“We’re on course.”
“Good. Good,” Dario said, turning her around to press her back into the door frame, though the actual door was missing from that spot too. He put a hand above her head and leaned down, penning her in. “How much did you make today?”
Was he keeping track? He couldn’t have had her brought here just to collect the few measly bucks she had.
“Not much,” she said. “I don’t carry my savings around with me.”
“Our savings,” he said. “You know when we’re married, I’ll take care of you. You won’t have to worry about money and bills. They’ll be my responsibility. All you’ll have to worry about is being the perfect wife… You do know what I’ll expect from you, don’t you?”
Swallowing, she was reminded of the only time she’d been ill on Eros. “There’s five days left on the clock,” she said, unwilling to talk about what might be inevitable. “If I don’t get your money together, we can talk about marriage as much as you want. But, I still plan to make it.”
The slow smile that widened his lips was so satisfied. She knew he was thinking about the bomb he planned to drop, though she didn’t expect him to drop it now. “I’m sorry, Sexy Sassi,” he said, touching her temple to run his fingertips through her hair, making her tense. “But, that’s not going to happen.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I do,” he said then laughed. “The next time I use those words it will be the happiest day of our lives… All the years I’ve wanted you… all the years I’ve wanted this body to be mine… I can’t believe it’s finally going to happen.”
Although she was wearing Swain’s thick hoodie, she was disgusted by Dario’s hand when it fell over her breast. She swatted it away. “It isn’t,” she said, disgust contorting her expression. “It won’t happen. I’m going to get you your money.”
“You can’t possibly get everyone their money though, can you?” he said, raising a brow. “You see, mi amor, I’m not the only man your father took money from… He owes thousands to others all across the city… To men who won’t be as understanding as I have been.”
She only had a second to decide how to respond and she chose to go with ignorance because if she told the truth, that she knew about the others, he’d probably wonder why she hadn’t come around to his way of thinking already.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said.
Insulting him might not have been the right way to go. Dario grabbed her throat and squeezed. “I know everything. You are going to belong to me. I always get what I want. I’ve held back every man who wants to tear out your guts and bleed you for every cent… If it wasn’t for me, you’d be ruined already. Your brother would be dead. You’d be chained to some gangbanger’s wall, and you’d never be free. I am your only hope, Sexy Sassi.”
Tugging on his wrist to try pulling it from her throat, she fought to drag in a breath. He wasn’t trying to kill her; he hadn’t cut off her airway completely. This was about control and she despised him for his hold over her, not this physical one, but the chokehold was symbolic of the position she and her family were in.
His men weren’t going to help her and she had no chance of getting him to let go if he didn’t want to. Thrusting her knee up, she got him in the groin. Hissing in pain, Dario let go to double over and she saw her chance to run.
Darting forward, Sassi got past him, but was blocked by his men who closed in around her. Two came up behind her to grab her and force her around. Dario was still bent over and breathing through the pain that was obvious on his face. Damn, it felt good to have done some damage.
“You won’t ever…” Dario’s voice didn’t manage to get strong enough to sound threatening. “Bring her.”
The men wrestled her forward despite her struggling. Dario managed to stand straight again, though there was still an edge of discomfort in the curl of his lip. “You might have me in five days,” she spat, fighting the men who wouldn’t let her go. “But, I don’t belong to you yet.”
“Yet,” Dario said, twisting to smack the back of his hand hard across her face.
The pain was intense enough to make her eyes blur, but she couldn’t deny she sort of deserved the hit. If she was willing to lash out, she had to be willing to take the hits in return. And, she’d rather be beaten by him than kissed or caressed.
“You won’t get me until I’ve exhausted every other option,” she declared. “Until then, you keep your fucking hands to yourself.”
Dario might have ideas of beating the sass out of her, but she wouldn’t make it easy for him. No fucking way. She was going to hold onto her attitude until he ripped it from her soul.
With pain in his tone, Dario began to laugh. The slow exhale got stronger, making her uneasy. “You stupid little girl, this isn’t high school anymore. You don’t get to screw around with me. You don’t get to play games. You’re going to marry me and you’ll be the perfect wife. The perfect submissive wife who will defer to me in everything. You will worship me and never make a decision without my input.”
Sassi thought she was bad for indulging in her fantasies; this guy was downright deluded if he believed that could ever be reality. She didn’t mean to laugh, or maybe she did. It wasn’t a sinister or satisfied laugh like his. No, hers was just filled with ridicule and humor.
“Who the hell do you think I am?” she asked. “You sure you want to marry a woman you clearly don’t know?”
Dario looked like he was ready to explode. But, if he wanted to hit her again, she’d take it. Sassi had a feeling their marriage was going to be nothing but arguments like this and physical violence. But, she was keeping score. For every hit he gave her, she planned to give him one back, even if she had to bide her time.
Nodding at one of his men, Dario sucked an inhale through his nose like he was trying to get himself together. “I’m glad you can laugh, mi amor,” he said. “Because I’m looking forward to reminding you of just how powerful I am.”
Powerful? Who did he think he was? The President? She didn’t care about a man who had power, at least not one who bragged about it.
The guy he’d nodded at took a buddy and went deeper into the warehouse. They disappeared into a back room and she was left to wonder what was going on… but not for long.
Less than thirty seconds later they came back out, dragging a man between them; a gagged young man who she recognized.
Gasping, Sassi tried to rush forward, but the men around her grabbed hold of her. “Fidget!” she called out. At the sound of her voice, the youngster’s attention flew to her. But, his hands were tied and the material over his mouth prevented him from responding. Dario’s men pulled Fidget through the warehouse and into the office. It broke her heart that he fought harder when he saw her. “It’s okay, honey, calm down… We’re going to be okay.” Turning her fury to Dario, she growled at him. “You bastard! He did nothing to you! What are you doing with him?”
“Proving a point,” Dario said, moving in at her side to spit his words in her ear. “I know about your captain.”
Dread tingled against the back of her neck, tickling her spine until it lodged as a sickness in her gut. “You know nothing.”
But, if he had Fidget, she couldn’t be sure the apprentice hadn’t mentioned Swain. If Pello had reported back, and he probably had, Dario might have known about Swain for a month. He’d have had weeks to gather information and figure out where she was and who she was with.
As for their intimacy, Pello couldn’t have told Dario anything because she and Swain hadn’t been a thing when they saw him in Miami. But, she wouldn’t put it past Pello to have lied and he did accuse her and the captain of being cozy together.
Fidget knew she and Swain had been together and she wouldn’t blame him for telling the truth, especially while he was scared.
“I told you I would hurt anyone you cared about. Marry me and I’ll take care of you. I’ll take care of your father’s debt and your freeloading brot
her… If you disobey me again, I have more victims to nail to the wall. Thank you, mi amor. Your brother, his woman, and your crew will suffer if you don’t do everything you’re told.”
He’d taken Fidget as a warning, proof that he could get to those she cared about even before she was aware he knew about them.
Swain would find out what had happened here. If not from her, then from Fidget. Their captain wouldn’t take kindly to his crew member being intimidated.
“Hurting him was a big mistake,” she said. “You’ve welcomed another enemy into your life.”
“I haven’t hurt this infant. He’s hardly worth my men’s time. We didn’t touch him. We took him to prove to you that I am everywhere.”
Hope surged through her. “Then let him go,” she said. “You don’t have any use for him. Just let him go.”
“We may,” he said and smiled at her, admiring her figure. “I like this side of you, this fear…”
Manipulating him was the only way to get what she wanted. Fighting with him could cause Fidget harm. “Dario,” she said, softening her voice and her demeanor. “Please… I’ll be grateful.”
Interest made him examine her closer. When she tried to move toward him, he waved at his men to release her. “Grateful? Show me how grateful?”
Sassi didn’t want to touch him, but for Fidget, for his safety, she would. Clasping Dario’s face, she drew him down and kissed him softly. He grabbed her into his embrace and deepened the kiss. Responding to the least of her ability while trying not to anger him, she strained to see Fidget to check if he was okay.
But, when she caught sight of Fidget, he looked so hurt. She knew why, he was thinking of Swain. In his eyes, she was their captain’s wife. Sassi had formed a friendship with Fidget, they had respect, and the crew was supposed to be loyal. Now he probably assumed she was a slut who’d used and discarded their captain.
Dario groaned, his tone filled with pleasure. He tugged her closer. Sassi had to conceal her wretch when his erection nudged into her stomach.
“Keeping him is a waste of my time. He’s worthless to me,” Dario said.
So, it didn’t matter if she influenced choices, he would claim credit for the results. She didn’t care so long as he let Fidget go free.
“Let me take him home,” she said, hoping she’d be given a chance to leave too. Dario peered at her with suspicion. “You think I have no way to get the money to cover all my dad’s debts, you’re probably right. I promise you, Dario, I will marry you. I will come quietly.”
This time his happiness was arrogance. “You are a fast learner, mi amor.”
“Let me take the boy home, please…”
“Then you will come back to me?”
She nodded. “There are five days until the deadline,” she said. “Let me use that time to tie up my loose ends. You know I’m in town. You know where I am. Where else can I go? You’ve proved your point… You’re everywhere.”
Flirtation worked with him. Seduction manipulated him. Sassi saw that stroking his ego got results. He kissed her again and she let him. Anything to ensure Fidget’s safety. When Dario’s lips left hers and he loosened his hold, he snapped his fingers at the men and ordered them to take Fidget back to where they’d found him.
“You have five days, mi amor,” Dario said.
Fidget was pulled out of the warehouse first and she was crowded out next. Both of them were bundled into the back of the car with one of Dario’s stooges.
In the center position in the backseat, Sassi reached over Fidget to put his seatbelt on and helped him take the gag from his mouth.
“Miss. Sassi,” he said quickly.
She put her fingers to his lips. “Shh, honey. It’s okay. Not here. Not now,” she said and linked her fingers in between his. “Are you hurt?” He shook his head. “Good. Good… Just sit tight. We’ll be safe soon, okay? Just stay with me.”
Taking comfort from her connection to him, she hoped that she was giving him some. Shame and embarrassment warred in her too. Sassi didn’t want Fidget or the crew to think she was a whore who’d made a fool of their captain.
The captain. Shit. How was she going to explain this to him? He’d be so mad that Fidget had been endangered and he should be. She was mad too, and it was no one’s fault but hers.
She wasn’t supposed to fall in love and she had, with every member of the Eros crew.
The car took them to the docks and they were let out without incident. Sassi kept Fidget’s hand to guide him through the security gate.
“Where are we going?” he asked, but went with her.
“You need to be somewhere safe,” she said. “Where’s Swing?”
“He met a girl. They’ve been together a lot.”
So, Fidget had been alone and vulnerable. Jockey was right that Fidget needed Swing with him. If the friends had been together, Fidget would never have been taken. But, it wasn’t Swing’s fault, it was hers.
“Come on, honey,” she said, pulling him along to move them faster.
“Cap’n will be mad,” Fidget said when they got near Eros.
That was an understatement and she wished she could avoid that wrath. But, she wasn’t leaving Fidget alone; she had to make sure someone was looking out for him.
“I know,” she said. “But, not with you. The captain’s going to look after you. He’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“Miss. Sassi,” he asked, stopping when they were just a few feet from Eros’ bow. “Who were those people?”
“Don’t worry about that,” she said, urging him on. “You won’t have to worry about them again. Go aboard.”
“Swing and me was staying in a boarding house in town,” Fidget said, looking past her.
“Now you’re staying aboard Eros,” she said and gave him a nudge. “Go on.”
Fidget went aboard. “But, the captain…”
“I’ll talk to the captain,” she said, sealing her lips before she took the leap onto the deck. Shit. She wasn’t supposed to be back here. She should feel guilt and trepidation being aboard. Instead, a feeling of warmth cascaded through her as she took Fidget into the passageway and along to the empty mess. “Wait here.”
Leaving Fidget in the mess, she went through the ship looking for Swain, or for anyone. She didn’t go into his cabin, but she knocked on the door and cracked it open an inch to call for him. He didn’t reply. No one was there.
Okay. She couldn’t leave Fidget alone. Sassi had to make sure someone was going to look out for him.
Going to the mess, she smiled at the boy who was seating himself on a settee in the rec area. “No one’s here… We’ll wait,” she said and smiled. “Are you hungry?”
TWENTY-FOUR
While Fidget was eating in front of the TV and the cookies were baking in the galley, Sassi told the apprentice that she was going to make a call.
They’d passed a phone on the dock and she needed to warn Stuart about what had happened. Running from the ship, she leaped onto the dock, and hurried to the phone. While dialing to reverse the charges, she turned to keep an eye on Eros.
Fidget wouldn’t leave because she’d told him not to and he’d always followed her orders. It was amazing that he wasn’t madder at her. Being on Eros, in the mess, seemed to relax him, giving her a break from answering questions.
“Who the fuck is this?” Stuart’s voice bellowed down the phone line.
“It’s me,” she said. “Listen to me, Stuart, it’s over, okay?”
“Over?” he asked. “Sassi? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Dario sent his guys for me and—”
“The bastard, I’ll fucking kill him! We have five days!”
“I can’t explain everything,” she said because her brother wouldn’t understand how she felt about Fidget or about her crew. “Dario told me about dad’s other debts, he promised to take care of them and I… I said I would marry him. It’s over, Stuart. We did our best, but… it’s over.”
�
�No,” he said. “I won’t let you give up! I won’t give up!”
“You can be happy with Karen now,” she said, and took a careful breath. Sassi had to sound sure and determined. Her brother had to believe she was making this choice consciously and not because she’d been left with no other options. “Be happy with her, okay? I’ll take care of everything else.”
While he was still arguing with her, she returned the phone to the hook and leaned against the pole it was on. But, she couldn’t loiter. Fidget, she had to make sure he was going to be okay. She had to look after him until she could entrust his care to someone else.
Steeling herself, she gathered all her courage and marched back to Eros. Fidget would respond to her strength. Going aboard, she finished making the cookies and feeding Fidget. When he was done eating, she suggested he go for a nap in his berth and he did.
Sassi was wiping down the counters in the galley when footsteps made her turn. “When we said come visit, we didn’t mean you had to work for it,” Jockey said and a grin split his face. “You staying, lass?”
Pulling a coffee cup from the cabinet, she filled it, then grabbed a couple of cookies from the cooling rack to take them over to him. “Fidget’s asleep in his berth.”
Jockey’s joy morphed to concern. “The boy in trouble?”
“No,” she said. “He… he was… But, I told him he’d be safe here… Can he stay here? Just for a week.”
Jockey took the cookies and the coffee to put them on the table. “You gotta explain this to me slow. The cap’n will—”
“I don’t need to see the captain,” she said, sidestepping, trying to get around the first-mate. “Fidget just needs someone to look out for him. Swing has a girl, he’s busy, and Fidget’s vulnerable on his own.”
The first-mate’s frown betrayed his wary confusion. “Vulnerable? Lass, what’s going on, girl?”
Sassi told herself to stay strong, just for a while longer. “Look after him. Stay with him. Don’t ever leave him on his own. Everything will be fine in a week,” she said and managed to sneak past Jockey to hurry down the passageway onto the deck.
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