Coleman watched as Admere made Donata see that he was in charge and surely held her life in his hands. As he held the knife to her throat and lifted up her dress, Coleman watched in anticipation of seeing how Admere would make her succumb to his power and control. He would do the same. She would make sure the deal went through, and Coleman would be right by her side as a reminder of where her destiny lay, and also how easily he could use Admere’s tactics to make her submit to Coleman next.
Chapter Four
Donata’s life was a mess. She couldn’t sleep at night, her mind wandering back to Pakistan, to Mulkan, Admere, and Coleman. When Admere had called her earlier to congratulate her for succeeding in making the shipment go through and then reminded her that he would call upon her to see her again, she had cringed with fear. She felt half like a criminal and half like a slave. She was weak, had no control over anything, and was owned by a man, a monster thousands of miles from home. The fear that Admere would summon her and finish what he had started back in in Pakistan left her on the defensive and scared. She could feel the blade against her skin, cutting her in such a delicate location as her groin.
He could have raped her, but he hadn’t. He’d cut her, threatened her, touched her, kissed her…
She closed her eyes and willed the tears away. She had never felt so violated and exposed. Now here she was at this stupid event, knowing she had to show face or her friends wouldn’t believe the story she’d told them about needing a vacation to get away from everything for a while. She had disappeared enough times for a week here and there for her friends to believe the story. She just hoped none of them were close enough to look her in the eyes and see she was hurting and lying. That she walked slowly, that the aches and pains from the bruised ribs made her sore as hell. She thought they were broken, and Kyle insisted she see the doctor like he had. He was worse for wear, and Ellis? Ellis was laid up in bed still, peeing blood, and looking like a train wreck. She didn’t feel sorry for him at all. He’d caused all of this, and now Kyle and she were left to clean up his mess. Hopefully they wouldn’t get busted by the feds or killed by Admere.
“Donata, you made it,” Bella said, approaching her from behind. She smiled wide and gave her friend a hug hello, cringing inside at the pain her squeeze caused her.
“So good to see you, too.”
“Wow, you’re tan. Must have been one hell of a vacation?” Bella asked.
She smiled.
“It was eventful.” Her eyes then landed on Mateus and Major who approached, gave her kisses on the cheeks hello, and eyed her over.
“Three weeks without a call, a text, or an indication that you were okay is not acceptable,” Mateus told her. She felt her cheeks warm, her belly tighten, and she looked away from them. Tears filled her eyes and their anger, their care for her life made her emotional. It was a moment of feeling like she wasn’t alone, and then it was instantly replaced by the reality that she was alone. No one could help her out of this. Not even made men.
“I was fine,” she said and reached for her glass of wine.
When she spotted Turbo, he glared at her and then changed directions to head toward her and the bar.
“Where have you been?” he asked her, pressing closer to kiss her cheek. His hand landed on her hip and she tensed up and touched his shoulder. He was so serious, and smelled incredible. She closed her eyes, inhaled his cologne, and felt so needy. It was stupid as the tears stung her eyes.
“Around. How’s it going?” she asked him and he pulled back, looked at her, and then at Bella, Mateus, and Major.
“Busy as usual. How was your trip?” he asked, and she looked away and toward the bar.
“Okay.” She didn’t elaborate. Bella joined her.
“So, I want to hear about it. Where did you go? Who were you with?” she asked.
“It isn’t important. It was just a trip I had to take. Part business really.”
“But you’re so tan.”
“It was very sunny every day, and you know me, I can always finagle time on the beach in the sun to soak up some rays. So is Alessa coming tonight? I wanted to hear all about the new bakery and what went down while I was away. I hear she snagged herself some men, too,” she said, changing the subject.
Thankfully Turbo walked away and Mateus and Major remained nearby as Bella told her all about the trouble Alessa had gotten into and how her men had come to the rescue and admitted their feelings for her and made a commitment. Donata was shocked as well as envious. Her danger was a hell of a lot worse than anyone’s right now. Not that she minimized their danger, but she was involving herself in illegal activities, assisting drug dealers and international trade illegally, fudging numbers, and being threatened by a Middle Eastern terrorist and his friends, and she had a personal asshole on her tail to ensure she didn’t seek help. Add in the fact that her actions dictated whether she, Kyle, and Ellis lived or died—she would be lucky if she didn’t wind up forced into bed with Admere and/or Coleman, who definitely felt he had the right to touch her, too. She was in a mess, and no one could help her out of it. Not even her organized crime friends or their bad-ass enforcers.
* * * *
“She just walked to the lady’s room now. Something isn’t right. Her whole demeanor, her attitude is wrong. I think it’s more than feeling uncomfortable about your make-out session. She looks unhappy and preoccupied. Mateus and Major agree,” Jack told Harley.
“Then I’ll see if I can talk to her. Here she comes.”
Harley ended the call and spotted Donata. She looked good, thinner though.
“Donata.” He said her name, and she stopped short, placed her hand over her midsection, and then looked around them.
“Harley.” She went to walk by, but he grabbed her hand and she gasped.
He narrowed his eyes at her.
“No hello?” he asked, ignoring her reaction as if she were scared of him. His gut clenched.
She eyed him over and said hello, but then looked around them at other people. Like she didn’t want someone to see them together or to think she was with him maybe. He wasn’t sure, but it bothered him. He stepped closer, placed his hand on her hip, and kissed her cheek. He inhaled her scent and couldn’t help but to pull her against him. He missed her terribly, and it shocked him. Apparently shocked her too as she pressed her lips to his neck then pulled back.
“Nice to see you. I should head back to Bella.” She went to move, but he held firm.
“Not yet. Let’s talk,” he said and pulled her along with him. She stopped him, grabbing his arm with her another hand.
“No, Harley. We can’t. I’m sorry.” She went to turn. He gripped her hip tighter, and she gasped as he pulled her close. It was as if she was in pain. He narrowed his eyes at her.
“I won’t be some woman for you to use. What we did weeks ago was a mistake.”
“No it wasn’t, and you know it. I…missed you,” he said to her, looking down at her lips, and holy crap did he want to take her to the back room again but this time fuck her until she admitted how perfect it was.
“Please don’t.” She looked down. He gripped her waist and pulled her snug against him. She cried out and gasped in pain. He loosened his hold.
“You’re hurt?” he asked and looked down at her hips as if he could see through the material there. She pressed his hands off of her and took retreating steps back.
“Please just leave me alone. It’s how it has to be.” She went to pass him, but Jack was there. “What’s going on?”
“She’s hurt. Hiding injuries on her hips.”
“What?” Jack asked, stepping forward. She put her hand up for them to stop.
“No, no, I’m not hiding anything, Harley. I’m a little bruised up from my trip. I was zip lining, sky diving, and doing crazy stuff for fun, and my body wasn’t used to some of the falls I took. No big deal. Nothing is broken.”
Jack slid his arm around her waist and pulled her close. He cupped her cheek, and her lips p
arted. Her eyes gave away the attraction she felt; Harley could see it.
“Maybe we should check them out and ensure they’re only bruised,” Jack said, and lowered his mouth toward hers and kissed her. Harley watched, his cock instantly hardening. Ideas of sharing Donata between him and the others filled his thoughts, but then Donata was pulling away. There were tears in her eyes, when suddenly she hugged Jack tight.
“I’m sorry. I can’t. I’m not right for any of you. I’m not some whore you can play with then toss aside.” She pulled away and turned to head past them when Alessa arrived with her men. The two women embraced, but Harley and Jack locked gazes. Both knew that something wasn’t right here, and they would get to the bottom of it.
* * * *
“She’s overseeing everything and ensuring personally that it goes smoothly. It’s incredible really. Donata is way smarter at this than her brother and Ellis. Who, by the way, is still laid up in bed, the fucking pussy.”
Mulkan chuckled. “The boss will be thrilled to learn of Donata’s capabilities. Is the next shipment ready?”
“Sure is, and I’ll be near Donata tomorrow night at the fundraising event she will be attending with Kyle. It’s the perfect opportunity to ensure she is being smart.”
“Make sure she stays faithful to Admere.”
“What?” Coleman asked, thinking that Admere would forget about Donata and not want her as he threatened.
“She is quite the woman, and Admere’s interests have grown deeper. In a few weeks He will more than likely want to see her again.”
“And he expects what? That she jump on a plane to Pakistan?”
“That you’ll ensure she arrives in Pakistan as her personal escort when she is called upon.”
Coleman clenched his teeth. He wanted to make Donata his woman.
“Fine, but I have no control over what she does while she is here.”
“Sure you do, Coleman. It’s you she is with or no other men. You’re to remind her of Admere’s threats and his touch. He got a taste for her sweetness, and he will want to possess her fully, whether she is willing or tied down. You know his pleasures. Either will do, just as long as he gets the end result: Donata calling out his name as he claims her body.”
* * * *
“I should be handling this with Ellis, not you,” Kyle said to her as he stood in the apartment picking her up for the fundraising event.
“Really? I don’t think so. You two fucked up and it’s my life, my body on the line here. You do realize that Admere will rape and kill me. That he could have done that in Pakistan? That he did things to me to ensure my cooperation? So don’t stand here and tell me how you can handle this smuggling shit and ensuring we remain undetected by feds and other assholes. I’m in charge now. I have to be or we’re dead. So just do as I say,” she snapped at him. She was totally angry at her brother for this mess, never mind Ellis.
Her brother was silent as she fixed her lip gloss and smoothed her hands down the slim-fitting black dress that accentuated her every curve. She was going to see Coleman tonight. He wanted an update, some validation that she was cooperating and scared.
“I’m so sorry, Donata. I can’t believe any of this is happening. It’s like something out of a movie; it can’t be real.”
“Those bruises, the pain you’re in, that I’m in are real. Being dragged off the streets, taken out of New Delhi to some shithole village in Pakistan—fucking Pakistan—was real. As real as it gets. Having Admere touch me, threaten me…it’s damn real. It isn’t some nightmare. They own us now. You can thank Ellis and his stupid damn decisions. Notice how he’s hiding out in his apartment like some weak asshole.”
He stepped forward and went to touch her and she stepped back.
“We can handle this together.”
She shook her head.
“There is no handling anything. We obey and we watch our asses to ensure we don’t get caught. You handle the negotiating and the packaging. I’ll handle customs, shipments, and ensure this shit gets to where it needs to be and out of our warehouses fast. The quicker the transition, the less likely we are to get caught.”
“What about your life, your friends, those men I heard you talk about before we left?”
“What?” she asked, shocked and not knowing what he was talking about.
“I heard you on the phone with Bella. That you fooled around with one of the heads of security or something.”
Her cheeks warmed and her eyes filled with tears. She straightened her shoulders and exhaled.
“My life, my focus, is on getting through this mess and not being raped or killed.”
“They’re made men though. Friends with the Fiorre family and others. Perhaps there is something—”
“No! Don’t you dare even think of contacting them or asking for help. This is not their problem. I won’t put my friends’ men or any others in danger because your partner was looking to land cash fast. Right now, you should focus on deciding if you want to remain as Admere’s bitch or perhaps finding a way to fuck up this company business, make sales drop, and destroy it so it can no longer be beneficial to Admere’s business needs.”
She had been trying to formulate a plan, a way to pull back on sales with the intention of eventually closing down. It would take time, and they would be destroying their reputations. She didn’t know who else was connected to this money line besides Admere. He had to have people who made the product, they got a cut, and then there were extras, like security, drivers, workers. It would be complicated, and if she could get more info on Admere and his operations, perhaps she could formulate a plan.
“Are you out of your mind? You can’t double-cross him. You can’t get into Admere’s head and try to weasel your way out of this. Like you said, this is beyond us. Beyond our way of thinking.”
“Maybe it’s beyond your way of thinking, but after what they did to us, to me, I’m willing to do what I need to do to get out from under Admere’s strong hold.”
“You’ll get killed.”
She stared at her brother. So he was beaten up, kicked, had a gun to his head—she’d had worse done to her because she was a woman. Admere was going to rape her, force his way between her legs the next time he was in her presence. She wasn’t stupid. This was a life or death situation. She wasn’t one to back down, nor one to succumb to a man’s control.
“You don’t need to be with me on this. You handle what I ask you to handle, and you don’t tell Ellis a damn thing.”
“He’s involved with this, too, Donata.”
“No, he caused this. I’m going to end it. I will not be a prisoner to some Middle Eastern asshole who thinks he can threaten and demand for us to do his dirty work. I will not be his whore, Kyle.”
“Jesus.” He ran his fingers through his hair with one hand on his hip.
“Are you dense? Don’t you realize he wants me in his bed? You think Coleman doesn’t, too?”
“So you’re going to what, spread your legs and get information? That isn’t you.”
“Who said anything about spreading my legs for them? I’m talking about playing their game. Setting them up to take a fall, or simply making it so that their interest in our company goes elsewhere.”
“How are you going to do that?”
“I don’t know yet, but something tells me when the opportunity presents itself, I’ll know exactly what I have to do. Remember, not a word to Ellis. He’s proved he is incapable of being loyal. There are no second chances.”
* * * *
Coleman Perkins saw Donata the moment she entered the fundraising event. He knew she would be here. Ellis and James Enterprise was one of the lead contributors to the event, supporting the children’s hospital along with branches of families struggling to meet medical needs for their children diagnosed with rare diseases. She looked phenomenal. The tan beaded dress hugged her sexy curves, and although the dress reached the tops of her matching designer heels, the slit up the side was nearly to her hip. It
was classy, sexy, and eye-catching. He immediately noticed men making their way toward her to greet her hello. He felt on edge, jealous, and it confirmed his need to perhaps change up his original plans.
The idea that Admere would wind up with Donata irked him in many ways. He didn’t want Admere’s sloppy seconds. Besides, he’d seen the end result of women Admere used for pleasure. His gut clenched. No, Donata was too appealing. There had to be a way to change her destiny, but would she be up for that? He took a sip of his champagne as she and Kyle made their way deeper into the room. That was when he caught sight of Turbo and Covan Jones. They worked with Mateus and Major Fiorre, two organized crime guys Coleman had crossed paths with before. When they greeted Donata, kissing her cheek, letting their hands glide along her hips nearly to her ass, he knew they knew her well. Had she fucked them?
His temper flared. The opportunity to ensure she knew where she stood and belonged needed to be challenged. He made his way toward them, ready to initiate a power he had over Donata. Would she comply or not?
* * * *
Donata felt Turbo’s palm glide along her lower back then nearly to her ass. It took so much strength to not hug him tighter, absorb whatever she could of his strength and the feelings of safety she had with him and Jack. She couldn’t entertain that attraction. That was in her normal life. Her old life, not this one of survival, manipulation, and death before dishonor. She promised herself she would die before she let Admere get a chance to force himself on her. She swallowed hard and gave a soft smile.
“Are you guys working?” she asked, and then stepped back toward Kyle who wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her a hug. He smiled, too, pretending life was wonderful and they weren’t living a nightmare.
“No, we’re here with the others to support the cause. Your company is one of the main funders, is it not?” Jack asked. She looked at him, that long blond hair slicked back so stylishly. His blue eyes stared at her lips then over her body as he waited for a response. Her brother gave a verbal response but her eyes couldn’t help but absorb how sexy Jack looked in a tuxedo.
Made Men 10: And Then...There Were Seven (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 6