“You… you have it all wrong,” I started. “He… Peter…”
“First name basis, huh?” the man said with a leer. “So you guys got real friendly last night.”
More than friendly. At least that’s what I’d thought. But what if Sabrina had been right all along? First time for everything. She said that she didn’t want to see me hurt. And now I was alone and naked. The farthest thing from safe.
“It was just dinner,” I muttered. “It…”
“Looks like it was a hell of a lot more to me,” the man hissed. “You send him off on some fool’s errand so you can pick through his drawers? You know, the other drawers. The ones that you weren’t into deep last night.”
The man laughed at his own joke. He made it all sound so base. So crude. It hadn’t felt like that when Peter was inside me. It felt sweet. It felt real. But where was he now? Now that I needed him most? At least I knew he was safe because this bruiser didn’t seem to know where Peter was.
“So how about you just answer my fucking question?” he seethed as he brought the knife so close to my cheeks that I felt the tip of the blade against my skin. I wanted to flinch and hide my head, but I was terrified to make even one move. The man’s hand might tremble and jerk, and I had visions of my flesh sliced open. Having a scar to match his was the last thing that I wanted, and I forced my body to hold still as he stared into my eyes and spoke slowly.
“Why are you here, pretty girl?” he started. “Wouldn’t be the first time he let his guard down.”
Wouldn’t be the first time? Did he do this often? What was he…?
“Please,” I murmured. “I don’t know what…”
The stranger’s free hand met my face as he pulled the knife away, and I only had a small second within which to react. Not long enough to avoid the move of his blow. The stranger’s palm was hard against my cheek, and I could only bow my head under the force of his strike. Tears filled my eyes as I tried to hide my head in my hands.
“Look at me, bitch!”
Before I knew what was happening, his hand was under my chin, and I blanched as he pointed the blade close to my eyes and fixed his lips in a cold grin.
“Bet you are one of the bitches Wallace warned about,” he said.
“I don’t know who…”
“Sure you do,” he spat. “Only reason you’re here. But you’re so green.”
More than he even knew. My mind was awash in confusion in the wake of the words pouring out of his mouth. And who was this Wallace he kept talking about? I tried to shake my head and plead my case when he grabbed my chin, the knife moving down my cheek and stopping at the base of my throat as he suddenly tugged at my hair.
“And you’re not getting what you want,” he continued. “Because I’m here to stop you.”
I froze as he assumed the seat at my side, his knife still close to my flesh as he curled his other arm around my quaking shoulders.
“But maybe you can give me just a taste,” he teased. “Before I clean up the mess.”
My life flashed before my eyes. Posing for Danny, Sabrina primping as she waited for my approval. Even Adam and his lies entered the picture. But none of it would mean anything in a matter of seconds. I was ready for the knife or worse when I heard the sounds of footsteps.
“Shit,” he man hissed. “Why is he back so soon?”
The knob turned, and finally Peter was back. His free hand held a brown sack, and the smile in his eyes rivalled his lips.
Until he saw my situation. There was some relief when the stranger left my side and stood tall, the knife behind his back, still ready to cut into me at the first chance.
“Didn’t expect you back so soon,” the stranger said, his voice soft as he slightly hung his head. “But I can take care of her for you. Or… or do you want to do it?”
The knife left his hands as he tossed the blade across the floor. It fell close to Peter’s feet, and he dropped the brown bag as he took hold of the handle. I kept my eyes on his every move. What would happen now? Was this the plan all along? To lull me to a place where he could slice into my skin and have his friend try to wash away the blood? I couldn’t meet his stare at the thought, and I closed my eyes. Placing my hands to my face, I prepared myself for the worst when Peter’s voice finally cracked through the air.
“What the hell is wrong with you?”
Chapter Two
Daring to peer through my fingers, I held my breath as Peter struggled with the cagey creature. The stranger seemed stunned for all of a second. They began to struggle against each other while Peter managed to keep the knife in his grasp. As he started to bring my would-be assailant to his knees, the man suddenly recovered enough of his faculties to smash his boot into Peter’s shin. Wincing at the sight of Peter’s body buckling, a ragged groan leaving his lips, I let out a sharp cry.
“Peter!”
In my heart, I wanted him to be careful, to stay safe. Maybe it was a fool’s call, but seeing him in pain pierced my soul. With his hand to his chest, he fought to catch his breath, and I saw a light in his gaze as our eyes locked along with an unspoken question. What was it that he wanted to know? Was I alright? Why was I naked in a strange man’s presence? Shouldn’t I already be dead?
Pushing that last thought away, I pressed the pillow closer to my body, my trembles coming to a sudden halt when Peter suddenly sprang to his feet. Curling his fingers into a tight fist, he smashed his fist into the stranger’s face, pounding the jagged line of his scar. The man landed closed to my feet, and I screamed as I sat upon the arm of the sofa, my skin quivering again as Peter advanced. He aimed the knife ahead of his pursuit, and I saw the blade glint as he charged forward.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Peter bellowed. “What gives you the right to put your hands on her?”
Leaning forward, he nearly caught the man’s collar with his unfurled fist when the stranger rolled over and slipped to the other side of the room. Stealing a split second, Peter started to reach for my face.
“You okay?” he asked gently. “Did he hurt you?”
His voice went cold when he saw me cringe, and his eyes flickered with what looked like a million reasons why I shouldn’t be afraid of him. Or were they explanations? My mind flipped wildly. What was the right call? Wait and trust him, or should I take a chance and try to run? In my moment of hesitation, the stranger was up, pointing his fingers as he clutched his bleeding jaw.
“What the fuck is your problem?” he demanded. “I’m only trying to look out for you!”
“Don’t do me any goddamned favors!” Peter snarled.
Peter’s eyes narrowed as he wrapped his arm around the man’s neck and dragged him back to the wall. Slamming his body into the hard surface, Peter socked him again. The stranger’s face lolled to his chest, but Peter pushed the knife under his chin and forced his dazed eyes to his.
“I don’t remember calling you,” Peter said, the blade stopping short of cutting into his flesh as grabbed a handful of the man’s hair and pulled his face closer.
“Maybe it slipped your mind,” the man said in a tense voice, his face contorting into a mask of pain as he tried to grit his teeth and clench his injured jaw.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Peter challenged.
The stranger managed to look past Peter’s hard shoulder. The feel of his eyes lingering on my legs filled my heart with fear, and I started to slip back to the sofa, longing to hide under the cushions when the man laughed lightly.
“Fine piece of ass is all I’m saying. Can see how a man would let his guard down…”
“Don’t talk about her like that!” Peter snarled.
Kneeing him in the groin, Peter dragged his slumped body to the abandoned table. He tossed his body onto the space, dishes and cutlery flying and crashing, and brought the blade to his neck. As I looked up over the couch, the cover that was the pillow falling to the floor, I saw Peter ready to slash when he suddenly turned the man’s face to mi
ne. Squealing, I covered my head with my hands and hid my face. Even with the sound muffled by my unsteady hands, I could still make out the edgy tone in Peter’s voice.
“This here is a lady,” he said.
Peter had to see that I was hidden, cowering, and yet I had the sense that the words were for me as much as my attacker. Part of me wanted to race forward, and just return to his arms. But he obviously knew the intruder, and the stranger knew something about him.
I couldn’t work my mind around what or whom I should trust, so I stayed still as the sound of flesh slapping against flesh and a pained moan filled the room. But I had to wonder at the company Peter kept and it made me nervous to think that he associated with thugs like this one.
“My lady,” Peter said. “And I don’t know what the hell you thought you were doing, but…”
“I was just trying to look out for you… Jesus Christ! That fucking hurts!” the stranger yelled.
“It’s supposed to!”
My heart was pounding as I looked over the couch again. As I hugged my bare body close, I saw Peter twisting the man to his chest and wrenching his arm behind his back.
“Come on, man!” the stranger screamed. “Let me go!”
Peter stayed silent, his jaw fixed in a straight line. From the rage in his eyes, I thought that he could, that he would, tear the man’s arm from his back and simply toss it aside without a second thought. How was I supposed to feel about that? Should I be flattered that he would kill or at least maim for me? But why was this man here, and what was the secret to which I was not privy? My nervous eyes moved back to the open door. I could still run; I could run now. What if it was my only chance? If I didn’t take it…
“Son of a fucking bitch!”
That was Peter’s voice! Whipping my head over my shoulders, I saw Peter stumble. The man had to have kicked him hard, and he stumbled backwards, fighting to keep the knife in his grip as he drew close to the wall. The stranger was barely on his feet, his free hand clutching his damaged arm as he lurched closer to the sofa.
“No,” I muttered. “Don’t…”
As he drew nearer, I saw the hate in the man’s eyes, and I silently cursed myself for waiting too long. Even if he could only hurt Peter for a second, I felt sure that he could knock me out cold with one good strike. He no longer had a weapon under his control, but I still fell to the floor, crawling on my hands and knees as the man kept moving forward.
“Leave me alone,” I begged. “Please.”
The man didn’t seem to hear me; maybe he didn’t want to. As I kept moving away from him, my hand found one of the knives that had fallen from the table. I glanced at it for all of a second before taking the handle and pointing it towards him.
“What do you think you’re going to do with that?” the stranger asked with a cold laugh.
I was thinking of ways to hurt him. His sneer and the feel of the slim blade in my hand told me that it was far from a weapon of choice. But maybe I could drive it into his toe and pin him to the floor. Or slice a tendon and send him falling back to the floor.
“Get up!”
Struggling and screaming, and wondering why Peter hadn’t come to my rescue, I felt his hands surrounding my hair as he pulled me to my feet. He stretched my body to my toes, and I tried to bring the blade across his chest. I managed to slice the fine fabric of his shirt when he danced away from me and laughed as I tried to strike as second time.
“Lady,” he scoffed, “…you obviously don’t know how to use a knife.”
As I blinked back tears, hate filled my heart and I swiped forward. Slashing the good side of his face, the man fell away from me, blood pouring through his fingers as he had no choice but to back away.
“You little bitch!” he hissed. “You’re gonna regret that!”
“No she’s not!” Peter shouted.
Pushing my ruffled hair away from my face, I saw Peter on his feet pushing into the man’s back. The stranger shot up taller and lowered his hand from his bleeding face as he started to look over his shoulder.
“Don’t even think about it,” Peter said. “Because you were never here.”
The stranger backed away from me but still twisted his back.
“Oh my God!” I gasped.
My hand was at my mouth as I saw the barrel of a gun pressed against the stranger. Peter’s finger was curled around the trigger. Would he fire now and send the man to the floor in a bloody, crumpled mass?
I didn’t… I didn’t want…
“Peter, don’t,” I pleaded.
He looked into my eyes, just my eyes. No part of his stare met my naked form, and I felt my heart start to soften as he shot me a soft smile. How could he smile when this maniac had ripped into our morning after and left so much wreckage in his wake?
And why did I return his grin with a smile of my own?
“It’s going to be alright, Caroline,” he promised. “I’m here now.”
Driving the barrel of the gun deeper into the man’s shoulder blades, Peter walked the stranger past me and started to push him to the door. The stranger managed to wave his hands in the air on what looked like a death march. Was Peter going to take him somewhere else to finish the job?
“Turn around,” Peter barked.
The stranger complied without protesting. The man’s eyes were wide, but he still shot me a glance and glared at me. Peter smacked his cheek and pointed the gun at his head.
“You only come when you’re told,” Peter started. “On the rare occasion that I think I can’t handle something, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
Peter briefly cast his gaze at me and smiled again. Dropping the knife, I covered my breasts with one arm and lowered my other hand between my legs. But my heart still swelled when he gave me his grin.
“But this is not one of those times,” Peter continued as he turned his eyes back to the stranger. “So step off, clean yourself up. Get a drink or something if you have to. But you were never here and you never touched her.”
The stranger started to comply when his stare met my eyes again, and his lips curled into a fresh smirk.
“Got it,” he started. “Course it will be kind of hard to forget…”
Peter brought the barrel of his gun to the bridge of the man’s nose, and I felt every hair on my head stand up as Peter’s finger neared the trigger again.
“You never touched her,” Peter repeated. “And if you ever even think about her again, my finger might slip.”
The stranger licked his bruised lips and ran his hand across my slash that threatened to become a matching scar. Wiping the blood away and flicking the crimson droplets to the floor, the man grimaced as he finally started to back away.
“Guess it was a bad call,” he said. “Won’t happen again.”
His leer penetrated my eyes one last time before he finally, mercifully, slipped away. As soon as he was gone, Peter closed the door tightly, turning the deadbolt and applying the chain. Pushing his gun into his pants, he slowly turned towards me, and I shuddered under the force of his stare.
“You okay?” he asked.
My body was numb, my mind more so as he stepped back to my side. I flinched at the return of his touch, but Peter placed his arms on my shoulders and gave me no choice but to look at him as his palm flattened against my hair.
“Caroline?”
When he spoke my name, I dropped my arms and started to fall into his hold. Peter sighed, and I felt his arms ready to claim me in their embrace. But then I spied the butt of his gun poking out of his waistband and my discarded knife on the floor.
“Peter, I need to know what just…”
“Shhh,” he crooned. “You don’t have to talk. Just come here.”
He folded me into his arms, and I felt my eyes moisten as he pressed me closer to his chest. Was it possible that the man was never here? That it had all been a horrible nightmare, and now I was waking to nothing and no one but him? I wanted to believe that. But then he pushed his fingers u
nder my chin, his lips dotting my brow as his whisper hit my ears.
“No one’s ever going to hurt you, I promise,” he whispered.
I was on the verge of believing him when I felt his hands running down my bare back. I had wanted him to find me naked, to take me again. But now it was different, and as much as I wanted his protection… his touch…
“Why do you even have to promise me that?” I said.
Chapter Three
Peter shook his head against mine, and started to whisper into my ear. I couldn’t help but shudder at the feel of his breath racing down my neck, hitting the small of my back.
“Don’t ask that,” he said. “You don’t have to think about that.”
“But I… I don’t understand…”
“There’s nothing to think about,” he said in a soothing tone. “It’s all over. And you’re safe. You’re safe with me.”
Before I could utter another word, he had lifted me off the ground, and I had no choice but to drape my arm around his shoulders. But even as I made the move, I trembled against him and glanced at the closed door. Was he returning me to a place of safety or wanting to snuff out an unwanted witness to whatever had just happened? Batting both possibilities back and forth in my mind, I saw the bed creep into view and started to struggle in his arms.
“No!” I screamed. “Let me go!”
As I kicked against him, Peter’s hold intensified, and he nearly had me on the bed when I dragged my nails across his face.
“Dammit!” he cried. “What did you do that for?”
A laugh caught in my throat at the sound of his question, and my wide eyes met his.
“Why… why did I do that?” I asked. “What about what just happened?”
“Caroline, calm down.”
The Corrupt Billionaire COMPLETE Box Set Page 9