by Measha Stone
By the time we get to the car, Tommy’s already there, holding the back door open. Dominik helps me inside. He says something to Tommy then climbs in next to me.
My family is dead.
All of them, gone.
I’m all alone.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dominik
It’s a fucking mess.
Marcin Garska was moving twenty-five girls in that train car. Even for a prick like him, that’s ambitious. We were able to get information from one of his men before he was tossed in a death pile. The car was headed east to New York. From there it would have been put on a boat headed for Russia.
Garska wasn’t even doing business with our own people. He was bringing the fucking Bratva into the mix.
Fucking prick.
The women have all been moved to a hotel nearby. We’ve rented the whole floor, and my men are keeping them safe.
It’s been a full day since the shit storm began, and Kasia is avoiding me. But that has to end. I can’t let her sink too far into her own darkness. We may never find each other again if we do that.
“She had some lunch,” Margaret informs me when I walk into the kitchen. I see the empty plate in her hands.
“Good.” I look out into the yard, toward her tree. The sun is beating down hard today, she won’t be in the rose garden.
Kasia sits in her chair, her knees pulled up to her chest and her chin resting on her knee. If she folds herself any further into herself, she’ll disappear altogether.
“Boss.” Tommy walks into the kitchen. “There’s a cop at the door.” He looks out at Kasia. “Her father’s been found.”
We were expecting it. It’s better for Kasia if he’s off the books.
I follow Tommy to the front door. A uniformed cop and a suited-up detective stand on my porch. I know the detective.
“Mr. Staszek. We’re hoping to talk with your wife, Kasia? This concerns her father.”
“My wife isn’t feeling well. You can tell me what you need to,” I say, folding my arms over my chest. Asking her to pretend as though she doesn’t already know her father’s dead is too much. She’s in pain already, I won’t add to it.
“We need to notify the next of kin.” The cop keeps his features schooled.
Detective Stevenson clears his throat. “It’ll all right. We can give the information to Mr. Staszek. If his wife has questions, she can reach out to me personally.” His eyes fix on me. He’ll want a boost in his next payment.
The uniformed cop frowns but gives me the news. Marcin Garska was found dead in his own train car, apparent suicide. I nod along as he speaks, not interrupting him while he tells me when and how we can get his body for burial. He can burn for all I care, but Kasia may want to give him a proper funeral.
It’s up to her.
“Thank you,” I say once they’re all done. “We’ll be in touch if we need anything.” I shut the door before the detective can make a show of handing me a card.
“Was that about Dad?” Kasia is behind me when I shut the door.
“Yeah.” I bolt the door and turn to her. “We can pick up his remains in two days, once they do...well, what they do.” I’m not going into details. She doesn’t need those images in her mind.
Her hair is pulled into a messy ponytail at the base of her neck, her eyes puffy from crying, and there’s red blotches on her cheeks. I step toward her, and she takes one back.
“Kasia.”
She shakes her head. “I...I’ve never planned a funeral before.” She wraps her arms around her stomach.
“I can have it taken care of. Just tell me what you want. What you need.” Seeing her this way, the pain clearly etched on her face, the heartbreak evident in her voice — it makes me want to put another bullet in Marcin’s fucking head.
“I don’t have family...he was it. An uncle, but he’s still in Poland. He never moved here.” She raises her eyes to mine. “I don’t want him buried next to my mother or sister. He doesn’t get to spend eternity with them.”
I nod, what else can I do? I need to wipe away her pain. “He won’t be.”
“He has friends, business associates. They will probably expect something,” she blows out air. Just this little bit of an interaction is taking too much energy.
“A small service. He’ll be cremated and the ashes will be sent back to Poland, to his brother. He can figure out what to do with him. Is that all right?”
I take another step toward her, and she stands firm this time.
“Yes. That sounds...good,” she frowns. There’s nothing good in this situation. “The women from last night.”
“They are staying at the Hilton on Ogden. They’re being protected and I’m having two doctors head over there this afternoon to help anyone who needs it. A few girls needed immediate care last night, it’s been taken care of.” I feel like I’m making a report to my boss. If she doesn’t approve, she’ll slip further away. I can feel her sliding away from me.
“What will happen to them now?” she asks, raising her chin.
“I don’t know, Kasia. From what I’m told, some of them have been sold and bought three times over. The girls that want to go home can be taken home whenever they are ready, but the others...some of them don’t have anywhere to go.”
Her frown deepens. “They have no one,” she whispers. “Like me.”
“No.” I cringe at the force in my voice, but I can’t help it. “You’re not like them at all. You’re not alone.” I grab her arms, keeping her from running up the stairs. She looks like she wants to run. “You’re here with me. You have me.”
“You have everything now, Dominik. You don’t need me anymore. My dad’s gone; you’ll get to take his territories.” Her shoulders sag.
I stare at her a long moment. Remembering the panic overtaking me as I made my way to her yesterday. How I couldn’t look away from the GPS tracking to be sure I knew where she was, how I could get to her. I remember the cold fear of seeing Marcin’s men’s guns aimed at her when I found them. If they demanded I hand over everything to keep her safe, I would have. It wouldn’t have taken even a blink of an eye to agree.
“I already have everything, Kasia.” A tear slides down her cheek, and I catch it with my thumb, wiping it away. “You. I have everything because I have you.”
There’s a tremble in her lower lip.
“Do you hear me? You are everything I need.” I grip her tighter. “Tell me I haven’t lost you because of this, tell me you’re not gone from me,” I demand.
She brings her hands up and wraps them around my wrist. Not to tear me away from her, but to touch me. To put a connection between us.
“You’re not my father,” she says quietly. “Even in your most asshole moods, you’ve never made me feel unnecessary.”
I should have been the one to put that bullet in Marcin’s head. Maybe I wouldn’t feel so much anger toward him still. “I promise, Kasia, I swear on my mother’s grave, I will never allow anyone to hurt you again. You will never feel alone, never be without love again. Never.” It’s a vow I feel more sincerely than the ones I muttered in that damn chapel weeks ago.
Was it that short of a time ago? It feels like Kasia has been in my life for longer, much longer. Maybe because she takes up so much of my life now.
There’s purpose to me now. Not just work, but her. She’s my point.
“I’m sorry I took off like that,” she says after a long silence stretches between us. “I should have waited for you. I thought...I was afraid you wouldn’t let me go.”
“I wouldn’t have,” I say honestly. “I would have tied you to my bed to keep you from going there to see what you saw. To have that horror etched into your mind.”
“When you got there, you didn’t order your men to take me away. You asked me what I wanted done.” She seems confused by this still. Doesn’t she understand?
“I will always be there, always ready to stand in front of you to protect you, and to stand behind you w
hen you need support.” I press my forehead to hers. “Kocham Cię, Kasia.” I love you.
“Kocham Cię, Dominik.”
It’s the first time I’ve heard her speak in Polish, and I will always remember it.
I kiss her, not one of ownership or power, but a tender kiss that relays every emotion I hold for her. I went into this marriage as a way to help my father, a way to expand our territory. But I’ve gotten so much more.
I have Kasia.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kasia
It’s past nine o’clock when Dominik comes up to our bedroom. He sent me up here after dinner to think about what was going to happen when he came up.
My father’s service was two weeks ago. His ashes have probably already reached his brother in Poland. I met with his attorney this afternoon and signed all the paperwork to claim my inheritance. My father never wanted me to have anything, but he never changed his will. I get everything.
I want none of it.
Instead I’ve instructed my father’s attorney to sell everything that can be sold. Once everything’s liquidated, Dominik has agreed to help me build a halfway house for women. I know his family doesn’t sell women, but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.
Every woman we saved that night has been brought home or are being set up with a new life. That’s why the halfway house is needed. They need a safe place to stay while they get an education, find new footing in this world. I may not be using my education degree to teach young minds, but I will be using my skills to help people who need a helping hand.
And yet...I’m sitting in our bedroom, waiting for my husband to come upstairs to punish me.
He mentioned something about getting too big for my britches. My grandmother used to use that term. It’s old school, but if I know anything about my husband, it’s how traditional he is. And he doesn’t like it when his wife starts ordering him about in front of his men. And I suppose outright defying him when he told me to stay out of the sun this afternoon wasn’t the right move either.
If he thought having me worry about the punishment was going to make it worse, he was mistaken. He won’t spank me, that will be sad because I do love it when he brings a hot hum to my body, but he’ll use pleasure against me. I’m not worried.
The bedroom door opens, and Dominik walks inside with a tight expression. He’s been home most of the day, so he’s not wearing his suit. He’s in a casual t-shirt and black jeans. His feet are bare.
I stand up from the bed, drop my robe to the floor at my feet. It’s a challenge.
He raises his left eyebrow.
“Obviously, I’ve been too lenient with you over these past weeks.” He heads straight for the closet and jerks the door open. He’s been wonderful these past weeks. I’ve seen a new side of him, tender and passionate. But I miss the other part of him, the tense, arrogant, stubborn dominant part of him.
There’s a stick in his hand when he reemerges from the closet.
“What’s that for?” I give a pointed look to his hand.
“Oh this?” He waves it in the air, creating a sharp swishing sound. “It’s a cane, Kasia.”
I back up a pace until my legs hit the bed. “A cane?”
“Yep.” He stalks to me, kicking my robe out of the way. “You’ve been a big talker these past few days.” He presses the tip of the cane to my chin, pushing it up until my head is back and I have to look down the length of my nose at him.
“I was...I mean...” I shrug. “Sorry?”
He breaks into a wide grin, but the resolve is still there. “Not yet, but you will be, Kasia. I promise. Turn around and put your hands flat on the bed. Stick your ass out.”
“You’re sure you don’t want to do that thing with the vibrator again?” I ask. I’m walking the line, teasing him like this, but my nerves have started acting up. I’ve never had the cane used on me. His belt feels good, his hand is amazing, and the flogger he used last week sent me flying fast. But this beast doesn’t look like it will do anything other than hurt.
“No, no. This is better for a naughty girl like you. A few stripes across your ass and you’ll be ready for the rest of your punishment.”
“Rest?”
“This is just the beginning. Now turn around, bad girl.” He taps the cane to my cheek then walks back a few steps to give me room to get in position.
With a shaky stomach, I do what he says. It’s not going to be so bad. Dominik won’t do anything that I can’t survive.
“Keep your hands out of my way, keep your feet planted, and unless you’re going to thank me, don’t open your mouth. Understood?” He presses the length of the cane against my ass.
It won’t be bad.
“Yes. I understand.” I fist my hands, just in case.
The first strike sends my brain rocketing into orbit. I’m off the bed, jumping up and down, grabbing my ass. Fuck!
“Couldn’t even be good for the first stroke.” He shakes his head sadly, but I can see his cock pressing against his jeans. He’s not entirely unhappy about all this. “Back in position. Now I have to start over.”
I take a deep breath and go back over the bed. I’ll do it better. He won’t get the better of me.
The second stroke makes me scream, but I keep my feet planted.
He runs the cane over the line of fire the last stroke made.
“Bad girls don’t get to have orgasms, isn’t that right?” He turns the cane and runs it between my legs, up through my wet sex. Fuck, I already want him, and it’s only been two strokes.
“That’s right.” I clench my teeth.
“Hmmm, I think tonight will be different.” A drawer opens and closes and then he drops a small vibrator on my hand. “Tonight, you’ll practice obedience. Use that toy to make yourself come for me, Kasia.”
I look over my shoulder; he’s still holding the cane.
“Do you need that?” I ask him.
He smiles. “Oh definitely.”
He’s playful. That’s never a good thing when he’s trying to punish me.
“Dominik. I’m sorry if I’ve been rude.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I don’t want your apology yet. I’ll let you know when. Now get to work.” He uses the cane to point to the vibrator.
I sigh and pick it up. After I switch it on, I place it over my clit. The vibrations right away kick up my arousal, the fact that he’s watching only heightens my need.
Just as I start to care more about the good sensation than his eyes lingering on me, he brings the cane down on my ass. I jolt forward, my brain screeches to a halt.
“Carry on,” he says.
I clench my jaw and get back to it, chasing down the pleasure before he can take it away from me, but as soon as my body tightens, the cane comes down again, and again.
I growl. It’s distracting having both happening at the same time.
“Keep going.” He taps the cane to my ass.
This time I’m careful to hide my expression. I get close, so close to the first burst of release when the cane comes down sharply, harder than the others across my ass. I cry out, but I don’t move the vibrator away. I’m too close to stop now. He brings the cane down again, but I’m lost to the waves.
The sharp strike of the cane melds into the haze of my orgasm, and there’s no separation between them. I’m all wrapped up in both sensations, being carried off with them. I collapse forward on the bed, humping the vibrator harder as his hands grab my hips.
“Don’t stop,” he orders and the cane lands on the bed beside my head. He unzips his pants and presses the length of his cock between my ass cheeks.
Instinct makes my body tense. I clench every muscle.
“Don’t tighten up, Kasia, it will only make this next part more uncomfortable.” His thumb swipes through my wet folds, pushing the vibrator out of the way as he gathers up my own juices to use against me. He’s good at this, at making my desire a punishment.
“Dominik,” I reach behind
and grasp his wrist. He’s fingered me there before, but never has his cock pierced my asshole.
He shakes off my hand and smacks my ass, sending a ripple of fire through my body.
“Don’t reach back here again. Keep that vibrator on your clit.” He smears my juices across my asshole, then presses the tip of his cock against my tight ring of muscle. I clench my eyes, and everything else. “Relax, Kasia. I’m fucking your ass with or without your help. Either this hurts a lot or not too bad. Your choice.” He pulls my ass cheeks apart and presses harder against me. The round head of his cock intrudes, breaking through the muscle.
“Fuck!” I yell, fisting my hand and pressing my face into the bed. I can’t do it. It burns, so much heat.
“Deep breath.” He thrusts further, the pain increases, but I do what he says. I suck in a hot breath and force my body to soften. If I don’t fight him, if I give over, it will be easier. It might be good. It’s the same with him. When I charge at him, he’s a brick wall — unmovable.
“Fuck, Kasia.” He moans behind me as his cock inches further. Tears escape my clenched lids. “So tight.” He reaches around me, taking the vibrator from me and pressing it harder against my body.
Vibrations blossom new arousal.
“Dominik,” I whisper his name, though I’m not sure what I want from him. I don’t want him to stop, that I know, that I won’t tell him.
“Such a good girl, taking my cock up your ass.” He thrusts harder. “Take all of me.” His order is overpowered by his final push. Completely embedded in my ass, I can’t believe how full I feel. How hot and needy I am for him.
“Please,” I cry when the vibrator passes over my clit again. I arch my back, pushing my ass back at him. He’s a rough man, an impossible man, and it’s his power I crave now. I need all of it, the parts that hurt, the parts that soothe. Every bit of it sets my body on fire. An inferno only he can extinguish.
“Who owns you, Kasia?” He plows into me hard. The stripes from the cane sting, pushing me to another level of desire.