Hitman's Captive: A Bad Boy Romance (15 page)

My panicky mind was not
helping.

I just wished I’d been
able to call my father first…but there was no time, of course there was no
time. Leo was going to explode out of that room in a few moments.

I started to pace in the
small area, before remembering that I should be quiet instead, and settling
down on the floor to wait. I felt a momentary pang of guilt at leaving Leo so
abruptly like that, but that was a stupid feeling - he’d kidnapped me, damn it!
It wasn’t like I could’ve said goodbye.

I tried not to think
about the instinct that made me
want
to say goodbye. That was part of
the reason I had to get the hell away from here. Leo was starting to make me
think and feel the wrong things. I was getting confused with— but now it would
all be over.

I was doing the right
thing here. I knew I was. I needed to get back to my family and away from the
disaster that I’d fallen into.

So why did it feel so
wrong?

I ground my teeth and
tried to breathe. It was just scary, and risky, and the stress was getting to
me. That was all.

“Alessa!”
The
shout reverberated through the thin walls, and I heard the stomping of Leo’s
furious feet. My breath caught in my throat again, but I heard the moment he
passed me, probably on the way to the reception desk. This was it. This was the
moment I found out whether any of this had worked. Everything I’d been trying
to accomplish since the moment he’d taken me.

I ignored the small part
that kind of wanted to see him rip the door open - to prove his infallibility,
as he had done so many times before. But I heard the rumble of distant voices,
and several minutes passed without him coming back. Hesitantly, I started
letting myself think this might have actually worked.

Then I heard the lock in
the door, and I jumped up to my feet.

He hadn’t gotten the key
from that man, had he? Oh, please…

But the hand that opened
the door and flicked on the light was older and thin, and I let out a sigh of
relief as I saw the very man enter the small space.

“He went runnin’ out
lookin’ for ya, girlie. We gots some time now.” He shut the door behind him,
and I suddenly registered the gleam in his eye for what it was.

No…

I swallowed quickly,
looking up hopefully. “We can call my father? He’ll come get me, and I promise,
he’ll pay you—”

The raspy laugh whistled
through the gap in his teeth. “Dontcha try’n fool me, girl. I knows what ya
wantin’.”

I backed up, suddenly
aware of the very limited space in the small supply closet. He only took that
as an invitation to move forward, and I bit my lip
hard
as I suddenly
realized what I might have gotten myself into.

“No—you can’t. I—my
father…” I tried to get myself together, to tell him who my father was, but I
was distracted by the horror in front of me. I couldn’t help staring at the
thinning, greasy hair that hung limply from his head, or the way his bloodshot
eyes leered at me. His face was puckered and as he closed the distance between
us, his foul, smoky scent enveloped me.

I swallowed again, and
shook my head hard.

“My father is—Antonio
Santini. The Italian mafia. Don’t come near me.” I tried to inject some
strength into my voice, but I was finding it difficult as the reality of the
situation caught up with me.

Idiot! You’re a damn
idiot, Alessa! You got away trying this shit with Leo, for some god-damn
reason…but this is different. And you don’t have a clue what you’re doing out
here.

“Yeh, yeh, ya don’ need
impress me, girlie. I’s give ya what ya afta.” His lewd grin made me shudder
and I bumped up against a shelf behind me - nowhere left to go.

When Leo had come onto me
in that arrogant, sexy way of his, I’d thought there was something wrong with
me when I’d fantasized about him taking me…forcing me. Now, faced with this, I
finally admitted to myself that it would never have been
force
- I
hadn’t actually been unwilling at all.

Because this here -
this
was what forced felt like.
Hell, even Viktor, or whatever mafia boss my
father lined up for me…they seemed fine right about now.

His hand reached out for
me and I reacted instinctively, balling a fist up and throwing it at his face.
I had no clue what I was doing, and even I could tell the punch was wide - but
maybe he was old, and slow, and…

His hand caught mine, and
the satisfied leer faded into sour anger as he twisted it around behind me,
turning my body and pressing me up against the hard shelves. Too late, I
realized he probably knew his way around a fight, working somewhere like this.

“Tha’s
not
how
you’s show ya appreciation, girlie.” His warm breath against my ear made me
shudder again, and I struggled futilely in his grip, the pain of it stinging my
eyes.

Terrified and helpless, I
did the only other thing I could think of - I screamed.

Chapter Eleven

Leo

The moment I entered the
empty bedroom, with a towel casually draped around my waist, my blood froze.

The next few seconds
became a blur as I forced my jeans on and stormed out of the room, crashing the
door against the wall and yelling her name. Any instinct to be discreet and
avoid attention disappeared with the wave of fury and fear that crashed over
me.

I wasn’t sure whether I
was more angry at her, or at myself for letting it happen. I should have known.
I never should have taken my eyes off her.

Too many sleepless nights
followed by the long drive had lowered my guard, but I couldn’t accept excuses.
That was the kind of weakness I hated - and something I’d worked so hard to
eradicate. And now, failing had put Alessa at risk of god-only-knew-what. This
was
not
the kind of place to run off. Not that she’d have given any
thought to that.

Fuck.

I stormed into the
entryway, bearing down on the unsavory looking man there immediately.

“The girl I came in with
- you seen her?” My voice was low and hurried, breath coming sharply from the
anxiety I couldn’t suppress.

He cocked his head, as if
considering, and it was all I could do not to drag him over the low desk
between us and slam him against the wall for answers. Only the concern that it
would shock him into silence held me back.

“Yeh, went runnin’ out
thattaway. All frantic-like too.” His voice was a slow drawl, but as soon as he
tilted his head towards the door, I was off. “You’s two havin’ a fight?”

I ignored him, my focus
and anger reserved for one thing only as I stormed out of the door.

What the hell was she
thinking? What did she expect to find out here, around a dodgy motel?

Surely she could see that
staying with me was safer than that? I couldn’t understand how she’d expected
to find help. But then again, after the first time, it had been clear that her
escape attempts were fueled by desperation more than proper planning.

I scanned the parking
lot, but there was no sign of movement or disturbance - my car still lay silent
in the dim street light. I ran towards the edge, looking over to the long road
leading back to the highway, but there was no one on it and I couldn’t imagine
her running for miles in the hope of hitching a lift from whoever was left
driving at midnight.

It didn’t make sense.
Even for Alessa. She hadn’t run from Jay’s - in a place she knew, even if she
was afraid - there was no way she’d find the chances better here. If I’d been
in her position, I would’ve asked the nearest person for help or—

Fuck.

I spun back on my heel
instantly, suddenly seeing that fucking bastard’s contempt for what it was. Charging
into the motel and seeing the reception abandoned only confirmed my suspicions
and I cursed myself for being a fool. I’d been so intent on getting her back
that I hadn’t stopped to think.

“Alessa!”
I
called again, throwing any remaining caution to the wind in the need to get to
her
now
.

There was no response,
and I started working my way down the corridor, slamming my shoulder against
the motel rooms indiscriminately and hearing the splintering crack of wood as I
searched. Thank god for bad low-maintenance motels. Though with the adrenaline
pumping through me, I was pretty sure I could have gotten through anything.

I was sure Alessa must be
hiding somewhere in here - it was the only thing that made sense, and anger
rose again as I considered the possible reasons that man might be helping her.
I had to get to her before anything more could go wrong.

The first couple of rooms
were empty, and my urgent frustration was growing with every loud crash I made.
The third was met with a squeal of outrage followed by an angry shout from the
couple entwined together in a mess of sheets. I turned from them without
comment, cursing how long this was taking. Damn girl.

I had my shoulder against
the fourth before a scream from across the hall froze my blood.

Alessa.

My stomach twisted at
hearing her pure terror, and I turned in one quick motion, any other thought
disappearing in the instant need to get to her
.

The two doors across from
me were from another of the motel’s rooms - and what looked like a supply
closet, with a worn
Private
sign next to a deadlock in the corner.

Of course. If I’d wanted
to hide her…

I was at the second door
a moment later, yanking on the handle and throwing it open to see Alessa backed
against the opposite end, his lean form pressed up against her.

This wasn’t me - smashing
doors open, jumping in without thought. I was a trained hitman. A professional.
I’d spent years learning how to plan and act - appropriate discretion,
subterfuge and skill. Not raw emotion and power.

But the moment I’d seen
her gone, something in me had snapped. Now, facing another man touching her
like that - red clouded my vision.

“Leo—” I heard her
breathless cry in the same moment that his face twisted to glance at me, but I
barely noticed either of them.

I was already in front of
him, one hand darting out to grab his loose shirt at the collar and jerk him
backwards. He let go of Alessa from the shock of it, whirling to try and hit
me, but he had no chance.

I slammed him back against
a set of shelves - the force of it knocking cleaning product down around us. I
could only guess at what my expression showed from the way his eyes widened and
his face became slack. Part of me wanted to rant and rage at him - let dull,
crushing blows show him just how wrong he’d been to touch Alessa. But getting
Alessa out of here was more important.

I dismissed the idea with
regret and swung another hook at his head instead, hitting his temple and
feeling him sag in my arms until I supported his full weight. My hands moved to
his head instinctively, one cupping his chin and the other gripping the back of
his head in readiness for the practiced move that would end him for good.

Except that my eyes
darted to Alessa before I could do it, and the wide-eyed horror there caught at
me. Her eyes glistened with tears, and I could tell she was trying to pull
herself together and out of the shocking fear of moments before. I didn’t even
know if she was registering what I was doing, but for some reason I hesitated
anyway.

It was the right thing to
do - I didn’t know what he knew or what he’d do when he woke up and found us
gone. It didn’t even matter - we’d made enough of a disturbance that covering
it up was the only option.

I glanced back at Alessa
and then cursed myself as I simply hit him again and let him drop in a heap to
the floor, turning to her instead.

Maybe the second blow
will kill him and solve your problems anyway. Maybe. Fuck. What the hell is
wrong with you, Leo?

I looked Alessa over once
to reassure myself that she was alright, before the suppressed anger exploded
out of me.

“What the fuck were you
doing?!” I stepped up to her, my blood pulsing at what had almost happened
here.

“Getting away from you,
you
bastard!
” Her voice was high as she snapped out a response, eyes flashing
with an anger of her own and hands pushing at me.

We glared at each other
and then I pulled her into me without thought, the need to know that she was
truly alright overpowering me. Her eyes shifted as my arms wrapped around her
soft form, and then I was leaning forward instinctively, tilting her chin up to
me as everything I felt became too much.

I took her mouth in one
searing kiss, the full lips everything I’d imagined as their warmth responded
to me. I felt her moan against me, and my hand came up to hold the back of her
head as I deepened it, my tongue opening her hot mouth. The kiss was as intense
as I felt - as everything that had just happened - strong and passionate with
my need to know she was alive and safe.

Pure lust overtook me,
unrestrained by any second thoughts as I let that need drive me, and felt her
respond in a way that was more natural than I’d ever seen. We clutched at each
other, joined in that one passionate embrace as our bodies shifted together. I could
feel us approaching the cliff edge of complete abandon and I scared myself by
just how ready I was to forget about anything else. I could fee us about to
jump off into that dark, beautiful oblivion, before everything else intruded
and started pulling me back. The kiss was one moment away from becoming so much
more when slowly, reluctantly, we parted.

Her dark eyes were hot
and glazed as they looked up at me, her teeth biting at the lip swollen from
our kiss and making me lean in yet again. A spasm ripped through her before I
could, her body shuddering from the intensity of everything that had just
happened, and she collapsed against me, head on my chest as she clutched me
tight. Sobs overtook her and my arms closed tighter, my heart stuttering with
hurt for her.

“Shh…shh, it’s okay,
Alessa.” I murmured against her ear as I felt her struggling to regain control.
“You’re safe now, it’s okay—”

“Safe?!”
She
pulled back from me, her tone turned harsh and mocking as she glared up with a
frustrated anger. “You mean except if I run off, or do something you don’t
like, or-or get caught up with any of the scum you’re talking to?!
Then
you’ll fucking kill me, right?
”

Her breath came heavy and
fast, and I growled in my own frustration as I faced the truth of it. I’d
wanted - needed - her scared, but I couldn’t deal with her believing that
anymore. Or her risking her life by thinking someone like the broken man at our
feet would give her a better chance than me…

“Fuck that, Alessa. If I was
going to kill you, it would have happened long before now. In case you haven’t
noticed - you’ve already run off, and attacked me, and resisted every step of
the way. No, for some fucked up reason I’m not going to hurt you.”

Her eyes widened, and I
saw the hope light in them for a brief instant before I cut her off. “That
doesn’t mean I’m going to let you go. No, I’m going to drag you with me, keep
you as safe as I damn well can, and when I’m set up and sorted -
then
I’ll
let you go. As I’ve promised. And if you could make it just a little easier,
maybe we can get to that quicker.”

My breath heaved with the
tense energy of letting all that out, and we stared at each other as I
finished. It might not be what she wanted, but it was the best I could give her,
and I felt the impasse between us before she bit her lip and looked away. She
refused to respond or appreciate it, but I could tell that she knew it was a
hell of a lot better than it could be.

“I want to get out of
here.” Her voice came low and strained, and I let her push past me towards the
door.

I glanced at the man on
the floor on our way out, and shook my head again. Alessa was making me say and
do things I’d never thought I would, and if I thought about it too long, it
unnerved me.

We regrouped in the
small, musty room, and this time it wasn’t just Alessa who turned her nose up.
I might be used to places like this, but after what had just happened, I
couldn’t stay here anymore. Besides, I wanted to be long gone if the motel
manager woke up.

I raised an eyebrow at
Alessa. “If I get us out of this shit hole, will you promise not to pull a
stunt like that again?”

She nodded mutely at me,
and I wondered whether she was in shock. I was reeling from it all myself -
though less the life-and-death situation and more the fear of losing her
followed by that soul-wrenching kiss. I shook off the thought of her lips on
mine and concentrated on getting us out of here instead. I’d always been able
to switch my focus instantly - I refused to lose that now.

I gathered up our things,
and wrapped the too-large jacket Jay had given her around her shoulders when I
saw her hugging herself. I didn’t think she was cold, but hoped it provided
some comfort anyway. God knew, I’d never been any good at that.

She followed me out and I
threw the overnight bag in the trunk before we slipped into the car. I did a
quick search for a better hotel on my phone and then we set off in silence.

Once we were out on the
main highway, I reached over, letting my hand rest on her leg.

“You okay?” I kept my
voice low, under the distant hum of the engine and passing traffic.

“Yeah…I think so.” She
drew the jacket tighter around as she said it and didn’t look over at me.

I watched with a little
concern as she stared out of the window, her expression still faraway. I had no
idea how tonight might have affected her, but I could understand the need for
distance to process it all. I let my hand slip away and turned my attention
back to the road, giving her as much space as I could.

It didn’t take long
before I found what I was looking for, and I turned off into the large shopping
complex, navigating through until I pulled up in the hulking 4-star hotel’s car
park.