Lily: Captive to the Dark (10 page)

Chapter 11

Lily

“Rise, baby, and give your Master a kiss.”

I stood, racing for Zain and throwing myself in his arms. My legs ached and my knees were numb from kneeling for the last hour, waiting for him to arrive from one of his missions. The details had been vague when he left, but I knew it was going to be dangerous, just like everything surrounding him.

My arms locked around his neck and I pulled myself as close as I could possibly get. Not two hours before, I’d been covered in blood. Saul had a new slave, one he was breaking, one night at a time. This time, it had been a broken nose and one that seemed to take me forever to get to stop bleeding. And, I’d bled, too. But not from his uncle. Not that night.

The blowout that had happened after the first incident could be heard all the way in our room. Even Zain’s father got in on the yelling, but when it was said and done, I was granted permission to help those who were wounded. I was off limits to every male in the house and as long as it was to give my service, I was able to go as I pleased, but I paid dearly for it.

Rachel’s crescent shaped nail marks were embedded all down the length of my forearms. When Zain reached up to remove my locked wrists from behind his neck and I winced, he knew.

“How bad was it?”

I stepped back, letting him take off the bullet proof vest and belt he wore that carried his weapons.

“Broken nose. Bruises to the face.”

He shook his head and his jaw clenched repeatedly.

“How was your night?” Fatigue was settling in, but I was far from ready for bed.

“Went pretty smoothly. Transaction made. Easy deal.”

My frown was instantaneous. He was never so vague.

“Oh. That’s it?”

His eyes darted to me, but went down to the button of his pants as he began taking them off.

Silence.

“Are you seeing anyone else when you leave? Like…a woman?”

I swallowed hard, hating that my insecurities had me speaking my fears. Zain’s eyebrows drew in as he turned his attention to me.

“What in the world would make you think that?”

All I could do was shrug.

He sighed and cocked his head to the side. “Does it look like I need another woman? I obviously want you.”

His cock was thick and long. So hard and ready for me. Embarrassed, I turned to the side and lowered my head. “We’ve had sex multiple times in one night. You could easily fuck someone else and come back here to me.”

Slowly, he moved forward. I could feel his dominance pushing against my skin like a living thing.

“I’m disappointed in your doubt of me. Have I ever given you reason to believe I’d be unfaithful to you? Have I not catered to you? Cherished and protected you to the best of my ability?”

“You have.”

“Wall.”

The deepness of his voice had me dropping the robe to the floor. I kept my head high as I walked over and stood to face him. My arms rose¸ waiting.

“Trust. Have I not taught you anything? You trust me more with your body than you do with your heart. I want it equally. I want it to capacity. You will learn to believe in me.”

The cuffs locked around my wrists and I watched as he lifted his hand, raking his nails down the center of my chest. The delicious heat had me licking my lips. A tap to my feet and I spread my legs even wider.

“Look at that,” he breathed out. “You have no idea what I feel when I see you give yourself to me like this. Why would I want to risk losing your submission, slave? You may see it as a pleasure for you, but it’s a gift to me. I treasure what we share. Nothing could make me ruin that.”

He grabbed his belt and used the end to slap the outside of my leg, harder than he normally began.

“Tonight will be the last time you question my devotion to you. I’ll make sure of it.”

A steady connection began on my hip and moved toward my knee, working the outside. When it changed to the inside, I sucked in air at the sting.

“Who loves you?”

“You do, Master.”

“And do people who love on each other cheat?”

A cry escaped at the slap over my clit. “Sometimes.”

He moved to the opposite inner thigh with a force that had my jaw dropping and tears filling my eyes.

“Then that’s not love. If I called my brother in here, would you let him fuck you?”

My head shook frantically. Amir’s namesake was someone I tried to stay as far away from as I could. The hate he had for Zain was clear. Zain was the bastard child. The one his father always doted on, if one could say the man doted on anything. It was clear to anyone who saw the three together which one his father favored.

“Answer,” he growled. “I want to hear the words come from your mouth.”

“No, Master. I don’t want anyone but you.”

Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!

The tears streamed down my cheeks as I searched for my breath.

“It better stay that way. We belong together. You and I. No one else.” He walked forward, slightly brushing down my slit with his fingers. At him separating my folds, I bit my lip, moving against the almost nonexistent touch “Be still. You haven’t earned enjoyment yet.”

“I’m sorry. I was wrong to think you were seeing someone else.”

His eyebrow rose. “You have no idea.”

Four hard spankings to my ass ended with him gripping into my flesh and pulling me into his body. My legs wrapped around his waist while I tried to bring him closer.

“You want my cock?” He rubbed the length along my pussy. I tried rotating my hips to allow him entrance, but he denied me.

“Yes, Master. Give it to me. Show me I’m the only one for you. That you love me.”

One arm wrapped around my waist while the other twisted in my long hair. Zain nipped at my lip, tracing over the bottom one with his tongue before he leaned back to look into my eyes. “I’m going to do more than show you that I love you, baby girl. I’m going to fuck it so hard into your memory that you’ll know no one but me. I may be your Master in this new life of yours, but I’ll become your everything before it’s over with.”

The head of his cock pushed into my opening and I gripped to the chains as he eased in an inch at a time, letting me adjust. His withdrawal left me wanting more and I wasn’t disappointed. In one swift motion, he buried himself inside of me. My scream filled the room and our lips connected at the same time.

“Remember this, slave. Always remember who you belong to. No one is going to love you more than I will. I won’t let them.”

The thrusts came savagely, leaving me fighting to catch my breath. Cold cement stunned my heated skin as he pressed into me, removing the hand in my hair to cover my throat.

“Your life is mine. I feel the proof of it right here,” he said, applying the smallest amount of pressure and slamming into me even faster. “And I’m yours. Put your hand over my heart. Tell me who it beats for.” He let one of my hands free while the other was left above my head.

I took a deep breath, pushing my palm into his chest. “For me. We are each other’s.”

“Yes. Forever. And I mean that. Every day until our last.”

My sob woke me from my dream. From the memories of my Master. Pitch black surrounded me and I flew to a sitting position, only making it inches up before my head connected with something hard. I froze for the briefest moment before confusion set in. Then…panic.

Frantically, my hands flew up, patting around me, realizing I was surrounded by what felt to be wood. Fear had my legs drawing up, only to be stopped from lack of space. The strangled cry that left me couldn’t be stopped. Was I in a wooden coffin? Some sort of crate?

“Oh, God. Help! Somebody, help me!” My fist beat against the hard surface as my body went crazy inside the confined space. Louder, I became, each plea for help making my throat burn even more from the force of my yells.

But no one came. There wasn’t a sound I could detect, except my own.

Sobbing, I forced myself to calm and replay the events of how I’d gotten here. Nothing was really registering. My brain felt fuzzy and my tongue was thick and swollen in my mouth. Where was I? My ears ached and I wasn’t sure if it was from the dead silence or—

A blood curling scream left me as I saw my Master crumpling to the ground in my mind. Dark crimson poured from his chest. Pain was clearly etched on his features as his knees buckled and he fell to the ground. Was he dead? He’d been rushing forward. Right in the direction of me and my kidnapper.

My head shook and I couldn’t bear to think of the possibilities. Not yet. I moved forward in in what I could remember. Leather. The whole time it had remained, sliding over my face at our rushing through the parking garage. It didn’t lift until the door opened and a cloth pushed against my face. Then…nothing.

Now, here I was, trapped in a prison of my own making. Again. Why had I fought Zain? He loved me and wanted to protect me. Hadn’t he proved that time and time again? Yet, I’d probably broken his arm, if not hyperextended it, and more than likely, he was dead. All due to my stubbornness. Of my lack of indecisiveness. I’d lost the only man I ever loved and it was all my fault.

No, I refused to believe that. He was a fighter. He’d survive.

Sobs returned and with each one, I could feel how hard it was to breathe. The air supply wasn’t good, and would probably continue to get worse until I was dead. Especially if I was underground.

But if I wasn’t…if I was in the air…on a plane…

Was that even possible? Wouldn’t I hear engines? Could I have not boarded yet? Already be off a plane? How long had I been unconscious? There were too many questions and none of which I had an answer for.

Enough of this, Lily. Focus. Feel. Search every inch of this box as best as you can and try to figure out a way to escape. Master wouldn’t want you lying here completely helpless. He’d want you to be strong. To exhaust every option. Do it. Think like him. Become him.

I closed my eyes and let my hands rise to the very top, all the way to the far left. Slowly, my fingers explored, taking their time as they worked their way to the right and then down. Back and forth, I went until I got to chest level, and even lower to my hips.

I refused to give up. Nothing was impossible. My Master had taught me that. And if he wasn’t dead, I’d make my way back to him, no matter what I had to do.

Chapter 12

Slade

“Let’s go over this again. Zane Collins introduced himself to you back in May, six months ago. From there, you both had run-ins, but nothing except small talk. Then, out of the blue, five days ago, he comes to you asking for a job.”

My fingers weaved through my hair as I stared at Gaige’s narrowed eyes.

“That’s right. It was the day he was shot. He came to the building asking if I had a department I could put him in. Accounts, I believe he asked. He stated he had a background with handling money.”

“Legally or illegally, Mr. Roberts?”

I sat up, matching Gaige’s suspicious expression.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean? If it was illegally, why would he supply that information to a complete stranger? Unless you’re implying something else. Something that I really don’t think I like the sound of.”

Gaige’s finger flicked over the folder he held, while his gaze stayed fixed to mine.

“You called me in because of your sister’s abduction. It was supposedly linked to Mr. Collins. Thing is, Mr. Roberts, I have no evidence aside from your word that your sister has been taken. No ransom call. No video surveillance whatsoever due to faulty footage from the building the supposed abduction took place. And, you’re having me investigate a fucking ghost.”

“A what?” I sat up straighter, confused.

“Zane Collins is not Zane Collins. He’s Zain Cook. His mother, Amelia Cook, and his step father, Jeffrey Cook, were killed when he was eight years old. He disappeared that night, never to be seen again. It was speculated he died in the fire that was set to destroy the evidence, but a body was never recovered. I guess we now know why.”

My head shook. The family he mentioned, were they linked to the ones that had died, or was this the new family who took him? “He
has
family. He told me they were dangerous.”

Gaige’s head tilted to the side. “Why didn’t you mention that before?”

My jaw clenched. “I did. I told you there were people he had bad blood with. I can’t help it if I forgot to say they were family. I’m a little fucking unstable right now.” I scooted to the edge of my chair, feeling so much rage that it was almost impossible to stay sitting. “You won’t even acknowledge
that my sister is missing. Zain was screaming her name and telling me to find her for fuck’s sake. Why are you not looking?” I exploded.

“I have been looking,” he said, just as forcefully. “But if you gave me the correct information the first time, maybe I wouldn’t be on some witch hunt about a situation I know nothing about.”

The door creaked and I stood from the desk in Lily’s penthouse. My old desk, in my old office, to be precise.

Mary gave an apologetic look as she eased her head in.

“It’s okay. Come here, sweetheart. What’s the matter, you okay?” I held out my hand. As she swept in, I noticed she was carrying a tray.

“You haven’t eaten anything today and it’s already after lunch. I thought maybe Agent Sullivan would like something, too. I’m sorry if I’m interrupting.”

She placed the tray on the desk and I wrapped both arms around her shoulders, pulling her close. The scent of her hair had me breathing in deeply. For a moment, I was at peace.

“I can’t believe you’re worried about me when you’re the one who’s been so sick. I do love you. And thank you. I’ll eat, if it makes you feel any better.”

“It would.” She turned, smiling sadly down at Gaige. “I just wanted to thank you for helping us. I know you think Lily may have just run away, but I know my sister-in-law. She loves Slade too much to hurt him. She just wouldn’t do that, not for this long. If you could find any way to continue with her search, I’d be very thankful. I…” Her head lowered and she furiously wiped a tear away before it could stain her face. “I know how this may sound, but I’d like you to check out my sister and her husband. Bethany changed for the worse after our father was killed. Charles lost his job. They lost their house…everything. She blames me, Lily, and Slade.”

Gaige grabbed a sandwich, taking a bite. “And that’s who Lily accused of taking her the first time, am I correct?”

“Oh, they took her,” Mary rushed in. “If it wasn’t for lack of evidence, they’d be in jail right now.”

“And your sister told you this?”

“Yes,” Mary said, weakly. I knew when her eyes darted to mine that she wanted to tell the entire truth about what happened during her own abduction —an abduction I was responsible for. But the secrets we carried couldn’t be told. Luckily, I knew the incident she was about to speak of and was glad Bethany had stuck her foot in her mouth when she did.

“After the trial was over. We’ve only seen each other once since then and purely by accident, but she went off on some rampage about how we’d all pay. Said she should have killed Lily the first time.”

The agent took another bite, nodding seriously as he stared into the distance. There was a darkness that festered within him. I could see it, so close to the surface. “Well, I’ve already talked to Bethany and she even let me inside to check around their house. Nothing looked suspicious. She was very polite. If it’ll make you feel at ease, I’ll go by and check with her again. Maybe her husband will be home this time.”

“Thank you. That would be great. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll let you two get back to talking.”

I bent down and kissed Mary’s forehead before watching her walk to the door. As she stood there and stared at me, one of her eyebrows rose. My gaze lowered to the sandwiches and I picked one up, showing her, before bringing it to my mouth to take a bite. Only then did she turn to leave.

“Sweet wife you have there. Reminds me a lot of my own. She’d have done something like that. Although, my Elle can’t cook. Sandwiches, soup, and freezer meals she can do.”

I laughed, unable to help it. “Sounds like Mary. It’s the thought that counts, right?”

“Absolutely,” Gaige agreed. “So…she’s sick?”

I finished up the little triangular shaped sandwich and picked up another. “Pregnant. Right at nine weeks. The morning sickness is really taking its toll.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. But, congratulations. I have a son. My wife had morning sickness pretty badly, too. What are you wanting, boy or girl?”

“Boy,” I rushed out, a little too quickly. I frowned. “Don’t get me wrong, I’d be just as excited for a girl, but a boy would be so much easier. These women will make me gray before my time. I feel so damn old already.”

A loud chuckle echoed throughout the space. “I know what you mean. More than you know.” Gaige leaned forward, taking another, and stood. “Listen, Mr. Roberts. I’m going to be blunt because I feel there’s really no other way.”

As he stood there, waiting for me to approve, I grabbed for my glass of Scotch. “Please do.”

“I’m supposed to keep an open mind and look at the evidence, but I believe your sister was taken. There’s no proof and Mr. Cook isn’t speaking yet. Sure, I can continue to look into what we have, but due to my position with the department, there are boundaries I can’t cross. No one legally can. However, you don’t mark me as a man who really cares for the law.”

Slowly, I shifted, wondering if this was some sort of setup. But, could it be? Marcio told me he trusted his sources, therefore trusted this man. Could I?

“I’ll do anything to get my sister back.” I left it at that, letting him decide if he wanted to continue or not. To say I wasn’t interested would be a lie. All I wanted to do was beg and tell him I was willing to do anything to get Lily back.
Anything.

Gaige finished off his sandwich and walked over, picking up his glass and downing it in one drink. “There’s talk amongst the agents I work with. There’s a man who specializes in your sort of situation. I’ve never met him personally, but I know people who have. He’s not one to mess with. He takes his job very seriously and from what I’ve heard, I believe he’s probably the only one who can save your sister.”

My head shook. “What does that have to do with laws?”

Gaige looked around the room and lowered his voice. “To say we’ve turned a blind eye is an understatement. Within the last year, we’ve specifically been told to. We could have easily nailed his ass any time we wanted. We don’t, nor will we ever. He’s protected and I have no idea by who, and seriously, I don’t care. This man used to be a detective. Now, he’s one of us. He saves the missing, but his methods aren’t for the faint of heart. Not if you’re looking to get your sister out in a clean sweep. Blake Morgan will not leave with Lily until everyone associated with her disappearance is dead. That could be a scary thing. A lot of bad shit can go wrong while he’s doing that.”

“My sister is trained. If she had to, she could take care of herself. I’m guessing the only reason she didn’t before was because she got caught off guard. You haven’t seen her, she can…fight. As for Blake Morgan, why do I know that name?”

“Probably because he’s been all over the news. He’s the one that found, and then married, that supermodel, Kaitlyn Summers.”

My lips parted and all I could do was nod. I’d seen their story. It caught my attention because of the woman. She’d been trafficked and it reminded me a little too much of Lily. The story had stayed with me for a while.

“I want him. Price doesn’t matter. How fast can I get him here?”

Gaige pulled out his phone and scribbled a number down on a piece of paper from his notepad. “You’ll have to figure that out yourself. I have to get going. If I’m ever asked whether I gave you the contact information or not, I’ll deny it, Mr. Roberts. This never happened. It’s just the way it has to be. Blake Morgan is a loose cannon. He’s a killer, through and through, and I will not be liable for anything wrong that might go down. Now, working with both of you, I can do. But, being the one to actually bring him in?” He shook his head.

My hands lifted, as if in surrender. “Your name will never be mentioned. I promise you that.”

The cautiousness behind his stare faded and his hand came out, displaying the number. “Program this into your phone.”

He waited while I saved it to my contacts and then stuffed the paper in his pocket. “If he decides to help you, give me a call. We’ll go from there.”

“Thank you, I will.”

Fuck. Could this guy, Blake, really find my sister before it was too late and we lost her for good? Was she already hurt? Dead? My whole body shook as I watched Gaige leave my office. I waited for the door to shut before I hit the button to call. It was answered after the first ring.

“Blake Morgan.”

Something about the deep voice put me at ease. It was cold. Detached. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel it was determined. Lily needed someone like him looking for her. We all did. “Mr. Morgan. My name is Slade Roberts. I need your help.”