“I don’t know. You took my freedom away from me and I wanted it back. I hadn’t thought it through. But I would have figured something out. You said you have me here to protect me. Protect me from what?”
He repositions himself on the edge of my bed, resting a hand on my ankle. I try to pull away, but he tightens his grip. “Hear me out.”
I stop trying to put space between us. The tingle I feel from his hands confuses me. It feels good to be near him, yet he is holding me prisoner. Shouldn’t I be repulsed by his touch?
“Your father was in deep with a very dangerous man. named Finn Bailey.” Grant’s body tensed.
“I know who Finn Bailey is. I met him a few weeks ago. He is a creep.”
“Well, that creep seems to believe he owns you, Kelly. Joe paid his debt in full by trading you for the money he owes Finn.”
I consider this for a moment. If this is true, Grant is trying to protect me.
“You don’t know me. Why get involved at all?”
“Finn is causing my people a great deal of trouble. They tasked me with bringing him to justice. During our investigation, you came into the picture and I couldn’t let an innocent become a victim in this war.”
“War? Your people? Who are you? Do you belong to the mafia or something?” My heart races. This is more trouble than I could have ever imagined.
Grant reaches over and caresses my cheek. “Breathe, mo chroi. I have grown quite fond of you and won’t let anything happen to you. Understand?”
So that must be it. Joe got screwed up in the mafia and I’ve become a causality. “Joe was in trouble with the mafia?”
Grant’s lips curl. “Something like that.”
“I’m here because you are keeping me safe from Finn and the mafia?” I sit straight against the headboard as the puzzle pieces are coming together.
His smile fades. He isn’t telling me everything. “What am I missing here? You said you’re some kind of enforcer. Are you FBI?”
“No. It’s a group that operates under the radar. I can’t tell you much more than that. What I can tell you is you’re safe here with me, Moi Chroi. You can trust me to take care of you.”
My radar pings. He isn’t lying, but he is keeping something from me. I think for a moment about what Sofia said. She said this was Grant’s coven or family. Maybe he is from a different mob family? She also said that Grant would have found me, and I need to figure out why.
I don’t think Grant will hurt me. My radar would have told me otherwise. Even if I could get out of here, he’s right, there is nowhere else for me to go. I don’t want Finn to find me and I think I have to trust Grant, for now.
“Okay. You clearly have more resources than I do.” I wave my hand at the enormous room. “And I don’t want to run across Finn. So, I will trust you, Grant. Thank you for your protection.”
“Good, I’m glad that’s settled. I have assigned Nick as your security protection and I trust him with my life, and now with yours. Whatever he tells you or asks of you, trust it is in your best interest, hmm?”
I nod in agreement
Grant hesitates. “One more thing, Kelly.” He crosses his arms in front of his chest. “I’m not an easy man. I expect when someone gives me their word, it’s truth. If you lie to me, I will make your life… difficult. If you keep your word, if you are honest with me, I will give you the world.”
I feel the burn inch up my spine until it hits the back of my neck. “Honest with you? You expect me to be honest with you when I know for a fact you are holding something back. You are NOT telling me everything. You are lying to me by omission.”
His eyes narrow as his nostrils flare, but he remains silent.
My hands open and close into fists, trying to get a handle on my emotions before my body charges up. Closing my eyes, I inhale, then exhale. “I believe you are doing this to protect me and that you have no intentions of hurting me. But I also know there is more to this than you are telling me.”
I turn away from him and lean against the headboard. Ignoring Grant, I grab the TV remote and start channel surfing.
“Kelly.”
I won’t look at him. My feelings about this situation; my feelings for him are all over the place. I feel like I am a hot mess right now.
“Kelly. Look at me. Please.”
With a heavy sigh, I turn back toward him. His brows are pulled together and his irises have a strange silver glow to them. My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. Grant closes his eyes and when he opens them, the glow is no longer there. Did I imagine it? I look at the bedside lamp, wondering if it can cast the strange glow.
“Mo chroi.” He pulls my attention back to him.
“I’m sorry.”
“Mo chroi I promise you I will tell you everything when the time is right, but for now I need you to trust me. Will you trust me?”
It is as if he is trying to will me into understanding his plea with his pained expression. I can’t fight with him anymore.
“I will trust you, Grant. For now. But you have to let me in and tell me what I’m missing. You’re asking me to blindly trust a complete stranger with my life. You see that, right?”
He brushes his lips over the top of my ear and whispers. “Does it feel as if we’re strangers, moi chroi? I know you feel the pull between us.”
A shiver tears through my spine. I felt a connection to him. “Yes.”
“Then trust me. I will let nothing hurt you.” He draws himself back and promises, “and I will let nothing ever come between us.” Without another word, he left.
I think I should be reluctant of his promise to me, but I am warming up to the idea. The thought that I am okay with him taking over like he is, should be what I am scared of. I don’t want to lose myself and give someone power over me, or my life.
Chapter 12
Grant
I sit behind my mahogany desk, watching Kelly on the desktop computer monitor. She isn’t paying attention to the TV program she switched on. She seems to daydream. I watch as she slips off the bed and walks across the room until she disappears from the screen. Disappointed, I think of my conversation with Nick when they were installing the additional security cameras in her room. I wanted a camera in every room, but Nick argued stating it was an invasion of her privacy.
Nick has been my progeny for sixty-five years. I turned him when Nick was only twenty-seven years old. Not only is Nick my right-hand man, but he is my most trusted friend.
“Boss don’t put the cameras in the bathroom and closet. That’s not a good idea.” He knew I had become angry with his words, but he stood his ground. “If she finds out you’ve been watching her shower and dress, you will lose any chance of gaining her trust.”
“You make a good point. But if they are well hidden, she will never find out. I need to ensure she is safe, Nick. We need to eliminate any chance of losing her.”
“But Boss if she finds out she will never give you a chance in hell. What do you want more, a willing mate or a woman who loathes you?”
“Fine. No cameras. But the blame is on you if she becomes hurt or turns up missing because we did not have eyes on her twenty-four seven.” I sat down in my chair and waved Nick away.
Looking back on the conversation, I knew Nick was right all along. But Kelly had made it down the emergency stairway to the ninth floor before he could stop her. It was a good thing Nick stopped her when he did. I was furious she made it that far and was about to leap into action myself when Nick found her in the stairway. I made Nick her personal bodyguard. He should know where she is and what she is doing at all times. We both were learning Kelly was proving to be more difficult to handle than I first thought.
Her behavior is exasperating. She pushes every one of my buttons. All I want is to take care of her, pamper her. Give her everything she desires. But I know she desires her freedom over everything else. She belongs to me now, and I will never let her go. Maybe there is a way to compromise with her.
I recogni
ze the knock at my office door. “Come in, Nick.”
He steps between the two wing-back chairs that face my desk and waits for me to acknowledge him.
“You have something, Nick?” I continue to watch for Kelly to return from the bathroom.
“Yeah, boss.” Nick rarely addresses me by name. But there is a point when I asked him to stop calling me Master. He isn’t my equal, but he is more than a servant. “I have Tony parked outside her door. She’s not going anywhere tonight.”
Kelly takes that moment to reappear on the monitor. I push out the breath I have been holding, waiting for her to come back into view. I rub my hand across my face, feeling some tension ease away now she is back in the picture.
“Boss, can I say something?”
I pull my eyes away from the monitor and nod. “What is it?” My eyes glide back to her. She has changed into an oversized t-shirt and leggings. Why does she wear this to bed? I purchased silk night gowns for her to sleep in. The crease on my forehead deepens.
“Boss. I think you should talk to her. Maybe try to put her at ease a little, you know?” Nick waits two heartbeats before he continues. “I mean, she’s scared. Her ass wipe dad just used her as payment to Finn. Then Tony and I take her and lock her up. She can’t be taking all of that well.”
I fix my eyes on Nick. “Why would she be scared? I’ve given her a beautiful room; beautiful clothing. I’ve told her I will take care of her every need.”
“Can I sit?” Nick motions to the chair to his left.
I nod and wave a hand at the chair. “Please, continue. I’m all ears.” I hear my Irish accent bleed through, something I have worked hard to control over the years. But I realize I have little control of it with Kelly.
“Well, women have changed since the seventeenth century boss. You just can’t tell ‘em how things are. They want a say in what happens to 'em.”
Nick is right, I have been heavy-handed with Kelly, although I still don’t understand why she wants to run away. I have offered her everything a woman could want. “So, what are you sayin’ Nicholas?”
“All I’m sayin’ is ya need to talk to her. Let her get to know ya. How can you expect Kelly to fall for you and become your mate if you don’t help her along? Boss, how are you going to break the news to Kelly about the supernatural world if she doesn’t trust you to begin with?”
“Talk to her.” I am realizing claiming my mate will be more difficult than I thought. Yes, I have had my share of women, but admittedly manipulated them to forget me after sharing a night or two.
I need to figure this out with Kelly. I have loved her from the moment I laid eyes on her. And the more time I spend near her, the more difficult it becomes to control myself. I glance back at the monitors again.
Nick stands up and smiles. “Yes, talk to her.”
“Okay.” I check to see if Kelly is still awake. She’s propped up against the headboard of her bed with pillows watching TV. “I’ll go talk to her.”
“Wait, now? It’s late, Boss. Should you wait until she’s had some rest?” Nick scratches the top of the wing-back chair with his fingernails.
“Yes. Now.” I stand and walk to the office door. “Anything else you feel you need to say?”
Shaking his head, Nick then bows his head in a show of respect. “No, boss.”
“Very well then.” I walk out the office door and toward the entrance to my private suite with Nick on my heels.
Tony is sitting in a chair positioned next to Kelly’s bedroom door. Hearing footsteps, he reaches for his gun and stands.
“No need for that, Tony.” Walking past Tony, I wave my security card across the electronic lock to Kelly’s door and wait for the click. Pushing the door open, I walk through the doorway, leaving it ajar knowing Nick will follow. Kelly recognizes who has entered her room. Her skin pales as she straightens herself into a defensive posture.
“I thought…”, my voice hitches. What is wrong with me? I am a master vampire. A small human woman is no match for me. I clear my throat and begin again. “I thought maybe we could… talk.”
Kelly is quiet. She looks over my shoulder at Nick. Nick is right, I have turned her world upside down and left her with questions. After a moment of hesitation, she nods.
“Good. Thank you.” I approach the side of her bed. “May, I?”
“Yes.” She whispers, pulling her knees up to her chest.
Again, she is unconsciously trying to protect herself from me. I sit on the edge of the bed and exhale. “I think I owe you an apology. Someone has brought to my attention we have gotten off on the wrong foot.”
Kelly’s eyebrows shoot up and she looks between Nick and I again.
Ignoring her reaction to my words, I continue. “I… would like to start over and begin again, if you will allow me. I want to put you at ease.”
With a thoughtful tilt to her head, she asks, “so you will let me go? That seems to be where you went wrong to begin with.” She searches my face for a reaction.
Holding her gaze, I say, “no.”
“Then we have nothing else to talk about, do we?” She purses her lips together and folds her arms across her chest.
“On the contrary, mo chroi. We have a lot to discuss between us.” My speech reveals my Celtic ties again.
“What does that mean?” She asks.
“What?” I know what she is asking, but I want to keep her talking.
Kelly’s forehead creases as she struggles to put her thoughts together. “What does that mean, moo kree?” She tries to imitate my accent.
“It’s pronounced, ma kree. It’s Gaelic and means my heart, Kelly. You are my heart.” I watch the flush of color rise to her neck and into her cheeks, which makes me smile. “I plan to make you mine, mo chroi.”
Panic edges Kelly’s voice. “Your heart? You… plan to make me be with you? Force me?” Her breathing falters and she can’t catch her breath. “I don’t understand. You just met me, how could you… please, don’t do this!” Tears spill from her eyes.
“Nick.”
I finish my thought telepathically.
I need you to calm her down. Use glamour.
Nick frowns at me but moves toward her and takes her face in his hands, wiping the tears away. “Look at me, Kelly.” His hands tilt her face until he has made eye contact with her.
“Kelly, listen to me.” His voice is gentle. “There is no need to panic, just breathe. Understand?”
Kelly robotically responds to Nick. “No need to panic. Breathe.”
“That’s right. No one will force you to do anything you do not want. Understand?” He asks Kelly and waits for her to acknowledge what he has told her.
Kelly’s body relaxes. Her facial features are serene. Nick has captured Kelly’s thoughts. A natural ability for vampires, mind control. If Nick wants to wipe Kelly’s memories, he can. However, I cannot. The fates have made it impossible for mates to control each other with glamour.
“Kelly, tell me. Do you understand Grant will not harm you?” He asks her again.
Staring into his eyes, she answers. “Yes. I understand.”
I run the back of my hand down the length of Kelly’s neck. I watch as her pulse slows down. I lean into her and nuzzle against her throat, smelling her honey scented hair. “I don’t want to lose you, Kelly.” Our mate connection is pulling me to take what’s mine.
Kelly’s eyes close.
“There is a way for me to ensure I will always be able to find you.” I pull back and ask her, “you want me to always find you, right mo chroi? You want me to protect you?”
“Boss? What are you doing?”
“Nick, I command you to keep her in this state.”
My progeny hisses. “You can’t do this.”
I turn. “I can. And you will do what you’re told.”
“She’ll never forgive you.”
“She’ll never remember. Do it.”
He comes closer to us. “Kelly, you want Grant to always find yo
u.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Yes. Always find me.” Kelly’s voice is monotone and weak.
“Good. I’m glad we can agree on something.” Leaning in again, I lick Kelly’s neck. With no more thought, my fangs elongate and pierced her skin.
Kelly gasps as I swallowed the blood spilling from her neck.
“Relax, Kelly. This is for your protection.” Nick’s annoyance is palpable.
The uneasiness fades, and Kelly allows the strange sensations to take over. Grant groans. Licking the side of her neck to seal the bite marks.
“What? What did you do? What…” She panics.
Nick captures her gaze. “Kelly, you will not remember this. It has faded from your mind now, and you have nothing to fear. You are safe.” He watches as the command sinks into her thoughts. “Now, I want you to come back. We have to finish talking, Kitten.”
Kelly’s eyes blink with recognition. “What do you want to talk about? You have no plans to let me go. It seems you have already decided what will happen.” She is no longer feeling the anger that once flared through her words and has no memory of what transpired between us.
I recognize the despair in her voice. She is losing her will to fight with me. “We must talk about the punishment I owe you for trying to run earlier today.”
“Please, I’m sorry, Grant. I won’t do it again. I told you I would trust you.” Kelly’s eyes close.
I reach for her hand and draw her closer to me. “I am glad to hear that. But I want to protect you, mo chroi.” And now that I have taken her blood; I will always know where she is.
“How about a compromise?” The Irish lilt still strong. “Promise me you will not try to escape. Do as I ask ya to do until we can take care of the Finn business, then we can discuss giving you more freedom around here. What do you say? Agreed?”
I watch the wheel’s turning behind her blue gaze. “I don’t think I have a lot of choice in this. I also don’t like the fact you are treating me like a child, so there’s that. But I agree to your terms, Grant.” Her hand rises to her neck, and she touches the area where I bit her. There is no sign of the marks because they have already healed. The lingering magic continues to tingle on her skin. Kelly has no memory of what transpired between the two of us.
Paid in Full: Kelly Kennedy Series (Book One) Page 9