Talon: Be careful.
Joe: I’m always careful.
I wasn’t sure I agreed with that, but I didn’t say anything.
Joe: So tomorrow I’m going to try to see Jolley about the Fleming Corp, and then I’m going back to see this joker. He’s going to answer to me.
Talon: Joe, Jade explained to me how trusts work. An attorney sets it up, but after that, it’s just a matter of transferring things into the trust. Dad probably did that himself.
Joe: Maybe. But I’m pretty sure there’s still stuff this guy isn’t telling me. He’s going to talk.
Me: Be careful, brother. What we don’t need is—
My phone fell into the soft dirt when a meaty hand gripped my shoulder.
Chapter Sixteen
Ruby
My father ushered me out of the small office, down a dark hallway, and out a doorway into an unlit alley.
I weighed my options. I could run from him, but where would I go? I had no idea where I was, and my eyes hadn’t yet adjusted to the darkness. I could try to take my father down, though he was probably armed. Again, though, where would I go?
I could go back inside and find Juliet, but if they had her chained up, I had no way of releasing her. I had no way of releasing anyone.
Though guilt permeated me for leaving her and what I assumed were many others as prisoners in that abominable place, I had no choice but to go with Theo. The more I learned about wherever I was, the more I’d have in my arsenal of knowledge.
He led me to a black SUV and opened the door for me. Could have knocked me over with a feather with that one. He got into the driver’s seat while I secured my seat belt.
“Can I have a cell phone?” I asked.
“Your cell phone is at home. In your apartment.”
“I didn’t ask if I could have my cell phone. I asked if I could have a cell phone.”
“Eventually. Maybe.”
“Where are we?”
“On the island. In the Caribbean. The one I told you about.”
“How did you get me all the way out here while I was passed out?”
“You didn’t pass out. You were drugged. A drug that induces amnesia and makes you extremely…pliable.”
“You fucking roofied me? Jesus Christ.”
“It’s an extremely safe medication, Ruby.”
“Medication? It’s not even legal in the US.”
“We’re not in the US.”
“You must have given it to me before—” I shook my head. “Since when do you care what’s legal?”
“I administered it myself in the correct dose. You will have no lasting effects.”
“Yeah? When did you get your medical degree?”
He ignored my snide comment. “I’ve decided to give you a gift,” he said. “It should be here soon.”
“The only gift I want is the Steel brothers’ safety. After that, to go home.”
“I’ve told you the Steels won’t be harmed. Nevertheless, I think you’ll like what’s coming.” He looked out his window. “Ah, here it is now.”
A man dressed all in black walked toward the SUV, dragging a woman with a fabric bag over her head. He opened the back door and shoved her inside. “Get in, bitch.”
“Hey!” I shouted. “Don’t call her that.” I turned around and ripped the fabric off her head. “Juliet!”
She squinted. “Where am I?”
Her hands were cuffed. I bounded into the back seat and started working on them. “Uncuff her,” I demanded to my father.
“Later.”
“No. Now. You said she was my gift. I want her comfortable.”
“For Christ’s sake.” He turned to the masked man. “Release her.”
“She’ll run.”
“Then you’ll catch her, or you’ll wish you had.”
“You’re the boss.” He quickly pulled out a chain of keys and, finding one, unlocked the cuffs.
“Get up here, Ruby,” my father said. “We need to get moving.”
“No way. I’m riding back here with her.”
“You’re riding up here, or we’re not going,” he said.
“It’s all right,” Juliet said, her voice raspy. “I’ll be okay. Do what he says.”
“I don’t follow his orders,” I said.
“You should. He’ll…” She closed her eyes and sighed, not finishing her thought.
“Get the fuck up here, or we’re not going,” Theo said.
Juliet nodded to me and mouthed, “I’ll be okay.”
My father had said he was taking me to better accommodations. Almost anything would be better than where we’d been, and I wasn’t going to screw this up for Juliet.
Of course, my father could very well be lying.
I had to take the chance. If I could get Juliet away from the other goons—and it appeared I might be able to—I had to go for it. Maybe I could figure out a way for the two of us to escape. Then I’d have a better chance of helping all the others trapped at the “dorms.”
The others… I didn’t want to leave them to their fate, but I had to let them go for now. I could only do so much.
The story of my life.
I moved back up to the front seat and yawned despite trying to stay awake.
“Sleep if you want to,” he said. “We’ll be on the road for a few hours.”
I yawned again and then looked back at Juliet. She had put the seat back into a reclining position and closed her eyes. This was probably the most comfort she’d had in almost a month.
The lights on the dashboard were on, but other than that, all I could see was what the headlights illuminated. A yawn split my jaw again, but no way was I falling asleep.
* * *
“Undress.”
I always did what he told me, even though I didn’t understand why. I fingered the sheer silky fabric of the gossamer aqua gown I wore. Where I’d gotten it, I didn’t know. But the softness was heaven against my skin.
Within seconds, it lay on the floor. Because I’d do anything he asked.
Absolutely anything.
He walked toward me then, slowly, stalking me. My nipples hardened, straining forward. I found myself stepping toward him, as if being led by the throbbing in my breasts.
He grabbed one and squeezed it. I gasped without meaning to. It hadn’t hurt, but still I was surprised. Then he tugged on the nipple.
Hard.
Lightning bolted through me, landing between my thighs.
“You’re mine,” he growled. “Mine to do with as I please.” He grabbed my hair, yanking on my ponytail. It was uncomfortable…yet oh, so comfortable.
I wouldn’t stop him.
He could do anything to me.
Anything.
He pulled me toward him, not gently, and bit on my earlobe hard enough to draw blood. “Tell me you know you’re mine, Ruby. Tell me.”
“I…know I’m yours,” I whimpered, my whole body reaching for something… Something…
He took my lips with the force of an angry wolf. He devoured me, stole from me with that kiss.
And I willingly surrendered.
When we were both breathless, he ripped his mouth from mine and turned me around, forcing me facedown onto a bed covered in blue silk, my feet still on the floor.
He thrust inside me hard.
So very fucking hard.
So very fucking good.
Then, a slap to my ass. Another. And another.
The sharp pain morphed to heat and then to pleasure.
“Such a firm, red ass,” he said through a groan. “And it’s mine. It’s all fucking mine.”
I grabbed the bedcovers, each thrust of his pushing me farther into the mattress. Drowning. I was drowning in Ryan Steel.
He slapped me again. Again. Again.
So quickly I hardly knew what was happening, he turned me around and pushed back inside me. His handsome face glistened with sweat, his dark hair sticking to his forehead and cheeks.
“Mine,” he said again. “Mine to do with what I want.”
“Yours,” I repeated. “Yours to do with what you want.” I closed my eyes.
He pushed harder, harder…until—
I sucked in a breath. The sweet plunging of his cock…had turned to…
Sharpness. Stabbing. A knife.
Then the smell…coppery and metallic.
Blood.
Pain.
God, the pain! I shuddered as my body rebelled.
A dark voice. “Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine to hurt. Mine to punish.”
I opened my eyes.
A scream tore from my throat.
It was no longer Ryan forcing himself into me…
* * *