I knew it was a dream. But that didn't stop me from enjoying it again. Anytime I could relive a full-blown fantasy come to life was something I was going to take advantage of. She slapped my ass just as I had slapped hers. Not quite the rocket launcher of the express elevator that had taken us to Ryker's penthouse apartment, we descended at a much more leisurely rate. My hand still cupped her ass. Warmed the skin I was going to paddle. I was harder than a fucking steel spike, but I would be winning this little bet the girls had devised. The doors finally opened into the garage. A cold blast of air tempering my body for a brief second. I inhaled deeply as I walked us to my car. "How drunk are you?" I asked. "Not so drunk I can't get you to beg."I smiled. "What's ten multiplied by -""Shove your math up your ass, Foster. You don't want to play with me, fine. But I will be getting satisfaction tonight. You're welcome to join, but I don't actually need you."My teeth
I stood with my ear pressed against the steel door. Tried to slow my breathing so I could pick up any sound other than the heartbeat that was thumping through my ears. What the hell was going on? And why was I supposed to be quiet?My face still ached from the hard blow of Arkady's hand. I pushed back the tears that wanted to form. He was nothing to me. Nothing but a means of escape. The fact that he was sometimes nice should hold no bearing. I needed to remember that he was doing a job. Even if he wasn't always an asshole, I was still a captive here. I had to admit that having him in my corner was really the only positive I'd been able to find. That he was willing to stand in the gap for me...it meant I could relax. If only for just a little while. And I needed that. Well, I wanted that. That comfort. That space to breathe. But it certainly wasn't a need. I needed to stay alive. I needed to get out of here. Those were true needs. As I stood at the door, I heard muted ton
I forced myself to watch. To remember what would happen to me if I went against these men before it was time. To remind myself that there are worse things than death. As I stood at the door, I found myself praying for the first time in a very long time. To a God I wasn't sure I believed in any longer. Protect her mind, dear Lord. Her body can heal. Protect her mind and her spirit. Keep that fire alive within her. After what felt like years, but I knew was no longer than maybe an hour, the bosses were done with her. They zipped up, rolled out as if they'd just taken a short lunch break instead of destroying a woman's body. Her sense of self. "Uberi yeye. Podumay snova dat' yey privilegii, my zastavim tebya vzyat' yeye," Barrikad said, a slight grin on his face. Clean her up. Think to give her privileges again, we will make you take her.I clenched my fist to keep from bashing him into dust. How they'd found out about the privileges in the first place, I had no idea. But her c
I pushed through the door of the safe house I'd set up almost ten years ago. One of my mentors had told me to make sure I always had bolt holes. Even when I left the Agency. Damned if she hadn't been right. Checking the low tech security system, I finally let out a breath when I saw that it was unchanged from the last time I was here. I threw my shit on the table, sat down on one of the dusty chairs. Twenty-four hours behind her. The knowledge sliced through me again. I knew the longer it took to find her, the less likely I'd find her in one piece. Thankful I'd slept on the plane, I started pulling stuff from my bag. My laptop set up and my phone acting as a hot spot, I was on the line with Nik and Turo as soon as the call connected. "I'm picking up a couple of burners. Once I have the numbers, I'll make sure you get them. Please tell me we have at least cursory information on the group Papa mentioned.""Good afternoon to you, too, Foster," Nik said. "Can the shit, Nik
I stared at the door. Wondered what had spooked Arkady so badly. Did it have to do with the men who'd just been in here? Were they coming back?The breath backed up in my lungs as the bottom of my belly dropped away. My heart started to pound as every single ache and pain in my body shrieked in remembered agony. I shook my head. I couldn't go through that again. Not ever. But certainly not right now. I huddled against the wall, my gaze glued to the door. Air struggled to penetrate my lungs. My lungs pinched and shook inside my chest. They couldn't come back. They couldn't come back. Just as the edges of my vision were starting to go black, I sucked in a huge breath. Slapped myself across the face. "Get your shit together, T." Almost as if I was standing outside myself, I nodded to the invisible me. I could do this. I could get control. I could bend destiny and fate to my will. Taking another deep breath, I pulled it deep into my lungs. Held it for as long as I could. Push
The harsh grating of the door had me launching from my spot. My arms and legs were numb, not to mention I couldn't tell if I still had an ass. It didn't matter. Adrenaline was my friend. As soon as a dark head of hair passed by the edge of the door, I pounced. Beating at the person's head and shoulders, I fought like a woman possessed. My breath started soughing in and out of my lungs as my vision blinked between white and black. "Damnit, Talia," Arkady finally said as we crashed to the floor. He had me stretched out underneath him with barely any effort. His golden eyes were hard. "What the fuck was that?"I spat in his face. He leaned down, wiped it over my tits. Asshole. "Do that again, and I'll-""What? Rape me?" I bit out, shoving my face up into his. His expression shut down as his face went white. He backed up, let me move. "No. I told you, I won't rape you. That doesn't change just because three days have passed."I blinked. My mind went blank. "What?"Si
After shoving one of the burner phones under a familiar park bench, I sat and stared at the dark sky. Waiting was one of the worst parts of this job. But my contact wasn't willing to be seen talking to me. I understood it. I could even appreciate it. But it pissed me off to have to be at the mercy of someone else. That Talia was effectively at the mercy of someone else. In so many more ways than one. I just prayed that she was holding out. Holding on. I'm coming for you, Talia. Just hold on for me, hellcat. Give me time to find you. Part of me scoffed at the idea of being someone's-anyone's-hero. But that Talia Amatucci was the one who literally depended on me, grinded my guts. I'd given up the cloak and dagger of life or death when I left the Agency. While I still worked in counterintelligence for the corporate world, the stakes weren't nearly as high. Nor as deadly. I still took my work seriously, but no one died if I got the information wrong. Or didn't react fast eno
Shoving the door open once I had the lock free of its newly eroded casing, I called out. I really didn't want a repeat of the last time I'd come in here without announcing myself. "It's Arkady."A choked soft sob. "Come in."I gritted my teeth and hardened my heart against the relief I heard in her smoky voice. Getting tangled up in the trouble she represented was not in my game plan. Either short- or long-term. Helping her at all had already gotten her severely punished. I wasn't sure either of us were prepared for her to be punished again. "I've got your food for the day." Turning slightly, I saw that she was huddled on the bed. The blankets were still in a neat pile at the foot of the mattress. She nodded, but didn't get up. "Thank you."I slid the tray onto the bed. Questions and promises pushed at the back of my throat. Demanded they be voiced. Swallowing them all, I simply nodded and turned back to the door. "Knock on the door when you're done. I'll take the tray."