She had a point, and a part of me wanted to say to hell with Roman’s instructions, but I wouldn’t. “I know, but for now, it’s how it has to be.”
She sniffed, which signaled to me that she was crying again. Shit. I would need to figure out a way to deal with her tears if they kept coming.
“Querida,” I said softly, making her wince. “Penny,” I corrected, suddenly not in the mood to push her buttons. “You need to trust me. You are not in any danger with me. I’m just here to watch over you.”
She sniffed again, rubbing her eyes with her hands. I noticed then how well manicured her fingernails were, painted in a soft pink. “How can I trust anyone right now?” she asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.
“You just have to trust me,” I told her softly. She was so fragile. Once again, I felt rage at Roman for pulling this stupid stunt.
She turned to look at me, the blaze in her eyes back. “Then tell me why I’m here,” she said in the strongest tone I’ve heard from her yet.
I sighed and ran my hand over my head. Okay, she had some stubbornness in her. How many times, though, do I need to repeat myself?
“Querida,” I said, trying to prove a point by irking her again. “I’m not going to tell you again. You can only know it was for retaliation. Do not ask me again.”
“Damn you!” she cried out unexpectedly, making me take a step back. “Damn you and your asshole boss! How DARE you take me and not tell me why! For retaliation? Against who? No one in my life does anything that needs retaliating, you bastard! I hate you! Get out!”
Holy shit. Where the hell did that come from? A part of me wanted to clap my hands and salute her, but the other wanted to wipe that attitude right off her beautiful face.
“Wow, querida,” I said to her instead. “I didn’t know you had that in you. Impressive.”
She shoved the tray of food off of her bed to the floor and threw herself on the bed, face down on her pillow. Her body started to shake, and I heard her crying once again. Shit, shit, shit.
I bent over and cleaned up the mess, stacking it back on the tray. I stood up, watching her as she sobbed. Not knowing what to do, I chose to leave and give her some space.
“I’ll be back, Penny,” I told her as I backed up to the door. “Get some rest.”
“Go to hell,” I heard her muffled voice say. I smiled as I locked her door and headed for the kitchen. There was the spunk.
Chapter 5
I woke up disoriented and with my head feeling like a ten-pound weight was on it. My eyes were swollen, and I couldn’t breathe out of my nose. Once again, it hit me where I was as reality smacked me square in the face. Looking around my small room, the severity of the situation made me start to tremble.
No.
Not another panic attack.
Please.
I made myself stand up and walk around, shaking my hands and taking deep breaths. I caught my image in the small mirror above the chest of drawers and gasped. My hair was a ratted mess, and my eyes were hollow with dark circles underneath.
I started for the small attached bathroom to get the hairbrush when I heard voices outside of my room, making me freeze. I hadn’t been around anyone else but Tag on this yacht, so hearing other voices sent chills down my spine. What are they doing? Were they here to take me?
I put my hand over my mouth as I quietly tiptoed closer to the door to try and hear better what they were saying. A wave of nausea hit me at knowing there were men outside of my room, and none of them were Tag. Where was he now that I actually needed him?
“Rico,” I heard a deep voice with an Italian accent say. “What are you doing? You, Tag, and I are the only ones who know the girl is here, and it needs to stay that way. You are not to do anything though, without my permission. I will not have this messed up. Understand me?”
The man seemed angry with this Rico. Who are they, and what was the guy talking about? I started to shake again, not having any understanding of what was going on and why I was here. Please Lord, help me out of this.
“Of course not, Roman,” the man named Rico replied. His squeaky voice gave me instant chills. I knew right away this man was bad and that he was also a suck-up to this Roman. I hated them both with such a deep hatred that it actually scared me, making me put my hand to my chest as I continued to listen.
“You know you can trust me now,” Rico continued. “Haven’t I proved my worthiness with everything I’ve done?”
Bile rose in my throat at the thoughts of what he’d had to prove. I prayed I was not something else he had to show his loyalty with. Roman’s next words helped me calm down with that thought.
“You have, but you will not mess it up over the girl. Stay away from her. She is a crucial part in my vendetta, and I will not hesitate to punish anyone who interferes.”
“You have my word, Roman,” squeaky Rico answered. I then heard their footsteps and realized they were walking away. I slumped against the door and slid to the floor, my palms sweaty and my heart pounding. The lurch of the boat brought me out of my daze as I raised my head to look out the small window of my room, only seeing the blue sky and puffy white clouds.
More footsteps sounded, and I covered my mouth so my cry couldn’t be heard. They got closer and closer and stopped right behind me, right at my door. I held my breath, waiting to see what was in store.
“Penny?” KNOCK, KNOCK.
Tag!
I stayed where I was, sitting against the door. I was relieved it was him but didn’t want to move, to open the door. He had a key; he could get in on his own. Soon enough, I heard the key insert in the lock and felt the door try to open.
“Penny? What’s going on?”
I still didn’t move; for some reason my body was frozen. I felt more pushing as he tried to get in, my body sliding against the floor at the brunt of his final push before he came inside. When he saw me sitting there, he immediately came in front of me and bent down on his knees, his eyes full of alarm.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “What the hell happened? Why are you sitting here on the floor?” His eyes were blazing, and his chest was moving fast with his breathing. When I didn’t respond, he grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him. “Talk to me, Penny!”
“No, I’m not okay,” I responded, my attitude coming out. “I won’t be okay until you or someone gets me home. I don’t belong here, and I want to go home.”
He dropped my chin and ran his hand over his head, sighing, then sat next to me on the floor. “Yeah, I know,” he said quietly. Every now and then, my plight seemed to bother him, which was stupid since he was one of them. “Why are you on the floor, querida?”
That stupid name.
I pulled my knees against my chest and rested my chin on them. Now that he had returned, I felt safer, but I’d never admit it to him. Against my better judgment, I really was beginning to trust him, which only annoyed me. But I couldn’t deny how he’d taken care of me, had seemed concerned, and had never given me a reason to think he was lying, other than being his prisoner.
“Querida?”
I didn’t look at him as I responded. “I heard voices outside the door, and it scared me.”
I didn’t see it but felt his jolt. “Voices? Do you know whose?”
Still looking down at the floor, I replied, “Roman and Rico. They scare me, Tag. Especially Rico. His voice is the worst thing I’ve ever heard.”
I heard his chuckle, which made me finally look up at him. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing,” he said, composing himself. “Are you okay?”
Why had he laughed? I refused to ask him again; it didn’t matter. “No, I’m not. Why were they in front of my cabin? What do they want with me?”
He suddenly stood up and held a hand out to me. I stared at it but didn’t take it. I heard him mumble a curse, then say, “I’m not going to rip your arm off, Penny. I just want to help you up.”
Feeling stupid, I put my hand in his, and as he helped me
stand, the current of electricity that shot through me about made me fall back down. He must have felt it too as he was standing there with a look of surprise in his eyes. We both stayed silent, just looking at each other for what seemed like minutes. He lifted a hand as if to touch me, but then let it fall back down to his side.
“Let’s go for a walk,” he said, moving to the door.
I turned to face him, not sure I heard him correctly. “What did you say?” I asked.
“I said, let’s go for a walk.”
“A walk?” He was actually taking me out of this horrid room? “Won’t you get in trouble?”
His eyes darkened for a minute but then cleared. “Nope, I won’t. Plus, that’s not for you to worry about.”
He opened the door and gestured for me to walk past him, but I couldn’t. I still wasn’t convinced it was safe for me to leave my room, especially after hearing Roman and Rico outside my door. It was better to stay put.
Lost in thought, I barely heard his loud sigh. Looking at him, I saw he was standing with his hand rubbing the back of his neck, his eyes intoxicating as they stared at me, but I made myself resist their allure. He was the enemy, and I was better off not forgetting that.
“Penny, trust me,” was all he said. It reminded me back to a few hours previous when he’d asked me that same thing. I wouldn’t tell him I was beginning to; instead, I decided to stop being paranoid and get out of my room. I put my feet forward and walked out the door, hearing him shut it behind me. I flinched and gave a small cry when I felt his fingers circle my wrist.
“Don’t be afraid of me,” he bent down to whisper in my ear. “It would be in your best interest to get that through your head and actually start to trust me, Penelope.” I shivered, not because of his words, but because of how close he was to me, how his warm breath felt against the shell of my ear. And for the first time since being on this prison of a yacht, I noticed how good he smelled. It was like pine and basil, and I had to force myself to stop from swooning. It was the sexiest scent I’d ever smelled in my life.
Refusing to show him how he affected me, I rolled my eyes and stayed silent. I hadn’t missed him calling me by my first name. He wouldn’t succeed in goading me. Keeping my eyes looking straight ahead, I waited for him to lead the way.
“Roman knows you can’t be held in your room twenty-four seven,” Tag said as he led me down the hall and around a corner, still holding onto my hand. “But, he does have strict instructions to not let you out in public. So, you need to stay right next to me, understand?”
Since I had no idea where to go, I nodded. I’d get my bearings as he walked me around, and would figure out where everything was. There was no doubt my intent was to get myself off this boat, even if it killed me. Staying with no hope of being rescued and no knowledge of why I was here would kill me anyway, so I was determined.
“How old are you?” he suddenly asked, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“You mean you don’t know?” For someone who seemed so well organized, I was surprised this Roman hadn’t found that out.
“Oh, I know,” Tag chuckled. “I just want to hear you say it and make sure I’m correct.”
“I’m twenty-one.”
Suddenly Tag dropped my hand and moved to stand in front of me. Not understanding, I looked around him and froze. The ugliest man I’d ever seen was coming toward us, his face covered in acne scars and a smile so sinister, it made me shiver in terror. Before I could react, Tag’s hand reached behind his back and searched for mine, finally finding it and holding it tight.
“Rico, what are you doing here?” he asked the horrible man. Hearing the name, my senses went on high alert, and I took a step back. Tag held onto my hand tighter, brushing his thumb over my wrist, letting me know he had me.
“Well, well, well,” the squeaky voice replied. “I didn’t know I’d have the honor of meeting Ms. Santoro.” I saw him lean over a little, trying to get a better look at me, which only made me duck my head. The chuckle that came out of his mouth was the nastiest thing I’d ever heard.
“What are you doing here?” Tag repeated, ignoring his comment.
“Relax, Tag, no need to be hostile. I was just coming back down to ask you a question.”
He was suddenly beside me, which made me jerk back. His laughter was sinister and ugly. “My bad, Ms. Santoro,” Rico told me. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I only wanted to shake your hand.”
Tag turned so he was in front of me again, making it impossible for me to shake Rico’s hand. I silently thanked him. The sudden attachment I was feeling for Tag brought me comfort in Rico’s awful presence. There was no doubt in my mind now that even though Tag was still on the wrong side, he was who I wanted with me in this situation. Rico had made sure of that.
“Either ask me your question, or come find me later,” Tag told him. “I was just taking Ms. Santoro back to her room, and you know you are not to be anywhere near her.”
Rico’s eyes turned to slits as he listened to Tag. He obviously didn’t like being told that. “You would be smart to remember I am Roman’s right-hand man, Tag. I don’t take orders from you.”
Tag towered over Rico, not intimidated in the least. “But you do take orders from Roman, as do I, and I was ordered to tell him everything that happens concerning Ms. Santoro, if you get my drift.” I couldn’t help the small smile that came over me hearing that. Thank goodness Rico couldn’t see it with me being behind Tag’s large body.
“I’ll come by and talk to you later,” his evil squeak said, then he walked away. I exhaled in relief.
“That man is evil,” I whispered, taking my hand back and wrapping my arms around myself.
Tag turned around to face me, his eyes furious. “Yes, he is. Now do you trust me, Penny?” His eyes softened saying my name, and while I still didn’t trust him fully, I couldn’t help the fact I was beginning to.
“I’m starting to,” I replied, still standing with my arms wrapped around my middle. The fear of Rico was making me shake, something that was happening a lot ever since I found myself on this boat.
“Damn Rico,” Tag said. Before I knew what was happening, I felt him pull me into his arms, wrapping them around my waist. The shock of it made me try to look at him, but his arms held me tight, not letting me.
“Stop moving. Just let me hold you for a second, okay?” he asked roughly, resting his chin on top of my head. “I know Rico scared you, but you’re safe with me. Hearing you say you’re starting to trust me is good, querida, real good. You must know that I won’t let him touch you—ever.”
I wrapped my arms around his middle, resting my head on his chest. I knew he meant what he said, I just hated that it confused the hell out of me because both he and Rico worked for the same man. Before my thoughts went further, I felt him lift his chin off my head and brush some of my hair aside. I lifted my head and looked up at him, not sure what he was doing.
“I know we just started our walk, but I need to get you back to your room because I don’t know where Rico is right now. It’s safer this way.”
I nodded, knowing he was right. He gave me a small smile, then took my hand back in his. Pulling me gently, I followed him as he led me back to my room.
Chapter 6
I was seething. Rico wasn’t coming down to ask me a question; he just wanted to see Penny for himself. I knew he was aware Roman gave me permission to walk her around a bit. He timed it perfectly. I wished Roman had a clue about what a maniac his right-hand man was.
When Penny saw Rico, I noticed her reaction right away. She was afraid of him. I could only hope that fear would stick around because it would make her cautious. The last thing she needed was for Rico to get his hands on her.
Twisted Desire Page 4