Seduced in the Dark (16 page)

Nancy collapsed when Rafiq threw her in
front of me. She cried and whimpered, but what terrified me most
was the way her hands reached out for me, “Help me,” she sobbed,
“please, help me.”

I was frozen for a few seconds, but then I
grabbed her hands and bent her fingers until she let me go. I
didn’t want any part in this. I scooted back and dared a glance up
at Caleb.

“It’s your decision, Kitten. I don’t know
what happened between you. I don’t know what role she played, but
if you want her punished, if you want her dead, say the words and
I’ll see to it,” Caleb said. He was deadly serious. I could see it
in his eyes and I knew what he wanted me to say. He wanted me to
order her death.

Broken sobs erupted from Nancy and
surprisingly…from me. “I can’t!” I wailed over Nancy. “I can’t do
that! She’s awful. She helped them. She held me down,” I sobbed.
“But I can’t kill her. I’m not a fucking murderer!”

Caleb’s face was grave as I yelled the word
murderer. He lunged forward and I flinched, but Nancy was his
target. He lifted her head roughly, craning it in my direction.
With his eyes fixed on me he whispered in Nancy’s ear.

“Yes!” she yelled, “Anything…just don’t kill
me,” she sobbed.

Caleb let go of Nancy’s head like he’d just
touched a piece of shit with his bare hand. “You hear that?” He
pointed his finger at me, “She just said she’d kill you herself if
we let her live instead. Is that the kind of person you want to
spare?!?”

My head literally vibrated from the strength
in his voice.

“No!” I sobbed, “I can’t, Caleb. I won’t.
Please, please don’t do this. Not for me.”

“Caleb?” said Rafiq softly, his face
twisting and another torrent of clipped Arabic followed.

Horrified, I realized what I’d done.
“Master—I didn’t mean to!” I pleaded, “I know you’re my master.
Please forgive me. Forgive me. Forgive me.” I repeated the words as
I rocked back and forth.

Without warning, Caleb hoisted me to my
feet, completely unconcerned with the pain it caused me. More
Arabic was spoken and then he led me out of the room and away from
Nancy and her belligerent screams.

Chapter Nine

At Rafiq’s request, Caleb led Kitten back to
the party. It was not something he wanted to do, but in the
unfamiliar space of the grandiose home of Rafiq’s ‘friend’, he had
no choice but to follow the butler in the direction of the other
guests. Anger toward Rafiq ran rife through his thoughts and he
needed time to process everything he was feeling. Why was Rafiq at
the mansion and why would he deliberately ambush Caleb? It didn’t
make sense, except when Caleb considered the way Rafiq and Jair had
been conspiring behind his back. He was tempted to count the
incident as a betrayal, but the word was perhaps too strong, given
all Rafiq had done for him in the past.

Kitten, also, had disappointed him. He had
warned her about being obedient, warned her about what it might
mean if she were found lacking in front Rafiq and the others, and
still, she had humiliated him. Even now, her hand continued to
search out his, seeking comfort in the most pedestrian fashion. She
refused to stop weeping since she’d seen the blonde woman.

Internally, Caleb flinched but he wasn’t
sure why. The blonde had surely deserved everything that had
happened to her. He was certain now she had played a role in what
happened to Kitten. She deserved no less than the fate she wished
to impose.

The woman had been beaten severely. Her body
was littered with whip marks and bites, her throat was bruised and
her eyes were bloodshot from the oxygen she had obviously been
deprived. Rafiq mentioned she had been raped, roughly, and
repeatedly. Tortured. Yet, despite feeling that she had had it
coming, Caleb took issue with violent rape. He could not get the
image of blood and semen running down her thighs out of his mind
fast enough to suit him. Finally, that his mentor had participated
was difficult to accept.

He’d meant to give Kitten a gift, one that
meant everything to Caleb: vengeance. Caleb would have done
anything to go back in time and see to Narweh’s end in the slowest,
most painfully degrading way possible, but the time had passed.
Narweh was dead and Caleb had to live with the knowledge that even
in the end, Narweh had never begged for his life or offered penance
for what he’d done to Caleb. It was a slap in the face that Kitten
would not only forgo such an opportunity to get back at her
tormentor, but also look on Caleb as some sort of monster for
suggesting it. It wasn’t as though he expected her to watch!

But here, now, especially so close to his
objective, he could not allow himself to show weakness, especially
where Kitten was involved. This time was very critical and Rafiq
would be watching his every move, as expected. They had been
partners for twelve years, working toward the singular goal of
ruining Vladek Rostrovich’s life in every conceivable way. It was a
goal that had long ago cost both of them their proverbial soul’s.
Men had died. Women had died. And Caleb had killed. All to ensure
their revenge would be carried out one day. Finally, their sights
were set on their target and Caleb seemed to be suffering from some
absurd crisis of conscience. One silly girl was trying to make him
question everything he and Rafiq had worked so hard to achieve. It
was absolutely asinine when Caleb put it in perspective. Kitten
might not be one for vengeance, but Caleb most certainly was.

Caleb kept an eye on the butler’s back as
they took the seemingly endless number of twists and turns that
would lead them to the others. He had no idea what the evening
would entail, but his hackles were already up and he would have no
pity for the next person who decided to trifle with him, even the
sniveling girl next to him. Caleb could scarcely repress a snort of
derision as he recalled the way Kitten had spat the word
murderer
in his direction. Yes, he was a murderer. He
reminded himself he could no longer afford to be soft with her. No
more leniency or favors. She would have to learn, right now, that
mercy ended with him.

The murmur of loud voices finally reached
Caleb’s ears and he was relieved to know he wouldn’t have to listen
to Kitten’s sobs echo around him much longer. At last, they reached
the other guests and the butler asked Caleb to wait while he let
the master of the house know they were joining the festivities.

Caleb didn’t know a lot about Felipe
Villanueva, other than the fact Rafiq obviously trusted him. Rafiq
had told him they had come to know each other in the years after
the coup in Pakistan when Rafiq’s general had taken power. They
were not, by Rafiq’s own admission, very close, but his mentor was
meticulous when it came to whom he decided to trust. Caleb didn’t
need any higher recommendation. He also, had no other choice
either.

Kitten, once again losing her composure,
pressed herself to Caleb’s back and wrapped her arms around him
from behind. Annoyed, he pressed his fingers into the insides of
her wrists until she released him. “Do not embarrass me in front of
these people again or I will be forced to make an example of you.
What did I ask you to do when you’re unsure of what is
expected?”

Kitten sobbed, rubbing her wrists, but had
enough sense to get into her rest position. Caleb was momentarily
satisfied when she was able to take slow breaths without drawing
attention to herself.

He stroked the top of her head and spoke in
a whisper only the two of them would be able to hear, “Good girl,
Kitten. Obey me and I’ll continue to see to your safety.” He felt
her nod beneath his hand. He couldn’t wait to be done with this
day, even as he dreaded what the next might bring.

A Mexican man in his late forties, with dark
hair, green eyes, and an impressive beard, made his way toward
Caleb and Kitten. He was dressed in an outlandish white suit and
his demeanor was vastly different from those around them. From the
general description Rafiq had given him, Caleb knew it had to be
Felipe. Only the owner of an estate such as the one they were
currently occupying would dare wear such an ostentatious suit to an
extravagant party. Caleb, in ill-fitting jeans and t-shirt, was
vastly underdressed and he was slightly self-conscious at his
disheveled appearance. He would have liked to meet the man on equal
footing.

“
Bueno!
You must be Mister C,” the
man says, his tone formal but light. “Mister R has told me very
good things about you. I am Felipe. Welcome to my home.”

Felipe’s accent was thick, but his words
remained clear enough to understand. Caleb extended his right hand
only after Felipe had offered his right hand first. They shook
hands firmly. Rafiq had long ago taught Caleb the importance of
never offering to shake hands first, or being the first man to
enter a room. It established a subtle, but important power dynamic
between two people meeting for the first time.

“
Buenas noches
,” Caleb offered in
greeting. He slowly drew his hand away.

“
Buenas noches
,” Felipe replied. His
face was strangely jovial and kind. Something Caleb would not
expect from a friend of Rafiq’s. However, appearances could be
deceiving as Caleb well knew and he was in no rush to make
judgments. Felipe’s eyes darted down to Kitten and his smile became
lecherous. “Please, use English. I like to practice whenever it is
possible. You must like to practice as well. Where is your accent
from, I cannot place it?”

Caleb tensed, “I’ve no idea what you’re
talking about.”

Felipe laughed and continued, “Is this her?
The girl you have been chasing all over Mexico?” He laughed, “She
doesn’t look like so much trouble. Then again, neither did my
little Celia, and she is a handful, that one.” He laughed again,
but there was a certain twinkle in his eye.

Caleb knew Felipe was very happy with his
little Celia
. Caleb could only hope
little,
did not
translate into
young
. Even he had his limits and Rafiq damn
well knew them. Then again, he had just walked in on Rafiq
committing a rape.

Caleb forced himself to smile. “Yes, this is
Kitten. I apologize for the way we are dressed. It was not by
choice.”

Felipe’s expression was inquisitive, but
Caleb offered no more information. After a few seconds, Felipe
continued the conversation. “Her face…your doing?”

Caleb was realizing that Felipe’s sense of
etiquette was less than conservative, even familiar which he didn’t
approve of at all. He was rather insulted at the man’s insinuation,
but also at the audacity of this stranger to ask him such a
question. Even if the house belonged to Felipe, as guests, Caleb
expected a little more. “No,” he answered coldly. “But I dealt with
them.”

Felipe smiled surreptitiously and nodded his
approval. “The other slaves are appropriately undressed according
to their owner’s wishes.” Caleb smiled stiffly, finding Felipe’s
unchecked mirth, and this conversation, somewhat grating. “One of
them has a tail! Poor girl has been begging to have it removed, but
Mr. B thinks it is too much fun. I have to agree.” He laughed
again. “It is not my place, even if I am the host, to tell you how
your Kitten should be dressed, but perhaps it would help you both
settle in if she were out of those clothes?” His eyes once again
landed on Kitten, surprisingly subdued.

Caleb’s ire was high, but he tried to remain
respectful in his dissenting opinion. “We are tired. Also, the girl
has been beaten very badly, as you can see. She isn’t ready yet,
perhaps another time.”

Felipe’s disappointment was obvious, “As you
say. Please join us and have some appetizers with wine. I am not
sure if Mr. R mentioned it, but I have been making use of the boy
that was brought here. I hope you do not mind, but he seemed
more…sensitive than the woman he was brought with. You don’t mind,
do you?”

Caleb felt heat rush down his spine. Of
course, he fucking minded. They were supposed to be his hostages,
not a damn party favor for Rafiq, Felipe, or anyone else who wanted
to have a go at them. However, Kitten seemed lacking in her thirst
for revenge and he’d shed enough blood to last him a while, so why
the hell should he care? “Consider him a gift. I only hope he’s
worthy of being kept in such luxury.” Caleb tried to keep the
sarcasm from his voice and only marginally succeeded.

Felipe smirked. The man was no one’s fool.
“You are very kind Mr. C. Please consider me your friend.”

Caleb nodded once as he followed Felipe past
his curious guests and toward a set of red, velvet chairs in the
corner.

“So you can see, but keep your privacy,”
Felipe gestured toward the chairs.

“Thank you,” Caleb offered as humbly as
possible, “I’m Caleb. Kitten is painfully aware of my name, so the
formality is not necessary on my account.” Caleb had no desire to
be called Mister all night.

Felipe looked down at Kitten and smiled. “As
you wish, Mr. Caleb,” he said and then stepped away to attend to
his other guests.

Caleb took a seat in one of the velvet
chairs and stroked Kitten’s hair when she quietly took her place
next to him on the floor. She had followed him through the crowd on
her hand and knees, carefully guarding her shoulder. Caleb sighed
deeply as he stroked her hair, comforting them both. He didn’t want
things to be so complicated, but the time for wants had passed.

Abruptly, Caleb heard the tinkling of a bell
and a petite Asian girl with raven hair and almond shaped eyes
commanded his attention. She crawled very slowly on her hands and
knees, but a cursory examination revealed the need for her hesitant
movements. The tinkling sound came from the tiny bell attached to
the leather collar she wore. In addition to the collar, she wore a
silver serving tray on her back, strapped across her midsection,
but allowing access to her otherwise naked body. On the tray, tall,
thin wine glasses were half filled with white wine.