by Penelope Sky
My hand automatically squeezed his length, my arousal making all the decisions for me. He was the biggest man I’d ever taken, but the painful stretching somehow felt incredible. I’d never been with a man like him before.
He leveled his face with mine. “Let’s be real with each other. Tell me you want me.”
I looked him in the eyes and didn’t hesitate. “I want you.”
His eyes became heavy-lidded, the answer obviously pleasing him. “I want you too.” He kissed me and sucked my bottom lip into his mouth. “I don’t want any other man to have you because I want you all to myself.”
My hands moved into his hair, and I deepened the kiss, getting swept away by the arousal between my legs. He placed a transmitter inside my brother’s brain, but that didn’t stop me from wanting him. He kept me as his prisoner, but I still wanted to feel him between my legs. I hated this man, wished he were dead, but I still wanted to feel his come inside me.
Didn’t make any sense.
Crewe lifted me from the couch and set me on the bed. His boxers were off, and his hard cock was already oozing at the tip.
I unbuttoned my jeans and shoved them off, eager to get him inside me.
He grinned in his typically arrogant way before he helped me get my panties off. He didn’t bother with my shirt before he climbed on top of me and shoved himself deep inside my pussy. He was never gentle with me, fucking me like I didn’t mean a damn thing to him.
But I liked it.
I had a dream I walking down the road when a car sped by and slammed right into a tree.
I ran to the window to see if I could help whoever was behind the wheel, and I came face-to-face with my father. Eyes wide open with blood gushing down his face, he was already dead. My mother was in the passenger seat, a branch impaling her right through her stomach. I could smell the smoke from the engine and the blood from their wounds. In the back seat was Joey, a grown man as I last saw him. He was dead on impact. “Ahh!”
“London.” Crewe’s deep voice sounded in my ear, bringing me back to reality. “It’s a dream. Wake up.”
I kicked the sheets away like they were nets about to drag me underwater. Sweat was streaked up and down my arms and the backs of my thighs. I fought against an invisible foe, running from the car in my dream.
He grabbed me by both shoulders and shook me. “London, wake up.”
I finally opened my eyes and saw the dark bedroom around me. I knew I was with Crewe, but I couldn’t remember where. It was all a nightmare, a horrible dream that wasn’t real. I jumped out of bed and felt the cold draft since I was naked. I ran to the fireplace then darted to the couch, moving so I wouldn’t stand still. “Where am I?” This wasn’t Scotland. This wasn’t the island. I couldn’t remember where I was. I was still asleep.
“Italy.” Crewe got out of bed then slowly approached me, over six feet of pure man. “We came here to do business with Crow and Cane. You met them earlier today.” He kept his voice low as if that might keep me calm.
I wrapped my arms around my body to hide my nakedness even though he’d already seen me. I backed farther into the chair and breathed deeply, trying to catch my breath and stop my frantically beating heart. No matter what I did, I couldn’t calm down. My family’s dead faces kept flashing before my eyes.
“I can’t lose him…I can’t.” I burst into sobs, heavy sobs that made me shake.
“Lovely, whom? Can’t lose whom?” He inched closer to me until his hand moved to my shoulder.
“Joey…he’s all I have left.” I covered my face with my palms and wept, my body shaking from the exertion. I didn’t cry in front of people. I didn’t cry at all. It didn’t solve anything. It didn’t make my problems go away. But I was out of my mind and still partially asleep.
Crewe wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest, his strong arms acting as steel gates. His fingers moved into my hair, and he stroked me. “Shh…just a dream. Everything is alright.”
I forced myself to stop crying, to stop feeling the violent emotions raging in my chest. With every single breath, I slowly calmed down until I was back to normal. The tears absorbed back into my skin, and I listened to Crewe’s heartbeat for comfort.
It was just a nightmare.
A dream.
It’ll be alright.
I had to talk myself through this hardship, but I was used to Joey being the one to console me. Even when I had a bad day in class, I called him and told him all about it. He wasn’t just my brother. He was my whole family wrapped up into a single person. Without him, I was all alone. “I’m sorry…” I pulled away from Crewe, knowing I irritated him with my episode. He’d been woken up in the middle of the night with my tantrum, something he couldn’t care less about. “Sometimes I have really vivid dreams if I drink too much…” I didn’t want to see the anger in his eyes, so I didn’t look at him.
He grabbed me by the elbow and guided me back into his chest. “It’s alright, Lovely. I have nightmares too.”
“You do?” Once my face was pressed against his chest again, I felt better. His heartbeat consoled me in a way I could never explain.
“All the time.” He guided me back to the bed and pulled the covers back so he could tuck me in. “You aren’t alone.”
My head hit the pillow, and he pulled the covers over me, tucking me in like a child.
He got into bed beside me, and instead of sticking to his side, he wrapped his arm around me and spooned me from behind. “You want to talk about it?”
My arm rested over his, gripping it like a lifeline. I could feel his pulse through his skin, the blood pounding away and giving him life. He was my captor, but he’d never made me feel more safe. It didn’t make any sense. “No…”
He kissed the back of my neck before he rested his face against my hair. “I’m here if you change your mind.”
I closed my eyes and felt sleep begin to take its toll. “I know.”
I slept in late because of my rocky night.
Crewe was gone, probably already showered and ready for the day. He was usually awake as soon as the sun was up. He seemed to hit his private gym then got ready for the day. I knew he exercised because he wouldn’t look like that unless he were committed.
I was relieved he was gone so I wouldn’t have to face the humiliation right away. I had bad dreams from time to time, but nothing as intense as that. It felt like I was actually there, seeing the blood drip down their faces and seep into the clothes.
It was a dream I wanted to forget.
But the more terrifying the dream, the more difficult it was to block it out.
I wished I could call Joseph. He was the one person in the world I could talk to about this.
After I showered and got dressed, Crewe walked inside. He already in his suit and tie, jumping into the workday. Instead of giving me his typical look of indifference, he stared at me like I was damaged goods.
Which I hated. “What are you up to today?” I didn’t give him the chance to ask how I was feeling. I didn’t want his concern, not after I’d embarrassed myself. When he held me, I should have pushed him away.
But I needed him too much.
“I’m heading down to the headquarters to meet with Crow and Cane. Just forgot my watch.” He grabbed it off the dresser and fastened it around his wrist.
I was disappointed he was leaving. I would be stuck in this house with all of his men. As long as I didn’t leave the room, they shouldn’t bother me. I could wait to eat until he returned. “See you later.” I didn’t beg him to take me like I did yesterday. After the pathetic way I cried in his chest last night, I wasn’t going to show an ounce of weakness again. It didn’t look good on me.
It didn’t look good on anyone.
He adjusted his cuff link as he looked at me. I’d never cared for brown eyes, but I loved his. They were warm like mocha but dark like the bark of a tree. They could be intense or playful at any given time. “Would you like to come with me?”
&
nbsp; I froze in place because I couldn’t believe he made the offer. After meeting with Crow and Cane yesterday, he was angry that he took me to begin with. Now he was asking on his own? It only took a few seconds for me to figure out why. “I’m okay. Thanks anyway.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to come?”
“No. I’ll stay here.” I didn’t mind pestering him until I got what I wanted, but the last thing I wanted was his pity. If he felt too terrible handing me off to Bones, that was one thing. But this was another.
He slid his hands into his pockets as he stared me down. “London.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, refusing to give in. “Hmm?”
“I know you want to come, so what game are you playing?”
“I’m not playing any games. You’re only inviting me because you feel bad for me. Don’t feel bad for me. I hate that.”
He glanced at his watch like he was running late. “I think having a pity party for yourself is worse than my feeling bad for you. But do whatever you want.” He walked to the door with no intention of looking back.
I didn’t want to be here alone, not when I had no idea how long he would be gone. I couldn’t explore the property when Dunbar was giving me evil looks all the time. He was one of Crewe’s trusted employees, but I knew he would betray Crewe if he thought he could get away with it. I could picture him holding me down and doing unspeakable things to me. And Ariel…she was a loose cannon. “Wait.”
Crewe turned back around like he’d been expecting me to say something.
“I’ll come with you.”
He bottled his arrogance for once. “I’m leaving in five minutes. Hurry up.”
It was just the two of us in his shiny black car. It was a two-seater, and judging by how loud the engine was, it was fast. I looked out the window and didn’t ask him any questions. If I was lucky enough, last night wouldn’t come up at all.
Crewe never had the radio on, which I thought was strange. He never listened to music.
“What are you doing with them today?”
“Going over weapon selection.” He wore thick sunglasses, hiding his pretty eyes.
“Why did you buy weapons from them?”
“Protection is important. I want the best of the best.”
“Do you have a lot of enemies?”
“Everyone has enemies. If you don’t, then you’re doing something wrong.”
That was debatable. “I can stay in the car if you want…” He’d already done something nice by letting me come with him. I’d rather sit in a hot car than be back at the house with his men.
“Why do you hate Dunbar so much?”
“Because he’s an ass. He’s hit me twice now.”
“He thought you were escaping.”
I shook my head. “No. He has a problem with me. I honestly believe if you weren’t around, he’d do something worse to me…just because he wants to.”
Instead of shutting me down right away, Crewe considered what I said. “Dunbar has been working for me for a long time. He wouldn’t cross me like that.”
“I’m not so sure…”
“You need to give me more evidence than that.”
“It’s a gut instinct. I can just tell.”
Crewe drove with one hand, his other arm on the windowsill. “I don’t know about that.”
“You’ve never been a woman. You don’t know what it’s like to feel like prey all the time. You wouldn’t understand.” I knew when a man wanted to cause me harm for his own sick pleasure. If Dunbar thought he could get away with it, he would force me on my stomach and take me like a dog.
Crewe turned to me, his gaze unreadable behind his glasses. He looked handsome in anything he wore, even sunglasses that hid some of his face from view. He could be wearing a sombrero and tights, and he would still look good. “I know what it’s like to feel like prey. But no, I don’t know what it’s like to be a woman. You have me there.”
I wondered if he was referring to his family’s death. He was probably the last target on the list, but they never succeeded. “Do you think you could take me back to Fair Isle? I could be one of your women that you just see while you’re there.” He had women in Edinburgh, and probably everywhere else too.
“You like it there?”
“Yeah. I wouldn’t be in your way, and I like Finley. Actually, he’s the only employee you have that I feel comfortable with.”
“When do you get in my way?”
He had a terrible memory. “It was just yesterday when you said how annoyed you were that you took me to see Crow and Cane.”
“But you weren’t in my way. And no, we aren’t doing that.”
I hid my disappointment as best as I could. “So, where you go, I go?”
“Exactly.” He drove farther into the city and down a few streets until he reached a deserted complex. When he pulled up to the gate, the camera must have recognized his face because the doors opened and allowed him to pass through.
I searched the concrete complex and stared at the warehouses. It didn’t seem like anything illegal was going on at first glance. “If I’m always around, how will you spend time with your other women?” I didn’t like to think about him with anyone else. The fact that they were free and consensual just annoyed me. I’d give anything to have something consensual again. But I knew I was annoyed for other reasons too.
“I’ll make it work.” He killed the engine then got out.
I hid the sour look on my face as best as I could before I got out and joined him.
Crewe took my hand and pulled me with him, keeping me right by his side as he moved. He entered the warehouse and greeted the men and located Crow. His hand never left mine, and when he was face-to-face with the man we saw last night, his arm snaked around my waist. “Crow.”
He nodded. “Crewe. Excited to see our inventory?”
“Impress me.”
“This way.” Crow guided us to a back room where we had privacy from the rest of the men. Cane was already there, placing the different guns on display. They were all black, military looking. Some were machine guns, and others were hand-held pistols.
I felt a little nervous.
“They’re unloaded.” Crow smiled at me like he knew I was terrified.
Crewe kept me close to him as he examined everything. The only time he took his hand off my waist was when he used both hands to grab the AK-47. He felt the weight in his hands then aimed it at the opposite wall. He’d obviously handled guns before because it was clear he knew exactly what he was doing.
That made me uneasy. If I were back in New York, I’d be sitting in class right now learning about the nervous system. But instead, I was in Italy with a man who intended to keep me and fuck me for as long as he wanted. He was examining a hoard of weapons he was about to buy from criminal masterminds.
How did Joey get mixed up in all of this?
“What do you think?” Cane asked. “Your woman seems impressed.”
I shot him a glare.
Crewe didn’t correct him. “Everything is well-made. You didn’t cut corners.”
“We never cut corners,” Crow said. “You get what you pay for.”
Crewe returned the gun to the table then moved on to a handgun. He felt the weight in his grasp then checked the barrel. It was empty like they claimed. He moved on and examined the different specimens, looking at minor details that I didn’t notice with my untrained eye.
Crow turned his gaze on me, watching me like I might try something.
I stared back, threatening him with just my look.
The corner of his mouth rose in a smile, and he looked away. “Your woman has a backbone, Crewe. That’s hard to find.”
“She has a fist too,” I said. “And she’s not afraid to throw it in your face.”
Crow grinned wider. “Don’t let her go, man. She’s a keeper.”
Crewe grabbed another gun and examined it like he hadn’t heard a word we said. “Everything looks goo
d. Let’s pack it up.” He came back to my side, his thoughts still lingering on the weapons in the room.
“Of course it looks good,” Cane said. “Fine Italian craftsmanship right here.” Cane walked out of the room, probably to tell his men they needed to get everything together.
That left me with Crewe and Crow.
“How’s Vanessa?” Crewe asked, probably to make conversation while we waited.
Crow’s good mood immediately disappeared. He didn’t turn angry, just dark and inhospitable. His green eyes looked darker, and his body stiffened noticeably with unease. Like a wild animal that had been provoked, his nostrils flared. “You know I’m in the middle of a war. And she’s the leverage.”
“What does that mean?” Crewe asked quietly.
I listened intently, knowing whatever Crow had to say was important.
“Bones took her. I’ve offered every asset I possess, and he still won’t return her.” He stared at the wall without blinking, his thoughts elsewhere. His body was absolutely still because he wasn’t breathing. “I’ll get her back…somehow.”
I bowed my head so I could hide my face. I knew exactly who Bones was. I’d seen him in the flesh, seen the despicable look in his eyes. He was pure evil, disgusting and satanic. I tried not to shiver at the thought of what my life could have been. Whoever Vanessa was, she had the fate that I was almost destined for.
“I’m sorry.” Crewe never apologized, and he seemed to mean it.
I wondered who Vanessa was. Was it Crow’s wife? A girlfriend?
“Your sister doesn’t deserve that.” Crewe answered my unspoken question.
His sister? That was terrible.
Crow ran his hands through his hair, cringing like he was trying not to think about it. “It’s been rough on both of us…can’t sleep.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the floor.
I felt bad for being there, like I was intruding on something very personal.