a child.”

  Finch seemed satisfied as he smiled even broadly at her. “Child? Make it children, my dear. I renounced family joys to build what was mine, but as I have a successor, I think I could let myself enjoy being a dotting grandfather.”

  Even if she and Sam had vowed to find a way out, the conversation was like a trap closing around her, squeezing all the air and hope out of her body. It took great strength to focus again and play the role she’d promised to play. Obedient and meek was far from her natural self, but if it helped confirm Sam’s newfound submission to his father, she’d do it.

  Finch started again with his one-sided conversation, talking about family and money and power, and Ellie continued to smile and nod. Sam’s continued touch was the only anchor keeping her in her chair as the meal stretched on.

  At some point, Finch returned to the topic of a grandchild, and that put an end to the meal, as he ordered Sam to take her to bed with laughter. By then, Ellie was so happy to finally put some distance between her and Finch, she would’ve agreed to anything he said. Bidding him goodnight, she dutifully kissed Finch’s cheek and took Sam’s arm like a lifeline.

  Panem led the way again, like a dark crow into the night, but she held on until the door to their room finally shut out this madness.

  Sam took her in his arms before she could utter a single word. “You were brilliant. So brave.”

  Her voice muffled, Ellie snorted. “I wanted to punch him in the face!”

  His body tightened around hers. “I wanted to do a lot worse to him.”

  Ellie felt a bit better knowing Sam was on the same wavelength. With a sigh, she let go of him, feeling as if she’d run a marathon. Reluctantly stepping out of his arms, she sat on the bed with a sigh, her feet screaming. “I just remembered why I don’t own any heels. All I did was walk up and down the hall and I can’t stand it anymore.”

  Crossing her legs, she went to untie the clasp on the side of her feet when Sam stopped her hand and knelt. Ellie’s breathing hitched at the imposing man clad in his dark tuxedo, his big fingers on her, finagling her ankle strap.

  “You don’t have to do that, you know.”

  A stormy gaze flipped up her. “There are things I’m forced to do, and this isn’t one of them.”

  Fatigue suddenly vanished, her skin turning tingly and hot. His tanned hands contrasted to her pale skin. She couldn’t remove her attention from his agile fingers, noticing how they moved, and the many small nicks and scars covering them, a witness to the life he’d lived.

  Gently, he slid the sandal off, taking her other foot to take care of her other shoe.

  Once it dropped, Sam massaged her arch and she moaned at the sensation.

  “I think I want to hear you make that sound again. And again.”

  The air now heavy with anticipation, Ellie knew it wasn’t some spur-of-the-moment sex. It would be decided, calculated, deliberate. Was that what she wanted from him? And what about Sam? Could she let herself fall for a man who was drowning in darkness, just like her?

  When he dropped her foot and leaned forward for a kiss, Ellie decided that if life was giving her one wild ride with an honorable man, who was sexy as fuck, she’d be a fool to say no.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Heat couldn’t begin to describe what burned deep in his gut. Desire was such a flimsy word to describe the need that gnawed at him. Could it be life was returning to him in the form of this woman?

  Sam had had other women, a blur of faces and skin who offered warmth, but nothing like the blaze he wanted to explore with Ellie. One thing held him back.

  “Ellie...” Her name felt so soft on his breath when he broke their kiss. It took several blinks to clear the dreamy fog in her blue eyes. Her mouth was ripe and red, ready for the taking and still he hesitated. “I... I can’t do soft and slow... What happened between us, before…”

  Her hand cupped his jaw before stroking his cheek. “It’s fine, I...”

  But he cut her off, shaking his head. “I want to do soft and slow, dammit, I want to, but I...” Words were difficult to come, but he had to come clean with her, to make her understand. “It’s complicated.” It was an understatement considering his history and a definite turn-off, but he couldn’t start second-guessing himself. Ellie sat as he still kneeled before her, she was so small, their faces were almost level.

  He measured his words carefully. “You know my past. Because of it, I had to find ways to keep my mind clear of those memories when I’m with a woman.”

  Ellie should have been horrified, disgusted, or looking at the door for a quick exit, but instead, she remained put, her cheeks pink, her fingers playing with the hair around his ear. “Survival mode for you. Got it. And that’s logical. You found a way that allows you to function. We’re in this together. Just tell me what you want.”

  Sam leaned back a little. “Just like that?”

  With a shrug, Ellie stood and offered him a hand to rise as well. “Just like that. I’m the kind of girl who wants everyone around me to be happy. And I’m quite adaptable.”

  “I want to please you, too.”

  “Whether you’re slow and soft, or intense as fuck, I have no doubt I’ll be tremendously pleased.” Ellie pivoted to give her back. “Can you please unzip me?”

  The pale column of her neck contrasted with her short midnight hair as his eyes slid to the tiny tab. It was the first time he remembered undressing a woman. Normally, his sexual encounters were short and frantic, with both of them tearing at their own clothes. Now, as he pulled down the zipper, Sam couldn’t help but drag his fingertips slowly along her uncovered skin and smile at her shivers. With one hard pull he could have torn the dress in two, but the idea of teasing Ellie with that slow concept was intriguing.

  At the end of the zipper, Sam slipped his hands under the fabric, circling her tiny waist before moving up her ribcage, and pushing the dress off her shoulders. Blessedly naked, he couldn’t help but fill his hands with her breasts. Perfect, they filled his palms, and as he felt her nipples harden, his cock jerked in reaction. For the first time in his life, he thought he might be a breast man. Ellie seemed to enjoy his attention, her head falling back on his shoulder with a sigh. Her hips started to sway, letting her dress pool at her feet. With more delicious terrain to explore, Sam let his hands tra
ced the soft curves of her belly and hips but stopped at a delicate demarcation of silk. With the woman moving like a wave in his arms, he tore the flimsy fabric away before thinking about it. The heat of her sex filling his hand made him growl in hunger.

  Ellie’s raspy voice echoed his desire and it surprised Sam when she grabbed his wrist and started moving her hips to increase the friction. It was wanton and decadent, increasing his own need to breaking point.

  The bed was too far away, but Sam had an idea that was just a few steps away. “Put your hands on the armchair, I want to see all of you ready for me.” His words sounded harsher and naughtier than he’d intended, but when she obeyed, displaying her sex to him, Sam couldn’t ask for more. His first intention had been to fuck her, but now, seeing her in all her glory, shivering and restless, her sex glistening with need, he fell to his knees.

  The scent of an aroused woman was the most enticing smell of all, but Ellie’s was unique, and his mouth watered as he leaned forward for a taste. Her thighs trembled under his hands when he made contact, his tongue tracing a path from her slit to her peeking clit. His body was screaming at him to take his fill of hers, plow and take without mercy or regard for her comfort, but he held back. His initial fear was triggering painful images from his past, or seeing a face he’d rather forget, but Ellie, with her taste, smell, voice, and body, obliterated everything else apart from the elation of giving her pleasure and the anticipation of joining her soon.

  “Sam! Please.” Her shout was a warning, telling him she was close to the edge, and he almost wanted to continue until she came but he’d stretched his patience past the point of rescue.

  Sam almost blacked out when he got to his feet, unfastened his pants, and sheathed himself deep in this incredible woman. Out of breath, almost completely dressed, the pleasure was so sudden, like shots on an empty stomach. His fingers digging hard into her hips, he let himself return to his primal state, the sound of sex filling the room, her taste on his tongue and her feminine moans turning him feral. With Ellie naked and him still dressed, it added another layer of eroticism.

  It would’ve been so easy with any other woman to get his fill of her, spill deep inside her with pleasure and be done with it, but not now. Not with Ellie. The fact that he cared so deeply astonished him, turning his mind back to Ellie and her pleasure. Despite the tingling low in his spine, and his balls drawing up in preparation, Sam had to make Ellie fly first.

  Bending forward, he peppered her back with kisses, still pumping deep. Sam snaked an arm around her hips and slid his fingers to where they were connected. The moment he slid a fingertip across her bundle of nerves, coaxing a response, her body bowed. It was clear she was getting close, so close, and somehow, it became his sole focus, even more than his own release. With his only goal to overload her senses, Sam used all his tricks, all his skills until with a cry of release, his angel shattered in his arms.

  Sam had almost forgotten about his own release when it took him by surprise, flying up through his feet and shaking legs, burning through his loins before pulsing inside Ellie. The pleasure was mind-blowing, but it was the floating feeling he experienced he didn’t want to end, it was so peaceful with his angel softening in his arms.

  Keeping a hand on her, Sam discarded his remaining clothes and took Ellie in his arms. The bed was cold against his heated skin, and he bundled her close, not only to keep her warm, but to ground himself. For the first time in forever, bad memories didn’t pollute his mind and his body felt clean and whole. As he drifted into sleep, Sam gathered Ellie tighter, thanking the heavens for offering him this slice of unexpected peace in the arms of this woman, and the hope that even his ugliest scars could be faced and maybe heal.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Life as a prisoner in a mansion was boring as hell. Ellie never thought she’d ever have to think about that concept, but it was true.

  Every morning Sam was called to Finch’s side, doing administrative stuff, shadowing him through mundane activities, so far at least. He returned late at night, his body weary and his soul exhausted. Since that first dinner, Finch had opted for private meals with his son. It was heartbreaking to see him like that, gathering the last of his strength to offer her a smile, while she knew he was fighting so many demons inside, a fight he could very well be on the verge of losing. Every time he pushed the door open and returned to their quarters, it was what Ellie feared the most—that Finch had chipped another piece of his son’s soul away and that it would just vanish.

  Each night, whispering for fear of being overheard, Sam would tell her what he’d done, if he’d noticed anything interesting or had a lead he intended to explore, but most of the time Ellie wasn’t fooled. He made the information sound more important than it was so she didn’t lose hope. What Sam didn’t know was that he was the only thing keeping her hopes high, as well as her worry and anger.

  As she knew he would, Finch played mind games during the time he had Sam within his grasp. With the little time they had together each day, Ellie did her best to recharge his batteries, telling him something funny, attempting to make him smile. And when it didn’t work, what remained was the attraction between them. However, she knew even incredible sex wouldn’t hold her warrior up forever.

  When she was alone and had eaten breakfast, she was back to roaming the place like a caged lion. She had no TV, no books, no computers. Only a few magazines that contained more beauty tricks than real information.

  In fact, she’d started tearing out the pages to use them to do origami animals like she’d been taught as a child. And when she couldn’t stand the amount of them all around her on the floor, she squashed them beneath her feet.

  Ellie knew very well she was losing it herself, and had to find a way to stay sane, to help them escape. As sunlight streamed through the large windows, the snow pristine and bright, it only reinforced her goal to escape.

  Not really thinking it through, she pressed the button on the intercom system, and as expected, Panem answered. “Can I be of help, miss?”

  “I want to leave.” The silence that answered her at first was almost comical.

  “Mr. Finch’s orders were that you couldn’t step outside the property limits, miss.”

  “I know that. I just want to go outside to take a stroll. I’ve been inside these four walls too long and I need air.”

  More silence greeted her, to the point she almost believed he’d hung up on her until his voice came through the system once more. “I’ll accompany you. Please put on a warm coat and boots, the weather is quite cold this morning.”

  Not waiting for him to change his mind, Ellie rushed to the closet. There was no such thing as a winter coat, but she decided to be creative by putting on a few cashmere sweaters under an oversize jacket. As for boots, she found tall leather boots and as expected, they were a tad too big, allowing her to put on a couple more layers of thick socks. With a scarf around her neck and gloves in her hands, she opened the door to see the disgruntled weasel of a servant waiting for her. She suspected that Panem would’ve preferred she not be allowed to leave the house at all. The look on his face told her that winter wasn’t his favorite season.

  Without a word exchanged and the usual creepy feeling that hit her whenever the man was near, Panem led her out of the house through the front door, which allowed her to have a look at another part of the house. She made a mental note to try to memorize as much of the layout as possible.

  Panem hadn’t lied, the cold was intense and felt like a physical wall when she stepped outside. Even if it stung her skin, Ellie let out a sigh, enjoying the stark contrast of the wind and the warmth of the sun on her skin. Even if winters in Chicago weren’t always easy or fun, it had a way of making her focus on the most important things.

  “You said you wanted to walk around. There is a small path through the snow near the house. I would suggest you use it, miss.”

  The more he said ‘miss’, the more Ellie got the impression it was said in disgust.
Ignoring him, she took the narrow path of beaten snow, trying to empty her mind to make way for new ideas.

  The grounds were beautiful with clusters of naked trees and bushes. The wind mixed with the smell of fir trees, and Ellie took a moment to appreciate where she was, even though she was there against her will. Too soon, she noticed people in the distance. The guards were making their rounds near the inner wall. No doubt there would be men guarding the outer perimeter. Apart from Panem, she hadn’t seen anybody else inside, but there ought to be security hidden there too.

  As the path swerved away from the house a bit, Ellie could finally look at the house in daylight, admiring the gray stone structure. Beautiful but ostentatious, screaming wealth more than taste. Where is Finch getting the money to maintain this place?

  During one of their whispered talks, Sam had told her that each of his brothers had chipped away at Finch’s financial revenues, both official and unofficial. When he’d been accused of child slavery, the authorities had made sure to strip him of anything in his name. Finch had excluded himself from several underground resources by trying to double-cross local mafia lords and MCs.

  Again, how could he afford to stay here and hire so many guns for protection?

  Halfway around the house, Ellie peeked at Panem, who seemed to be enjoying this outing less and less. “Have you been working for Mr. Finch a long time, Panem?”

  “Quite. I’ve been in his service for quite some time now. Ever since he saved my life.”

  Ellie was interested but made sure to temper her curiosity so as not to look suspicious. “Wow. He saved your life. He’s quite a man. What happened?”

  Panem appeared more interested in his footing than looking at her. “I lived in poverty, deep in a slum. It was sheer coincidence that Mr. Finch saw me and offered me a job.”