by Milly Taiden
Behind her back, Leah maneuvered the scalpel she grabbed when on the floor. Her fingers barely had the strength to wrap the shaft. She had one shot at this. If she screwed up, she wouldn’t have to worry about getting off the ship.
From a burst of adrenaline, her arm snapped upward, sinking the blade into the monster’s arm holding her throat, and jerked the shaft toward her.
He scrambled backward and roared. The knife was plucked out of his arm like a tiny rose thorn and thrown into the corner. From the center of the small room, he glared at her. Pure hatred.
Movement at the other side of the space caught her attention. Otso stood in the open doorway, stone faced. He surveyed the room. Besides the out of place beds and gauze on the floor, the room didn’t resemble the attack she suffered. Korhonen stood a safe distance from her, in the middle of the room.
Upon Otso’s approach, Korhonen straightened, hand covering the puncture wound. Leah was dumbfounded by Otso’s powerful demeanor over the beast. Maybe the deckhand could protect her, like he said.
“Korhonen.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“I see you’ve found the woman. I will take it from here so you can bandage your hand.” With a raised brow, he looked at Korhonen’s hand wrapped around his bicep.
“Thank you, sir.”
Hannes grabbed Leah’s arm, then his coat, and directed her out of the room. Shock numbed her brain. She barely remembered where she was and her feet dragged. As they marched down the hall, the strong man beside her slid his arm around her shoulders, supporting more than her weight. Her entire body was aware of his closeness. His heat soaked into her sleeve. She imagined him--physically powerful, brave, and handsome--as the perfect hero in all her romance novels.
The bear king was big, strong, and damn sexy. She tried not to admit it, but it was true. And now that she’d been through an ordeal with the devil he called Korhonen, she could easily visualize Hannes as her knight in shining armor.
If this were a historical pirate romance, he’d take her to his cabin and proceed to kiss her. She’d argue with him so she wouldn’t look easy, but at the end of the day she’d give in to his soft caress. Ah, yeah. He’d ravish her pirate style.
The idea took root in her mind. The bear king pirate. He’d be good at that role. She could actually feel his hands gliding up her arms, taking her by the waist and pressing her against the bed, sinking his body onto her. The heat in her core rose with each thought. He had gorgeous lips, too. His eyes captivated her every time he glanced at her. She swore she saw a wild side deep in them. And as bad as it sounded, she wanted to get closer to it. To see him lose that control and maybe even lose her own control with him.
Hannes took a deep breath and his step faltered a bit. His hand squeezed her shoulder. He glanced at her and a glimmer around his irises startled her. What the hell was that? She felt a wall raise around him, a tenseness in his body, and his lips pressed into a line.
What would it be like for him to kiss her? To have him slide his hands up and down her body, maybe teasing her flesh and making her moan. Then her brain decided she wanted to fantasize about him shirtless.
That only turned her skin scorching hot. Her girl parts squirmed. She hadn’t had sex in too long and now visualizing him doing things to her had her hormones in a rage. Great. Just fucking great.
Then she saw the storage room door with the lever hanging. Leah quickened her step. If she could keep Hannes away from the storage room, Ivan would still have a chance to stay hidden.
Her eyes remained straight ahead as they passed. Otso didn’t look at the unlocked door. Hope jumped in her heart. The boy was safe. Her sacrifice to occupy the bounty hunters by any means necessary was worth his life. For the first time in a while, she felt good about herself and doing the right thing. Pride swelled in her—
“Hey! Where you guys going? Wait for me.” Footsteps slapped on the plate decking behind her. Leah looked for the closest wall she could bang her head against, again and again.
“Are we going to eat now?” Ivan tripped his way to her side. Her captor stopped and turned her. He stared at the open storage door, the boy, and then her disgusted looking face. Laughter rolled from him.
Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. Leah grabbed the boy’s lanky arm and stomped toward the room. He pulled against her. “Why are we going back here?”
With clenched teeth, she said, “Where else are they going to keep us?” How could she have seen Otso as Mr. Perfect when he’s a damn bounty hunter? The only reason he saved her was so he could collect the full $10 million. “Do you think our abductor, standing right there, is just going to let us run? At least you’re safe in the room.” Another child would not die because of her.
“But Bear King’s taking us to eat.”
Leah stopped with her hand on the door. “Why did you call him Bear King?”
The boy huffed and dropped his hand against his thighs. “That’s the only name I can remember.”
She’d referred to him as Bear King in her own mind because he reminded her of a majestic polar bear—strong, sleek, and god forbid, sexy. Another bout of male laughing erupted directly behind them. Leah jumped from the sudden sound. How did he get so close without her hearing him?
“Good God.” She pushed on the door and yanked the kid inside with her. Then a new thought registered. “Speaking of names, Otila,” she turned toward the door, finding him leaning against the frame. Damn he was cute with a scruffy face and sparkling dark eyes. “You called that brute Lieutenant Korhonen and he called you commander. Who the hell are you? You aren’t a boat hand, are you?”
Otso ran fingers through his hair then slipped his hands into his pockets. He stared at the ceiling then met her eyes. “I am the commander of a small Finnish group of ex-Special Forces operatives working for direct hire.”
Leah and Ivan stared at him; she didn’t know what to think. “Mercenaries?”
He scowled. “Not real—”
“Mercenaries kill for a living. Anything to get money.”
Otso remained quiet. Leah took that to mean she was correct. “And with me, you have $10 million in your pocket.”
Ivan crossed his arms over his chest. “Does this mean we’re not going to eat now?”
Flabbergasted and pissed off, Leah stomped toward the deceitful man. “Get out.” Not to her surprise, he laughed, remaining against the doorframe. Leah hooked the door with her hand, “I said, get the fu-,” she glanced at Ivan, “get the hell out!” and slammed the steel panel shut, not caring if he was in the way.
Ivan scoffed, “That was rude.”
“Screw being nice.” Her clomping paces echoed off the walls. Embarrassed heat rose to her face. Thank God she never said anything about how good looking he was. How could she be so stupid? And to think she allowed herself to like him…that would be the last time she’d let her guard down.
The commander pushed the door open. “Princess, I’m not going to hurt either of you.”
“Kill me, of course not—you won’t get the money. But you’ll give me to a person who’s wanted me dead since I was eleven years old. And stop calling me princess.” She kicked the door, hurting her big toe. “You’re are such a bastard. Lying to us.”
“I never said one untruthful thing to you.”
“Are you crazy? You said you were a deckhand--”
“Those words never came from my mouth. I simply didn’t correct your misconception.”
Leah’s hands balled into fists. He happily made a complete fool out of her. She smirked at a memory. “Ahh, I understand now how much of a ‘bad ass’ and how ‘tough’ the commander is.” Her eyes rolled. “You make me want to vomit.”
Otso belted out a guffaw. Such a conceited jerk. A beeping sound entered the room. He looked at his watch. “I hate to ruin our fun, but it’ll be time to eat in thirty minutes. Both of you will join us--”
“I’m not going.” Leah cocked her head, arms crossed.
A flash of anger came
and went in his shadowed eyes so quickly, Leah wasn’t sure if it was the lighting contorting his image. “A word of advice, Princess. It’s a very long voyage and I suggest you carefully think through your actions before doing anything else foolish. I am not a bounty hunter nor do I want the money.”
Not a bounty hunter—a fist around her heart released.
“As long as you follow my orders, you have nothing to fear from me or my men.”
Leah’s eyes popped wide then narrowed. No one told her what to do. “A word of advice for you, ass,” she glanced at the boy, “Ivan, close your ears.” Her anger fueled her confidence. “Follow your orders? You forget, Commander, I am not one of your men bowing at your feet. Until you came along, I was doing fine on my own and have been since I was sixteen.”
Otso opened his mouth and Leah threw a warning finger. “Don’t interrupt me. It’s not nice.” Leah paused, waiting to see if Otso remained quiet, which he did. “If you weren’t the most conceited son of a bitch I’d ever met, you would’ve realized your guests refuse to join dinner because our faces and hands are etched with mold and dirt. I haven’t brushed my teeth, taken a shower, or changed my mildewy clothes in…I don’t know how long. All you’re concerned about is you.”
He glared at her for a moment, walked toward the door, then turned. “No tricks, Princess. My temper is short.” The door shut, lever scraping the metal. From the hall, a huge burst of laughter penetrated the thin walls.
“Jerk!” Leah kicked the door, sending another jab of pain in her toe.
TWELVE
Ten minutes later, pounding on the other side of the locked storage room door ricocheted off the rust-splotched walls. Leah put fists on her hip. “Now who?”
A muffled voice filtered into the room. “Hola. We go.”
Go where? Otso--the commander--whoever the hell he was said thirty minutes. What did they have planned? Could she trust Otso’s words about not hurting them? The only other choice was to hide again, and more than likely, starve to death.
“Sí, we go.”
The door opened slowly and Maricio poked his head in and looked around before entering. He smiled and motioned for them to follow him.
They trailed their guide, with two more men bringing up the rear, down a long corridor and then climbed stairs to the higher decks. Several flights up, Maricio pointed down a hall. “Eat.” On the next level up, nice carpet and wallpaper decorated the area. White doors with brass numbers lined both sides of the hall. Maricio stopped two doors from the end.
He opened the door and turned to Ivan. “Diego’s room. Now for you.”
Leah and Ivan looked at each other--she was unsure what their escort meant. Maricio placed his hand on Ivan’s back and shoved him into the room. “You room.” He closed the door and stepped to his right. Opening a second door, he motioned for Leah to enter.
“¿Para mi?” Leah smiled and looked at him.
“Sí, señorita.” A relaxed smile spread across his face. A spew of words came from him in which she translated only a few. Something about a dress and a wife who did laundry on the boat. Commander was said, but she didn’t catch anything after the word. Hopefully it wasn’t important. She smiled and said okay. He smiled back.
She entered the room, not knowing why they were suddenly allowed cabins, but not caring either. Maricio closed the door. Immediately, a knock sounded behind her. She opened the door.
Smiling from ear to ear, Ivan bobbed up and down, trying to peek over her shoulder into her cabin. “Do we get to stay in these rooms?”
Leah walked farther into the space. “I hope so. I really want a shower.” The square room held a small sitting area with a plaid upholstered chair, desk, half fridge, TV, and bed.
She opened the narrow door across the room from the bed and gasped. Inside, she came face to face with the one item she thought she would never see again: a deep tub with shower. On the short countertop, shampoo, soap, comb, toothbrush and paste lay next to a small white hairdryer attached to the wall.
She rushed Ivan out the door. He glanced over his shoulder. “Hey. Don’t forget about eating.”
Yeah, yeah. She’d deal with that when the time arrived. She closed the cabin door and couldn’t get to the tub fast enough. She turned on the faucet and let the hot, silky water run down her arm and over her fingers. While the small tub filled, she took the toothbrush out of its plastic wrap and loaded on the paste.
After undressing, she tossed her over-worn clothes onto the floor in the main room. She pulled the door to, then stepped into the tub of exquisitely hot water.
The white cast-iron basin was too short for her to fully stretch out, but after lying on steel, she’d take anything offered. Bending her knees, she slid under the water, letting the heat warm her chilled bones and soothe her sore muscles.
After thoroughly scrubbing every inch of skin, the intoxicating comfort calmed her anxiety and washed away the remains of her headache. She leaned her head against the side of the tub and released a slow, deep breath, almost forgetting she was a prisoner.
* * *
Hannes tapped on Leah’s cabin door. After no reply, he knocked again and waited. When no answer came, he opened the door. He peeked his head in and peered into the dimly lit area. He frowned and stepped into the room. No Leah? Perhaps she was in the boy’s room. He’d just leave the bundle he carried on the bed.
Halfway across the room, he saw her clothes on the floor next to the bathroom. Hannes stopped and noticed the door slightly ajar. He laid his delivery on the bed, then slinked to the bath. Pleasing fragrances of shampoo and soap floated in the air.
Thoughts of various possibilities raced a twinge of excitement through his body. She would be quite exposed and susceptive to his commands. He grabbed the knob. Looking down at the back of his scarred knuckles, he couldn’t move. Anger, pain, regret consumed him. He turned and quietly left the room.
In the hallway, he put his hand over his pounding heart and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Why was this irritating American bothering him so damn much? He should just be done with her. But questions still nagged at him.
Loud explosions echoed in the hall--one after another. Inside the bathroom, Leah stood frozen in her flannel Hello Kitty nightgown. Child-sized hands covered her ears. Her heart pounded; fear choked every breath.
The noise stopped. She watched the bathroom door glide open the same way it always did in her nightmare. Her mom’s flower-scented soaps in the basket next to the vanity sink did nothing to block the burning gunpowder floating in the air.
On the hall wall, Leah saw the family picture Daddy made everyone dress-up for. She hated the dress she had to wear.
Emerging from the darkness, a strange man held a shotgun and looked down on her. He had one blue eye, one brown eye. They burned a hole into her soul. She would never forget them as long as she lived.
The man rested the two gun barrels against her forehead.
“Leah, run! Hide!” The sawed-off metal end scraped across her skin. Simultaneous shots blasted in the hall. She screamed, squeezed her eyes shut and balled up on the floor. She prayed God would take away the bad man. Daddy told her bad men liked hurting people, and he worked really hard to put those people in jail. Her daddy was in the hallway; she just heard him. Why didn’t he arrest this man?
Ringing filled her confused mind. She opened her eyes. The man had fallen against the wall and was making it back to his feet, leaving a red handprint directly under the family picture. He slapped his hand against his cheek and fell to a knee. Blood seeped through his fingers, down his arm, onto the flecked carpet. The brown eye dangled from the socket.
“You run and hide, señorita. I find you one day.”
Leah jerked to a sitting position, choking back a scream. Cooled water in the tub splashed over the end. Run and hide. I find you one day. The nightmare faded. Anguish tore her heart as it always did after the dream.
She hated them for leaving her. Why couldn’t she have gone wi
th them? She’d never trust anyone or let anyone into her heart ever again. Push down the pain, deep inside, no memories, no guilt. It was her fault they were dead.
After taking a deep breath, she stepped out and grabbed a towel off the bar over the toilet. The plush fibers felt like silk gliding over her skin.
The thought of putting on her old clothes rolled her stomach. If she could wash them, several times, she’d be okay.
Her foot pushed the door open and she saw a stack of stuff on the bed. Where did that come from? She ran to the door and flipped the deadbolt. Damn, how could she forget? Anyone could’ve entered.
When lifting the white material on top of the stack, a ruffled, white cotton dress unfolded. She laid it on the bed along with accompanying undergarments and dug through the items, mostly bathroom and feminine stuff. Otso must’ve asked one of the female workers onboard to put a care package together for her. That was nice of him--not thinking about himself, for once.
She slipped the simple shift dress over her head and shimmied it down her body. Unfortunately, full length extended above her knees. This was meant for someone much shorter, but she wasn’t complaining. She tugged up on the deep scoop neckline. Cleavage wasn’t something she cared to show-off. Not with that animal Korhonen walking around.
Three bangs shook the door. “Leah, time to eat.”
So soon? She wasn’t ready yet. In front of the half-unfogged mirror, she combed her wet hair straight back.
Ivan knocked again. “Come on, Leah. Maricio is leaving.”
“Go on. I’ll catch up.” She didn’t hear a reply so she assumed they left. Leah dug through the items on the bed for deodorant and a razor to mow her legs. Crap. She hated dressing-up, even as a kid she only wore jeans. Never staying in a foster home for long, only the basics were required.
But she had to admit, she did want to look nice, not for Hannes, either. Okay, maybe a little for him. Didn’t matter anyway. She never held much hope of getting off this ship alive.
THIRTEEN