by Piper Stone
The set of stairs leading up to the pinnacle hadn’t been replaced, the wood cracking under our feet as we advanced. While there was no sign of Perez or his soldiers, I could sense them all around us. They believed they were laying a trap.
There were no additional sounds, the stairwell nothing more than a vacuum. I advanced carefully, only the flashes of lightning providing any concept of light. When I’d reached the top, I was able to make out a closed door.
“If she’s inside, you’re going to get her out of here. Do you understand?” I whispered.
“And what about you?”
“You know the answer to that.”
“Don’t do this alone,” he huffed.
I took a deep breath, closing the distance to the door. “I’m doing what’s necessary.” I knew I’d find the door unlocked. There was no reason for Perez to do otherwise.
As I walked inside, I sensed her presence immediately, her perfume filling me with an entirely different level of rage. After hearing the single soft whimper, I lifted my weapon.
“Rafael.” The sound of my voice was almost unrecognizable, the deep baritone laced with more anger than I’d felt in a long time.
When the bastard laughed in the darkness, I almost took the shot, but my instinct told me otherwise. Suddenly, a light was flipped on, the high-powered beam pointing in my direction. While I was only allowed to see the two forms silhouetted in the shadows, I could clearly tell he had his hand wrapped around her throat.
Rafael shifted, allowing me to hear the rattle of chains. The asshole had her shackled. I couldn’t wait to put a bullet into his brain.
“You are such a fool, Santiago. You really thought you could return without retaliation?”
Luis shifted several feet away from me. Within a matter of seconds, I heard the sound of gunfire crackling over the roars of thunder. As another flash of lightning lit up the night sky, I was able to get a better look at what I was facing.
Devon was shackled, her hands bound in chains over her head. Rafael had one hand around her neck, the other with a gun pointed at her head. With the beam of light pointed in our direction, it would be easy to miscalculate any shot I might have.
“You’re the fool, Rafael, if you believed I wouldn’t seek revenge for murdering my family. Including my mother.”
He laughed again, the sound managing to boom over the rounds of ammunition. “I never intended for her to die.”
“But she did, all because of you.”
“Your father was a liar and a cheat. He was also a traitor.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it.”
“I knew he’d turned the circle of mafia Dons against me. I knew what they were planning. He thought I was a fool. Just like he did all those years ago.”
I could tell he was becoming unhinged. What I didn’t know was what the hell he was getting at.
“We’re not here to debate my father. You have something that belongs to me.” I inched closer, darting my eyes back and forth. With a single misstep, I’d cost Devon her life.
“Don’t you want to know why I spent my life trying to destroy your family?”
“I know why. You hungered for more power.” I was finished with the game. I no longer gave a shit about anything but ending the years of guilt and fury. “My father was smart enough to know that you were planning on betraying the circle.”
Rafael exhaled, the sound exaggerated.
Crack! Crack! Boom!
There was an explosion somewhere on the grounds, the sudden activity drawing his attention away from Devon for a split second. I used the moment to advance even closer, keeping my weapon steady.
“You don’t understand,” he hissed.
I was losing my patience. “Then explain it to me, Rafael, but you have one chance. There will not be another.”
When he spoke again, his tone was entirely different. “Because your father took what belonged to me.”
What the hell was he talking about? “What are you trying to say?” I demanded.
Growling, he took a step away from her, allowing more of the light to highlight his location. “You really don’t know. Do you?”
“Cut the crap, Rafael. We can either end this peacefully, or this entire estate will be ruined.”
“As if I care.”
I was thrown by the sadness in his voice.
“What do you want to say to me?” I barked the question, realizing that he was on the edge. I’d never known him to be emotional on any level. He was nothing more than a cold-blooded killer.
“Your father stole the most important thing in my life. Your mother.”
The words didn’t register for a few seconds. “What. The. Fuck?”
“Yes, she and I were to be married, but your father took her away to a little chapel much like this one. He married her. He soiled her. He destroyed me.”
“Then why in God’s name would my father ever agree to work with you?”
His laughter was also entirely different. “Because he believed I forgave him. That’s not something that could ever be forgiven. Now I’m going to take what belongs to you.”
There was only a split second to make a choice in order to save her life.
Even as his damning words continued to ring in my mind, I took the shot, the only one that I would be allowed.
All I could do was pray to God that I didn’t miss.
Pop!
As his body slumped to the floor, I could swear I heard him call out my mother’s name.
There was nothing like having Devon in my arms. While anger and contempt for Perez and the reason for his betrayal remained in the back of my mind, I refused to waste any energy on worrying about a man who’d spent his life plotting revenge.
Just like you did.
The irony left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“You can stop worrying about me now,” Devon said as she gazed at me, offering a slight smile.
While she hadn’t been hurt significantly in any physical way, I certainly knew the emotional scars would remain with her for a considerable amount of time. I was also angry with myself for allowing her abduction to happen. At least with the accident, she’d received only minor scratches and abrasions.
I fisted my hands as I walked to the bar. There were dozens of things I needed to say, but I felt more out of my element than I had for a long time. She deserved better than what I’d forced her to deal with.
“You’re not going to say anything?” she asked.
I almost had you killed.
“You were in a serious car wreck before being kidnapped. I think that gives me reason to worry about you.” I finished opening the bottle of wine, pouring two glasses. What troubled me even more was that Emilio was nowhere to be found on the property. I had every soldier scouring the streets for him, but in the almost twenty-four hours since the coup, he’d yet to be found.
“But you saved me,” she said in such a small voice, which was completely unlike her. “That makes you my hero.”
I resisted growling as I grabbed the glasses, turning around to face her. She kept her gaze locked on me as I walked in her direction, handing her one of the glasses.
“That doesn’t make me a hero, Devon. I did what needed to be done.”
“Are you saying it was merely part of your job taking over for your father?” A slight hint of her defiance had returned, which actually forced a smile.
“What I’m saying is that I’m a very bad man. I realized that only after you were taken.”
“You’re not a bad man, Santiago. Yes, you enjoy the danger and the lifestyle more than you can admit, but you loved your family. You needed to find a way to heal. You also did everything in your power to protect me. I’m so sorry about Diego. I know he was your friend. I don’t know how he could have done that to you.”
Exhaling, I sat down in the chair near her, enjoying just having her in my house. I’d told her certain details, but I refused to worry her any more than necessary. While I doubted E
milio would attempt to breach the security of the estate, I couldn’t put anything past him at this point. With the arrival of the various Dons tomorrow, news that had already hit the city, either he was going to leave town for an extended period of time or plan a series of assassinations.
Several of his soldiers had been killed in the event the night before, but he certainly had dozens more who would remain loyal. Given the situation, that made him extremely dangerous.
“There are few moments of absolute loyalty in the business I’m in. I’ve finally learned that the only people you can trust with certainty are family.”
“Can you trust me?”
She asked the question in a rather coy manner. “Hmm… That depends.” When she gave me a pouting look, I burst into laughter. She was certainly the light to my darkness. My cock ached to be inside of her. I longed to taste every inch of her, filling her with my seed.
Then I’d start over again.
The thought alone brought another round of electricity to my system.
“Why do I have the feeling you’re up to something?” I added.
Her eyes twinkling, she brushed her hand through her hair before taking a sip of her wine. At least she appeared relaxed, not at all like I’d thought she’d be after such a horrific ordeal. In fact, she was one of the strongest people I’d ever met.
“I have something to show you,” she said.
“O-kay.”
She eased the wine onto the table, wincing when she moved to her feet. I knew she still ached all over and that alone tossed my mind into another wave of anger. “You need to trust me.”
“I can do that.”
When she held out her hand, the look of mischief on her face was beguiling, making me more curious than ever. I put my own wine on the table, accepting her hand. As she pulled me out of the room and to the stairs, she actually started humming. The lilt only fueled my hunger even more.
I was more than surprised when she led me to the practice room, switching on the light. The column remained in the middle of the room as it had been before the party.
“Tell me what you see,” she said then pulled away from me.
“A mistake.”
Devon shook her head. “You’re going to have to try harder than that. What do you see?”
I glanced around the room, uncertain of what she was getting at. “All right. I’m not certain what you’re looking for.”
“Move closer. Go ahead. Trust me.”
I could tell she was referring to the glass box. After giving her a heated look, I did as she asked. As soon as I was within close proximity, I realized the fake crest was gone. “I don’t understand.” I shifted until I could catch a glimpse of her face.
She kept her coy smile as she reached into her pocket, removing something that was covered with a cloth. “I managed to do my job.”
Narrowing my eyes, I was thrown into a fog as I walked closer, taking the piece from her hand. “What did you do?”
“I caught a break. I did what you hired me to do. After all, I’m your employee.”
As I held the crest in my hand, my heart aching, I could finally accept that the crest was only a symbol of what my father had stood for. “You risked your life for this?”
“I did what you asked. I thought you’d be happy.”
“I’m furious with you.” I said as I snapped my hand around the crest, enjoying the sensations as the metal dug into my skin.
Confused, she backed away, shaking her head. “I managed to get the one thing that is more important to you than anything else, including human life, and you’re angry with me? Are you kidding me?” Her mouth twisted in anger and frustration, her eyes imploring mine. She continued backing away, a mixture of emotions crossing her face.
I held up the crest, my hand shaking. “This means nothing to me. Nothing.” I moved to the box, opening the lid and tossing the crest inside, not giving a shit where it landed.
“You bastard. I thought for once I’d actually make you happy. I’m such a fool.”
As she started to rush out of the room, I yanked her arm, dragging her against my chest. Then I fisted her hair, pulling her onto her tiptoes. “Don’t you understand? You are what matters to me. You’re the only precious thing in my life and I almost lost you because of that crest. I am the fool, Devon. Not you.” Even as I crushed my mouth over hers, she fought me, slamming her fists against my chest.
But I refused to let her go.
I wanted nothing more than to devour her, taking hours to do so. I needed to feel her heated naked body against mine, filling the void that had been in my life for so long.
She moaned into the kiss and while she continued to fight to be freed, she arched her back, her body melding into mine. I was hungrier than I’d ever been, my heart pounding from the lust and the love I felt for her. She was my everything. My night and day. The good to my evil.
When she finally relaxed, her hands now clinging to my shirt, I knew in my heart that I could never let her go.
But that was what needed to happen.
She deserved a life devoid of constant terror.
I thrust my tongue inside her mouth, dominating hers, taking every drop of her sweet essence. The kiss was passionate and raw, my needs more savage than ever before. I couldn’t seem to get enough of her. Every cell in my body was bursting from the explosion of heat building between us, a fire ready to feast.
Which is exactly what I planned on doing with her.
When I broke the kiss, I continued to hold her close, both of us having difficulty breathing. “You were a very bad girl.”
“Not fair. I did what was instructed of me,” she breathed as she brushed her fingers across my cheek.
“No, you disobeyed me. I’m not going to stand for that.”
Her eyes opened wide as she realized what I was about to do. Once again, she pummeled her fists against me in a lame attempt to get away.
She should know better than that by now. I took what I wanted. Period.
I pushed her away then tossed her over my shoulder, enjoying the sounds of her squeals as I carried her out of the room.
“You’re so mean. A bastard.”
Grinning, I smacked her on the bottom several times as I carried her into the master bathroom. When I finally eased her down, she did her best to skirt around me in another crazy attempt to get away.
“Not so fast, little girl. You’re going to learn a lesson for endangering your life.” I stated the words in a dominating voice, giving her a stern look.
She chewed on her bottom lip, shifting back and forth on her bare feet. “I promise to be good?”
The way she phrased the statement into a question almost brought a smile to my face. “Remove your clothes.”
“I said I’ll be good.”
“Oh, yes, you will. Take them off or I’m going to do that for you. I assure you that you won’t like it if I’m forced to do that.”
Groaning, she gave me a nasty look but complied, ripping off her tee shirt and tossing it against the wall. She even cursed as she fumbled with the button on her shorts, dragging them down her long legs provocatively. My God, my mouth was watering. I couldn’t wait to taste her sweet pussy all over again.
“Panties too,” I instructed.
She gave me another rebellious glare but did as I asked. When she was standing completely naked, I almost lost it, fucking her like some wild animal, but she needed to learn to obey.
And who she belonged to.
“Face the mirror.”
“If you use the bath brush again I’m going to…” She didn’t finish her statement, instead jerking around and slapping her hands on the counter.
I adored the way she pushed every button, refusing to back down, but she would soon learn. One way or the other. As I slowly unbuckled my belt, she watched me in the reflection intently, a warm flush creeping up along her jaw. She appeared more fragile, yet I knew better.
She was a little lioness.
After
slowly tugging the belt through the loops, I pulled the leather strap under my nose, inhaling in an exaggerated manner. Her eyes opened wide, her mouth twisting all over again. There was no doubt she had some choice words to say to me.
I took my time folding the belt, kicking out her feet then pulling her hips away from the counter. “I think thirty will be in order.”
“Thirty? You’re sadistic.”
“No, I’m going to protect you because you can’t seem to protect yourself. Stay in position or we’re going to start all over again.”
“Oh, I could hate you.”
“But you don’t. Isn’t that true, sweet Devon?” I rubbed my fingers down her spine, breathing in her lovely perfume. Then I tapped my hand against her rounded bottom before taking a step back. After I delivered the first crack, I glanced into the mirror.
She was stoic, but her eyes were filled with venom. The woman was a little fighter. Thank God her spirit hadn’t been broken.
I smacked her four times in rapid succession, enjoying the cracking sound as the belt sliced against her skin. She finally let out a single moan, closing her eyes as she clawed the marble.
“You’re doing very well,” I whispered, no longer recognizing my voice from the lust. I cracked the belt three additional times, waiting as she lifted her leg, twisting her hips.
“Oh. Oh! That hurts.”
“As it’s supposed to. Remember, stay in position.”
She smacked her hand against the mirror, stamping her foot on the floor.
I issued several additional hard cracks, my breathing becoming labored, a haze forming across my vision. My heart continued to pound against my chest, and it was all I could do to control my actions. She was far too tempting, further freeing the savage beast inside. I took a deep breath, caressing her heated bottom, appreciating the way color had blossomed across her skin.
“Five more.”
She hissed in reply, smacking her other hand against the mirror then hanging her head low. “I will always hate you for this.”
“That’s perfectly fine with me.” What I’d realized about Devon was that she thrived in being taken in hand. She craved having a dominant partner.