Twisted Desire

by Laura Dunaway

  He winced when he saw, but I didn’t care. He was an asshole, and I hated him, hated him more than I’d hated anyone in my life.

  He held up a hand. “Whoa, whoa,” he said. “Settle down. All I was saying was there’s no way I can just let you go home, as you requested. All I can tell you right now is that you were taken in retaliation.”

  I squinted my eyes at that. Retaliation? For what? “What are you talking about?”

  He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, looking like he was trying to think of what to say in response. What in the world would I be taken in retaliation for? I scoured my brain to think of something, anything, but nothing came to mind.

  He finally spoke. “Listen, that’s all you need to know for now. No more questions.”

  I sat up quickly, then felt my head spin. He reached out to help me, but I recoiled at his approach, making him sit back. It was then I really focused on his face and was again reminded at how beautiful he was. I felt my heart start to race, and I knew it wasn’t from the panic attack I’d just had. I jerked my head to look out the small window by my bed, needing space from him. But I also needed some answers regardless of what he’d just said.

  “How long will I be here?”

  He sighed. “I said no more questions, Penelope.”

  I looked at him then and saw that he was looking straight at me. He was sculpted everywhere, from his jaw to his feet. Every part of him was strong, I thought as I zeroed in on his full lips. I knew even they would be strong in his kisses.

  I shook my head a little, stunned at where my thoughts had gone. “Please call me Penny,” I said out of nowhere. No one called me Penelope except for my grandmother and father. Everyone else called me Penny, which I preferred.

  “Yeah, okay,” he responded, clearly confused at my change in subject. “Penny.”

  “Who did something so horrible that I was taken for it?” I demanded. None of this made any sense, and it made me extremely angry. I had been taken in retaliation of something I had no idea about and was planted on some boat in the middle of the ocean. It made no sense.

  He suddenly stood up and began pacing. He was conflicted—that was easy to tell. But he was also the enemy, and I couldn’t trust him. I was on my own out here, and that knowledge scared me to death. I had been raised in a very protective environment by my father, which I’d always appreciated, until now. There was no way I knew how to get myself out of this mess.

  “All you need to know,” he said so softly I wasn’t sure I heard him, “is that you were taken in retaliation. Some very bad things go on in this world, Penny, things you obviously have no idea about. Now you’re caught in one of them and it sucks, but it wasn’t my doing. Since I’m now assigned to watch over you, the best thing you can do is try to behave. Like I told you—as long as you do, you won’t get hurt.”

  I gave a low cry and lay back down on the bed, my fist in my mouth. This was real, and I was never going home. I was taken for some bastards own gain and didn’t know how to get out of it. All sense of hope fled my body in that very instant.

  My body jerked as my cries refused to be held in. I heard him swear under his breath, but I didn’t care. He was the cause of my pain, literally and figuratively, and my hate for him grew.

  “Penny,” he said, his voice tight. I ignored him, even though I knew he was standing over me as my sobs continued to erupt from my body.

  “Dammit,” he swore again. I felt him lifting me off of the bed, making me start to struggle. He held onto me tightly, and I knew my fight was useless. I suddenly just went limp in his arms, which took him off guard. He sat me down on the chair by my bed and lowered to his knees so he could look me in the eye.

  His hand reached out like he was going to touch my hair, but he caught himself and put it back down by his side. His eyes looked pained, like he felt horrible for me, but I knew that wasn’t the case. He was part of the reason I was here; he was helping whoever took me.

  “Penny,” he said again, softer this time. “You can trust me.”

  I gave a loud “HA!” at that, which surprised even me. I worried that I may have upset him, but he just leaned back on his heels, still looking in my eyes. If I didn’t know any better, it actually seemed like he was bothered I didn’t believe him.

  He stood up and sat down on the edge of my bed. “I don’t blame you,” he started, surprising me. “I don’t blame you, but I’m all you’ve got here, so it would be in your best interest to learn to trust me. I have no intention of hurting you, whether you trust that or not.”

  My heart continued to beat fast, from anxiety and from him, no matter how much I hated him. He was so good looking, sitting there looking at me on my bed, I could hardly stand it. Why did he have to be the bad guy? Why couldn’t he be the good guy who came to rescue me?

  I sighed at my crazy thoughts, and then started to twist some hair around my finger. Maybe he was right, but there was no way I could let my guard down with him. There had to be a way out of here. The yacht lurched then, a wave hitting it, as if to remind me that unless I was a fish, I was trapped.

  “I need to go talk to my boss,” he said, standing up, his hazel eyes burning as he looked at me. “But I’m going to get you your breakfast first. You need to eat, especially after your episode a few minutes ago. How are you feeling?”

  He looked like he genuinely cared, and I decided not to fight it right then. “I’m feeing really faint, but I’m fine.”

  He looked at the door, then back at me. “I’ll go get your food. Be right back.” I watched him as he walked out of my small room, and heard him lock the door behind him. I laughed out loud because honestly, where would I even go?

  Chapter 4

  I’ve never been good around a crying woman. I instantly go still, not having a clue what to do. That’s what happened when she started to cry. And honestly, I didn’t blame her for all the crying she’d done, but what the hell was I supposed to do for her? I usually slammed my lips against the girl if appropriate, which it totally wasn’t here, even though the thought made me smile just a little.

  Anger flared through me at the thought of how stupid Roman was to take her. If he’d just asked me, I would have told him ten better options than taking her, but he didn’t, and now I was her babysitter. I slammed my fist against the wall as I walked to the kitchen, hating Roman more and more with each step.

  I reached the kitchen and grabbed her tray of food. Looking down at it, I scowled. Oatmeal, toast, and orange juice. That was it? Don’t go all out now, Roman, whatever you do. Rolling my eyes, I nodded at the cook and walked off.

  I got back to her cabin and unlocked the door. She was still sitting on the chair, staring out the window. Her long, dark brown hair just hung down her back, having not been brushed in almost forty-eight hours. The hollowness that was deepening in her eyes bothered me. She was an innocent pawn in a deadly game. I knew she had no idea her father was involved in anything criminal, and I certainly had no plans on being the one to tell her. From the background I’d read on her, she’d lived an extremely naive life and had no idea what truly went on in the world. Well, here’s reality, sweetheart; ain’t it great? I kicked the door open harder than intended in my annoyance, startling her.

  “Sorry,” I apologized, setting the tray of food down on the bed in front of her. “Eat up, Penny. It’ll help you feel stronger.”

  She just looked at the tray, and then at me, then shrugged. It was obvious she felt there was no point, but she was wrong. There was always a point. “Eat,” I instructed again.

  She sighed and leaned forward, taking the spoon. I watched as she scooped a tiny bit of oatmeal on it and put it in her mouth. She chewed for a second, then swallowed.

  “There,” she said, folding her arms across her chest, continuing to look out the small window.

  I couldn’t help but laugh a bit, that little move surprising me. “There’s the attitude.” I chuckled, shaking my head. She just continued to look out the
window, as if I wasn’t there. What was she thinking?

  She had beautiful, almond-shaped hazel eyes, which looked more sad and defeated than I’d ever liked to see on a woman. Her toned arms rested on some pretty nice tits. I enjoyed looking at them every chance I got. They were round and high, the perfect handful. The tight pink tank she was wearing let me know that from the moment I first saw her.

  Pink tank.

  Shit.

  She needed a change of clothes and a shower.

  I went over to the small chest of drawers and opened a drawer. Everything was in there, like Roman said they would be. She had bras, underwear, pajamas, shorts, a bathing suit, pants, and shirts. Not a lot, but enough.

  I turned to her. “Penny?”

  She slowly turned her head to look over at me, her eyes still completely uninterested. I pointed to the drawers. “You have everything you need here. I’m sure you’d like to take a shower, so feel free while I’m taking care of some things. Your bathroom is well stocked with makeup and toiletries as well. I’ll be back later.”

  She just looked at me and then back out the window, not saying a word. What happened to the spitfire from a few minutes ago? I walked out her door and locked it, cursing Roman again under my breath.

  “She’s given up, Roman.”

  I was sitting across from him, watching as he took long drags off of his cigar. He didn’t seem fazed by what I’d just told him.

  Looking at him, the man just reeked of wealth, which he definitely had. His white hair was combed so perfectly you could see the comb marks. His face was clean-shaven save for the small, well-trimmed mustache above his thin lips. The only thing not perfect about his appearance was his yellowing teeth from smoking cigars for forty years.

  “It’s to be expected, Tag,” he finally said, exhaling some smoke.

  “I guess.”

  He raised a brow. “You would be wise not to concern yourself with her emotional state, Tag.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not, sir,” I replied. “I’m just reporting to you.”

  He gave me a look indicating he was trying to determine if I was telling the truth or not, but I just kept sitting in my chair, not changing my expression. For some reason, the man was still testing my loyalty, which I didn’t understand. I’d done more for him than my own father.

  “Good,” he commented. “There are reasons I chose you to watch over her, Tag. Don’t prove me wrong.”

  “I won’t. She was asking for more information, though. All I’ve told her is she was taken in retaliation, like you said. Should I keep it at that or give her anything else?”

  He flicked some ash into the tray and took another drag. “Tag, I realize the girl is in some shock and has been taken against her will, but ultimately my concern is with succeeding in my message to her father. She’s not in any danger at the moment, so just continue letting her know that. I feel the need to reiterate that she is to be kept away from everyone on board. I don’t need my men anywhere near her, for her safety and theirs. You are to be with her or know where she is at all times. I don’t want to hear of any mistakes.”

  I resisted rolling my eyes. “I understand. I won’t let anyone near her or harm her. They’d have to get through me first, which won’t happen.”

  He smiled then, a small, thin smile. It was a smile that usually sent people running for the hills. Roman Vitale was not a man to cross.

  “That’s what I like to hear,” he said, standing. “Please keep me updated on how she’s doing.” I was dismissed, so I stood and assured him I would. As I was walking out, Rico entered, and I resisted the urge to punch him.

  “Ah, Tag, just the man I was looking for,” Rico said when he reached me. “How is the girl doing?”

  He knew I was just with Roman, so why was he asking? The man was a complete bastard. I knew what he was doing. He wouldn’t succeed.

  “I just reported everything to Roman,” I answered. “She’s fine.” I walked past him, not wanting to be near him anymore. The man was a filthy pig.

  I heard his office door shut behind me, and I knew Rico was asking Roman the details. I would never understand why Roman assigned him to be his right- hand man. The man was only out for himself, and he couldn’t be trusted.

  I walked back to our floor and stood in front of her door, checking to see if I could hear anything. Silence. Sighing, I took out the key to her room and unlocked it.

  “It’s just me, Penny,” I called to her as I came in. She was now standing in front of the window, her tray of food still on the bed. I looked and saw she’d eaten a little more, but not enough. She had different clothes on and her hair was wet, so she’d obviously had a shower. That was a good sign; she still cared about something.

  She didn’t move when I came in; it was like I wasn’t even there. Contrary to what I told Roman, it was bothering me how she was acting. Shouldn’t she have a little fight in her…somewhere?

  But honestly, it shouldn’t matter. She was a pawn, and I was a player. I was also her damn babysitter.

  “Penny,” I said sharply, causing her to finally turn around.

  And I felt it everywhere, stunning me into silence.

  She was so damn beautiful.

  She was in a two-sizes-too-big plain white T-shirt and pink shorts with white polka dots, her feet bare. Her hair had been brushed out, and it flowed down her back in casual waves. But it was her eyes, her big hazel eyes, that struck me. They were still hollow, but they also had a blaze in them that wasn’t there before. They had the power to bring me down, if I let them, which I never would.

  I shook my head, determined to never have those thoughts again. She was a job, nothing more. Nothing.

  I walked briskly across the small room to stand right in front of her. I wanted to show her I was in charge, that she followed what I said. She needed to know her life was in my hands now.

  “Why didn’t you finish your breakfast?” I demanded.

  She flinched just the tiniest bit, but I saw it. Her eyes took on an angry glow for a moment, then went blank. Good. I affected something in her; she wasn’t totally gone.

  “I’m not hungry,” she mumbled, looking down at the wood floor.

  I lifted my hand and put my finger under her chin, lifting her face to look at me. She jerked away, but I wouldn’t let her get her way this time. I took her chin between my thumb and forefinger and made her look at me.

  “You need to eat what you are given, querida.”

  Her eyes squinted at the endearment. “Why did you call me that?” she asked.

  I chuckled, lifting my finger to push a strand of her hair behind her ear. “You told me not to call you sweetheart, so I improvised.”

  She shook her head, pushing my hand away, which made me chuckle. “I know it means sweetheart,” she said under her breath. I waited for her to continue, but she didn’t. It hit me that she didn’t tell me not to call her that either. Didn’t matter; I was going to anyway. I wanted to do something to keep some of that fire in her.

  “You’re right. It does. Now, next time I bring you some food, eat it. At least you showered. That’s something.”

  She looked at me with pain in her eyes, like I’d hurt her feelings. Damn. I didn’t mean it like that. I told her as much. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just glad you did something I said, that’s all. Plus, I’m sure it helped you feel a little better, right?”

  Her eyes softened as she looked back out the window. “A little, but I still want to know why I’m here. It’s not fair to take me and not tell me why.”