by Mia Knight
Contents
Title
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Author's Note
About the Author
Recaptured by the Crime Lord
Crime Lord Series, Book 2
Mia Knight
Copyright © 2016 Mia Knight
All rights reserved.
DEDICATION
To the authors who nourished my love for stories and taught me at a young age how to dream.
CHAPTER ONE
Lyla
Lyla Dalton strolled along a creek in Montana, willing the tranquility of her surroundings to ease her troubled mind. She didn’t sleep much anymore. No place, no matter how isolated or beautiful, made her feel safe. Most days, she felt like a walking zombie—no thoughts or feeling penetrated through the thick layer of white noise that shielded her from the outside world. Other times, she felt so much that she couldn’t stand it.
Once upon a time, she and her cousin, Carmen led privileged lives with men who loved them. That life shattered when Carmen’s husband and Lyla’s future father-in-law, Manny, were murdered. Lyla had been forced to watch Manny be beat to death and had been mutilated by the same killer who had been interrupted before he could finish her off.
Lyla felt the raised edges of her scars beneath the thin material of her shirt. Eight stab wounds and three slashes over six inches in length marred her abdomen. The horror she felt watching merciless criminals break every bone in Manny’s body and the memory of the blade sinking into her chest made her sick. She wouldn’t forget the sound of Manny’s screams being abruptly cut off as he drowned in his own blood.
Lyla stopped and put her hands on knees while she waited for the nausea to pass. When it did, she straightened and resumed her trek along the path. While Gavin was occupied with throwing cops off his bloody trail, Carmen withdrew money from her bank account, bought an RV and they went on the road. They periodically stayed in motels or rented cabins when they needed a break from the close confines of the RV. They paid for everything with cash so there was no trail. If they felt the urge to move on, they did so. They lived cautiously, avoiding big cities and populated areas. On the rare occasions that Lyla was forced to interact with others, her composure creaked under the strain of trying to appear normal.
Lyla settled on a flat topped rock along the creek and tipped her face up to the sun and took a deep breath of clean, fresh air. Montana was beautiful and had been their home for about a week now. She wished the warmth from the sun would touch her cold soul, which had holes in it that would never heal. Despite the fact that it had been a year and a half since they went on the road, she felt as fragile as she’d been the day Manny was murdered. Knowing there were people in the world capable of that level of brutality kept her up at night.
Carmen told her that Gavin went to jail for money laundering, the only charge they were able to pin on him since they didn’t have enough evidence for murder. Lyla didn’t ask how long he would be in jail. She didn’t care. When she woke in the hospital with fatal stab wounds, he didn’t ask about Manny’s murder or her well-being. All he wanted was information on the men he was hunting. Since the men involved in Manny’s murder wore masks, she had nothing to give him and hadn’t seen him again. Gavin blamed her for Vinny’s death and had been cold and remote while she lay in the hospital bed, held together with stitches and staples. She focused on getting better and left the moment she could with Carmen distracting the men so they could make their getaway. Slowly, her body mended, but not her spirit.
Lyla rose after the sun heat her skin and started back towards the cabin. After surviving the traumatic attack and skipping out on physiotherapy, she forced herself to explore her surroundings to strengthen her body and out of a need to make sure they weren’t being followed. Branches snapped beneath her sneakers. Her eyes swept the forest for bears, rattlesnakes, coyotes or cougars. She carried a pistol to defend herself against wildlife and any man who thought two women traveling alone would be fair game. Carmen taught her how to use a gun. Lyla became a decent shot, but hadn’t had the chance to put her new skills to the test.
She left the path and made her way back to their rented cabin and heard voices up ahead. She cleared the trees and took in the bizarre scene. There were a small army of SUVs parked next to the RV and there were at least twenty men in the clearing. For a second, she thought they were police officers until she registered that they weren’t in uniform but suits.
A large man prowled through the crowd. The other suits gave way to him. Even across the distance, Lyla sensed the air crackling around him. Fear shot through her along with a healthy dose of adrenaline. Even as her legs tensed to run, the man stopped in his tracks and spotted her. Lyla’s finely honed survival instinct kicked in. She whirled and ran back along the path as fast as she could. Between the burble of the creek and the sound of her heart, Lyla couldn’t hear anyone behind her, but she didn’t stop. Her mind was a blank slate of fear and denial. No, he couldn’t be here.
There was no warning. She was running headlong down the path and then something hit her hard from behind. As the impact sent her reeling forward, arms wrapped around her. Lyla landed against a hard body as they tumbled to the ground. Lyla tried to wrench away as they rolled, fighting tooth and nail. He spoke, but Lyla couldn’t hear over the ringing in her ears. She reached for her gun. He disarmed her without batting an eye and pinned her hands over her head. He sat on her stomach, taking her breath away. Lyla stared up at Gavin Pyre, the man she’d run from twice in her lifetime. He had an angular face, slick black hair and blazing amber eyes. He wore a gray suit now covered in dead leaves, twigs and dirt.
“Stop it,” he hissed.
Lyla panted beneath him, unable to find her voice. How did he find them? What was he doing here? What did he want? He didn’t look like he just got out of jail. He looked as pristine and polished as always.
Gavin tucked her pistol into his trousers at the small of his back. He rose and hauled her up with him. Before she had time to register that he was really here and touching her as if he had every right to, Gavin began to march her along the path back to the cabins. Fear and rage collided, giving her the strength she needed to break his grip. Her mind screamed at her to get as far from him as possible.
Lyla left the path and began to zigzag through the forest. She didn’t get more than a dozen paces before Gavin caught up to her. He grabbed her arm and swung her around. Lyla went for his face with her nails. He dodged and twisted one hand behind her back. Lyla wasn’t deterred. She balled her fist and clipped his jaw before he restrained her other hand. She glared up at him, chest pumping, daring him to retaliate.
A muscle ticked in Gavin’s jaw. “Don’t.”
“I hate you!” she shouted and struggled to no avail. “Why are you here?”
“Because you are.”
Lyla lunged at him, hoping to unbalance him so she could make another run for it. Gavin made an impatient sound and shoved Lyla in front of him with her hands locked behind her back. He propelled her forward at a pace fast enough where she didn’t have time to struggle. She had to focus on putting one foot in front of the other on the uneven terrain or fall face first. Gavin directed her back on the path and didn’t let up for a second.
“What the fuck are you doing, Blade?” Lyla demanded and tried to get to her cousin, but Gavin held her back.
“How’s it going?” Blade asked pleasantly.
“I'm assuming Carmen is the one who helped you escape the first time,” Gavin said.
Lyla didn't answer. What difference did it make?
“I've been searching for you two for six months. If it wasn't for your beauty, you probably would have gone unnoticed and untraceable forever,” Gavin said and gestured to someone outside.
An older gentleman walked into the cabin with a Bible clasped to his chest. He was sweating profusely and eyed Gavin and Blade as if they were savages. Gavin turned to Lyla with a placid expression that was completely at odds with the grip he had on her arm and the rage glittering in his eyes.
“I'm assuming you don't want anything to happen to Carmen,” Gavin said.
Lyla stiffened. “What are you talking about?”
“You care for your cousin, right?”
Lyla didn't answer. Gavin reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue diamond engagement ring. Lyla felt as if she has been doused in ice water. She had a vivid recollection of slipping it off her finger in the hospital room and hearing it roll across the floor. She never thought she would see it again. Seeing the ring after all this time felt like a slap in the face. Lyla shoved against his chest and tried to get away. Gavin didn’t allow her to throw a tantrum. He used his considerable strength to restrain her and leaned down so their faces were less than an inch apart.
“You don't want me to hurt your cousin,” he said.
“What is wrong with you?” This was a nightmare. Gavin couldn’t be here in Montana with her old engagement ring, threatening Carmen’s life.
“Do you want me to hurt your cousin?” Gavin asked.
“No!”
“Then do as I say.”
Gavin growled when she clenched her hand into a fist. He forced her hand to unfurl and despite her attempts to evade, slipped the ring on her finger. Gavin clasped their hands together and turned to the man with the Bible.
“Begin,” Gavin ordered.
The stranger avoided Lyla’s gaze as he began to speak.
“We are gathered here today to witness the union of Gavin Pyre and Lyla Dalton.”
“No!” Lyla shouted as her knees buckled.
Gavin wrapped an arm around her waist and hauled her against him. When Carmen opened her mouth to protest, Blade clucked his tongue to discourage her and pressed the gun against her temple.
“Lyla, don't do this. He can't make you,” Carmen shouted.
“Keep going,” Gavin barked at the pastor who was clearly terrified. He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “You want Carmen to come out of this alive, you agree to everything he says.”
“How can you threaten Carmen? She lost her husband!” Lyla glared up at him. “You remember Vinny?”
Gavin's implacable expression didn’t soften. “Twice now Carmen’s taken you from me. I should kill her for all the time wasted between you and I.”
“Carmen has nothing to do with our relationship and you wouldn’t hurt her.”
“Want to put it to the test?”
No, she didn’t want to test him. Gavin didn’t bluff and the bone-crushing grip suggested he wasn’t in a teasing mood. “Why are you doing this?”
“Gavin Pyre, in taking Lyla Dalton to be your wife, do you promise to honor, love and cherish her in sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, in hardship and in blessing, until death do you part?” the pastor asked in a quavering voice.
“I do,” Gavin said without looking away from Lyla.
“And Lyla Dalton, in taking Gavin Pyre to be your husband,” the pastor continued.
Lyla shook her head. Gavin clasped her face between his hands to stop the motion.
“We've wasted too much time,” he said.
Her eyes burned with tears. “Every night I hear your father screaming. I can't get it out of my head. I won’t go back to that life.”
“You have no choice. You gave yourself to me. There's no out for either of us. You're going to have to live with me and I with you.”
“I made my choice,” she said gesturing around her at the cabin. “I choose to live without you.”
“Not acceptable,” he bit out.
“Lyla Dalton, do you take Gavin Pyre to be your husband?” the pastor asked tentatively, clearly dreading her answer.
Gavin gripped the back of her neck. “Say yes.”
“No—” she began, but Gavin covered her mouth with his.
She was too stunned to defend herself against the sensual assault. His tongue swept into her mouth, claiming her as his, a claim he revoked the moment he stepped back into the criminal underworld. Lyla dug her nails into his chest, desperate for air and space. Gavin was overwhelming—always had been, always would be. She could feel how tense he was, a coiled spring ready to erupt. He was a law unto himself. When Gavin pulled back, her lips tingled.
“Say yes and I won't punish Carmen for taking you from me,” he said in a low voice only she could hear.
“How can you punish her?”
“No one comes between us.”
“You let business come between us.”
“Say yes,” he ordered, so close that all she could see were his burning gold eyes, demanding her compliance.
“Clearly,” Carmen said sarcastically, “she doesn't want him.”
“Blade,” Gavin snapped.
Blade twisted Carmen's arm behind her back and she let out a cry of pain. Lyla tried to get away from Gavin, but he held her in place. Blade forced Carmen towards the front door with the gun to her temple.
“What is he going to do to her?” Lyla demanded.
“Say yes or you won't see her again.”
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Say it now, god dammit,” Gavin said through clenched teeth.
“Yes, I do,” Lyla said quickly, heart thundering in her chest.
Blade paused in the doorway and winked at her. She wanted to kill him.
“By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you married,” the pastor said and wiped sweat out of his eyes.
“Where’s the marriage license?” Gavin asked.
The pastor presented the piece of paper and offered a pen. Gavin handed the pen to Lyla first. She signed, eyes on Carmen who looked as if hell warmed over. If looks could kill, Gavin and Blade would be dead. Blade signed as the witness and escorted Carmen outside.
“Where is he taking her?” Lyla demanded. “You promised you wouldn’t—”
“He’s taking her to her mother,” Gavin said shortly as he pushed a diamond wedding band on her finger. It fit snugly against the blue diamond engagement ring. Before her bemused eyes, he pulled out a gold wedding band and placed it on his left ring finger.
In the span of thirty minutes Gavin Pyre once again turned her life upside down. Without another word, Gavin led her out of the cabin. He placed her in the back seat of one of the SUVs and told the driver to floor it. Lyla sat there in shock, staring straight ahead, very aware of Gavin beside her. This man was dangerous. Everyone sensed violence just beneath the surface.
“Where are we going?” Lyla asked.
“Home.”
Even though she had been expecting that answer, she shut her eyes against the flood of tears. Las Vegas, where she
didn't feel safe and her nightmares took place in real life. Just the thought of going back made her feel sick.
“I can’t,” she whispered.
“You will.”
“Why?”
Gavin didn't answer.
“I can't take this,” she said as tears filled her eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you? I want no part of your life. I hate you.”
“Lyla, stop.”
“No! You just show up, tackle me, threaten to hurt my cousin and force me to marry you. Who the hell do you think you are?”
Gavin turned towards her. If she could run, she would have. Although Gavin had always been a bit scary, there was a quality to him now that made him seem even more menacing.
“I'm your husband,” he said in a soft voice that sent chills up her spine. “Don’t forget it.”
When she tried to scoot away he tightened his hold, anchoring her to his side. It didn't take long to reach a small, private airstrip. Her stomach plummeted when she saw Gavin's private jet, the same one that collected her from Maine almost two years ago. Gavin led her on board. She was relieved to see Carmen there, unhurt. Lyla broke away from Gavin and ran to Carmen who hugged her tight.
“Girl, are you okay?” Carmen whispered.
Lyla didn't answer. She wasn't sure how she felt. Being legally bound to Gavin wasn't ‘okay’ and Carmen knew it. A hand twisted in the back of Lyla’s shirt and inexorably pulled until she was out of Carmen’s embrace. Lyla landed against a rock hard chest. Muscular arms wrapped her possessively close.
“You have some nerve,” Carmen began, hands on hips. “You have no idea what she's been through because of you!”
“I'll let you live out of respect for Vinny,” Gavin said, icy voice easily cutting through Carmen’s outraged one.
Carmen paled and when Lyla looked up, she could see why. Something that looked very close to hatred flared in Gavin’s eyes.
“You must've been grief stricken and temporarily insane to remove Lyla from my protective custody to go driving around the United States with my father’s killer on the loose,” Gavin said. “Don’t mistaken my leniency towards you for forgiveness. I'm sending you to your mother. Your father passed two months ago.”