Текст книги "Atlas"

Автор книги: Alyne Roberts

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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 14 страниц)

XV

Stella

I was on fire. When I walked into the room, I was so nervous I thought I would be sick. It didn't take long to forget why I was even there. When Atlas touched me gently like I was his, I forgot how dangerous he was. He took me forcefully and kept me against my will. He was sent to kill me, but when he protected me, that didn't matter. I melted into him, needing the comfort he gave.

Maybe being alone for so long made me desperate for any affection or connection. Someone was finally holding me. After months of looking over my shoulder, I didn't need to anymore. The hunter already found me and had me trapped, but I felt safe in his cage. I wasn't sure if I trusted that he would protect me if I helped him, but part of me wished I could.

His hot tongue licked over my racing pulse before he slowly pulled back. I opened my eyes as the sounds of the guys talking by the fireplace filtered back into my ears. I straightened and pulled away from Atlas, needing my head clear. Looking over, Tony was watching us with a confused expression.

Atlas led me over the fireplace where Xander was telling another colorful tale. Sal made more drinks, and I found myself laughing at stories of Xander's drunken mistakes. While Xander told me about a waking up on a yacht that wasn't his, Atlas pulled me down onto his lap. At first, I froze but he squeezed my hand and I relaxed into him.

While the others chatted, Atlas kept touching me in some way. His fingers played with the hem of my dress. Every few minutes, his lips would graze my neck or cheek. Every touch made my stomach do a flip. Every nerve was awake and buzzing for him. This was how I imagined we would act before he drugged and kidnapped me.

"So Alexa, how did you meet Atlas?" Xander eventually asked.

"At a club," I told him. It was the truth so it was easy to say.

"Surely one Atlas owns otherwise he wouldn't be in one. He has two left feet," he said, laughing into his glass.

"I thought he danced fine," I said quickly. My cheeks burned when I remembered how we danced in the club. At the time I thought I would never see him again.

"That was the alcohol talking," Xander said. "Speaking of alcohol, we need another trip to the cellar. Be right back."

Xander got up and stumbled out of the room. The guys killed a whole bottle in a short time. Atlas seemed sober still. We exhaled loudly when we heard the door close down the hall. I shifted in Atlas's lap, unsure how to act when no one was watching.

"Why hasn't he passed out yet?" Tony asked. "I thought he would be out by now. He has no tolerance."

"This is your plan?" Sal asked, glaring at Atlas. "Pretend she's your girl?"

"It's working, isn't it?" Atlas asked. His grip tightened on my thigh.

"Oh yeah, your acting is spot on. And if he recognizes her?"

"He would have by now."

"Not worth the risk," Sal said, now glaring at me. "There was a plan in place for shit like this."

A chill ran down my spine. They were discussing me like I wasn't even in the room. Like I was a prisoner. Like I was disposable. I started to stand but Atlas stood behind me, stepping around me. He stood in front of Sal, his fist clenched at his side. Tony came up behind me, pulling me back behind the couch and out the way.

"Are you fucking questioning me?" Atlas growled at his man. "Because I have a plan to handle that as well."

"Our lives are on the line, too. Not just yours," Sal said back with equal anger.

"Better to put just hers on the line right?"

Sal looked over Atlas's shoulder at me. I could feel the tension rise in the room and I wanted to run. They were talking about me like I was a pet. Tony came to stand in front of me.

"He already saw her," Tony told Sal. "This was the best option. Now drop it because he's coming."

The men stepped away from each other just as Xander entered the room. I tried to smile at him but my head was spinning. My mind was catching up with what was happening. Sal obviously thought I shouldn't be here. I was a risk to them in some way because I was alive.

"What did I miss?" Xander asked with a slight slur.

"Nothing, cousin," Atlas answered, moving away from Sal with a final glare in his direction.

Xander went to the bar with the new bottle and started to pour more drinks. He was watching us closely and I could see the suspicion. My heart was pounding and I could feel my hands starting to shake with fear. It had become very obvious that the fact I was still alive was a huge problem.

Needing to do something, anything to save my own life, I walked over to Atlas. I needed to do something to take off the suspicion. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pushed up on my tip-toes. He gave me a quick look of confusion before I pressed my lips to his. Molding my chest to his, he pulled me closer and kissed me back. I sighed into his mouth as he licked my bottom lip. I gripped the back of his neck and tilted my head, giving him better access to my mouth.

In front of the three guys, Atlas nibbled on my lips and kissed me like no one was watching. I slipped my tongue out to battle his. He tasted like the bourbon, and I wanted to get drunk off it. My eyes closed and I pretended for just a second that I was really just his girl and not a pawn in whatever dangerous game he was playing.

"Get a damn room," Xander said from behind us.

I slowly pulled away and opened my eyes. Atlas glared down at me and my skin burned under his gaze.

"What did I tell you, Little Star?" he whispered in my ear.

"To behave or you'll kill me," I told him. He shook his head.

"Don't let me touch you again." He pulled away and looked up at the guys who were watching us. I couldn't look at them. I was too scared to look to see if the suspicion was gone in Xander’s eyes.

"We are going to head to bed, gentlemen," Atlas said, placing a hand on my lower back to guide me.

"It was nice meeting you, Alexa," Xander said, reaching out to shake my hand.

"You too," I said, hearing the slight shake in my own voice.

Xander shook my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Atlas was close behind me, urging me forward. With a smile, I finally met Xander's eyes. When I went to pull away, he didn't release my hand. He just stared at me and I could feel the panic rising inside me.

"You look strangely familiar," he said quietly.

Those four words sent the room into a flash of movement. I was pulled back roughly and my knees hit the floor. The unmistakable sound of gun safety clicks echoed. Looking up, guns were pointed in every direction. Sal's gun was aimed at my head.

The room went silent. Xander had his gun aimed at Atlas, who was aiming at Sal but watching his cousin. Tony had his gun trained on Xander. I was defenseless on my hands and knees while Sal aimed at me. It seemed this was the moment all of us never wanted to see happen. Someone was going to die in this room. This couldn't end well and we all knew it.

"Put the gun down, Atlas. I don't want to shoot you," Xander said calmly. All evidence of the buzz he had seemed to have evaporated.

"You know I can't do that," Atlas said, his gun still pointed at Sal.

"Come on, man. We're family," Xander said.

"That's the fucking problem."

Everyone held their ground. Xander's eyes bounced between me and Atlas. Tony kept his attention on Xander, ready to shoot. I could feel sweat forming on my forehead. This had to be what my parents felt like the last few minutes of their lives.

"I'm not like them. And neither are you," Xander said, slowly lowering his gun. "That's why I came to you, cousin."

"Atlas," Sal interrupted. "This is out of hand."

"You shoot her and I will end you," Atlas told him with a menace to his voice that gave me chills.

Reluctantly, Sal lowered his weapon. Tony and Atlas followed and I finally took in a breath.

"You always keep your promises," Xander said. "She's Ace's sister right? She looks like him."

"What do you mean you aren't like them?" Atlas asked. "As you know, she should be dead and I can't have anyone knowing she’s not. Tell me why I shouldn't let Tony put a bullet in your head right now."

Xander rubbed his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. The tension in the room was so thick it was hard to breathe.

"I was asked to get rid of the Harlows," he said.

Atlas lunged for Xander, throwing him into the wall. I stared at Xander but knew he wasn't the man I saw in my kitchen.

"I didn't do it," he rushed out. His words were chocked by Atlas's arm pushing on his throat. "I told him no. Ace was my friend, too."

Atlas looked back at me and I nodded, confirming Xander wasn't the guy he was looking for.

"Who asked you?"

"Who do you think?"

Silence hung in the air. For the hundredth time since I had arrived at this house, I wished I could be anywhere else. I was looking at the people responsible for leaving me alone in this world and it was eating at me inside. Atlas finally pushed off Xander and came over to me.

"You okay?" he asked quietly.

I nodded and took his hand as he pulled me to my feet. He held my hand until I was steady. I glanced over at Sal, uneasy around him now. Moments ago he was ready to shoot me. Everything happened so fast but no one missed a second of it. Those actions would later be replayed and dissected to show true motivation.

One thing became painfully clear in that room. While the crickets chirped outside the sliding glass doors, we stood in silence and stared at each other. The realization washed over me like a cold waterfall, giving me goosebumps. I was never meant to leave this house alive. There was no scenario that my life wouldn't be a risk to these guys and whatever they were doing. The moment I was no longer needed, or too great of a risk, I would be dead.

"Tony," Atlas barked. "Take Stella to her room."

Tony took my arm and we quietly left the room without a backward glance. Atlas meant nothing to me, just as I was nothing to him. Every gentle gesture, touch, and kiss was all part of their cover. I was just a pawn in his plan.

XVI

Atlas

"What the fuck was that?" I roared when all three men faced me in my office.

I slammed my fists down on the desk, glaring at Sal. My fingers were itching to grab my gun and blow some shit up. It was a struggle to keep my cool.

"That was sticking to the fucking plan!" Sal growled back at him. "Anyone figures her out, she is gone. You remember that rule? It's your rule!"

Of course I remembered. It was the first rule I had made when I decided to take the job of killing her, and I kept her instead. Stella was more useful alive, but we agreed to take the chance within reason.

"I'm not done with her. She has information we need," I said to the room. I didn't like being questioned.

"What, you want to fuck her first? Feel those plump little lips around your dick before you put her out of her misery?" Sal fumed.

I lurched across my desk and wrapped my hands around the man's throat. Sal was older, wiser and had seen more than I had, so he wasn't fazed. He showed no fear, just anger as we stared each other down. Releasing his neck, I pulled my hand back and punched him in the nose. The cracking sound echoed in the room and my knuckles throbbed.

"Feel better?" Sal asked, his voice muffled from his hand holding his face.

"No."

Sal straighten and looked me in the eye. "I trust you and what we are trying to do here, but don't you dare forget the consequences if this falls apart. The only weakness you have, besides that girl, is that you only see the end goal. You see the fireworks, the gold at the end of the rainbow. You never consider failure because to you, that is not an option. Unfortunately son, it is a very real possibility."

He was right. I always planned for failure, but I planned meticulously to avoid it. I never planned for everything actually falling apart. There was a good chance my dad, or anyone in the family, could hear what I was up to. An army of men trained the same as me could descend on this lake house and wipe us out before I even heard the first footstep. There would be nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.

"All this is for nothing if she doesn't give us what she knows," I said.

"Get it soon, Atlas," Tony said, surprising me. He seemed against killing the girl, but he was right. Winter was coming. "Don't forget your priorities."

Everyone's priorities were made pretty clear in the living room. Every weapon drawn, pointing a flashing sign toward what mattered the most. Tony aimed at the threat, Xander. He would have shot to keep me alive. Xander aimed right at my chest, seeing me as the biggest threat to his life. Sal pointed at Stella, knowing she was weak link. I should have aimed with him. Even at Xander as he threatened to expose our secrets.

I pointed at Sal. I pointed a gun at my own man, one of the few I trusted. I protected the girl, not the mission. Not the hundreds of others who could fall victim to our kind if we didn't end it. I exposed the chink in my armor. If I had a weakness, we all shared that weakness. As much as my promise to Ace meant something to me, the guys standing with me did, too. The difference was that they were still alive and counted on me. Ace couldn't be saved anymore and if I was being honest, neither could Stella.

I walked past the guys and out to the deck. Funny how that was the selling point of the house, and I had never stepped foot out here before Stella. It was dark so I couldn't see the lake that I knew was out there. Like the monsters and evils, they were out there but you couldn't see them. I sat on the edge of the deck and hung my feet over, wondering what the fuck to do now.

When was the last time I had seen the sunrise? I wasn’t sure I had even looked around since Ace went missing. In my rage, I had only looked toward my end goal. Seeing only my revenge and the pain I would cause those who betrayed me, I didn't see what I was leaving behind. I never cared about what my actions caused.

I attended the funerals of those I had killed before. I sat behind their grieving wives and put a fake consoling hand on their shoulders. I had even taken advantage of the vulnerable state they were in before. I never ended a life that didn't deserve it my eyes. They may not have been good enough to anyone else, but my reasons were mine.

Stella didn't leave behind a distraught family. Her parents were lucky to never know the fate of both of their treasured children. Ace left this ugly world believing that I would keep my promise. And I would. Stella in my hands was better than her being in theirs. There was no doubt that it was only a choice between the two.

I rubbed my face in my hands roughly. I lost the jacket long ago, probably about last night after Tony escorted Stella out of the room. The cool morning air blew off the water and though my hair. It reminded me of the way Stella's fingers moved through my hair the night before. Most women got straight to the point with their hands, and I appreciated that. Stella was too curious; always needing to explore.

I stood from the deck and walked back to my office where the guys were waiting for me. The package from my dad sat on my desk, unopened. I quickly opened the box, sick of all the fucking games. We were either in a war, or I would start one, but I was sick of waiting.

Inside the box was a bottle of whiskey. Dust had collected on the bottle and you could barely read the label but I instantly recognized it. It had sat in my dad's study, for most of my life, on the shelves behind his desk. He had never opened it, saying it was worth too much to just piss away. So why send it to me now?

"Sweet," Xander said, reaching for it. I smacked his hand away.

"Don't touch it. Put the box down in the cellar," I told Sal. "I don't trust a fucking thing from that man."

Sal did as he was told, taking the box quietly from the room. I paced, agitated and on edge. My skin was crawling and I wanted to hit something. The whiskey was a message, not a gift. I just didn't know what he was trying to tell me. I needed to make a move.

"Where is she?" I asked through gritted teeth. It wasn’t safe here anymore. It wasn’t safe anywhere.

"Her room," Tony said. "Locked her in there last night."

"Is that so?" I asked, already leaving the office.

Anger rushed my veins as I marched down to her room. I hated Stella right then. I hated her for being here, for being Ace's sister, for making me feel anything at all. I had made it this far by being ruthless, violent, and never letting anything stand in my way. Stella was a visible flaw in my armor. The guys saw it and if anyone else had, we would all be dead.

Sal was right. Stella was a risk. A risk I wasn’t sure we could take anymore. I unlocked her bedroom door and walked inside without warning. Stella was startled where she stood near the window. She looked like she had been pacing, still in her clothes from the night before. Her eyes went wide, and I watched as her body tensed. She was afraid of me. Good.

I quickly rounded the bed and grabbed her by the throat. Stella gasped as I pushed her to the wall, holding her still with my own body pinned to hers. I pressed into her, dwarfing her easily. It was good to feel back in control.

"You wear this dress to drive me crazy?" I asked her in a growl. "Is that why you let me touch you all night?"

She shook her head and parted those full lips to speak. I didn't let her. I sealed her mouth shut with mine. My lips took hers so hard, I was sure she would bruise. I took her mouth like I owned it, like I was entitled to it. Stella pushed against me in protest for only a moment before clutching on to my shoulders.

Stella squeezed in surprise, and I pulled back to look down at her. Her chest rose quickly with her fast breathing. Her lips were red and plump as her tongue darted out to lick them. I held her to the wall by her neck and grabbed the hem of her dress. With one hand, I pulled and the sound of ripping filled the room.

"Atlas," Stella breathed. Her black lace bra and matching panties were exposed to me.

"I am the one in control, Little Star," I hissed. "And I hate you for making me lose it."

My hand skated up her neck to the back of her head. Pulling her hair, her head tilted back to look up at me. Big, blue eyes sparkled with fire and excitement. Stella was a little scared and a little turned on. I dove down and sucked the sensitive skin of her throat where I held her too tightly.

Stella whispered my name but I ignored her. I couldn't stop now. After days of being with her, months of watching her, hours of touching her, I was a goner. I could think of nothing but having her. My blood pumped hot and thick in my veins. My heartbeat pounded in my ears.

I ran my lips down the column of her throat, savoring her pulse pounding on my tongue. Kissing over her collarbone, I bit down on her shoulder. Stella swore and bucked against me but I held her immobile. In my grip, she was helpless.

XVII

Stella

Atlas had me pinned to wall and completely under his control. I was just as mentally controlled as physically. I was at his mercy as he attacked me with his hands, mouth and words. It was as if he was punishing me with his lips. Every growled word made my stomach flutter with nerves and fear. My hands went to push him away, but the power to do so never came.

Teeth sunk into my skin and I cursed. The pain sent a shock to every nerve ending, waking up my entire body. I was hyper-sensitive to Atlas and what he was doing to me. It was a mixture of pain and pleasure and my head spun trying to sort it out. He licked and kissed away the mark from his bite, only to repeat it over again. I was powerless to stop him as he left his mark from my shoulder to my throat.

Atlas was like a man possessed. It was as if he couldn't control his body when it was with mine. He handled me like he needed to. There was no restraint or holding back anymore. I should have been terrified of what he was capable of.

"I shouldn't have tried to save you," he said into my damp skin.

"I don't think you have yet," I answered, my voice breathy.

If anything, I was in a deeper danger than I was before a gun was pointed at my head in his living room. Not even before I was in his possession was I closer to the monsters. I started to wonder if the real danger I should be running from was the man with his hands on me.

Atlas pulled back to look at my face. I was sure I was flushed and my lips were swollen from his bruising kiss. His eyes were wild and dangerous. I held my breath, anticipating his next move. He was hanging by a single thread of control, and I watched as it snapped. The very power Atlas was struggling to obtain just shattered, falling to our feet.

His hands grabbed mine, pushing them above my head on the wall. I was open to him, exposed in only my bra and panties. He wanted to be angry at my dress or underwear, but he supplied them for me. Atlas had no one to blame but himself and he knew that. He was angry with himself as much as with me. Which one of us would pay the consequences?

When Atlas wedged one knee between my legs, I clenched my thighs together. Undeterred, he kicked my feet apart forcing me to open to him. His thigh rubbed against me, and a moan escaped my mouth before I could stop it. The slight pressure sent waves of heat through my body radiating from between my legs.

"Are you wet for me, Little Star?" Atlas asked with a knowing grin.

Atlas held my wrists together above my head with one hand while the other skimmed down my arms. He continued down over my breasts and stomach, finally landing on my panties. He wasted no time pushing his hand under the thin lace. His fingers slid over my clit, and I cried out before I could stop myself.

"You're dripping for me," Atlas whispered in my ear, biting my earlobe.

His fingers pushed inside me, stretching me. A deep growl rumbled from Atlas, sending vibrations through me. His hand pulled away from me, and I held back a disappointed whine. He wanted the power and control, but I didn't want to give it to him so easily. Dark eyes glared down at me as he slipped his two fingers in his mouth, sucking them clean.

I was fascinated with the calm that took over his features in that moment that I almost didn't notice him undoing his belt. Ripping it from the loops, he quickly and expertly bound my wrists together. With my wrists together, he put them behind his head. The position would feel normal and familiar if it wasn't for the leather forcing them there.

"You make me like this," Atlas said as he hoisted me up against the wall so my legs wrapped around his waist. "Unable to stop myself."

I was clinging to him like I couldn't get close enough. Atlas was holding me up and together at the same time. One hand gripped my thigh as the other moved between us. I hissed at the gentle friction as he reached down to position himself at my opening. I held my breath as his eyes bore into mine.

He was daring me to do something. I had the chance to scream even though no one would come to help me. I could bite him, scratch, or even kick. I could fight him off, or at least put up a struggle. Instead, I relaxed my muscles and waited for him to own me the only way he hadn't yet.

I didn't expect easy and gentle from Atlas and he didn't surprise me. He thrusted into me until he was fully inside me. I cried out, digging my nails into the back of his neck as he pushed into me. Atlas didn't give me time to adjust to his size or get used to being so full. He pounded into me, giving me everything he had.

"Fucking finally," Atlas said with his face buried in side of my neck.

The sexual tension between us was exploding. Every touch and tease had built up just to amount to this moment. It was almost too much feeling while he took his anger out on me and regained his sense of control. Almost.

Our sweaty bodies clashed and rubbed against each other. The sensations were building and my cries were getting louder. It had been so long since I'd been touched, let alone like this, that I was craving it. Every kiss to my neck and nibble to my lips sent me into a combustible mess. I was ready to finally explode.

"Come hard for me, Stella," Atlas growled. "I want to hear you scream."

Screaming was all I could do when I finally was pushed to the point of no return. I was a bomb detonating after a long and torturous countdown. My screams made my own ears ring but Atlas kept thrusting like he was trying to make me louder. My nails pierced the skin in the back of his neck, but it didn't slow him down.

Atlas pulled back just enough to watch my face. I could barely keep my eyes open as he groaned loudly and froze, pushed deep inside me. I could feel my insides convulsing around him as he throbbed inside. Warmth spread inside and my muscles went weak, making me go limp in his arms.

Spinning away from the wall, Atlas dropped us to the bed and pulled out of me. I couldn't breathe or even control my racing heart. I was sweaty, weak, and my mind was all over the place. I couldn't understand why I had let that happen or why I had enjoyed it so fucking much. It was as if we had both finally satisfied a craving that had been eating at us. I closed my eyes, afraid to look into his face while he removed the belt from my wrists.

"Yes. Go clean yourself up."

With that, he left the room, locking the door behind him. On shaky legs, I made it to the bathroom and under the hot spray. I let the scalding water wash away the marks he left on my body. But even the burning water couldn't fully erase it. His teeth marks and bruises still would mark me when I stepped out. There would no removing Atlas from my body.

That was exactly what he wanted. Atlas felt as if he didn't have any control so he took it. Last night in the living room, his true intentions were revealed. He didn't want me dead. I just had the task of finding out why. Was it because of his promise to Ace? Was it because I was innocent and didn't deserve to be executed in front of the fireplace in a lake house?

Not for the first time, I wondered who would attend my funeral when I had one. Liddy may never hear the news. I didn't have any family left to cry over my casket. I had alienated everyone else after the murders to the point that I didn't think I had anyone left to care. Atlas was the only one willing to fight for my life, no matter the reasons. Against all good judgement, that was the only comforting thought that kept me from falling apart.

I stepped out of the shower and pulled on my robe. I wrapped it tightly around me, needing the warmth. I felt alone and scared, but safe and protected at the same time. Only he could give me such contrasting feelings. I hated it but needed it at the same time. My room was empty but filled with the smell of our combined sweat and bodies. It was a harsh reminder of what had just happened.

I crawled under the covers, exhausted from the lack of sleep and everything that had occurred in the last twenty-four hours. As the darkness pulled me under, I couldn't help but wonder what would happen when the sun rose.

When I was a kid, I thought that monsters only lurked in the darkness. It was only at night when evil came out. As I grew up, I learned that the scary stories had that part very wrong. When the sun rose, the evil was still there. If you turned on the lights, the monsters were still there. They were not afraid of light or dark.

Something would be different in the morning. Light was already shed on the evil, and I saw it differently. Atlas was still a monster, a ruthless killer, but not one I would fear. As with anything powerful and strong, there was a weakness. Atlas's weakness was me.