by B. B. Hamel
That seems to bring him back to the moment. He sighs and walks over to me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me against him. He hugs me tight like that.
“It’ll be okay,” he whispers. “I’ll fix this.”
“They tried to kill us,” I say, feeling numb.
“It won’t happen again.”
I nod against his chest, but I’m not so sure.
He finally releases me, and I walk into the house without another word. I go right up to the couch, grab a blanket, and wrap myself in it as if I’m trying to hide away from the world.
Three times now I’ve almost died. Twice because of the cold, and once because of some crazy fucking drivers. I’m living, but I’m also risking my life. I don’t know what the hell is going on or what I’m doing, but I know it’s terrifying, and I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do.
Maybe Carson is right. Maybe I do need to back out and get away. I don’t want to die here, I have so much more to live for, but this is absolutely insane.
I don’t know what to do. I want to run away screaming, but I trust Carson, despite everything so far. I trust that he’ll protect me.
I stay there, torn between two worlds, with the blanket wrapped right around my head.
Carson
My alarm pulls me from sleep around two in the morning. I spent the rest of the day and night with Kylie, trying to keep her calm and happy, but in the back of my mind I knew that I couldn’t let what happened go.
He tried to kill us. There’s no questioning that. His men rammed up against my truck on some of the hairiest stretches of road in the whole area without a second thought. It was absolute madness, and if they didn’t intend to kill us, they sure fucking fooled me. Kylie was shaken, clearly pretty upset, but she wasn’t holding it against me.
I don’t understand why. If I were her, I would have run the fuck away by now. But I’m happy that she hasn’t. I’m happy she’s staying here with me, even though I don’t deserve it.
Well, tonight I won’t let it stand. I dress in black and slip my gun into my waistband before heading out into the kitchen. Kylie turned in early, and her door is still shut, so I assume she’s still asleep.
I head through the kitchen and open the garage door. Nick Sloan and three other men are standing there in the garage, each of them dressed in black gear. I step outside and shut the door behind me.
“Everything ready?” I ask Nick.
He nods once. “All set. But are you sure about this?”
“I’m sure.”
He frowns slightly. “We don’t normally do this kind of thing, Carson.”
“I know. That’s why I’m paying you a lot of money.”
He nods once. “We’ll have men stationed here to watch the house while we’re gone.”
“Good.” I pull a black cap from my back pocket and push it low over my head. “Let’s go.”
We pile into two black trucks that Nick’s people provided. I’m driving one and he’s driving the other. The guys riding with us don’t identify themselves, and I don’t ask them to.
What we’re doing isn’t legal, and I don’t want to know them if something goes wrong. I figure the less I know about them the better I can protect them in the end. Maybe that’s foolish, but I’m not such a reckless guy that I’d send people on a suicide mission.
Like my fucking brother did. Those guys driving those cars could easily have gotten themselves killed, and yet they were throwing themselves at our truck like it was nothing. I still can’t get over the fact that they were risking their own lives for my brother Elliot. It just makes no sense. Elliot doesn’t inspire anything but loathing in people. He must be shelling out astronomical amounts of money to get these guys to follow his orders.
We drive into Juneau, keeping slow and sticking to back roads. The target is in a building at the edge of town, a little nondescript office building with nothing marking it from the outside. That’s on purpose, I assume, because this place is supposed to be a secret.
But it hasn’t been a secret for a long time. We park the trucks out front and climb out. We gather up together behind the trucks.
“Inside this building, my brother keeps an office,” I say. “It’s his private office. We’re going to break in and ransack the place. Destroy everything that doesn’t look important, take anything you think might be worthwhile. Understood?”
“Yes,” Nick says, and the other men nod their heads in agreement.
“Good. Nick?”
“I want you to watch the outside,” he says, touching one guy’s vest. “Slash the tires of any trucks or cars you think might belong to Elliot.”
“Roger,” he says.
“Everyone else, stay tight and close. No weapons. We don’t want any fucking mistakes here. Understood?”
“Roger,” the guys all say together.
“Let’s go,” I say.
Nick leads the way to the building. As soon as we get to the front door, it’s definitely locked, but that doesn’t stop anything. Nick takes out a black crowbar and smashes into the glass, shattering the door. One of the men steps up and walks to a panel on the wall, clearly a security panel. He takes off the front plastic part and cuts a few wires before nodding.
“Let’s go,” Nick says. “Ten minutes, no more.”
We rush up the steps. I lead the way now, past a dentist’s office, and to the back wing of the building. Elliot’s office is tucked into a three-room suite. The door is locked, but Nick’s guys knock it open and we get inside.
I’ve never been in here before, but I knew it existed when Elliot was audited by the IRS and it was mentioned in his list of assets. I only saw it because I had to do some minor paperwork for the company, and just happened to see it there on the accountant’s desk.
It’s exactly what I thought. There’s a conference room, a waiting room, and a large office in the back. I head right into the office and start tearing out the drawers.
There are papers spanning back years. Most of it is junk and relates to various businesses and holdings he has. We start piling the paper into metal trashcans stacked on the desk. In the conference rooms, one of the guys goes to work smashing everything in sight.
It feels fucking good to tear his papers apart. I stuff a few pieces into my pockets, but pretty much everything goes into the fire. Nick lights one up, burning what we have in there already to make room for more. We smash pictures, trinkets, trophies, the usual shit someone has in their office.
“Safe,” one of the guys calls out from the other room.
“You go,” Nick says to one of the guys. “Crack it.”
The guy nods and head into the other room. We continue burning the papers, destroying what he has. This damage is going to affect Elliot for the rest of his life, assuming he even has a rest of his life. If it were up to me, Elliot would already be dead, but Nick wouldn’t go out on a hit with me. I figured ransacking one of his offices would be easier and send him a message.
I’m not fucking playing around anymore.
“Four minutes,” Nick calls out.
We keep working, throwing what we can onto the fire. I wish it were Elliot I was throwing into the flames, but I have to settle for precious financial reports and other important documents. This isn’t the same as trying to run him off a cliff, but it’s going to be a thorn in his side at least.
“Safe’s open!” a guy calls out. I step into the other room and find the safe wide open, tucked behind the secretary’s desk.
Inside is cash. I pull it out and hand it to one of the guys. “Consider it a bonus,” I say. “Split it up.”
“Roger that,” he says with a grin and starts handing out the cash.
There is some jewelry and diamonds, which I slip into my pocket, and more documents. They’re deeds to properties that I didn’t know he owned. I take a picture of them with my phone and everything else in there before tossing it into the fire.
“That’s time,” Nick says.
“No,” I answer. “We’re not finished. It’s not all destroyed.”
“We can’t risk it,” he says, motioning for his guys. They all gather and head toward the door.
I stand there, torn. I know Nick’s right and we should go while we can, but I want to destroy it all. I want to kill Elliot, or at least fucking hurt him badly for risking Kylie’s life like that.
I’m so angry that I can barely think, and that’s what ultimately convinces me to leave. If I can’t think, I can’t make good decisions. I finally catch up with Nick and his men as we make our way through the dark hallways.
As we get outside, the guy on watch joins us. We move toward the trucks, but before we can get there, a vehicle suddenly comes screaming down the road and pulls into the lot. It’s the sheriff’s truck, although its lights aren’t on.
“Fuck,” Nick says. “Mack, you disabled the alarm?”
“I thought I did,” he says. “But there might have been another silent one.”
“In the office,” I say. “Of course. He’d be paranoid.” I step away from the truck and walks toward the sheriff’s truck. “I’ll handle this.”
Two men climb out of the truck, their guns drawn. “Hands up!” Myron Hoover, Juneau’s sheriff himself, steps from around the driver’s seat and toward me.
I do as I’m told and I raise my hands into the air. “Myron?” I say. “Is that you?”
He pauses. “Carson? What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Burning down my brother’s office,” I say with a grin.
Myron lowers his weapon but he doesn’t put it away, eyeing the men behind me. “It’s okay, Josh,” he says to the deputy. “Lower your gun.”
Josh does as he’s told, but he looks wary. Myron walks toward me, a confused look on his face. “You said you were burning down the office?”
“That’s right,” I say. “Burned his papers. Stole from him.”
“Now why the fuck would you say that to me?”
I laugh, grinning. “We both know why, Myron. You aren’t going to arrest me.”
“Maybe.” He concedes. “But I might arrest them.”
“No, I don’t think you will.” I put my hands down slowly and cross my arms over my chest. “Why are you here in person, Myron? It’s three in the morning.”
“I was on duty,” he says. His deputy glances at him and I catch the surprise.
“You’re lying,” I say. “You don’t fucking work overnight shifts anymore. You’re too goddamn old.”
He looks pissed at that. “What do you fucking care what I do, Price?” He spits out my last name like a curse.
“I think you’re getting paid directly by Elliot to protect this place, Myron. Is it because of the shit in his safe? Some of that property looked a little sketchy to me.”
Myron stares at me for a second, clearly warring with himself. “Josh,” he says finally, “get back in the car.”
“Sir?” the deputy asks.
“Now,” he snaps. “In the fucking car.”
The deputy hesitates then obeys the order. He shuts the door behind him, looking confused, as Myron walks up to me.
“I don’t know what you saw in there, but you best forget about it,” Myron says. “What I do with your brother is my business.”
“It’s my business now too, unfortunately. Did you know that he tried to run my truck off the road earlier today? Two of his cars, up on the pass road.”
“I didn’t know that,” he admits. “You got any proof?”
“None. But we both know what Elliot is like, especially right now.”
“Stay out of this business,” Myron says, shaking his head. “Go the fuck home. Make sure I never see those men again.”
“Don’t get involved with Elliot,” I say to him. “He’s going to lose. And when he does, I won’t forget this.”
“Go home,” Myron snaps. “For fuck’s sake. Get out of here.”
“Good night,” I say. I wave to the deputy then give Nick and his team the high sign to get into the trucks.
We pile in, not saying a word, and head out again. My mind is distracted as we go back to my place, trying to work out what exactly Myron and Elliot are up to. I knew that Myron was under Elliot’s thumb, but tonight shows me a whole new side to their relationship.
I didn’t see any solid proof, but there might be something in the documents I took. They’re clearly in bed together over some deal, and that might just be exactly what I’m looking for. If I can find it and prove to my father that Elliot is involved in some shady shit, then there’s nothing that will stop me, no matter how violent Elliot gets. I can just sit tight and wait him out.
It has to be bad. Otherwise, Myron would never get his old, fat ass out of bed late at night to check out a break-in at some random office complex. Elliot’s office had to have its own private silent alarm which alerted Myron and led him to check it all out.
I’m going to use this to my advantage. I just have to figure out what they’re up to. I’ll hire some people to look into it as soon as I’m back home.
I have far too much adrenaline and anger inside of me to go back to sleep. There’s no fighting it. As soon as we get back, Nick and his people head home, but I go into the kitchen and pour myself a drink.
Thoughts of Myron, Elliot, and my father all swirl in my head. I need to connect the dots, but I’m not sure how, not yet at least. Most of all, I need something to do, something to occupy my mind.
I glance at the hallway, and an idea creeps into my brain. I know what I want, and she’s sleeping maybe fifty feet away.
I smile wickedly to myself and head to my room to get what I need.
Kylie
I feel something tugging at me, pulling at me, but I don’t know what it is. I’m afraid of it, but it also feels good. I try to struggle and run, but I can’t.
Slowly, I wake up from my dream, the embers of it still alight in my mind. I’m confused, because the weak morning light is barely creeping in through the windows.
I try to adjust myself, but I can’t. I realize with a moment of panic that my wrists are bound to the headboard of the bed.
My eyes shoot open as fear and panic race through me. I struggle, but the binds are tight, expertly tied.
“It’s okay. Don’t fight it.”
I turn my head and see Carson standing next to my bed, wearing nothing but a pair of boxer briefs, his muscular body intense in the weak morning light.
“Carson?” I ask. “What’s going on?”
“I had a rough night,” he says softly, leaning over me.
“What happened? Why am I tied up?”
“I decided to take my frustrations out on you.” He kisses my neck softly. “I’m sorry if I frightened you.”
“I was dreaming,” I say. “A nightmare, I think.”
“You’re awake now.” He reaches down and lifts my shirt up over my breasts before kissing my chest and teasing my nipples with his tongue.
“I can feel that,” I say, fear slowly subsiding, replaced by excitement. The adrenaline from the momentary shock is still lingering in my body, but as I begin to feel aroused, that adrenaline only heightens the desire.
His lips tease my nipples, his teeth biting them softly, as his other hand slowly moves down between my legs. I squirm slightly as he finds my pussy and slowly begins to rub me.
“What am I going to do with you?” he asks, still slowly rubbing my pussy.
“I don’t know,” I say, biting my lip. “This is a good start, though.”
He smirks. “You like this?”
“You scared me at first.”
“I know. That was intentional. You can feel it, can’t you?”
“What?” I ask.
He slips his hand underneath my shorts and my panties before sliding two fingers deep inside of me. “The fear,” he says.
I gasp and moan slightly. “And adrenaline,” I say.
“That’s right. That’s what I want you to feel.” He presses his fing
ers deeper, sending waves of pleasure cascading through my body.
I want to move and squirm but I can’t. The ropes tying me to the bed are perfectly tight, holding me in place, which only intensifies the feeling.
He reaches up with his other hand and takes me by the hair, pulling my chin back. He continues sliding his fingers in and out of my pussy, fucking me with his fingers, as he kisses my lips, my hair tight in his fist. Pleasure and pain wrack my body as I struggle and squirm slightly, pressing against my bonds, trying to test my limits.
He pulls back slightly, smirking at me. “You’re struggling,” he says.
“A little,” I admit.
“Are you trying to get away from me?” He presses his fingers deep inside of me.
“No,” I gasp. “I want to feel how tight they are.”
He smirks at me, that delicious grin. “I thought so. You like being tied up, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I say, surprising myself. “I didn’t know until—ah.” He cuts me short by pressing his fingers deep again.
“I want you to like it,” he says. “But I also want you to be nervous. Nothing makes this sweeter than a little uncertainty.”
“You don’t make me nervous.” I say, gasping at the pleasure. “Not even a little bit.”
He laughs softly. “Good,” he says, and then pulls his fingers from my pussy, making the pleasure stop. I groan and look at him, annoyed. “But you should be worried that I’ll make this stop. I can take it away any time I want.” He grabs my hair and looks into my eyes. “I’m your daddy. I’m in control. Do you understand that?”
“Yes,” I say, “I understand. You’re my daddy.”
“Good girl,” he says, releasing my hair. He walks down to the end of the bed and looks at me. I’m half naked, with just some dripping wet panties, and my shirt pulled up over my breasts. My pink nipples are hard as hell and my wrists are tied to the headboard. I watch him watching me and I can’t help but notice his hard cock straining against the fabric of his cotton boxer briefs.
He gets up onto the bed and comes toward me. He takes my legs and spreads them wide, pressing his mouth down against the soaked through fabric of my panties.