Captive to the Dark (22 page)

Slade mirrored my reaction. “I told you I was going to get to know you. What better way than that? Just me, you, the seals, and a bag of sweet treats.” Something passed over his face and I titled my head.

“You’re hiding something.”

“I am not.” His mouth twisted. “Not entirely. This is just new for me, Mary. I’ve never really tried to woo a woman before. Woo.” He laughed. “I want you to have fun. To fall for me. Is that so bad?”

I had to give him points for trying. Didn’t he just see that this wasn’t going to work, though? The sex was great. But we led completely different lives. In the real world, we would have never even looked twice at each other. Well, maybe I would have looked at him, but he wouldn’t have noticed me if I was the only female in the room. That was probably an over exaggeration, but still. He wouldn’t have been interested.

“Fun.” I laughed. “I have that reading. Why don’t you talk to me instead? You watched me for a month. Tell me what you saw.”

People rushed by while we stood a few stores down from the restaurant. He led me across the street to a small little park area nestled with businessmen and women that appeared to be taking a break for lunch. Some ate food they’d brought with them, while others looked to have gotten items from the food truck that’d been parked down the street.

A fountain rested in the middle of the surrounding chaos from the business district, yet, here, it was calm. Soothing. We sat on the bench and I looked around realizing I’d never spent much time this part of the city. It was nice. So much different than China Town where I frequented.

My mind raced. Gently, his finger brought my face back to him. How did Slade really see me? A part of me had to know. Was it just the fact that he could be his worst in bed and I would embrace it? Or was there something more? I had no doubt he could find someone willing to go just as far as me. It wouldn’t be hard. My biggest fear was that I’d give into this fake engagement and it’d lead to nowhere. My heart would attach to only him and he’d find some model-type, ready and willing to have the life choked out of her. Then, he’d be gone.

Slade grabbed my hands, holding them firmly. My heart was already aching. A part of me was already his, or at least more than I wanted to admit. Fuck. What a mess we were both in.

“Sadness. That’s what I saw when I watched you. You went to work. Smiled at everyone. But the heaviness you held couldn’t be hidden. Every day I thought I’d see a change. A new Mary Hagen would come to light, with a spring in her step, and enough bubbly personality to bring back my need to hurt Victor by hurting her.” He shook his head. “I didn’t want to fall for you, Mary. For fuck sakes, I had every intention of selling you off if I didn’t get my sister back. But the more I watched, the more I was taken over. Trust me, I tried to not let myself get attached. Then, you came into my home, fighting and embracing the pain I gave. Shit. I hadn’t been expecting that. I thought you’d be frantic. Afraid.” He sighed. “I just ended up wanting you even more when you got wet at my touch. Slave, I was lost to you in that moment. Why do you think it took me days to even talk to you after that?”

God, he was telling the truth. My stomach dropped and the all too familiar twisting sent me to a nausea induced panic. I took a deep breath, willing for words to come. For some reply that would be true of feelings I couldn’t even express.

“Mary?”

I turned at the sound of Jordan’s voice. Slade was instantly to his feet. The dark suit didn’t match well with the black eye. I cringed and stood, noticing he was carrying a briefcase. He was a lawyer. I should have known he’d be around the area for work.

“Hello, Jordan.” I clasped my hands in front of me, praying he didn’t see me shaking. After last night, who knew what he thought? My secret rape had been exposed. I could somewhat remember through haziness his anger at finding out.

“Tell me it isn’t true. You’re not marrying him, are you?” Jordan paid Slade no notice as he walked around to get more in front of me. My eyes scanned the area. I wasn’t naïve to know that we weren’t being watched. There were probably people all around just waiting for a new story to report on.

I stepped in closer, lowering my voice. “Can we talk about this some other time? Somewhere private?”

“Mary, answer my question.” Jordan’s voice softened.

Trust. Slade’s words echoed back in my head about this working to get Lily back. Would it really? I’d never know if I didn’t play the part. An arm came around my shoulder and Slade pulled me into his side. I wanted to elbow him. The only reason he was doing this was to stick it in Jordan’s face even more. It pissed me off.

“I am, Jordan. I think it would be best.”

Those eyes that pulled me to him to begin with darkened as they narrowed. Jordan shook his head while clenching his jaw. “You don’t want this. I can see it all over your face. For the best, my ass. He’s making you do this.”

“No different than my father trying to make me marry you,” I bit out.

“It was
my
decision, Mary. I wanted to marry you, damnit! I still do.” He held out his hand. “Come with me. We’ll leave this place. Lily’s already on a flight back. She’ll get to Slade by tomorrow morning. I promise you. We can even be there when she arrives. That way you can see for yourself.”

Slade slapped Jordan’s hand to the side. What once sounded like a loud city seemed to grow dead silent. My eyes scanned the area noticing people watching. Cars rushed by, but I didn’t hear them. Didn’t hear anything.
Run
.
Do it, Mary. Just run and don’t stop.

“She’s not leaving anywhere with you. Mary’s still mine until I see my sister. Most likely even after that since we’re
engaged
.” The word came out as if it were only obvious. Jordan continued to ignore him. His eyes were only for me. I had to give it to him, he didn’t let anyone push him around. Even someone as powerful as Slade.

The briefcase lowered to the ground and he came around, sitting on the bench. He patted the spot next to him. “Sit with me, Mary. Let’s talk.”

“Are you insane?” Slade said, turning us to face him. “She—

“Can make up her mind,” I said, stepping away and joining him on the bench. “Now sit, Slade, before we end up on the news again. If we’re going to be engaged you have to realize that I can think for myself.”

The shock on his face didn’t sit well. I knew I was going to be punished for standing up to him, especially in front of Jordan, but I didn’t care. He needed to see that I decided what
I
wanted. Plus, the punishment did appeal.

It took a few seconds but Slade actually acquiesced. The three of us barely fit on the small bench. My master’s arm pulled me into his side and he held on tight. I hid my smile and faced Jordan. “What is it you want to talk about?”

“Your
fiancé’s
plans are screwing things up. Taking Thomas I can understand. I would have done the same thing. Your father though, he was livid, Mary. Apparently Thomas knew things that Victor didn’t want getting out.” His attention went to Slade. “You have any idea what he might have been referring to?”

“I might. Thomas said a lot of interesting things before I cut him to pieces.” Slade wouldn’t look over. The anger was too prominent on his face. My body trembled at his words and I wasn’t sure why. What he did didn’t scare me, but the overall thought of Thomas did. Slade lowered his head. “Could explain why my sister is suddenly being rushed back. Victor wants me out of his life, probably before I discover more.”

“I have no doubt you’re right.” Jordan turned back to me. “Slade has made an enemy with your father and mine. They’re out for blood, Mary. I don’t want you mixed up in that. You belong with me, away from it all.” He leaned in closer. “The slavery wasn’t my thing. Yes, I helped out setting up the transports from time to time, but the guns were my department and I haven’t really been active in years. To understand any of this, you’d have to know my father, but I suspect yours is a lot similar, so you get what I’m saying about not being able to just say no.”

The honesty had me lowering my head. I knew better than anyone what he meant. Jordan didn’t have to tell me this, yet he had. “You say you haven’t been active in years. Why were you on the boat if not for the guns? You had to have known.”

Jordan shook his head. “I suspected, but I wasn’t clued in. I’m telling you, I got out a long time ago. My only purpose on that boat was you. Julian…when he wants something, he doesn’t stop. In this case, it was me getting together with you. I think it benefits both of our father’s somehow. Anyway, I had no idea what to expect. But, then I met you, and you were nothing like what I thought. The few days we had together were amazing, if not rough in the beginning. But I loved every minute of our time. You didn’t kiss my ass or throw yourself at me. You were different. Special.” Slade’s fingers bit into my side and I knew he wasn’t doing it intentionally. His whole body was stiff.

“Are you quite done throwing yourself at my fiancée? We have a wedding to plan.”

Sadness filled Jordan’s face as he stared at me. I felt so torn. Yes, I really liked Jordan, and maybe something more would have come out of it had I stayed those three weeks on the boat, but that didn’t happen. I met Slade. And although he frustrated the shit out of me in many ways, he also had somehow captured my heart.

“Just don’t do anything rash, Mary. Lily will be home in the morning. Then you’re free. No eloping overnight.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “As if I’d do something so rash.” I took Jordan’s hand. “Stop worrying about me. I’ll be fine. We have to go. You take care of yourself.”

Slade stood before I could. The protectiveness cloaked me the moment we started walking away. His big arm hugged me close and I knew better than to fight against it. Not that I wanted to.

“Do you feel better now? Just sit on the bench, she said.” I pressed my lips together as he mumbled, trying my best not to smile. Half of it I couldn’t hear, but he continued to carry on. It wasn’t until we turned the block, in front of his building, that he slowed. “Let’s do it, Mary. Fuck the false engagement. Forget the waiting. Let’s fly to Vegas. We’ll get married right now.”

“What?” I pushed back as if he was some sort of poisonous snake. No way was I going to rush to Vegas and elope.

“It’ll be perfect. Don’t you see? We’ll do the switch off in the morning and then they can’t make you go back. You’ll be my wife. Mine.”

I may have let him carve his name into my chest for Lily’s sake, but that was to bring her home. There was no way I was going to go out and get married when she was so close to being here and my freedom was within reach.

“You’ve lost your mind. How could you want to do that? You’re getting your sister back. Isn’t that enough? You have to try to best my father by keeping me too? Enough of this.” I took a few more steps toward the entrance. “I want to go home. You know this.”

The cool air from the A/C swept across my face as I headed for the elevator. Bruising pain clasped to my arm as Slade led me the rest of the way. The door opened and he swept me in. “That came out wrong and you know it. Me wanting to be with you has nothing to do with your father or anyone else. Mary…” His forehead furrowed while he stared down. The door closed, sealing us in and my heart was pounding so hard that I could feel my pulse all the way in my toes.

“I thought we’d have more time. We were supposed to have a week, at least. I’m not saying I’m not excited that my sister is finally going to be home, but…stay, damnit. Give me one more night to convince you. This isn’t how we’re supposed to end. I know you better than you think. If you leave tomorrow, you won’t come back.”

He was right. I had no intention of returning. When we traded off, I was gone. Period. Slade would be no more than a memory and another scar from my past. Albeit, a very raw, soul-stabbing scar. Shit. Somehow, the name had mysteriously penetrated every layer of my skin and embedded deep down in my chest, claiming not only my physical body, but the one thing that made me… me.

“How can I help you to say goodbye?” My eyes searched his. He needed to know this was going to end. I wouldn’t pretend that some mind-blowing sex was going to change my mind. Tomorrow, I was gone.

“God damnit.” He swallowed hard and pressed his forehead against mine. His hands cupped my face, locking me into place. Secure, but not painful. “You’re so fucking stubborn. I know you have feelings for me. I feel them, Mary. Why you won’t give into them is beyond me. I already fucking see how this is going to play out and it’s tearing me apart. You’re going to go home and you’re going to marry Jordan because that’s what your daddy wants. Why not me? Why?” The question reverberated the insides of the elevator it was yelled so loud. “I’m sorry.” Slade pulled back, wiping his hand over his mouth.

The elevator opened and he rushed out, startling Marcio and Brace. “Get her shit packed and together. We’re leaving.”

My eyes widened and Slade seemed to catch himself. Where the hell was he taking me? Away? Without thought, my finger pressed the close button on the elevator. Slade spun around in the threshold of his front door just as the elevator began to shut.

“No! Mary, don’t do it! Mary!” My finger pressed faster and I screamed as the door closed right before he could reach it. Oh my God. Where was I going? I didn’t have a phone or money for a cab. My mind raced. Was I doing the right thing? A groan slipped from my mouth as heaviness in my chest nearly crippled me. “I don’t want to leave.” Even as the words echoed around me, I bent down, taking off my heels.

The door opened and I sprung free, racing through the fancy lobby as fast as I could. I didn’t stop running until I was in the middle of the park. What was I doing? In a circle, I spun. My apartment was so far away from here. But he’d find me there. I wasn’t safe there until Lily was home. My eyes stopped on the bench. Jordan still sat there, his head lowered, hands clasped in front of him. I quickly looked behind me and continued running.

“Jordan.” My voice sounded weak, almost catching in my throat. His head jerked and he stood. “God, please…get me out of here.”