Stolen Wife

by Carina Blake

  “It doesn’t matter. You’re not in your bed at the compound. You’re in our bed in my home.”

  “What?” I flip around and look. This isn’t my room. The room is made of clean lines, greyish-blue walls with a large television mounted to the wall. I’m confused and taken aback by this. Slamming my eyes shut, I take several deep breaths and then pinch myself.

  “You’re not dreaming. I took you, and you’re here. End of story.” He sits up in the bed, and it’s the first time I notice that he’s ripped from his shoulders down to his...oh my goodness. He’s extremely hard right now. I turn to look away. “Are you hungry?”

  “I’m not sure,” I respond with a barely audible whisper. My confusion has only grown. I stand to get some space between us and then it dawns on me that I’m not in my nightgown anymore. Instead, I’m in a big tee shirt with my hard nipples pressing against the letters.

  “You took off my clothes? Are you trying to get us killed?” I cover my chest, like it does me any good. The man took off my clothes last night. Did he do anything else to me?

  “I’m not afraid of any of them. And yes. Do you think I’d let you wear something my brother probably has fucked you in? I don’t want anything of his tainting my home.” I’m seeing a change in his mood. His temper’s slipping past that cool, calm, sexy façade. It’s as if my heart’s breaking, which makes absolutely no sense since I’ve never had a chance for love to come and tear it apart.

  I glare at him and test his actions. I have to know who I’m dealing with. “Well, then, I should go, since I’m his.” He jumps off the bed and crosses the distance between us. Unable to stop myself, I flinch, waiting to feel the sting. He’s much larger than his brother and father, and I know this will hurt more, and not only physically.

  “I’m not him and you’re not his,” he growls, dragging me with one arm around my waist and the other in my hair. His mouth slams down on mine. God, that kiss had been real. Before I can melt into him, he pushes off of me.

  “That was wrong,” I say as I watch him get dressed. Santino slips on a white undershirt and a pair of grey dress slacks before sliding on a crisp white dress shirt.

  He turns around to face me with the shirt still wide open. I’m amazed by the feral look in his eyes. From head to toe this man is perfection, but his mouth on mine was the most insanely sexy thing in the world I’ve ever experienced.

  He stalks toward me, but this time I don’t flinch because I’m ridiculously hoping for another kiss. He tips my chin with his thick thumb, pulling my bottom lip from under the grip of my upper teeth. “Felt fucking right to me.” My body heats up and I breathily look up into his eyes that are trained to my lips, waiting for more. Instead, he steps back and says, “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a call to make. Please eat.” He points to the trays on the table that’s in the middle of the room.

  “So you’re going to leave me up here locked away?” I ask, changing one cell for another.

  “Damn right,” he growls, nodding his head as he grabs his phone and gun.

  “You’re just like your brother.” It’s out of my mouth before I can think about it. I’m sure that is going to set him off, and then I’m going to feel his wrath. God, it would break my heart if he hit me. I should be used to the abuse, but when I see him, I don’t know why I fear his brand of evil.

  He stands by the door with a smirk on his face. “Sweetheart, I get that you want to fight me. Test me. I get that you want to believe whatever lies you tell yourself, but deep down you know I’m nothing like my brother, and soon you’ll know that in more ways than one.” He leaves me alone, locking the door behind him.

  “Bastard.” I sit on the bed. A part of me is secretly happy to be away from Rafael and his father, but what does Santino have planned for me? Does he want to fuck me too? Of course he does. That hard-on and the way he kissed me...whew, nothing but pure, lustful fire. But could I be reading this wrong? Is this some sort of revenge? Why should I even care?

  I tuck my hair behind my ears, feeling the sting of the bruise. Damn, it’s painful. I take a deep breath and get a whiff of the breakfast on the table, making my stomach become a rumbling engine. Walking over there, I lift the lid to eggs, bacon, sausage, and homemade hash browns. I don’t think I’ve had a meal like this in forever. I help myself to a small serving because even though it smells incredible, I don’t get to eat often or anything hearty, so I don’t want to get sick.

  The first bite of the bacon hits the sweet spot in my palette, and I release a moan. The food is too good to be true, but I only eat a little more because I’m feeling a little lightheaded. Oh God, please tell me he didn’t poison me.

  I take a deep breath, and I’m okay again. So it’s just my paranoia, it seems.

  I step into the bathroom to freshen up and to examine my father-in-law’s handiwork. The bathroom is large and made for a man like Santino. Everything is new, but then again the man spent years in prison, so this is all newly added, I’m guessing. I run my hands over the granite countertops, feeling the cold stone against my fingers, and yet I feel the warmth of this place. Then I finally look up and see my reflection. The bruising from yesterday has darkened so it matches the pain that’s radiating from it. I can’t believe how terrible it looks.

  “I could kill him for that alone.” I turn to the door and see Santino leaning on the door jamb. He straightens up and moves toward me. The way his body moves, I feel hypnotized. There’s power in every step.

  I face him and feel almost obligated to tell him the truth about this, so I do. “This wasn’t Rafael’s efforts.”

  “Who?” His teeth are clenched as he grits out the word. I can see he already knows but needs to hear it from me.

  “Your father.”

  “What? Why?” He’s angry, and that strangely makes me comfortable to tell him what happened.

  “As soon as you left, he threatened to tell Rafael that I was flirting with you, and I got a smart mouth with him. For an old man, he’s still extraordinarily strong.”

  “He’s lived long enough.” The gruff words hit my ears and my pussy’s flooded. This man has a way about him that draws me in like a moth to a flame. It’s dangerous, and yet I have a hard time fighting the urge to step into his path and demand he show me what I’m missing.

  “It’s not your problem. I’m only glad I’m away from them. I am away from them, right? You’re not going to send me back there, are you?”

  “Never. Over my fucking dead body are you returning to them.”

  “Thank you. I don’t care why you took me last night, but either way, I’m temporarily safe from Rafael.”

  “Soon it will be permanently,” he says to himself.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask when it strikes me that he’s going to kill his brother. I’m not against it, but why would he want to do that?

  A knock at the door stops him from answering. He presses a finger to my lips and then walks to get it.

  I creep to the bathroom door, attempting to hear the exchange. “Sir, your lawyer is downstairs waiting for you. I set him in the living room.”

  “Any word?”

  “Nothing. It’s still quite early. They may not even know she’s gone yet.” I’m nervous to see what happens when they realize I’m gone.

  “True. Very well. I’m looking forward to his reaction when he learns the truth. Revenge will never be sweeter.” I hold back the gasp and wait for Santino to walk back in.

  “I want you to stay up here and don’t move. You can watch television. Those bags of clothes are for you. I don’t know what’s in them, but I’m told it should be everything you need.” The formal, stiff tone turns my body icy cold.

  He leaves me there standing in the middle of his bedroom with tears welling up in my eyes. I’m just a pawn. Okay. Fight these feelings. I don’t care if he can make you come on a dime or if his stare makes your heart hope for a happily ever after. The first chance you get, you take it.

  I grab the b
ags and spread them out on the bed. Everything is from Target, which doesn’t surprise me. Rafael was the same way. Expensive things for him, nothing for me. It’s not that I don’t like Target clothes, but I expected more for some reason. God, I have to get it out of my head that he wants something more. I’m descending into madness.

  After picking out a cute white tee and a pair of pink cotton shorts, I grab the nude bra, which is way too small for my chest. Shit. The panties will do simply fine, but since I’m trapped in this room, what does it matter if I have a bra?

  As I pick up the rest of the clothes and toss them in the bag, I catch the faint aroma of his scent. Like a fool, I lie back down in the bed and bring his pillow to my nose. It’s so captivating that I lose track of time and all my worries.

  Chapter Seven

  Santino

  “Dimitri, it’s so good to see you again.” I welcome my longtime friend with a one-armed hug. He warned me before they played me that he hadn’t trusted my family, but no, I didn’t want to listen to him. I’ve had to live with that for the past two years, and he’s made sure to remind me of it on numerous occasions.

  “Same to you, Santino. You’re looking good.” I should say the same to him. I was too preoccupied at the courthouse to notice, but he’s looking stronger and his grip isn’t that of a weak lawyer but a man who has been hitting the gym frequently.

  “Knowing I’d be getting my life back looks good on me, but shit, I could say the same about you. Have you been working out a lot more?”

  He nods, but there’s a sense of frustration on his face. “Yes. My acquaintances in Russia have been giving me a hard time about my refusal to work for them, so I’m preparing to go toe to toe with them if push comes to shove.”

  “I didn’t know you had dealings in Russia.” That’s a revelation to me.

  “It started out as a favor for my cousin Alexei a few weeks ago. One thing led to another, and here I am in bed with guys I don’t want to have any dealings with and another boss of the Bratva out for my head.”

  “Do I need to be concerned?” It’s not something I need on my plate right now. I’m ready to go to war with my family. Technically I’ve been at war this entire time, but this time I’m the one striking first.

  “Nyet. They are sensible enough to leave my clients alone. This is strictly a family issue.”

  “Good, but I hope that we’re more than just business associates,” I remind him. There are very few people I can call my friends, and Dimitri is one.

  “Of course. Of course we are. It’s just not something they need to be made aware of. They’ll steal your firstborn if you let it slip that you’re having a baby.”

  “Fine. I’ll be watching my back either way. Forget about everything else. We have so much to go over. Do you want some coffee?”

  “I’d love some. It’s been already a long morning.” I summon Jasper and ask for some coffee. Once he leaves, Dimitri continues, “I’ve been down to the courthouse to get the papers processed. I believe there’s something you need to know. While I was there, Denton came out of a stairwell, speaking to Antonetti.”

  “My father’s lawyer?” Suddenly, my collar gets too damn tight. I loosen it and then stand up because coffee isn’t going to be enough. “Do you want a drink? Because I’m having one.”

  “No on the drink, and yes, unfortunately, his lawyer. I’m sorry, Santino. It’s not something you wanted to hear, I’m sure. I don’t know what they were talking about, but I did manage to take a quick picture on my phone.”

  He hands me the phone as Jasper comes back in with a cup of coffee each on a tray with cream and sugar. Dimitri takes it and adds some of both while I look over the photo, hoping to find something to give me answers. “Denton has a death wish or maybe I’ll just toss his ass in prison. You do have all that information, right?”

  “Yes, I do. Do you want it activated?” he asks and takes a sip of his coffee. “Damn, this is good.”

  “Thanks. Only the best after a long time with sludge.” I take a drink of my whiskey. “Give it twenty-four hours. I want him to lead me to the rest of them. If he’s dealing with Antonetti, then I wonder how long that’s been going on.”

  “I don’t know. Your father has been making sure to keep his nose out of everything that has to do with your arrest and every detail surrounding it, but he comes off too clean, especially with connections to the victim and the real hitman.”

  “I’m guessing the more he gets riled up, the quicker he’ll make a mistake.”

  “Or get desperate. We have to be prepared for both.” I’ll be ready. The one thing I remember before going to prison is hitting up the shooting range and creating design patterns with my turn. I have marksman skills, which pissed my father off when I refused to bring those skills when he wanted them.

  “And I am. I’ve played this chess match so many times in my head. I won’t lose to him. I’ve smartened up about how dirty people can be.”

  “You need more people on this, but I know there’s too much at stake for loose lips.” He’s right, but if we send anyone in to investigate, they have to be inside and there’s no one inside the family that would let in a spy. I don’t have loyalty like that from them because I’m the son that dared to dream for better. I’m the one who turned my nose up at violent crime and murder.

  “Exactly.” I already feel like my circle is too big, but I can’t do without them and I trust each one of them implicitly.

  “There are a lot of people that would love to bring your father and brother down, but so far all their dealings have appeared above board, even though you and I know that’s not true.”

  “Just keep me informed. We both have copies of the evidence to put Denton away. I’m betting he’ll talk, but they’ll have a hit on him before we can get the details. Do you have anything on the Avanti family?”

  “Besides that they are rumored to sell girls, I’ve heard of drug trafficking.”

  “Damn, then they have a lot to lose and won’t play nice. I’m going to find a way to make my family turn on theirs.” I may have already started that endeavor if they take the bait.

  For the next three hours, we go over our strategy as well as my company legalities that need to be handled before I go into the office. My paternity is another issue that I’m sure Dimitri is looking into discreetly. Honestly, I want the answers from my mother. I deserve to hear them from her.

  After sending him on his way, I find myself slowly creeping up the stairs and back into my bedroom. There’s a lot I want to say to Giada, but for the time being, I just have to see that she’s doing okay.

  The bed has been neatly made and the bags are full on the bench by the foot of the bed. When I look toward the open bathroom door, I spot Giada examining her face. She’s only wearing a pair of underwear and a tee shirt. I move to the doorway of the bathroom and lean against it to watch her. Groaning, I can see her nipples are pebbled and pushing against the fabric.

  I could stare at her all day, but not like this. My brother didn’t just fuck her. He beat her and so did my piece of shit father. God, that would kill me if he took her to bed too. That’s more than I can even stand. It’s killing me that she’s in pain. There’s no way it doesn’t hurt like hell.

  “You’re back?” She doesn’t turn to face me. Instead, she watches me through the mirror. I want to see the lust I saw the first time I met her, but she’s scared of me.

  “You sound surprised. I told you I would be.” I rake my eyes over her form. From head to toe I catalog each spot and what I want to do to her. God, slipping behind her and sinking my hands onto her waist and thrusting into her pussy is all I want to do right now.

  “What do you want from me?” Her voice is just a whisper, revealing her vulnerability. Something I didn’t see before. I step closer, entering the bathroom, but I’m still far from her.

  I look into the mirror, staring at her face, and confess, “It’s complicated.”

  “I know this all has to do with R
afael.” Her body stiffens up and I want to tell her it’s not, but I can’t lie and pretend that it isn’t.

  “Not all of this.” She doesn’t believe me, and it’s written all over her face. The intensity of my desire for her is only matched by my hatred for him and the life he stole from me.

  “When can I leave?”

  My response is instant and final. “Never.” The question sounds ludicrous to me. I can’t fathom ever letting her go.

  “So I’m your prisoner.”

  “If that’s the way you want to take it.” I can’t go into how I’m fucking obsessed with her. No, I want to work my way into her heart. How the fuck am I going to manage that shit?

  She spins around and angrily lets loose her attitude. “What I’d like to do is get the fuck away from all of you. One after the other: abusive, criminal, cruel.”

  “Baby, stealing you is the only illegal thing I’ve ever done.”

  “Don’t baby me. I’m a married woman. Not some whore.” She puffs out her chest, trying to appear tough, but all it does is show her fabulous tits and those stiff nipples that are going to be in my mouth very soon.

  “I never said you were a whore, but you will be mine, and you’re going to love it. I’m going to make you scream my name, begging for more every single day.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “Watch your mouth.” She can curse all day long, but I want to see her get smart with me. I have a feeling it’s going to be fun.

  “Or what?”

  My dick’s about to burst through my zipper and show her. “You’re testing my patience.”

  “Well, feeling’s mutual.” Keep it coming, sweetheart.

  “You know what I’d like to test?” I close the distance and box her in, letting her ass hit the countertop. My hands straddle her while I keep my hips away from her. I don’t want her to feel what she’s doing to me just yet. I want to watch her come apart.

  “What?” She swallows hard, and visions of her down on her knees taking my cock down her throat makes me even harder.