Текст книги "TORMENTED"

Автор книги: Jani Kay

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Chapter 31 – Eva

Since my phone lay smashed on the floor of my apartment, there wasn’t any way I could reach anyone or know what day or time it was. I had no idea of how long it had been since he came to my apartment and I’d been kidnapped. It all just seemed to blur together into one long fucking nightmare.

I had no hope of escaping because even though I was no longer tied down, Nolan made sure I stayed in a semi-conscious state with whatever he was feeding into my veins.

What would happen if I screamed for help? Then I remembered that Jones was most likely outside my door. The devil himself. That man didn’t have a single grain of humanity in him. He wouldn’t care what happened to me—if I lived or died.

As far as I was aware, Nolan only left the room for short periods of time. When he closed the door behind him I’d give up the battle to stay awake and allow myself to slip into dreamless sleep. Every time I woke again, he’d be lying on the bed beside me, running his hands over my body, touching me as if he owned me and I was a prized possession.

Pleading with him to stop had only aroused him more, spurring him on to touch me in intimate places. It took a few attempts of trying to ward him off to realize that he liked it when I put up a fight, so I decided to act counter intuitively and just lie there, even though every fiber in my body screamed against it.

With no reaction from me, he’d give up with a sigh and roll over, but if I even twitched, he’d turn back to me and start touching my body again.

Like now.

I wanted to cry. I’d been as still as possible, every muscle in my body aching as I yearned to move my position until I couldn’t stand it any longer and slowly turned my head to the side to check if he’d fallen asleep.

“Stop resisting, darling.” Laced with alcohol, his warm breath puffed in my face, and I couldn’t suppress the urge to shudder as his hand at the back of my neck pulled my face closer to him. “I know you like it.”

Wrong. So fucking wrong.

I pressed my lips tightly together as his mouth covered mine, even though I was certain it would anger him.

Stop. Please stop.

Breathing hard, he pulled back and fell against the pillows with a huff.

Thank God, somebody was listening to my silent pleas.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I sucked a deep breath in to calm my racing heart. Nolan and alcohol were never a good combination. It stripped him of all his charm and charisma and turned him into a man I resented even more than when he was sober.

How could I ever have thought I loved him? It sounded ludicrous that I’d entertained the idea of spending the rest of my life with him. The blinkers had truly fallen from my eyes and now I saw him for what he was: a man who wanted his own way, regardless of the cost.

The weight of the bed shifted again. Nolan was between my legs, pulling my panties down.

“No. Don’t.” Fear pushed up into my throat so that I could hardly get the words out.

“I’m sick of this shit. I’m taking what I want. My cock wants inside you, and today it’s getting its way.”

“Nolan. I beg you, don’t do this.” Tears ran from the outer corners of my eyes into my hair. He tossed my panties over his shoulder, an evil sparkle in his eyes as he licked over his lips.

“I love when you beg, darling.” His snarl reminded me of a rabid dog eager to sink its teeth into its prey.

I’m his goddamn prey.

Leaning forward, he grabbed hold of my left wrist and tied it to the bed with the straps that still dangled there from before.

No. I had to do something. Anything.

As he made a grab for my free wrist. I lashed out and slapped him.

Anger flashed over his face before he started laughing. “Oh babe, you’re just making this even more fun. I love fucking a wild woman. Tame bores me.”

“You want wild?”

I clawed my nails into his cheek and dragged them over his skin, satisfaction filling me as four angry lines appeared. He grabbed my wrist and pushed down, tying it to the bed with the restraints that he’d used earlier.

“You little bitch. I always knew you had fight in you. What was that boring vanilla sex you used to give me? This is what I crave. Tonight, I’m fucking you my way and you’re going to love it.”

Leaning over me, he came in for a kiss. I pulled up my knee with every bit of strength I had left in me, crashing into his balls with all my might. Nolan screamed, then fell back onto the bed, cupping his groin and swearing out loud.

That was going to cost me, but I’d be fucked if I was letting him take me without a fight. Of all the terrible things I’d endured in my life, I’d never imagined being raped by a man I’d once cared for. Couldn’t he see how wrong that was?

My mind scrambled for options as he lay grunting like a wounded animal. Helplessness washed over me as I pulled at the restraints. I wasn’t going anywhere.

The madness in his eyes filled me with terror. “I’m going to make you pay for that. With blood.”

The crazy laugh that fell from his lips made my blood run cold. “But don’t worry. It’s not your blood I want.”

“What do you mean?” My voice strained as I tried to keep it together. Panic swept through me, and my heartbeat picked up a few paces.

“Your lover. I want his blood.” His face contorted with a mix of pain and pleasure that frightened the fuck out of me. “And I will have it. I’ve sent him to Afghanistan, and I’ll make damn sure he comes back in a body bag.” He smacked his lips as he dealt his trump card.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

“Why?” My voice sounded hollow.

“Because he’s trying to steal you from me. Because I saw him fuck you with my own eyes. Because I need to put an end to the motherfucker’s life so that we can live happily ever after.”

My head was spinning.

“Nolan, listen to me. Harrison and I are over. He’s not my lover . . . anymore. I don’t mean a thing to him.” The truth of that statement hurt more than anything Nolan could do to me. “It was just a fling. I mean nothing to him, so there is no point in killing him.”

“Too late, little darling. He’s on his way to meet his maker. He has to pay for what he’s done. It’s as simple as that.”

I blinked fast, stopping the tears from falling. If Nolan ever suspected I was lying to him about anything, I’d have no chance of negotiating Harrison’s release, but telling the truth wasn’t easy either.

I feigned contempt. “I don’t really care what happens to Harrison, since we broke up. But I hate the thought of bloodshed in the name of revenge. Tell me what you want, Nolan. Let’s see if we can make this work for . . . us.” I nearly choked as the words came from my mouth. What the hell was I doing? Sealing my own fate by letting Nolan win was the hardest thing to do.

Something that sounded like a strangled laugh came from my lips. It was Harrison or me. One of us had to die. Harrison’s blood would spill or my soul would be destroyed, killing me as surely as if he’d put a gun to my head and pulled the trigger.

“I knew you’d see it my way . . . sooner or later. I’m not a patient man, and you’ve tested me to the fucking limit.”

“I’m sorry.” That was half true. I was sorry that it had come to a choice. This choice.

Sacrifice myself so that Harrison will live.

Could I do it? Could I give up my freedom in exchange for saving Harrison? A calmness washed over me that I hadn’t felt in days. My voice was low and raspy as I repeated my question. “What do you want, Nolan?”

“Marry me tomorrow.”

Jesus!

I blinked fast. “Tomorrow?”

“Yes. Show the world you are mine. Unless . . .” He smirked, and I couldn’t help shivering.

“Tomorrow is fine. I don’t have other plans.” I laughed softly. I was screwed either way. Harrison didn’t want me anymore, but that didn’t mean he had to be sent to his death. “Promise me you will abort whatever you had planned for Harrison. And Savage. We can get married tomorrow if you promise.”

I searched his face, looking for signs of sincerity. These days I had no idea what it looked like any longer; I’d been screwed over so many times.

Nolan laughed. It sounded cold and devoid of emotion. “You forget you are tied to my bed, darling. In reality, you have zero bargaining power. But as a gift to my bride-to-be, if it will make you feel better . . . yeah, I promise.”

I tried hard to not let the relief show on my face.

Oh, the fucking irony.

I’d just signed my own death warrant.

I despised this man who traded lives for his own gain. I hated that I’d be tied to him for the rest of my life. Senator Parker would make damn sure I didn’t leave his side unless it suited him. I was his prisoner for life, only I’d be calling it marriage and pretending I liked it to avoid a backlash.

Life. It was as cruel as it was bitter. I was trading my soul for that of a man who didn’t care if I breathed. Yet this was the only option and the only way forward.

My life for his.

Chapter 32 – Eva

Nolan rubbed a hand over his inflamed cheek. “We’re going to be happy, babe. If you fuck like the lioness I met with today, all my wet dreams will have come true. Not only will I have the backing of a powerful music mogul, I’ll have the most beautiful woman in LA in my bed.”

I gulped for air. Did I hear right? What did my father have to do with any of this?

I wriggled as I tried to loosen the ties around my wrists. “Hang on. Why are you mentioning my dad? Does he have anything to do with this?”

“Um, not directly. But I already asked him for your hand in marriage. For the second time, he gave his blessing. Said he’d do whatever it took to get Summers out of your life. He even joked he’d rather have a baby kisser than a baby killer as his son-in-law.”

Oh God. I stopped fighting the restraints and closed my eyes for a moment. When I opened them again, I took a deep breath and spoke in the calmest voice I could muster. “What else?”

“What do you mean?” he asked, a deep frown forming between his eyes.

“How much money did he pledge to your next campaign?”

It was starting to fall into place. My father would sponsor Nolan to stop me from being with Harrison. It was all about money and power, and never about me. I was nothing more to Nolan than a way to my father’s checkbook and ultimately a possession he owned.

“It wasn’t like that. It was just an implication. But I know Bill is good for a few million.”

What had I done to deserve this? The only man who probably wanted nothing from me for his own gain was Ryder.

Nolan gave me a lopsided grin. It was the same smile that used to make my heart skip a beat. Now it left my heart cold. I’d seen the real man behind the fake smile, and he creeped the fuck out of me. How I’d be able to keep to my side of the bargain, I had absolutely no idea.

“Since you’ve agreed to marry me tomorrow, I guess we have something to celebrate.”

He shifted closer to me, leaning on his elbows as he hovered over me.

“Um . . .” I licked over my lips as nerves got the better of me. Silence stretched out between us, and my heart pounded in my ears as I floundered and my throat grew too tight to speak.

“Yeah?” Cold beady eyes stared back at me.

Gathering all my courage, I tried to keep my voice even when I spoke. I didn’t want Nolan to hear the panic I felt. “Why the rush to get married? I . . . um, I don’t even have a gown.”

“Don’t let that worry your pretty little head. I wouldn’t care if you were naked.”

I had to buy time. Maybe he’d change his mind. “Don’t be silly. I want to look beautiful on my wedding day. It’s every girl’s dream.” I didn’t sound convincing, even to myself.

His nostrils flared and the frown was back. “Are you trying to back out?”

I could hardly breathe. Fear gripped my insides. I’d always been able to reason with Nolan in the past, but in his present mindset he wasn’t leaving any room for negotiation or compromise.

Moving my head from side to side, I spoke softly. “No, of course not. It’s just that I always wanted a fairytale wedding. The dress, the flowers, Daddy to walk me down the aisle . . . the whole thing.”

Nolan’s eyes softened for a few moments, and he almost seemed like the man I used to adore. “I’ll see what I can do to make it the best I can. But it’s going to happen tomorrow, Eva.” His jaw clamped tight. “That part is not negotiable.”

Holding back the urge to scream and cry and lash out like a crazy woman at a fate that seemed worse than death, my chest heaved as I sucked at air.

Harrison. I’m doing this for him.

As long as I repeated that over and over in my head, I’d be fine, even though my insides rattled and I wanted to run as far away as my legs would carry me. Maybe Nolan suspected as much, because I was still tied to the damn bed, and my wrists were hurting from the friction, as I’d been trying to subtly wrangle them free without success.

I was stuck. This was the way my life was going to be, and there wasn’t much I could do about it, given the circumstances. Resistance only fueled his temper, and I was afraid if I pushed too hard, he’d renege on his side of the bargain. Not that I had much of a guarantee that he wouldn’t revoke his promise anyway.

I didn’t trust Nolan Parker. Not for a second.

Moving closer to me, Nolan’s hand slipped under my clothing, and he caressed my ribs and chest until they came to my breasts. Kneading and squeezing the naked flesh, the look of arousal that flashed across his face caused me to brace myself for what was coming. I’d agreed to marry him, so nothing I said at this point would stop him from forcing himself on me. I gritted my teeth together as he pinched and rolled my nipples—something that he loved doing and which had always turned me on in the past filled me with repulsion now.

With his mouth on my breast, he sucked on a nipple and sighed with satisfaction. “At fucking last, babe. I’ve been waiting for this for days.”

Flinching as his hand drifted lower toward the space between my thighs, I pressed my legs together to ward him off. His hand slipped between my thighs and pushed them apart just enough to gain access to my pussy.

Oh Lord.

His finger pressed against my clit and he rubbed in small circles, causing the blood to rush to the nerve-filled nub. Heat rose to my cheeks as I felt my arousal grow against my will. I hadn’t had sex in a while, yet I hated that my body reacted like that.

Of course it was exactly what Nolan wanted. Three fingers plunged inside me, sudden and harsh, invading my most private parts with brutal force. He moved faster and faster, hurting me as his fingers fucked me relentlessly. There was nothing remotely sexy about the experience. At least, not to me. Nolan’s face had an expression I’d never witnessed before, and it frightened the hell out of me. He was a man on a mission.

If I begged him to stop, it would only spur him on. My whole body tensed as I squirmed and gripped the sheets beneath my fingertips for something to ground me. Something to hold on to.

If only I wasn’t tied down. Fighting him was exhausting and futile.

Nolan pushed my thighs apart and pressed down hard. His face disappeared between my legs, and I gasped as he latched on to my clit. Every bit of arousal I’d felt earlier dissipated as I dissociated my mind and heart from my body.

It was almost like an out-of-body experience; I was simply an observer to what was happening to me. Nolan stopped and lifted his head. Gripping my upper arms, he shook me violently until my teeth clattered.

“Get some life into you, woman. What happened to the lioness?”

“Fuck you,” I spat out, against my better judgment.

“No. I’m going to fuck you.” His teeth gnashed at my ear, his face only inches from mine.

His cock slammed into me, thrusting hard as he drove into me again and again. His body covered mine and held me captive, his weight crushing me.

I hate you.

I pressed my lips together tightly, and my head thrashed from side to side as I tried to avoid the lips searching for mine. As long as he kept busy down there, I could close my eyes and pretend I was in a dream. A nightmare, to be more accurate. But kissing . . . it was so damn intimate. I couldn’t bring myself to allow it.

Fingers closed around my throat, squeezing my windpipe until I could barely breathe. Was this what I’d have to endure for the rest of my life? Terror would become my stalker, my husband my tormentor.

A sharp, piercing pain speared my heart. Didn’t anybody care what had happened to me? Was I just forgotten and tossed aside by my family and my lover? Out of everything, that was the hardest pill to swallow. That they’d leave me to suffer whatever Nolan handed out without batting an eyelid.

I might as well die if this is what my life will become.

I sucked at pretending and faking. Without a doubt, there was no way in hell I’d survive with a crushed spirit. Because that was exactly what Nolan would do to me—kill me from the inside out until I was nothing more than an empty shell.

Harrison, where the fuck are you?

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I gasped for air. My legs and arms went limp, and I just laid there with my eyes squeezed tightly shut, sobbing as Nolan used my body.

I. Hate. You.

Hate. You.

It was one thing Nolan couldn’t take from me. One thing that would grow and expand with every passing day. Hatred swelled in my gut as I endured the torture he forced upon me.

I could breathe again. There would be no sleep for me, no reprieve. I was too afraid and too shocked by what had just happened to ever want to sleep again.

Nolan lay on the bed beside me, his breathing erratic and heavy.

I had no idea how much time passed as I lay dead still, fearful that if I stirred, Nolan would repeat his hellish performance again. I kept my eyes closed and listened. A long time passed before Nolan’s breathing became rhythmic and even. Good. Sooner or later, he had to give in to sleep—he was human after all.

I clung to the two emotions that still made sense—disgust and contempt for the man sleeping as if he had no care in the world surged through me.

Hatred would be my ally. My only friend. My saving grace.

Chapter 33 – Harrison

Life had me by the balls. Savage was right. I’d changed without really thinking about it. I no longer wanted to die or have my life ended in any way. For the first time since that fateful incident, I actually had something to live for. Something to hope for.

The plane touched down for refueling at a military base in Germany, and I had to act fast to get myself out of the situation that was certain to send me to my death.

“Speak to the captain,” Savage said. “Tell him something serious happened at home and you need to get back.”

“And abort the mission? There’s no way in hell they’d agree to that.”

We’d disembarked the aircraft to stretch our legs and get some fresh air. The place smelled of gasoline and grease and my despair. I took a few big gulps of my fizzy drink and belched. Flying always upset my stomach, and now it was worse than ever.

Savage rubbed his chin. “Hmmm . . . you’re probably right. You have a target on your back the size of a bull’s head.”

“Somebody wants me gone. No prizes for guessing who.”

“What makes you think it’s one person?” The concern in Savage’s voice disturbed me. “You know how you love conspiracy theories? Well, I think this is exactly one of those tangled messes, and you and I are slap bang in the fucking middle of it.”

I nearly spat out my drink. Who the hell did Parker have on our tails? Could I trust anyone other than my partner on this mission? And I’d never really thought of the impact my shit had on Savage. As partners we were bound together. And now I’d dragged the only man I could ever really call a friend into this clusterfuck of a situation.

“So you agree it’s not just my imagination?”

Savage screwed up his face. “Somebody wants you dead, buddy, and since I’m always by your side, I guess it’s just become fucking personal. I’m not ready to die just yet—not by a long fucking shot. I have plans to live till a ripe old age and see my grandchildren grow up.”

I chuckled. The situation was anything but funny, but Savage had a weird way of putting things in perspective. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

“Me too. I wanna live and grow old.” With Eva.

Savage grinned at me, his pearly whites glistening in the semi-dark. He didn’t need to say anything more.

“You have no idea how fucking great it is to hear you say that.” He patted me on the back and for a moment something passed between us. Bonded by a brotherhood, our fates were linked inextricably. Savage had been my partner for so long and if nothing else, I owed him the chance to have a great life.

“We’re gonna get out of this alive and be back on the next plane out of here.” My jaw set tight as I made up my mind. There was no fucking around this time. Our chances of getting out alive depended on it.

“We’ve gotta get in and out of this mission as fast as possible. While you’ve been moping about your girl, I’ve been strategizing, and I think I’ve got the answer.” Savage cracked open a beer and clinked the bottleneck against that of my soft drink.

“By the way, I’m wondering if a blonde woman has anything to do with your sudden desire to become a grandfather,” I said, taking the piss out of him. After Savage got dumped by his fiancée, less than a week before their wedding, he’d sworn off women. Clearly he was back in the game if he was planning on having a family.

Savage chuckled. “Gotta pass on these shit-hot genes, buddy. I mean, what a waste if the bloodline stops here.”

I had to agree with him. There wasn’t a better man than my partner when it came to loyalty. I just hoped the next woman he fell for was worthy of his heart of gold.

“What made you change your mind? You’re a confirmed bachelor with your pick of babes. You gonna give all of that up?”

Savage nodded. “Yeah. It gets old after a while. I’m a one-woman man. Screwing around may be good for my balls, but not for my heart. I want a woman to love and to grow old with.” He looked down into the neck of his beer. “Jessica is going through a divorce. Maybe I can have a second chance with her.”

“Jesus, Savage. You have to choose today to tell me all of this shit? Why didn’t you mention this in LA before we got on that plane?”

“Would you have listened? Your head is somewhere else, and I don’t blame you. But now you know we both have a reason to get out of here alive, maybe you’ll stop living on the fucking edge and do your job . . . but without getting either of us killed.”

I grimaced. We’d certainly had our fair share of narrow escapes over the years. The types of people we targeted were the hardest of criminals and terrorists who didn’t give a fuck about another person’s life, least of all ours. I’d taken pride on being number one on the underground hit list; knowing they wanted me dead spurred me to greater heights, and made me want to take bigger risks. It was all for a rush of adrenaline and to fuel my insatiable thirst for revenge.

“Let’s talk about your strategy. If we can do this job in a day and get the fuck out of Afghanistan I can focus on finding Eva. I can’t believe what an asshole I’ve been.”

Savage slapped my back hard. “Welcome back, buddy. I’m glad to see you’ve finally come to your damn senses.” His grin nearly touched his ears. “And not a minute too soon, either.”

I laughed, relief washing over me that there was a way out of this mess. “Thank you, asshole. What would I do without you? You nag worse than my mother.”

Savage just shrugged, and then started laying out his plan as if we were simply discussing the strategy of a baseball game. I listened intently, nodding and only interjecting when I wasn’t clear on a point. Everything hinged on us catching our target as soon as possible, preferably within the first few hours of reaching our destination.

This was so much better than the original MO drawn up by the team back in the States, who gave us a week to adjust and stake out the territory before we struck the enemy. There was absolutely no margin for error with Savage’s plan. Plus the element of surprise was going to knock a few more bad guys on the head than our intended target only, including the powers behind this mission who wanted me out of the way permanently.

“Know what? You’re fucking brilliant. Now I remember why we make such a kickass team. Your brains and my guts, and they won’t know what’s hit them.” For the first time in days, a surge of positive energy flow through my veins.

We’d make this work.

Fuck yeah!

“Hey, Summers.” I turned toward the voice of the co-pilot, who spoke with an Australian accent.

Pumped, my blood thrummed with anticipation. “Yeah? We ready to go?” I motioned for Savage to follow me. I was eager as fuck to get back on that plane and get to our destination. I needed a hot shower and a few hours of sleep, and then I’d be ready to go all out on Savage’s brilliant plan.

“Uh . . . sorry mate.” He shook his head and looked as if he’d just heard the news that his grandmother had died.

“What’s up?” Savage rested his hand on my shoulder and squeezed, as if he were bracing himself and preparing me for bad news. A sense of deep foreboding seeped into my bones.

“Technical problems. This plane ain’t goin’ anywhere tonight. We gotta wait for a part to be flown in. Sorry.”

“What the fuck?” I roared, clenching my fists as the implications hit me.

This is bad. Very fucking bad.

Savage hissed beside me. “Why the hell do my best plans always go down in fucking flames?”

“Captain said to tell you to go get a few beers and have a good night’s sleep, and we’ll wake you when we are ready to take off.” His apologetic tone did nothing to calm me down.

“You have any idea how long this is going to take?”

“Probably won’t be anything before dawn if we’re lucky.” His eyes were large in his face. Guess he didn’t expect this reaction. Most guys wouldn’t care that the mission was delayed—they’d have a night off with booze and a local woman or two, screwing their demons and fears out of their systems, or at the very least giving it their best damn shot to enjoy their few hours of unexpected reprieve.

I wasn’t like most guys. Not anymore.

Pacing up and down, my hand brushed through my hair as I tried to think and make sense of it.

Savage was doing his best to stay calm, but losing the battle. “Fuck, we’re shit outta luck, man. How is this even possible? Aren’t these fucking planes checked before we leave the States?”

The Aussie nodded, giving us a brave smile. “Yeah, but apparently this mission was so important we had to abort the checkup and were commissioned to fly this baby before it was all done. You must be proud.”

Christ. Seriously?

Rage built in my belly and spread through my bloodstream. “Tell me you’re fucking kidding me right now. We get sent on a dangerous mission, but there’s no guarantee we’d even make it there because our fucking plane is dodgy?” My voice was raised until I was nearly yelling, and my arms flew about as I gestured between the plane and us.

Somebody is fucking with us.

Savage paled, his complexion nearly as white as his sparkly teeth. “Holy fuck, somebody wants you out of the way—probably stone cold dead. They want it so badly that protocol was overlooked to get you out of the country. A plane crash would be the perfect MO.”

“Fucking bastards.”

“Your death wish has caught up with you, Harrison. We’re fucked, buddy.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Very rarely did Savage call me by my first name. The few times he had, we were staring death in the face. A sinking feeling filled my gut, threatening nausea. I’d stared death in the eyes many times, but that was different. I was in control then; it was through my own choice. Now, I was merely a pawn in someone else’s master plan. An expendable pawn.

My desire to live was worth shit.

And I had absolutely no control over it.

Life had just become my most precious possession.