Tony nodded, his face impassive, and the other men noted Wolf still held his gun. The glare on his face was enough to stop a bull elephant in his tracks. It was subtle, but Christy could tell the tables had turned to Tony’s advantage no matter how angry Wolf was. It was apparent Tony was pondering how well he could use the situation to his benefit. She buried her face into Wolf’s chest with dismay. She knew absolute power corrupted absolutely. Tony had absolute power now and there was no denying the man was corrupt.
“Your fiancée seems distressed, and congratulations, I had no idea you two were that serious. Perhaps she and the boy would like to have dinner in your room while we talk business.”
“I’m certain she would, but I want to be positive she’s not hurt. I’m fucking pissed, Tony; Luke never should have been allowed near her,” Wolf countered. It was a direct challenge to Tony’s authority and for a second, the man’s jaw twitched.
“I suppose we’ll have enough time to talk later. Take your time, attend to her, by all means,” Tony conceded.
Replacing his gun behind his belt, Wolf grabbed Christy’s shuddering body to his. He took the stairs to their room two at a time with Mark trailing. Once entering, he ran his hand over her, searching for any new spots that pained her. He had seen her exposed and vulnerable. Wolf had witnessed her hurts. Wolf knew every scratch, every aching bone, and every bruise adorning her slight form.
“Are you hurt?” Wolf asked.
Luke had been huge; he could’ve hurt her without trying. Wolf scooped her up and headed for the bathroom, commanding the boy to wait for him. Christy allowed him to ease her shirt over her head, rendering her upper body unclothed looking for any new injury. Wolf had seen her nude. She was hurting; what did it matter if he looked? Her hands covered her breasts. Wolf inspected her back, grumbling in fury. Christy listened as he berated himself for having allowed this to happen. He knew Luke was a live wire, he was muttering. He shouldn’t have taken it for granted Tony could control him. Wolf became angrier while noting the large, red fingerprints on Christy’s upper arms.
“Damn the fucking bastard. I should have blown his brains out years ago.”
“I was afraid. I’m still so afraid.” She pulled him closer to her naked chest, needing to be held.
“They won’t hurt you. I’ll kill every last one if I need to. You may not be mine, but right now you’re my responsibility. Lando would kill me if you were hurt in my care.”
“I’m all right. I’m so happy you’re here with me.” His concern was sincere, and for perhaps a brief moment didn’t reflect solely on money.
Christy pulled her shirt back over her head with Wolf’s help. Once dressed, they returned to the bedroom with Wolf supporting her as she moved. Now that her adrenaline was slowing she could feel her pain. Christy could see Mark huddled in a corner. She could see his confusion and fear—she understood it. Christy gazed into Wolf’s eyes, distressed. She felt so much sorrow for the small boy. How on earth could Tony expose him to this? Following her anxious gaze, Wolf saw Mark pressed into a corner, his small body shaking almost as violently as Christy’s.
“Everything will be fine. I need to go take care of business.” Wolf headed for the door.
“You watch out for her, Mark. I’m depending on you,” Wolf said. The boy nodded, gazing with awe at the large man who saved them. Christy heard the lock snap in place after the door closed.
Christy called Mark to her and pulled him into her arms. “It’s all right, sweetheart, soon your daddy will come. He’ll take you away from here and your mommy will be holding you,” Christy soothed. Again she wondered why on earth the child had been placed in Tony’s care.
“No she won’t. My mom died a long time ago. My stepmom and my new baby sister were killed in a fire a few months ago. We were a real family for a little while. I even got to hold Jenna a few times,” Mark said. It was apparent the deaths were devastating to the child.
A deep, cold icy blanket of doom settled over Christy. She knew the boy who was in her arms was the child Lando had been ordered to kill. Now it made sense why Tony had the child, why Luke was allowed his verbal cruelty, but not to physically harm the boy. The child was bait and Tony needed Wolf for a mob war.
Oh God.
Christy clutched the boy to her chest, knowing when his father came they would both be killed. All of Tony’s men were heavily armed. They would be in Tony’s assassin territory, an unforgiving terrain. Christy couldn’t allow anything to happen to the child in her arms. She liked the boy. He was brave and caring. He had pulled on the arms of a man many times larger hoping to save her.
“It’ll be all right, honey, Wolf will keep us safe, I promise,” Christy pledged.
She ran her hand down the child’s hair, trying to soothe them both. The image of Luke’s large form slumping to the ground weighed heavily. She knew Tony was making his demands of Wolf. Using her as his leverage, thinking Wolf actually held some affection for her when he didn’t.
Christy wondered how much Wolf would take before deciding to throw her to the wind. She belonged to Lando, after all, not him. She was nothing but a contract to him when all was said and done. He’d already gone to great extremes for her. Did he even know about the critical circumstances he was in? Did Wolf know who Mark was? Christy didn’t think so. What if Wolf became fed up, deciding the risk she placed him in was too much.
Her worry was getting to her and she took a deep breath to settle her nerves. No, Wolf promised; he told her he always kept his promises. Lando said something about honesty and integrity to her before. Christy tried to focus her thoughts; it was the man, not the profession.
“My daddy will save us,” Mark said.
“Of course he will,” Christy soothed, wondering if Mark’s father was alive. It wouldn’t matter to her. Mark’s father murdered a woman and her teenage daughter. Even if he saved his son, Christy would again be at the mercy of a man who possessed none. Her emotions ate at her until she thought she’d snap…something was going to give.
Please, Lando, come, Christy’s heart screamed in terror.
* * * *
Christy went ballistic when they tried to take Mark from her. Wolf tried offering her his reassurance the child wouldn’t be harmed, but Mark cried out, adding to Christy’s rampage, wanting to stay with her.
Wolf was openmouthed at her tirade and remembered even kittens have claws. Mark howled when his arm was grabbed. Christy slammed her fist into a man’s face and kicked into another man’s groin. Christy was no longer the passive, frightened female; she was the angry, enraged Kodiak protecting her young. Her small fist connected with another’s nose. She kicked at a shin. Her elbow smashed into a belly and Mark’s arm was dropped. She grabbed a fistful of hair, giving a nasty yank. Her small, even teeth bit down into a hand trying to subdue her.
The whole time, Wolf demanded they were not to hurt her. He couldn’t believe her tirade. This small terrified bit of fluff was attacking huge, powerful, armed, frightening men, inciting their wrath. What the hell was wrong with her?
“Tony, call them off,” Wolf bellowed. She’d be hurt by a solid blow and Wolf couldn’t get close enough to her to grab at her flailing fists. Four more men and Tony had come running when Christy screamed out her fury at the two large men who attempted to take Mark.
“Enough,” Tony yelled.
At his narrowed sideways look, Wolf could tell Tony was thinking he was somehow saving his men from Christy’s brutal retaliation. The men stood off to the side, each gripping a sore part of his body, Christy stood glaring at each in turn. They had all been given a stern warning not to hurt her, and Wolf could tell they were all pissed. After witnessing Wolf kill Luke, they were also inclined to obey that particular order.
Wolf watched with wide-eyed amazement as Christy stood feet planted, hair disarray, before Mark’s huddled form. She snarled, anticipating the approach of someone dangerous. Her small hands balled into fists, her teeth flashed as though she meant to bite.
Christy’s hands suddenly curled into claws as one of the men shifted uneasily. Her gaze leveled onto Jackson with the intensity of a raptor. Wolf could see her resolve. She seemed to be willing them to come because she was ready to take them all on.
Shit, she’s snapped.
“Tony, I don’t think now is a good time,” Wolf said on a surprised breath, running his hand through his hair. Wolf wondered in fascination at Christy’s ferocity. He could hear the boy’s crying pleas. Perhaps it was her first attempt at maternal protectiveness. Whatever the reason, thankfully Tony decided to call his men off.
Wolf approached Christy with care, wanting to pull her close. Her angered glare at those around gave him pause for a moment. Her breathing was ragged, her gaze wild. Wolf admitted she looked pretty formidable. He stroked her back while easing his arms around her and spoke calming words into her ear. Her tense, unyielding body shook with violent spasms. He had to calm her down. They needed to escape. Tony was gathering other assassins like sheep. He and Lando wouldn’t be enough anymore.
“It’s fine, everything is going to be fine. They won’t hurt him,” Wolf soothed.
Christy stiffened. “Please let him stay with me. He’s scared. Can you blame him, being surrounded by all of these huge brutes? He witnessed a murder; he watched when Luke tried to beat me up. He’s just a little boy. He needs me.”
Wolf thought he understood. Christy was terrified but she was protecting someone else which made a big difference. She had needed someone and from what Lando said there was no one during her last relationship. Christy saw herself in Mark.
“We need to talk, privately. Tony won’t allow anyone to hurt the boy. Will you, Tony?” Wolf shot a fast glance at the man. It wasn’t a commanding gaze. If it had been, he knew Tony wouldn’t have been impressed.
Tony’s eyebrows rose in surprise, and Wolf knew he was tucking away Christy’s importance, Wolf’s apparent vulnerability. Wolf suppressed a groan of annoyance. She had picked the wrong time to show her claws.
“I promise no one will harm Mark. After the events of today, you really need to sleep. I can see your exhaustion,” Tony said to Christy. Then to Mark; “Mark, you can have the room right next door from Wolf tonight. But your friend needs to have some rest. Luke hurt her, didn’t he?”
Mark nodded. With obvious reluctance, he dried his eyes, and taking Tony’s hand, he left the room, only once casting Christy a frightened glance.
Wolf held her tighter as Mark waved goodbye. Once everyone left, Wolf closed the door and turned to level a dark look at Christy. He was pissed. Christy was in for it.
Chapter 20
Wolf advanced, stalking her, while Christy backed away from the glare in his eyes. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, yet the look on his face reminded her of the fierce glances Lando leveled on her when he expected her to obey. Wolf was angry. She was worried what type of wrath he had in store for her. But it was worth whatever he did.
“Do you have any idea what those men could have done to you?” Wolf yelled angrily while moving in on her.
“I don’t know what happened to me. Mark was so scared. The last few days have been so hard on him. Luke had been so cruel. When he cried out to me, so terrified, I just lost it. I needed to help him. We need to help him,” Christy implored, backing away as he stalked her.
“I was hired to protect you. Just you. I’m not Roy Rogers, I’m an assassin. My trigger is my finger. I’m not retired either, like Lando is. I just blew out a man’s brains for you.” Christy winced. Luke’s lifeless body hitting the floor flashed into her mind.
“Wolf, do you know who that boy is?”
“No. I don’t care who he is. It’s not my business, I never asked. You ask too many questions in this business and you don’t last long,” Wolf replied. He stopped only a breath away from her. He stared down into her face. “Lando owes me big time for this. I don’t like killing people I’m not being paid for. I took a big chance at pissing off Tony. Sane people don’t piss off Tony on purpose.”
“Mark is the reason Lando left Tony. It was his stepmother and baby sister who were murdered, and I think by Luke,” Christy said lowering her voice, she was then running for cover and cowering in a corner when Wolf launched into a violent rage. He voiced vile words at loud levels until Christy covered her ears. He stormed on and on until Christy was tempted to seek safer shelter under the bed.
“This just keeps getting better and better,” Wolf stormed. He paced the room, slamming his fists into walls and shaking the furniture.
“Please don’t leave me,” Christy whimpered up at him when he stopped before her.
He glared at her, looking at her as though he wanted to pull her to him and shake her. Wolf took a deep breath, then another. She could see his internal struggle to maintain his reason.
“I can’t tell you how tempting it is right now to blow my own brains out.” Wolf ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Damn it, woman. Do you have any idea who that kid’s father is? ” Christy shook her head “An assassin.”
Her hands splayed before her in a pleading gesture. She’d never seen Wolf so irate. He looked as though he might hurt her. The thought terrified Christy. Her body was already so battered and abused. She couldn’t imagine, after killing Luke to save her life, he would consider hurting her.
“You thought Luke was mean? The kid’s father is a dangerous lunatic. When his wife and kid were murdered he went insane, killing at random. You better believe he’ll be coming for his boy. We’re going to be in the middle of a war zone soon. Damn. No wonder Tony was so desperate to get his hands on me. I thought it was Lando he was after. This is fucking huge. A mob war, a power play. Fucking hell.”
Christy watched as he struggled to control his temper. His face calmed to the point of once again appearing impassive, or at least he tried to; a frown narrowed his brows. Christy sighed with relief. The storm was apparently over.
“Well, what did he expect? He killed Tony’s wife and daughter. Did he think Tony would just look away?” Christy said, incredulous at the reasoning of some people. She allowed Wolf to take her hand and she was pulled to her feet. She winced when Wolf swore another vile obscenity.
“What are we going to do?” Christy asked. She could see his thoughts warring in his troubled mind.
“I don’t know yet.”
Her gaze followed him as he paced the room, as though forgetting she existed. She felt for the moment she best make herself scarce. Christy retreated to the far side of the room and settled, waiting, watching.
* * * *
Wolf ran a hand down his face, thinking hard. He needed to get Christy out of here tonight, now. When Mark’s father showed up, all hell would break loose. Christy wanted to protect the boy. She could be killed in the crossfire. If Mark’s father proved to be successful, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill Christy. He would automatically assume she belonged to one of them. He would enjoy putting her life to an end.
Wolf studied Christy. Damn. She would go kicking and screaming without the child, he just knew it. He wondered if Tony had something he could slip her to make her sleep. If Wolf asked him for it, he knew Tony wouldn’t hesitate, thinking as long as Christy were to be drugged, Wolf was unlikely to leave. He wouldn’t think Wolf would drug her and sling her over his shoulder. Leaving would be harder that way; yet, he had gotten used to carrying her. She was a lot less trouble when asleep.
He could see her gazing at him from across the room; he hoped she wasn’t figuring out what he was thinking. For a brief moment, his gaze shifted from hers, hoping to hide his guilty feelings. There was no possible way she could guess at his next course of actions.
“I won’t leave without Mark,” Christy suddenly declared.
Damn.
“Christy, we need to get out of here,” Wolf said with quiet urgency.
“Not without Mark.”
“What are we supposed to do, grab the kid and return him home?”
“Yes.” Her arms crossed ove
r her chest.
“Are you insane? The boy’s father is a cold-blooded killer; do you think he’ll thank us?” Wolf asked, incredulous.
“You should talk, you just blew a man’s brains out,” Christy countered.
“Women were put on this earth to torment men,” Wolf stormed.
“God has to be a man. No one else but another male could have created something as annoying as men.”
Reaching a stalemate, the two glared at one another.
“You promised Lando you would obey me,” Wolf said, lifting an eyebrow. Christy cringed, and it was Wolf’s turn to feel smug.
“He’s a little boy. He’s all alone, frightened and defenseless. Don’t you have any compassion?”
“No,” Wolf said stubbornly.
“Lando would save him,” Christy mumbled.
“Lando’s not here,” Wolf said. “I am.”
“What if I paid you?” Christy asked. “Lando isn’t the only one who has money. I’ll pay you double what he’s paying you.”
“Why do you care if this kid lives or dies?” Wolf asked. The boy wasn’t hers. She just met him. She was likely never to see him again.
“Why don’t you care if this child lives or dies?” she countered. “Unlike you, I possess compassion. I care for life. My father was a doctor; he spent his whole life saving lives. I was taught at his knee, life is precious.”
Wolf considered her offer. Lando was paying him a great deal. Double was indeed tempting. Wolf could retire on what she was offering. “You have that kind of money?” Wolf inquired, his gaze narrowed.
“Yes. Both of my parents were wealthy. I’m an only child. Everything was left to me when they died.”
“We need to be away from here tonight. I demand your absolute obedience,” Wolf told her. Christy swallowed. She nodded.
“I will obey you, I swear,” she promised.
Wolf studied her. She was sincere. Perhaps children could come in handy after all, Wolf thought with interest. They seemed to definitely be a woman’s Achilles’ heel. He would have to plan their escape carefully; this would take some serious thought.
Assassin Territory [Assassins Book 1] Page 21