“This is just too twisted I can’t keep up.”
“It gets worse, Labado’s been sleeping with her too.”
“What kind of world have you been living in?” She shook her head, her hair falling in her face again. Seth put his arm around her and pushed it back so he could look at her. His eyes gave her so much comfort as they looked at her.
“Living in a world without you is hell on Earth. It’s why you’re not going tonight. Even with the raid, there are too many variables. I don’t want you to be at risk.”
“What’s going to happen if you show up with only Portia?”
“Nothing.” There was just the slightest bit of hesitation, but Annie heard it.
“He’s crazy. I saw him in the room. The man is a sick psychopath. I read his note. If you show up without both of us, there’s no telling what he’ll do.”
“And it’s the reason you’re not going.” Seth let go of her, swept the invitation off the floor and ripped it into pieces. “You’re exactly right. He’s a psychopath. Vargas is a drug dealing scum and Soto cuts people’s heads off for fun. You’re not going anywhere near tonight’s party.” He stood over her, unlike any version of Seth she’d seen before.
“But.”
“There are no buts,” he said pulling her up so she was standing flush against him. “I’m done with this. You’re never to be put in harm’s way again. Are we clear?”
“Seth, we’ve come so far. This operation is almost over with. We can’t blow it now.”
His eyes glittered like shards of obsidian. “Annie, you’re not hearing me. So let me say this again. I love you. You’re the mother of my child. I will never let you be used again.”
“But.” His lips slammed down, and she was drowning, this was not a kiss, it was the ultimate brand, and she could do nothing but submit and revel in his demand. Dizzy. About to pass out from lack of air. Suddenly she was lying on the bed.
Deeper and longer their kiss went on. How she needed this man in her life. He was her life. His hands were everywhere, he was touching her exactly where and how she needed him. Arching up, she moaned into his mouth, and he finally released her lips. Like lightening the shirt was over her head, his fingers at her core, and like thunder her orgasm pulsed through her body.
He slid down, replacing his fingers with his ravenous mouth, bringing a storm of sensation. “It’s too much,” she gasped.
“You can take it.”
His tongue speared inside, driving her even higher than before.
“Oh God.” A whirlwind drove her upwards, everything inside her clamped down and she screamed.
Somehow he was naked, and then he was a driving force. More than she ever hoped for, more than her wildest wish. His hot release deep inside her body sent her over yet again. It blasted away all thought but her love for the man who owned her soul.
****
He hated wearing tuxedos. The first time he had worn one was at his farce of a wedding. Annie watched him with a forlorn expression. It was hard to believe this was the same woman who slept so sweetly in his arms all morning and afternoon.
“It’s going to be all right.”
“I know.”
“We’ll be in LA in less than twelve hours. This will all be behind us, we’ll be a family.”
“Eventually.”
Fuck, he hated thinking of the time it would take to divorce Portia. He knew she would be in jail after tonight. Even if they couldn’t implicate her in the murder of the boy who had spurned her years ago, she was still involved enough in her father’s and Labado’s operation to definitely warrant prison time. It should help expedite the divorce process. There was always an annulment, but that would be harder to prove, and the bitch would likely contest it.
Seth took Annie in his arms and hugged her, and she melted into his embrace. God they were made for each other.
“You better get out of here, everybody else has left.” Annie took a step back and ran her hand down the front of his suit.
“Yeah, Portia’s waiting for me. She thinks we’re going out to dinner with Leslie and Labado.”
“Wasn’t she suspicious?”
“She was so happy to be let out of the house, she wasn’t questioning anything.” He looked at Annie, she was standing in the bedroom, barefoot, wearing jeans and a red sweater, and she looked glorious. Just twelve more hours, Natani. Then he would be back to his real life, a life that mattered. A life with meaning.
“Walk me to the door.” He held out his hand. They walked down the hall, past the living room where Magda was watching a singing talent show on television.
“We’ll be home before dawn. I’ve arranged for a private plane to take us to LA.” He watched Annie sigh in relief.
“Be careful, I’d die if something happened to you.”
“We have a plan. Sierra has been talking to Isaacson, they’re going to come through, and once it happens, everything will fall into place. I’ll be back before Magda has time to finish all the Hot Pockets.” He loved he’d startled a laugh out of her.
“Don’t bet on it. I eat when I’m stressed.”
“That’s a damn lie.” He kissed the tip of her nose, and pulled her close for another hug. He couldn’t tell which one of them needed it most. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
Chapter Twenty
Magda took to American junk food like any normal teenager. When she originally confronted Seth about the appalling amount of unhealthy food in kitchen, he said Nate had brought in what he had called necessary supplies. It all clicked in, Nate Goodman was notorious for eating gargantuan amounts of junk food.
Annie watched as earlier Magda made her way through a can of Cheez Whiz, black olives and crackers. Then during a reality show there had been chocolate icing on Graham crackers. Now she was eating a bowl of whipped cream with maraschino cherries. Magda was definitely fascinated with any food that sprayed out of a can. At the rate she was eating, the girl was going to gain ten pounds before dawn.
Annie checked the listings, Grease would be playing shortly before ten, and the musical should work well for Magda even in English. God knew Annie wouldn’t be able to sleep until Seth returned. They were midway through the film and Annie thanked God they were in such a luxurious penthouse considering how loud the Magda had the volume. She’d been right, Magda loved the movie. Apparently she’d seen it in Albania, and she was singing about being Sandra Dee. The girl had a great voice.
Suddenly the television exploded. Magda screamed and fire raced along Annie’s scalp as her head was yanked backwards over the top of the couch. She was staring up into cold dead eyes, a gun was pressed into her temple.
“You’re late for the party,” the man whispered, she heard nothing else.
It was deathly quiet. What happened to Magda? Annie was too scared to say a word. The man standing over her knew it. He grinned, showing his crooked yellow teeth. Finally, he let go of her hair.
“Stand up. Don’t scream or I’ll just tell my associate to cut off a finger from your little friend. I was told we get to maim you if we want. My associate likes doing that kind of thing.” She looked at Magda, she was being held over the shoulder of a thin wiry man. He winked at her. Annie shuddered.
“There’s a car waiting in the garage. You will be taken to the party. It’s all up to you how many fingers or hands she has when we get there.” Magda groaned. She looked green. “Do you understand me?” Annie nodded.
When they got into the elevator, Annie saw the body of someone in a uniform. He was wearing a nametag with the name of the building. They must have gotten the master key from him. Magda groaned again.
When they got to the garage, Annie swore it was the same damn Escalade that had driven them from Labado’s house, and when the driver’s door opened she saw it was the same driver.
“I guess I can look and touch now,” he leered.
“Shut up and drive. We have a boat to catch.” Boat? She and Magda were shoved inside, and they were so
on on the streets of Miami.
Annie watched the road carefully, so she could find her way back to the apartment, trying to tune out Magda’s moaning.
“Shut up bitch,” the little guy said.
Magda said something none of them understood. Annie was pretty sure, she was saying she was carsick. It would serve them right if she puked all over them, but she worried they would hurt her.
Finally they stopped at the marina.
“Out.”
She was shoved out of the SUV, and fell onto her hands and knees. Once again the smaller man threw Magda over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She looked really green now. They walked down towards a small boat, and were soon headed out into open water.
“Where are we going?”
“I told you, you’re late for a party. The boss sent me to get you. It was nice of everyone to make it so easy.” Sure it was easy to bypass security if you were willing to murder people.
After twenty minutes a yacht appeared in the distance. It was beautifully lit up, loud, and it scared the hell out of her. Magda was seriously moaning, her head over the side of the boat, but she still hadn’t thrown up.
All too soon they were prodded up a ladder and she saw the smiling face of Thiago Labado as he stood over her in a white evening jacket.
“It’s so nice you could join us. There’s many events going on inside and you’ve already missed some of them, more’s the pity.” Loud dance music pumped out from the interior, but Annie was still able to hear Labado’s words.
“Let me get them properly attired. We’re still waiting for Soto so we can start the main event.” Annie blanched at the sound of Leslie Gordon’s voice. Out of the two, Leslie was the one who colored her nightmares.
“We don’t have time. Leon told me his boat left the marina.” The woman walked over, in her white evening gown, and stroked her perfectly manicured fingers down the side of Annie’s face, digging them into her neck.
“Look at me, Anna.” Annie felt the skin break under the woman’s nails. “You’re going to be a good girl. Carson didn’t want you or this other one here tonight, that tells me something. I remember how you protected your little friend. Well I will have her hurt…badly…unless you keep her and yourself under control. Are we clear?”
Annie nodded. Leslie went over to Magda.
“I do love blondes,” she said as she yanked Magda’s hair and stared into her terrified eyes.
Magda opened her mouth to either cry out or beg but instead she threw up all over Leslie’s white dress. Annie watched as noxious bile covered the gown with chunks of olives and pink cherries and had to choke back a laugh.
Labado didn’t have the good sense to keep his laughter on the inside and Leslie whirled on him.
“You asshole, how dare you laugh. Look what she’s done,” Leslie screeched. If there were dogs onboard they would come running.
“Oh my God, it was hysterical. You should see yourself.” The woman’s eyes got even bigger and her arm arched back and she slapped Labado for all she was worth, his head snapping backwards.
“You bitch, how dare you.” Labado grabbed both of her hands in his and she struggled to get out of his grip, the mess soon covering both of them.
Another small boat pulled up to the side of the yacht as people started to pour out of the French doors, attracted by commotion.
“Dammit hold still, look at me, now I’m covered in this filth.” Annie heard some of the people laughing.
“Thiago, when you said there would be entertainment, this isn’t what I was expecting.” a dark haired man said as he came aboard the yacht. Annie looked around, even more people were now on the deck, and she spotted Seth at the exact second he saw her. He started to push forward, she shook her head, but he didn’t stop.
“Annie,” Seth called out, and heads turned in his direction.
“Step back Carson.” Labado shouted. “I told you how the festivities worked. We get to play with one another’s toys.”
“Yes, I brought my toy to share.” The new man Annie assumed was Soto turned and guided a woman in a cape over the side of the boat. When she got onboard, he unclasped the cape and let it drop to the deck. She was naked except for a collar. There was applause.
“See Carson, this is how the game is played,” Labado said as he let go of Leslie and flicked a cherry off his jacket.
“I didn’t agree to this game Thiago.”
“I noticed, that’s why I had to go and get your pieces. It’s funny how much this one means to you.” Labado walked over to Annie and grabbed her sweater from the back, so that her breasts were on prominent display. “However, she does have her charms.” He glanced at Magda who was lying on the deck.
“That one, however, does not really appeal to me at the moment.” Leslie went over to Magda and drew back her foot, but before she could connect with the girl, Max appeared.
“Excuse me, but this one does appeal to me.” The crowd moved much closer, and Max only took three steps to disrupt Leslie’s kick.
“Look at her, she’s a sick mess.”
“She has potential. Do you have a place where she can bathe?” Leslie opened her mouth to argue but then she softened.
“Who are you?”
“Ms. Gordon, we’ve met before at another one of your auctions.” Max gave her a warm smile.
“We have?”
“Yes, we have.” Max reached out and took her hand.
“Oh yes, we have,” she agreed.
“You will give this girl to me, yes?”
“Yes.” She turned to the small man who had been standing over Magda. “Take her downstairs. Have one of the maids give her a bath.”
“Thank you.” Leslie beamed under Max’s appreciation, it really creeped Annie out. She had been so fascinated by the byplay she didn’t realize how dire her own predicament was becoming, until Labado’s knife appeared in front of her face. Her sweater and bra were cut down the front, pulled backwards, and tied. The man had effectively tied her hands behind her back, forcing her breasts out.
“I definitely see why she appeals to you. As I said from the beginning, I was going to partake of whichever one you didn’t. And it seems the other one is occupied for the night.”
“She’s not available.” Seth’s tone was deadly.
“It’s either me, or I can arrange for a real party.” Labado turned his head and looked at the crowd. “How many here would like to have fun with this one tonight?” Annie watched in horror as five men stepped forward.
“Thiago, you have one more chance. Let her go, or I will kill you.”
“Carson.” A woman’s voice cried out. “Who is this woman?” People were shoved aside as Portia Benitez Runyon made her way forward and stood between Annie and Seth. The woman was barely upright on her spiked heels, but she managed to whirl between the two of them.
“Answer me. Is this the woman who is ripping apart our marriage?” Seth didn’t even spare Portia a glance, he kept his eye on Annie and the tight grip Labado had on her upper arm. Portia went over to him, her short, tight dress not allowing her to walk very fast.
“You answer me. Is she the other woman?”
“Not now, Portia,” he ground out.
Behind Seth, Annie noticed a man towering over the others, a second look told her it was Nate. Everybody was probably here, the DEA raid had to be happening soon.
“Answer me, is this the other woman?” Portia screeched. God, she was higher than a kite. She spun around again, and slapped Annie’s face, not even hitting her right.
“Stop it,” Seth said lunging forward.
“Grab him.”
“Girl fight,” some drunk asshole yelled from the back. Laughter broke out.
Portia grabbed hold of Annie’s hair and pulled hard, and then spit in her face.
“Really? If anyone gets to spit, it’s me.” Annie lowered her head and pushed into Portia, toppling her over.
“Annie,” Seth called.
“I’m fi
ne.” Annie yelled back. She saw out of the corner of her eye as Seth made his way towards Labado.
“Max, Soto’s going your way,” she heard Nate yell.
A bright spotlight burst over the bow of the yacht. She saw it was the Coast Guard.
A loud voice came over a bullhorn announcing the ship was surrounded. She heard gunfire and yelling.
Portia kicked at Annie, knocking her backward. “You’re going down, you home wrecker.”
“You deceitful bitch, I’m going to take you down with two hands tied behind my back.” Annie hated this woman with every fiber of her being. She got up on her knees, and watched Portia start to kick again and stumble in those ridiculous heels.
“Carson belongs to me. He loves me. He wants me.”
“Honey, he’d masturbate with sandpaper before he’d fuck you.”
Portia came closer and took a swing, but Annie jerked back at the last minute watching as the bitch continued forward and flat on her face on the deck.
“I’m going to kill you.” She got up on her knees and finally had the good sense to kick off her heels. She picked one up and came at Annie, brandishing the stiletto like the deadly weapon it was. Annie was on her feet by this time, so when Portia hit her in the shoulder with her heel, it knocked her into the railing of the yacht.
The brass bars dug into her waist and she drove a knee into Portia’s stomach. The woman grabbed her hair, and lifted her other hand to stab her in the face with the heel. Annie acted on instinct, she twisted and then toppled over the side with Portia’s hand still tangled in her hair.
****
Seth looked when Portia yelled she was going to kill Annie. The women were at the spot where passengers boarded the yacht. The next thing he knew they were careening over the side into the dark waters.
Seth dropped Labado, uncaring if he got away or not, and ran to the railing. When he looked over the side, he thought he saw a flash of red, it could be either Annie’s sweater or Portia’s dress. He aimed for it as he dove. His fingers pushed backwards as he hit something hard. The pain was a relief. It was a skull. He grabbed on to the hair, his eyes open, but through the water he couldn’t tell if it was dark or blonde. Please God, let it be Annie.
Forsaken (The Found Book 2) Page 20