by Ella Miles
“What the hell was that?” Kai says, shoving me backward.
“You don’t want to touch me right now.”
“I think I do if you are going to act like an asshole for no reason.”
“Just leave it alone, Kai.”
“No, I can’t. I won’t.”
“Kai,” I warn when she steps so close we are all but touching. “Back up.”
I cast my eyes down, keeping the darkness in my gaze away from her.
She stops, and somehow she knows. Her voice grows soft, “What happened?”
My eyes flitter and meet her concerned ones. “Nothing, it was just a dream.”
She sucks on her bottom lip, obviously concerned but doesn’t ask me any other questions.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, and trying to drive my demons out. Her arms slip around me, and instantly, I feel calmer. I know it doesn’t hurt her to touch me anymore. It’s not a sacrifice. But it still feels that way. No one has ever hugged me in order to comfort me. Not since my mother when I was a young kid.
“Thank you,” I breathe out.
“I was trying to bring you breakfast in bed.”
“I couldn’t stay in bed, not without you. From now on, wake me up first.”
She nods against my chest.
“Come on, let me give you the tour I never gave you last night. I know Westcott wants to make breakfast for everyone, and he will be up here soon to make it.”
“Okay.”
I take her hand again, our fingers intertwining far too naturally. Like a real couple. We are anything but a real couple, I remind myself.
I walk her out of the kitchen and onto the main deck. There are several seating areas, strings of lights, and tropical plants that decorate this area. But there is also the looming sea all around us. No walls to hide us from the ocean. There is nowhere for her to pretend we aren’t on the ocean. She has to face the water and her own demons.
I suck in a breath waiting for her to shut down or panic because she won’t let herself hide away anymore. She doesn’t. She slowly walks away from me, trying to drop my hand. At first, I hold her tighter, but I know she needs this. She needs to know she can face it on her own. Especially, if she’s going to survive.
So I let go.
Even though it kills me.
Kai takes her time walking to the railing. I keep my feet planted firmly on the ground. I put my hands in my jeans pockets. Let her have this moment alone.
She walks right up to the sea and places her hands on the railing. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath of the salty air I love and she hates. Her hair blows crazily in the wind, and my shirt rides up her body until I can see her perky ass.
I should make her change, but after seeing her like this, I want her to wear only my shirt the entire trip. I’ll just force everyone else to stay in their rooms. She’s fucking breathtaking.
I give her a few minutes alone, and then I walk up behind her and take her in my arms.
“You are so strong—so much stronger than me. Sometimes I think you would make the better Black,” I say.
She leans back into my chest. “You’re stronger than you realize.”
“Only because of you.” I kiss her cheek. “Come on, I have more to show you.”
I show her the main deck, the captain’s room, and where most of the crew is staying below. I give her the password to my rooms and ensure she knows how to get in. And then I show her the one place I know she will love. The place I know will be a step toward freedom for her. And it terrifies me.
Because I like control. I like that I can make her mine and not worry if she is safe. But I know someday, I have to let her go. I’ll probably make Zeke or Langston go with her to protect her. Probably Zeke, she seems to have taken a liking toward him the most.
I take her through my rooms to another door with a similar passcode and eye scan.
“What’s this?” she asks. “Another secret room?” her eyes go wide.
“Something like that.”
I enter the initial passcode, and then I turn around. “You need to enter a new passcode, one only you know.”
“Why?” her voice is so soft as the single syllable leaves her lips.
“Because this room is yours. And yours alone. I don’t have the passcode. My face won’t work to open the door. It’s only yours.”
“What?”
“Enter a passcode.”
She does, and the door opens. I turn around and push her inside. And then she stares in awe at the room I had Westcott decorate for her. It mirrors mine in many ways but has soft shades of grey and more turquoise that gives it a slightly more feminine feel.
She turns back to me, and I can see water in her eyes.
“There’s more than just this room.”
“More?”
“Yes, you asked for your freedom. I’m giving you all I can give you.”
I walk over to the bed where the electronics and wallet are lying.
“Your phone,” I say, handing her a brand new cell phone.
She stares at it like it’s a foreign object. But then she never did own a cell phone before to my knowledge. She didn’t have the money to own something most people take for granted.
“My number is already programmed into it,” I say.
She opens the contacts and smiles. “Giant dick, really?”
I shrug. “I figured it would make you smile.”
“And how am I programmed into your phone?”
I wink at her. “Stingray.” I took the name Zeke gave to her.
She shakes her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I also got you a laptop in case you decide you need to start googling porn or something. That’s all laptops are good for.”
She giggles, running her hand over the shiny metal that’s more expensive than the entire trailer she used to live in.
“And these are your credit cards,” I say opening the wallet.
“I don’t need credit cards. I don’t want to spend your money.”
“You won’t be spending my money; you will be spending your money.”
“I don’t have any money.”
I suck in a breath. Not wanting to say the next words, but knowing I need to. “Yes, you do. I got ten million dollars from Milo…from selling you.”
Her face stiffens, and her eyes turn red.
“I know, you will hate me for the rest of your life for that one. And you should. I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I’m saying I don’t want the money. I originally was going to use it to give to Rowan to pay for him helping you to escape, but he didn’t want the money. The money is yours.”
“I don’t want the money either.”
“It can get you your freedom. You will never have to work. Or you can use the money to do something good, start a business, anything.”
She frowns, staring at the wallet.
I’m not going to let her worry about the money. That will be a battle for another day. For now, I just want her to enjoy the little bit of freedom I can give her.
“Come here,” I say.
She moves to me silently. And then I press my lips gently to hers.
She smiles against my lips. “You really do want to give me my freedom, don’t you?”
“As much as I can.” Which I know isn’t enough for her. Giving her her own room and phone is nothing. I want her to be free, but I don’t know if I could bear it. Even if Milo is dead, letting her go would kill me.
So I don’t think about that. I’m done talking.
I grab her hips, sliding my hands up under my shirt she’s wearing to feel the curves of her hips as I pull her body tightly against mine. Kai deepens the kiss, pushing her tongue into my mouth as she moans her desire.
I will never get enough of her, and she will never get enough of me.
I hear the knock, but I don’t want to acknowledge it. Whoever it is can wait.
Then the doorbell rings, and the video system sounds at Kai’s door
, indicating someone needs to speak to her.
“Who is that?” Kai asks.
“Ignore it,” I say, taking her mouth back in mine. Kai is the only person who matters right now.
The doorbell rings again, and I moan.
“This better be fucking important,” I curse as I walk out of Kai’s room still gripping her hand to let her know this is not ending. As soon as I deal with whatever asshole problem is behind the door, I will return to fucking her brains out.
She giggles at me as I storm to the door and open it like she can feel all of the rage inside of me.
When I open the door, three pairs of eyes stare back at me.
I frown. “What the hell do you all want?”
Liesel crosses her arms and sways her hips to one side in her bikini top and cover up skirt. “You were the one that dragged me away from my high paying job to sit on a yacht all day. I don’t expect to be fucking ignored all trip.”
I growl and then turn to Zeke. I raise an eyebrow waiting, but he just glares at Liesel as does Kai next to me. “I was just escorting Miss Dunn to the pool deck.”
I turn my attention to Langston. “I have news from Rowan about Milo Wallace,” Langston says.
I crack my knuckles trying to remain calm. I need to get everyone off this fucking boat if for no other reason than for them to stop driving me nuts. If I could just have Kai and myself on this yacht by ourselves I would. For a second I consider moving them all to a second yacht so Kai and I can fuck in complete privacy, but I know it’s better for her protection if my best men are here.
“Zeke, continue the task at hand,” I say.
“My pleasure,” Zeke says, winking at Kai as he lifts Liesel over his shoulder.
“Put me down, you brute,” Liesel shouts.
Kai tries to contain a snicker next to me, but it still escapes.
I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. I wish Kai and Liesel could get along. It would be better for everyone, but Liesel doesn’t play nice with anyone. She never has. And Kai doesn’t understand Liesel and my’s past.
Now that I have gotten rid of Liesel and Zeke, I turn my attention to Langston. I want to order him to leave, but I need to hear what news he has about Milo.
“Speak,” I order, running out of patience.
“Milo has returned to Italy. He’s injured, as are a few of his best men, but they will all make a speedy recovery. He’s pissed, obviously, but assumes Rowan stole Kai from him. Rowan is doing some reconnaissance and thinks the best time to attack Milo is when he’s on his yacht, not at his home.”
I frown, not sure about that. Milo bought one of my yachts; I know its capabilities. But I prefer to attack at sea, and it seems Rowan feels the same.
“I want you to get me the full blueprints of both Milo’s home and his yacht. I want to know everything about both locations and have our own plan of attack. Tell Rowan we will be speaking soon; I will not let Milo continue to live and put Kai at risk. I want him dead.”
Kai shudders next to me at the mention of Milo’s name. I want Milo dead now. I won’t let him come near Kai again. I want to protect my men from this dangerous asshole, but with Rowan’s team on our side, we have twice the army Milo does. Milo’s days are limited. I will kill him. I will set Kai free from any man who tries to claim her, including myself.
11
KAI
ENZO WANTS MILO DEAD.
I’m surprised he’s had as much self-control as he’s had. I figured now that he has me trapped on a yacht with his best men, he would have gone on a mission by himself to take out Milo. It’s only a matter of time until Enzo gets impatient waiting.
Enzo is smart. He’s ruthless. He can be patient. But not when it comes to me. He wants me safe, yesterday.
And when he goes to kill Milo, he will go alone. He won’t risk his men. He won’t start a war with a man as dangerous as Milo over something personal.
Rowan may want revenge, but Enzo needs to heal the hurt he feels for betraying me. Enzo will never forgive himself for what he did. Even after I do. Even after he kills Milo.
And I’m terrified of what will happen when Enzo goes for Milo. Enzo is powerful, dangerous, and strong. I’ve never seen him fail in hand to hand combat. But Milo won’t play fair. I know that from my limited time with Milo. He’s cruel in a way that Enzo never will be. Enzo’s father may have trained him to be cruel, but deep down that’s not who Enzo is. Enzo is fair, ruthless, and he demands loyalty above everything else. But he would never kill or torture just for the sake of killing. He would never kill for his own amusement.
Milo does. He kills because he enjoys killing.
That’s why Milo has made so many enemies. That’s why Rowan hates Milo as much as Enzo does. I don’t know who Rowan lost to Milo, but I know he did. I could see it in Rowan’s eyes when he stole me from Milo. He’s felt pain I can only imagine. I’ve felt plenty of physical pain, but nothing like what Rowan has felt.
His pain is different. His pain rocks you to the core and lives inside in a cage that digs deep into his heart, tearing away at it slowly until there is nothing left. He lives with the loss of someone he loved every single day.
While I only live with the scars of what happened to me.
My eyes drift to Enzo still gripping my hand. A second ago, I was prepared to fight Liesel; my jealousy had gotten the better of me. I wanted to rip out her throat for thinking Enzo could ever be hers. But now I realize how stupid I was being. I would gladly let Liesel have Enzo if it meant he was safe.
Because right now, I fear for his safety. I don’t know if he will survive a battle with Milo. And that pain would destroy me.
I need more answers. I need a way to protect Enzo while also defeating Milo. Rowan might be that answer, but I don’t trust a man I hardly know. I don’t trust anyone. Not even my own father.
My father.
He’s betrayed me more than any man ever has. Because even though Enzo sold me to Milo, Enzo also saved me.
My father sold me and then never came for me. He didn’t rescue me. He didn’t save me.
And the only way I can truly heal is by facing him. By figuring out why and maybe learning more about this stupid game that hold Enzo and I captive. We're slaves to such a stupid game, all for a chance at ruling an empire I don’t want. And one Enzo suffers too much for. Because I know if one of his men were under attack, if one of his men’s wives were stolen by Milo like I was, he would still do everything fucking possible to get them back and make Milo pay.
“I need to talk to my father,” I say, seemingly out of nowhere. Two seconds ago, we were talking about Rowan and Milo; my father didn’t even enter the equation. But for all I know, my father was the one who sent Milo. He was the one to set the trap Enzo fell for when he sold me.
Langston takes a step back as if he knows he shouldn’t be involved in such a personal conversation, but I don’t care. Langston is more family to me than my father will ever be.
Enzo studies me for less than a second, not at all surprised by my change in topic. He’s been waiting for me to bring up my father this entire time.
Enzo nods and then turns to Langston. “Arrange for Mr. Miller to meet us at a set location. I don’t want him to know he is meeting us. Just give him an order through the usual chain of command.”
“Yes, sir,” Langston says, disappearing and leaving Enzo and I alone again—at least until Liesel escapes Zeke’s grasps and comes begging for attention again. I know I need to talk to Liesel and make things civil between us. I don’t know her whole story, but I know her story is important if she was let into Enzo’s deepest circle. But I’ll face Liesel later.
I should want to jump back into Enzo’s arms and fuck him like we were planning to moments before. He gave me everything he could, inching me closer to my freedom, and I’ve never felt closer to him. But right now we are both too on edge to fuck.
All I want is to cuddle in Enzo’s arms while I plan what I’m going to do with my father
. I want to hold Enzo close to me for as long as possible, because I don’t know how long I have left with him. Whether Milo kills him or Enzo finally sets me free, one way or another—our story ends the same, with my heartbreak.
Enzo squeezes me close to him, and I already feel my heart breaking. I’m such a goner.
12
ENZO
I STEP foot onto the Raptor, the yacht of mine Mr. Miller captains, with all of my furry flowing through me with a force I haven’t felt since I screwed up and sold Kai to Milo. It is going to take everything inside me not to kill this bastard the second I see him. He’s the reason Kai was tortured for six years. He is the reason she came back to try and claim the Black empire instead of staying gone. He is the reason I ended up hurting her.
No, I take responsibility for my own actions. I hurt her. I won’t let Mr. Miller take any of the blame.
But I am going to make him pay for what he did to Kai. I will pay every day of my life with every breath. I vowed to protect her with more than my life. And I plan on living that way.
Miller will eventually pay with his life, but not before Kai orders me to kill him. She will; she’s as ruthless as I am deep down. But I’m not sure she’s ready to kill her own father. That’s the kind of thing that takes years of abuse to develop. It needs to be personal. It needs to consume your every thought and every nightmare. Only then does someone turn to something as extreme as killing your own father. I should know.
I walk slowly and deliberately to the main office on the yacht in the middle of the night. A few crew members notice me, but they know better than to ask me any questions. I take a seat in the office like I own the place, and I do. I haven’t stepped foot on this particular yacht in years—mainly because of fucking Miller. I never trusted him, not when I knew he was Kai’s father. Not when I found out he never searched for her when she went missing. Not when I discovered he lived in a trailer for a house instead of a mansion. I pay him well enough to afford much more. And the story he’s fed Kai over the years about his wife’s hospital bills taking all his money is bullshit.