“No.” Her voice sounded weak even to her own ears.
She’d said the wrong thing. Richard lunged at her, yelling at the top of his lungs, “You bitch!”
Charlie rushed to the apartment door. She didn’t bother trying the handle. She knew it wouldn’t budge. Thrusting her wrist under the scanner, she prayed the lock would click open. The red light pulsed against her skin. Just as she heard the scanner emit an angry beep, Richard grabbed her by her hair and pulled.
“I told you to beg for my forgiveness, whore!” he snarled through gritted teeth.
Before she could utter a word, he slammed her head against the door. Tears sprung to her eyes and the hall swayed around her. She gasped in pain and surprise. Blood trickled from her nose. She couldn’t let him do this to her. Not again.
With an enraged cry, she twisted until she faced him. Ignoring the hair ripping from her scalp, she kicked out at him. Her kick landed straight where she’d aimed, his groin. Richard groaned and stumbled back. The moment he released her hair, she was at the apartment door. She screamed and banged on the door, hoping Thayer would hear.
Glancing over her shoulder, she watched Richard struggling to move through the pain. She hit the door harder, screaming until her throat felt raw. The door finally opened. Charlie looked up. A startled cry escaped her. It wasn’t Thayer who crossed the threshold.
Mason’s hard eyes stared down at her. The lust in his face made her stomach roll. Then she noticed the blood staining his hands. It took her a second to understand what that meant. It had to be Thayer’s blood.
“No,” Charlie whispered. She scrambled back from the door but stopped when Richard grabbed her. He pulled her up, holding her in place so she faced Mason.
“Charlotte, I’ve been waiting for this.” Mason’s eyes traveled down to her breasts, lingering there. “Such a tease,” he murmured, voice heavy with longing.
“Where’s Thayer?” She knew the answer, but she needed to hear Mason’s admission before she believed it.
Mason stepped aside, taking his eyes off her body long enough to flash her a smirk. “Take a look.” He gestured with a bloody hand behind him.
Thayer lay a few feet from the door. His eyes stared back at her, but they held no light. Blood leaked from a deep cut across his throat. It pooled around his head in a red halo, staining the floor and soaking into the collar of his white dress shirt.
Charlie screamed and kicked, desperate to get away. Richard’s grip tightened the more she struggled. She didn’t stop until her arms felt numb and all energy had left her.
“Shhh.” Mason moved until his body pressed against hers. His fingers traced the outline of her lips, sending shivers of dread shooting down her spine. “You’ll like this, I promise.” His eyes burned with uncontrolled desire.
“Please.” Charlie whimpered, twisting her head away. “You can’t do this.” She choked on her words.
Mason chuckled. “Yes, I can. Now that Thayer is dead, I can do whatever I want with you. We are Compatible, after all.” Her whole body tensed as he leaned in, whispering in her ear. “I’m so going to enjoy taking you in every way I please. As many times as I want.” He grabbed one of her breasts, squeezing until she out cried in pain.
He pressed his lips to hers, forcing her mouth open. His tongue flicked inside. He tasted foul, like rotten meat. She tried to move away from the assault but Richard held her firmly in place, cutting off any hope of escape.
“Enough.” Richard’s voice was bored. “She isn’t yours yet. I still have plans for her.”
Mason frowned but released her. He took a step back.
“Are you ready?” Richard posed the question to Mason. The other man nodded. Richard lowered his head until his lips pressed against Charlie’s ear. “All you have to do to make this stop is get on your knees and beg.”
Charlie saw everything happen in slow motion. Mason drew his fist back, readying himself for attack, and threw the punch. She watched it draw closer to her face. Fear tightened her stomach the closer he got. Her head snapped back and lights filled her eyes at the impact. She would have fallen to the ground if it weren’t for Richard holding her up. She closed her eyes against the dizziness that overwhelmed her.
After that, she lost track of where Mason’s blows landed. Pain radiated from every part of her body. When she finally opened her eyes, she lay on the floor. Blood pooled in front of her. Just like Thayer’s body lying inside the apartment. She slammed her eyes shut again, letting out a strangled whimper.
“What was that, Charlotte? Are you ready to beg?” Richard mocked from above her. She heard him rear back, preparing to hit her again.
“Please,” she cried. “It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real.” She chanted to herself. Something gripped her arm and she cringed away, expecting more pain. Whatever it was grabbed her and held on. “This can’t be real,” she croaked.
“Open your eyes, Charlotte. Look at me.”
She did as the voice instructed. Darkness shrouded everything. Mason and her father had done something to blind her. Her breath caught in her throat. She twisted, trying to establish where she was and why she couldn’t see. A light clicked on near her face. She threw her arm across her eyes.
“Charlotte …” A gentle hand took hold of her wrist, moving her arm away from her face. She squinted as the bright light assaulted her. When her eyes adjusted, Thayer sat in front of her. Unharmed.
Confusion sliced through her. She’d seen him dead. Mason had slit his throat. Tears burst from her in a torrent. Before she knew what he was doing, Thayer pulled her into his lap. He rocked her back and forth, whispering soothing words in her ear. She burrowed into his neck, taking shaky breaths. The lingering smell of soap on his skin calmed her.
“You’re dead. I saw you.” Her words were muffled, but he heard her.
“No, I’m right here.” He kissed her temple.
His lips felt real against her skin. She grabbed his arm to be sure he really sat there. When her hand found solid flesh and bone, she relaxed a little. She let him continue to sooth her as the minutes passed. She tensed when he moved her off his lap and laid her down.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he assured her as he leaned back and clicked off the small light.
Lying down next to her, he pulled the blankets up over them. He slid an arm under her head before drawing her into his chest. She nestled close, relaxing into him. She shivered as the heat of his body warmed her freezing limbs. He kissed her on the forehead before resting his chin against the top of her head.
Next to Thayer, the nightmares vanished and sleep overwhelmed her.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Richard sat behind his desk, working to keep his anger off his face. He’d already lost control of the situation, but he couldn’t afford to let Councilman Novack or Mason know that. The boy looked like a younger version of his father. Everything from their slicked-back blond hair to the sneer on their faces was identical. They apparently had no such qualms about hiding their emotions.
If it weren’t for their connections I would have had you kill them already, the voice said with distaste.
“I won’t allow the merger to continue,” Councilman Novack said, his eyebrows rising slightly as if to dare Richard to challenge him. “Your daughter’s rebellion has called your authority into question.”
The voice hissed and Richard nearly did the same. “A minor setback.”
Mason snorted. “How the fuck is that minor?”
“Mason,” Councilman Novack snapped before turning to Richard. “It’s much more than minor. And the fact that you don’t seem to think so concerns me.”
We need their company.
The sound of the voice made him give an involuntary twitch. “What does the marriage matter?” Richard leaned forward, glancing between both men. “Think of the power we could have. With your company building the chips and all the scanners and my company developing the software, we’d control everything.” Just thi
nking about all that power made Richard’s heart beat quicker.
“You’ve proved yourself to be a weak ally. Letting your daughter slip through your fingers only inspires doubt.” Novack shook his head, his brown eyes unmoving. “I can’t afford an alliance with you. We have nothing further to discuss.” He stood and Mason followed.
Don’t let them leave. Tell them whatever they need to hear.
“The marriage is still an option,” Richard blurted out.
Both men paused.
“How?” Mason demanded.
Novack reached out and grabbed his son’s arm, his eyes clearly warning Mason to contain himself. “It doesn’t matter. The damage has been done.”
The pair turned to go.
Do something you fool!
Richard jumped to his feet. “You’re a fool if you walk out that door without hearing me out!”
Novack didn’t even look back when he answered, “I’ve heard enough.”
Despite his father’s obvious warning, Mason stopped and looked back to Richard. “I want Charlotte. If you can get her for me, Grey, I’ll listen.”
Novack glowered at his son for a moment but acquiesced with a nod.
This is our last chance to save this. Don’t fuck it up.
Richard swallowed back a retort and focused on bullshitting his way back into their good graces.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Charlie stood in her room, considering her bed warily. She glared at the neat pile of pillows and smooth blankets. Her body ached to lie down but flashes of her newest nightmare forced her to resist. Thayer’s cold, dead eyes danced through her mind. Goosebumps raced across her skin.
She’d slept in that morning. By the time her eyes opened, Thayer had gone. On the bedside table, he left a note. He said he had meetings all day and wouldn’t be home until later. Charlie glanced at the clock. It read well past midnight. She couldn’t help wondering how late he would be.
She didn’t want to admit it, but having Thayer with her helped her sleep. She couldn’t ask him to share her bed again, but she hoped he might bring it up on his own. Now, she doubted she’d find sleep at all that night.
With a sigh, she walked to the desk and sat down. If she wasn’t going to sleep, she might as well do something. Turning on her tablet, she opened her browser, intent on checking her email. But she didn’t make it past her home page.
Mason Novack’s faced filled her homepage. His superior expression immediately had her irritation simmering. Beside him stood his father. The resemblance between the two was uncanny. Above the picture, the caption read: “Merger Still On?” Charlie’s eyes quickly scanned the article below.
According to the author, Mason and his father were seen leaving the Grey Technology building the day before. An unnamed source confirmed that the merger between the two Councilmen’s companies was still a possibility, despite her recent marriage. The further she read the more her stomach clenched with nerves. She couldn’t explain the feeling, but she knew the meeting didn’t bode well for her.
A knock on the door startled her.
She quickly closed the browser. “Come in.”
Thayer stepped in, wearing his pajamas. Not sparing her a glance, he walked straight to the bed. Charlie watched him with wide eyes. He pulled the blankets down and crawled in. Once he’d settled, he looked at her.
“Are you coming?” A smile pulled his lips up, sending her heart racing.
His boldness pulled her attention away from what she’d just read. “What are you doing?”
“I would like to sleep. It’s been a long day.” He patted the empty space next to him. “Come here.”
Another night without the nightmares called to her like a siren. Resistance wasn’t an option. She powered down her tablet and, heart pounding, padded to the bed. She slid between the sheets, putting as much space between herself and Thayer as possible. He turned off the light, plunging them into darkness.
Every muscle in her body tensed, waiting for what would happen next. Crawling into his arms had been so easy when she’d been half-conscious and disoriented. Now that she possessed all her faculties, she didn’t know what to do. She had liked staying in his embrace last night, but what if he’d only comforted her because she’d been upset?
Do you realize that Thayer is falling in love with you? Cornelia’s voice taunted her.
Thayer’s presence in her bed seemed to confirm Cornelia’s suspicion. Charlie didn’t know what she felt in return. She couldn’t deny her attraction to him. Her cheeks flamed at the memory of his arms wrapped around her, his lips kissing her temple. She pushed the thoughts away, focusing on one fact. She might be attracted to him, but she didn’t love him.
It’s okay if you don’t love him yet. You will. Stupid Cornelia.
“Did you hear me?” Thayer asked, rolling on his side to face her.
In the dark, Charlie could just make out his silhouette. “What?”
He chuckled. “I asked how your day was.”
“Oh. I had a good day.” In reality, she’d spent the day wandering through the apartment, seeking something to occupy her. She’d spent those hours deep inside her mind, replaying recent events, searching for some logic or reason to her life and finding none. “How were your meetings?”
“Tedious.” He reached out and found her hand, squeezing.
Encouraged by this contact, Charlie scooted closer to him. She settled in with her back to his front. He draped an arm across her waist, lacing his fingers with hers. His thumb brushed across her skin. Unlike the nightmare, his touch sent tingles shooting through her body. She could feel the pleasure of it all over.
“Goodnight, Thayer,” she whispered.
“Goodnight, Charlotte.” He leaned his forehead against the back of her head. “Sleep well.”
But Charlie didn’t sleep. The exhaustion that she’d been fighting all night vanished, leaving her wide-awake. It didn’t help that every place where their bodies met, little jolts of energy shot from him into her. They rushed to her heart, causing it to race.
Although Thayer’s body relaxed next to hers, his breathing let her know he too was awake. Through the fabric of her shirt, she felt his heart thundering against her back. She liked that she seemed to have as much of an effect on him as he did on her. She smiled.
It’s okay if you don’t love him yet. You will. The more she got to know Thayer, the more she believed Cornelia. It could be very easy to fall in love with him.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“I can’t postpone my trip.” Thayer stood in front of Nemo’s desk, his jaw set. “I have to go back to Texas.”
Thayer’s departure would leave Charlotte alone. With her returning to University the next day, the risk of Grey stepping in was growing. But, they’d all known they couldn’t keep her hidden forever. Looking over Thayer, Nemo couldn’t help noting the strain in his features. He found himself wondering, not for the first time, if the man’s concern had grown beyond professional.
Nemo’s fingers tapped on his desk. “When do you leave?”
“Three days.” Thayer gritted his teeth, as if the idea alone were distasteful. “Charlotte can’t be alone.”
“I’ll have someone watching her,” Nemo tried to reassure.
Thayer ran a hand through his hair, making it stick out at odd angles. “Grey has better resources, more men. If he wants her, you won’t be able to do anything to stop him.”
“If that’s true, then your presence doesn’t matter.” Thayer rewarded Nemo with a fierce glare. “Do you know why I chose you to be her husband?”
Thayer shook his head.
“Because of your military training. You don’t let personal feelings get in your way. I thought you’d be able to interact with Charlotte without letting her get to you.”
Thayer stopped. “She hasn’t gotten to me.”
Nemo ignored the protest. “I told you to get closer to her so she would trust us when the time came. I didn’t expect you to form a romanti
c relationship with her.”
Thayer glanced away. “I don’t see why my feelings matter. We need to be prepared if Grey makes a move.”
“And we will be.” Nemo stood and walked around the desk. “Go to Texas. Everything’s under control here.” He gave Thayer’s shoulder a squeeze.
“Don’t let anything happen to her.” He used a hard tone, but his eyes betrayed the worry he felt.
Nemo tried not to be offended. “I wouldn’t risk her. She’s too important to us.”
Thayer nodded. “Who’ll be watching her?”
“Dean is setting up a rotating shift so her chip is monitored twenty-four hours a day.”
“That’s it?” Thayer tensed.
“Liam will drive her to and from school. I assume she’ll remain in the apartment for the remainder of the time.” Nemo turned, returning to his desk. “At least until the Grey threat has passed.”
Thayer scowled. “It’s not enough.”
Nemo crossed his arms and glowered. “You’re more than welcome to set up additional security measures.”
“Even if Milites Security could spare the men, my father wouldn’t approve their use as security for my wife.” Thayer sighed, rubbing his eyes. “I appreciate you doing what you can.”
“I’ll stay in touch.” They clasped hands. “Safe travels.”
With Thayer gone, exhaustion overwhelmed Nemo. He understood the young man’s concerns. If he were honest with himself, he had the same fears. If they weren’t careful, Grey would take Charlotte. Her loss would be a blow to everyone.
“Dad?” A quiet voice spoke from the doorway.
Viveca leaned against the doorframe, watching him. He tried to smile. “What can I do for you?”
She crossed the room and took the seat opposite him. “You’re worried.”
“I’d be a fool if I weren’t.”
Her brows furrowed. “If Charlotte’s so important, why are you allowing her to go back to school?”
He shrugged. “Until she moves forward with her Determining, we can’t use her.”
The Determining Page 22