The Ruthless Knight

by Jeana E. Mann

  “Oh. I’m sorry.” She tries to pull away.

  “No. I like it.” I slide a hand down to grip her round bottom. It takes great effort to keep my kiss gentle.

  Her fingers wrap around my biceps for balance. “I don’t want to hurt you any more than I already have.”

  I pull back and let my hands drop to my sides. Even though I want more of her, both of us are emotionally raw. “You should rest. Why don’t you sleep for a while?”

  “No.” Her gaze flits to the floor then out the window. Fear flickers across her face.

  “She’s out of town on business for a few days. You can relax.”

  The tension visibly eases from her body. “Well, maybe. Only if you’ll stay with me. In case—in case I wake up and don’t know where I am.”

  “Are you sure?” The bed beckons behind us, comfy and soft. Exhaustion seeps into my muscles.

  A rare smile brightens her face. She drops the robe to the floor. Beneath it, she’s wearing one of my shirts. The sight of her in my clothes gives me a primal pang of ownership. She’s not mine, but I’d claim her in a heartbeat. Her legs are long and shapely, her ass round and sweet. The mattress dips as she slides between the covers then pats the bed beside her. “Come on. Don’t be scared.”

  “All right. Let’s do this.” I toe off my shoes before joining her.

  “I’m afraid I’ll have nightmares if I close my eyes. Last night brought back bad memories.” She turns on her side away from me. Her voice is so soft that I have to lean closer to catch her words. “I went to live with my stepfather when I was fourteen because Mom was in rehab. He—he used to lock me in the closet for punishment. And sometimes, when I talked back, he’d burn me with his cigarette. Last night—being in that tiny room, watching Valentina hurt you—it made all those terrible memories come rushing back.”

  The vision of a young, frightened, curly-haired girl alone in the darkness tugs at my cold and withered heartstrings. Because I don’t know what else to say, I ease my chest against her back, wrap an arm around her waist, and pull her to me. A sigh of contentment whispers from her lips. She’s warm and soft and fits perfectly into the curve of my body. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right here to chase the nightmares away.”

  The next time I wake, the sun is low on the horizon. Calliope is stretched out next to me, one arm thrown over her head, lips slightly parted. The bruises on her face have progressed to deep shades of purple, green, and yellow. I smooth the hair from her face, careful not to wake her. A wave of tenderness rolls through me. The foreign feeling spreads warmth through my chest.

  Calliope sighs and nestles deeper into my embrace. The shirt rides up her back, putting her bare bottom against my groin. My cock, which has always had a mind of its own, stiffens. Holy hell. What is she doing? Her hips move in a slow circle. My breath hitches. “Calliope.”

  “Hush.” Her voice is rough from sleep. “Just go with it.”

  One of her hands finds my thigh. I slide a hand beneath her shirt—my shirt—to find her breast. Her nipple puckers at the brush of my thumb. A growl rumbles up my throat. Everything about her draws me in: her scent, her softness, the way her body fits mine. She pushes against me. My cock slides between her folds. She’s slick and wet, ready for me. I glide into her, one inch at a time.

  “Your pussy is so tight.” I whisper the words in her ear, savoring her tiny grunt of satisfaction when I’m fully buried inside her. I keep my movements slow and gentle. After Valentina’s abuse, this needs to be good for her. We rock together. I withdraw and push back in, taking my time. Each thrust culminates in sweet agony. I could go on forever like this. My testicles tighten as my orgasm builds. Valentina and Viktor fade into nonexistence. There is only me, Calliope, and the gentle smack of my pelvis against her bottom.

  “I’m going to come.” Her voice breaks on the last word.

  “Not yet.” I pinch her nipple, twisting it, reveling in the hiss of her breath. Her walls clench in response. The way she reacts to my touch serves as the most potent aphrodisiac I’ve ever known. Although I take pride in my lovemaking techniques, my motives have always been selfish. The more a woman enjoys herself, the better the sex is for me. But this—this is different. This is for both of us.

  “Too late.” The sharp edges of her fingernails dig into my leg. Her pussy flutters around me, clutching and clenching. My climax arrives in a rush of fire through my veins when she cries out my name.

  Twelve

  Calliope

  For the next hour, Nicky holds me in his arms. The strength of his embrace makes it easy to pretend that we’re a normal couple and not Valentina’s captives. We chat about mundane things like music and art. He’s easy to talk to and listens with interest. No man has ever cared about my opinions, not since Cash. Thinking about my ex-boyfriend and former employer stirs up emotions I don’t care to deal with right now. Hours later, our conversation drifts into silence broken only by his measured breathing, and we sleep.

  Pablo arrives with a breakfast tray and announces that we’re free to roam the property today. Knowing Valentina will be absent eases a bit of the tension in my gut. I need time to formulate a plan and prepare myself for her return. The last few hours have cemented my resolve. She will not break me. Buoyed with hope, I crawl out of Nicky’s arms and into the shower.

  “Mind if I join you?” He steps into the steamy spray of water without waiting for my answer.

  “Suit yourself,” I reply, moving aside to give him room beneath the dual waterfall showerheads. As much as I like him, I can’t allow myself to feel anything but fondness. However, sometime during the past twenty-four hours, he’s moved from enemy to friend.

  In the bright light of day, I feel shy in front of him about my tummy bulge, the heaviness of my breasts. He seems oblivious to my self-consciousness. Through lowered lashes, I watch as he drizzles soap on a loofah and begins scrubbing. This whole situation is beyond surreal. We’re virtual strangers—enemies—held captive in a tropical paradise. Yet, I can’t help admiring the ripple of water over his lean body. His casual demeanor suggests he’s done this with more than one woman. A sliver of jealousy arises at the idea. Which is ridiculous. If I’m going to survive this ordeal, I can’t fall for him. So, I turn my back to finish washing and get dressed.

  “Where are you going?” he asks. Damp strands of hair cling to his temples as he pushes his arms into his shirt and adjusts the collar. The contrast between the buttoned-up man at the bar and this casual, tousle-haired guy makes me do a doubletake.

  “I need to know what I’m working with.” Now that the shock of being kidnapped has faded, my old persona—the one I had fought so hard to extinguish—comes back to life with a vengeance. “I want to see the security system, check out the perimeter wall, and look for vulnerabilities.” His eyebrow lifts. I ignore his questioning gaze. “If working with Cash taught me anything, it’s that every fortress has a weak spot.”

  “Not this one.”

  “People said that about Bellingham Manor, but I was able to find a way in there.” Although I’d been forced to do that job, the success of our mission still gave me pride.

  “That was a fluke. You caught us at a bad time. I can assure you that will never happen again.”

  “Well, you can’t expect me to just sit in this room and wait for her to come back. Maybe you’re content to do nothing, but I’m not.” I tie a bright sarong around my hips to cover my bikini bottoms. “Does she have a computer or phones? There has to be something we can use.”

  In two strides, he crosses the room and grabs me by the biceps. He gives me a brutal shake. “Listen to me. I’ve walked every inch of this place. There is no escaping. All you’re going to do is piss her off and make it worse.”

  “If I listened every time someone told me it wasn’t possible, I would never have been successful at anything.”

  His hands slide from my arms, palms lingering over my bare skin. Gooseflesh pebbles along my forearms. Being in close proximity ha
s awakened some kind of magnetic force between us. I can’t help missing his touch the moment it’s gone.

  “Stubborn.” He shakes his head, sending droplets of water onto his shirt. Free of gel, the ends of his hair curl up in rebellious disarray.

  “You bet your sweet ass.”

  A mischievous smile brightens the darkness on his face. “You think my ass is sweet?”

  Except for our bedroom, all of the doors in the enormous house are locked. Downstairs, we have access to the common areas. All the drawers and cabinets are locked or empty. Cameras surveil every square inch of floor space. Some are visible in the ceilings. Others have been strategically planted in fake books, sculptures, and plants. It takes several hours to comb the house. Four more hours to scour the pool area, the garden, and lawns.

  “She’s been very thorough.” I can’t hide the disappointment in my voice.

  “I don’t want to say I told you so, but—” Nicky has followed me patiently throughout my quest, keeping his thoughts to himself until we stop in front of the courtyard fountain. Two bare-breasted mermaids hold a pineapple on uplifted arms. Water splashes over their naked torsos. He sits on the edge of the tiled basin, hands in the pockets of his shorts, and studies me. “She’s probably watching us right now.” In response, I turn to the nearest camera and lift my middle finger. He chuckles. “Easy now, spitfire.”

  “Don’t do that.” My temper, which has been hiding beneath my bruises, rallies at his laughter. “Don’t patronize me. Maybe you’re okay with our situation, but I’m not.”

  “You still don’t understand.” With an angry growl, he jumps to his feet.

  “Then explain it to me.” I open my mouth to say more, but he interrupts by stalking toward me.

  “This game only ends one way. Her way.” The fury in his voice causes my mouth to snap shut. “Do not underestimate the lengths she will go to. You have no idea.”

  “Tell me.” Now I’m angry, too. I stand, moving closer until the tips of my sandals meet the toes of his deck shoes, and stare into his gray eyes. “Because I’m dying to understand.”

  He edges closer. The tip of his nose hovers millimeters from mine. “The first night I came here as part of the bargain, there was someone else here. A woman. Her name was Valerie. She’d been here for almost a year. I never saw her again after that night. Pablo said they took her out to sea and she never came back.” His gaze turns cloudy and distant as he gazes at the bright blue ocean. “I think about her sometimes. Who she was. Where she came from. And I wonder if anyone misses her.”

  Acid churns in my stomach. A year? “How could anyone survive this hell for so long?” Then I remember the length of his servitude to the Colombian cartel queen.

  “She had no choice. Just like you have no choice.” His broad chest rises and falls with a deep breath. He backs away, running both hands through his hair.

  “Oh.” The strength ebbs from my knees. A new respect begins to build for him. I can’t imagine leaving this place then returning of my own accord. Only a man of great character and internal fortitude could do such a thing. All because he loves his family more than he values his life. I can forgive him for bringing me here. In his shoes, I would do the exact same thing.

  Thirteen

  Calliope

  The next day, I continue searching. Nicky accompanies me, probably out of boredom. I don’t mind. I like having him around. Not only is he easy on the eyes, but his dry sense of humor and intelligence intrigue me. The occasional brush of his shoulder against mine as we walk the garden pathways is enough to make my core tingle in delight. Together, we watch the habits of the sentries, try to engage the staff in conversation, and scour the property for potential weak spots. I don’t want to give up hope for escape, but I haven’t found a way out. At night, we have passionate sex. Nicky’s mouth and hands on my body are the only things keeping me sane.

  Later that night, we fall asleep, exhausted from making love, in a tangle of arms and legs and bare skin. Viktor’s gruff voice startles me out of unconsciousness. I think it’s a nightmare until his cold hand grips my shoulder. “Up,” he growls. “Now.” I’m instantly wide awake. The sheets are cool and empty next to me.

  “Where’s Nicky?” All of my spidey senses are tingling.

  Viktor grunts a noncommittal response and gestures toward the door. I rub the sleep from my eyes, drag my fingers through my hair, and try to maintain my composure as we leave the mansion and walk to the guesthouse. My guts clench, knowing what must inevitably come next.

  “I thought Valentina wasn’t coming back until tomorrow.” Fear turns my blood to ice. I can’t go through this again. Every muscle in my body tenses, wanting to run, but there’s nowhere to go. Not with Viktor behind me and armed goons tracking our movements.

  “She changed her mind.”

  At the door to the guesthouse, I balk, unable to make myself enter this house of horrors. Viktor gives me a shove. I stumble over the threshold into the empty room. But it’s not empty. Nicky is there, strapped to the chair, his chin resting against his chest. Luis sits on the workbench, swinging his legs and sipping a bottle of beer like he’s at a frat party instead of a psychopath’s torture chamber. Valentina stands beside him, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other holding a cigarette. My lunch rises up my throat.

  “Ah, Calliope. So glad you could join us. How have you been?” Valentina greets me, gliding across the room in her graceful walk to brush the hair away from my face. She bends to kiss my cheek. I turn away in revulsion. “Ah, it’s like that, is it?” She takes a puff off the filter then uses the cigarette to point at the empty chair across from Nicky. “Strap her in.”

  The room is empty except for the five of us. Nicky hasn’t moved since I entered the room. I think he’s unconscious. Seeing him helpless and restrained escalates my terror to new heights. Part of my brain—the innocent, vulnerable part—separates itself from this madness and floats outside my body to somewhere safe.

  Valentina takes Luis’s beer from him and splashes it in Nicky’s face. He jerks awake, yanking at the leather straps. His eyes come into focus, falling on me. For the first time, I see fear in his gray eyes.

  “I’m disappointed in you, Calliope.” Valentina paces at our side, gesturing with her cigarette, leaving a trail of wispy smoke in her wake. “I trusted you with my beautiful home, and what do you do? You skulk around making mischief, fucking my whore, and trying to turn him against me.”

  I can’t look at Nicky any longer. Instead, I train my gaze on the floor until her red high heels invade my line of sight. I try to speak, but nothing comes out. I clear my throat. “I was bored.”

  Her laughter echoes in the empty room. “Oh, dear. You are so entertaining.” With the ends of her talon-like fingernails, she caresses my bare shoulder. “Perhaps you will join me in my bedroom tonight. What do you think, Luis? Would you like to play with Calliope?”

  “Sure,” he replies, lifting his shoulder in a nonchalant shrug.

  “What did you do to Nicky?” I ask, concerned by the way his head bobs like he’s fighting to stay alert.

  “No more than he deserved, the insolent whore.” The sickening twist of her mouth gives her a maniacal air. She cocks her head, gaze brightening. “Aw, you care for him, don’t you? How sweet.” She throws the cigarette to the concrete and grinds out the stub with her stiletto. “But he’s not worth your pity. Men seldom are.”

  “He needs a doctor.” The paleness of his complexion scares me.

  “He’ll be fine.” The tone of her voice is a combination of amusement and cruelty. “I know my methods are a bit eccentric, but I think we had a very informative session tonight. You see, I learned some very interesting things while I was gone.” Digging her fingers into Nicky’s thick hair, she yanks his head back. “Didn’t I, darling?”

  Whatever she’s done to him isn’t visible from the outside. There’s no blood. No bruises. No rips in his clothing. Maybe he’s drugged.

  He drags h
is tongue over dry, cracked lips. “Go fuck yourself.”

  “Tsk, tsk. That’s no way to talk to the woman who holds your life in her hands.” Her shoes click on the floor as she walks to Luis. Anticipating her needs, he withdraws a cigarette from a silver holder, places it between her lips, and lights the tip. He’s nothing more than a trained pet to her. She caresses his cheek. “Thank you, sweet boy.” Pivoting on her heel, she returns to Nicky’s side. “Tell Calliope what I learned about you yesterday.” Her flat black eyes study me. “You see, he’s a terrible person. Tell her about Milada, Nikolay.” When he doesn’t react fast enough, Viktor grabs my hand and begins to bend one of my fingers backward.

  “Don’t talk, Nicky.” I squirm, trying to escape Viktor’s grasp, terrified beyond measure. As much as I fear the pain, I can’t bear to see Nicky cave to her demands.

  Nicky’s chest rises and falls with a labored breath, like he’s weighing the punishment for noncompliance. “She’s my daughter.”

  “Yes!” Valentina claps her hands together. “That wasn’t so difficult, was it? Now tell her why.”

  “Because I fucked my brother’s fiancée.” His words are thick, slurred, untidy. My heart breaks for him. At the same time, I feel a mixture of relief and gratitude when Viktor releases my hand.

  “Isn’t this fascinating?” She rests a hip against the arm of Nicky’s chair. Her entire body vibrates with excitement. “It’s like a Russian soap opera. The younger brother has a secret baby with his brother’s bride-to-be. The older brother raises the child as his own. Nikolay abandons the girl, going about his life, whoring and partying without a care in the world. I love it.” A chill runs down my back when her attention returns to me. “And you’ll never guess what I learned about you.”