Chapter 3: Settling an Old Score

Tomas

Natalia Mikhailov stared at me with those doe eyes of hers and I laughed on the inside at her naivety. Ever since the sixth grade, she’d looked down on me and thought herself above reproach. Bet she thought she was coming here to meet the man of her dreams. I’d held my tongue, or rather my fingers, from what I really wanted to say to her online.

Pretended to be a wuss. Pretended I cared what she thought.

What had she said in ninth grade when I got up the courage to ask her out? Her words still rang in my ears.

“Why would I go out with a loser like you? I’m not into fat guys.”

I wasn’t bitter. No. Everyone was fucking entitled to their own opinion. I was doing a job. Like this one that Golubev had paid me handsomely to take care of. Kidnap Natalia and hold on to her until they could convince her father to vote how they wanted. Easy. And it gave me time for a little justice against the girl who had turned my life inside out.

Her face paled as she glanced from me back to the sugar packets. She wouldn’t look at me as she licked her lips. “Y-you’re kidding.”

“I never kid,” I growled.

Her mouth opened and a squeak came out. She began to shake as she tried to force herself to get up from the table but couldn’t get her legs to work.

“I can’t be here. I need my medication. Please don’t kill me,” she whimpered, looking across the table at me with her big eyes and trembling lips.

And I knew it took all her strength to get the words out. She shouldn’t have sat down with me. Whatever possessed her to do that?

My charm?

My smile?

That shouldn’t have been enough for her to put herself in danger like this. She should have run from the moment she realized who I was, but she didn’t. She really thought I gave a fuck about serial killers or her.

I used the one tool I had to lure her here: her curiosity and that damn serial killer discussion group I infiltrated.

I leaned in close to her and whispered, “There’s no escape. Once we’re alone, you’re mine.”

* * *

Her scream came out as a hiss of air, and I couldn’t resist adding to her suffering. To see the arrogance in her eyes, for all the times she laughed and put me down, to be outweighed by the power I now held over her. “Relax. This is your secret fantasy... a kidnapping Jeffery Dahmer style.”

The effect I had wanted showed in the widening of her eyes, but she slumped down in the seat, unable to get her arms and legs to work. Payback was bliss.

“That’s okay, Natalia. Let’s get you out of here.” I went over to her and grabbed her by her hips, hauling her forward.

“Yousonofabitch,” she slurred, but I could make out what she was saying.

I hauled her out of the booth and into my arms.

“Oh, my,” the waitress said, coming up to us with the check in her hand. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I gave her one of my famous panty-dropping grins. “She’s recovering from the flu and I’ve got to get her home to rest. Like most women, she pushes herself way too hard.”

With uncertainty in her eyes, the waitress looked from me to Natalia. “I don’t know if you leaving with her is a good idea.”

“No problem.” I set Natalia back down and handed the waitress a hundred-dollar bill. “Got any change for this?”

“Ah, sure.” She left but looked over her shoulder at me, and I gave her a salute.

When they looked back at the camera footage, they’d discover I had stopped the feed before I even walked in. As soon as the waitress went to the manager in the kitchen, I hiked Natalia up under my arm and used my werewolf power to blur out of there.

The only thing the patrons would’ve seen was something faster than their eyes could track. They said a magician’s hands were quicker than the eyes, but a werewolf in human form was twice as fast.

Outside, the sounds of the Manhattan streets assaulted my ears and I was glad for the darkness. It was easier to blur with her in my arms and avoid any traffic or other cameras. Still, I made it look like she was drunk and hanging onto me in case anyone saw us. I pulled her closer as she tried to struggle against my hold. Her fresh scent of espresso with too much sugar and her tantalizing floral perfume taunted me.

I grinned, enjoying how I felt this time and how it added to the thrill of making her freak out. Excitement pulsed in my veins as I carried her to my Bentley. She'd never believe this was my car, she'd probably think I stole it. But I'd been so successful, working jobs, that I had my own company of men I employed and my own damn island. 

She moaned, eyebrows furrowing as she tried to get me in focus. I couldn’t wait until after the drug wore off. Part of me wanted to take her and possess her in the way I’d imagined every day since ninth grade.

I got her to my car in the parking space I’d paid for ahead of time for three-times the amount. After I tossed her into the backseat, I jogged around and climbed into the driver’s seat. My Porsche purred as we sped down the road. The boat was waiting for us and I needed to get her to my private island near Fort Lauderdale before she woke up. Fighting a hellcat without solid ground beneath my feet wasn’t my idea of fun. She’d be more than happy to push me overboard and leave me to the sharks. Not that I wouldn’t be tempted to do the same to her.

At a red light, I slammed the brakes and grunted. No. Not even for her could I break my vow of never physically harming a woman. I glanced back at Natalia, softly snoring and drooling over my plush leather seat. Light graced her face, flashing on and off with the rhythm of the traffic signals.

She looked so innocent, so beautiful. But I knew what a bitch she could be.

The light turned green and I revved the engine, telling myself not to get tangled up in her looks or her lies. She’d no doubt tell me whatever it was she thought I wanted to hear to let her go.

But it was the payment I was looking for. Both to finally have power over her and what happened, and second, the money I was going to get for helping the Golubevs convince her father to vote how they wanted. The bonus for me was she’d never forgive me for this, and I was just fine with that.

I coasted down the street to the docks, parking my car at the edge of the available parking. All the lights on the boat were out except for the loading dock. I jumped out of the car and opened her door. I brought my hand to the back of her neck, pressing down to make her stand, but she flopped around like a sleepy fish. If things went south, she might run out again, but at least she wouldn’t be able to run very far in a tiny dress of hers showing off her long, tanned legs.

The harbor was deserted for four blocks and I didn’t need to be subtle any longer, so I hoisted her over my shoulder. She felt so light in my arms. I jostled her up higher on my shoulder and hiked with her up the ramp. The water below us rippled, reflecting the moonlight on the waves.

My nostrils flared at the salty scent of sea air and fish stink which lingered.

The crew knew better than to ask me any questions, and the captain saluted me when I stepped on board.

I headed to the guest cabin, where I’d already prepared for this moment.

In case Natalia woke up before we reached the island, I zip-tied her ankles and wrists, then laid her on the bed. Dark curls tumbled around her shoulders before clinging to her multiple freckles, and her ankles turned red at the pressure of being bent.

She was so beautiful it hurt. She looked like an angel, but I knew she was a hellion. And she was going to be so pissed when she woke up. That thought brought a smile to my face. Revenge was so sweet.

* * *

The next morning, the boat sailed away from the island with the sun as it rose over the horizon, its rays spilling on top of the water with oranges and golds casting a warm glow over everything in view. Natalia softly snored with low moans that made me wonder what the hell she was dreaming as she lay in the guest bed of my beach house. I’d spent a fortune on this island home, but it was all mine. Who cared that it was paid for with the blood of the mafia’s ordered killings. I slept just fine.

Having a hard time resisting the pull to see if Natalia’s lips were as soft as they looked, I stood and walked to the kitchen to make some coffee. She was going to have one hell of a headache when she woke up, but that was better than her thrashing and trying to claw my eyes out when I kidnapped her.

Even the aroma of the coffee brewing couldn’t keep my mind off her flowery scent. I wondered if her being here for a week would change it. That would be how long before the vote on who would be the next godfather in the Solntsevskaya Bratva.

My mind wandered with the possibilities of torturing her as I dressed and sat at the kitchen table, trying to read.

After my second cup, a groan sounded from the guest bedroom, then a yelp.

A smile twitched at the corners of my mouth and I slowly returned to the room.

She glared at me from the floor with hatred in her bright blue eyes. “What the holy fuck, Tomas?”

“You said you liked serial killers.” I shrugged. “I wanted to see if you meant it.”

Her face paled, but she cleared her throat. “Y-you proved your point, now cut me loose.” She drew herself up straight and offered me a brave smile, though I could see fear radiating off her in waves. I wanted to grab her and hold her and never let her go, but she had to understand that this wasn’t some weak-ass game she was playing at home with friends on F******k. This was real life, and real life always had consequences.

“Afraid I’m not going to be able to do that.” I cleared my throat. “Not without some rules and your promise to obey them.”

She snorted. “Fuck you.” But tears filled her eyes and she shook her head. I knew better than to trust her crocodile tears.

“Well then...” I moved to the door.

“Wait, wait.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly, whilst trying to find some control over herself. Her gaze dropped to my chest and she pressed her shoulders forward like she was trying to shrink into herself. “I have to pee. Please.”

“Okay.” I shrugged and hoisted her over my shoulder. I carried her to the walk-in shower and set her down. Then I backed out. “Go ahead.”

“You ass.” She hobbled forward, holding her tied wrists up. “Take these off.”

“Since you asked so nicely.” I closed the glass door, sealing her in. “Be sure and rinse off when you’re done.”

“Jesus Christ! Just shoot me!”

I stood there and watched her burst from tame to nuclear. My cock couldn’t help but then return to its normal position. Fuck, she aroused me in ways that had me considering joining her in the shower. Would she like what I had planned with her last night if I hadn’t knocked her out? Would she have put up a fight? I didn’t give a damn, she was in my fucking hands now. Her life was mine to do whatever the fuck I wanted with it.

Natalia Mikhailov was mine for a whole week. A woman everyone wanted. A woman every man wanted to fuck. But for now, she was mine.

“I’ll check on you later.” I walked out of the bathroom with her hurling insults that would make a sailor blush. Her screams followed me down the hallway.

“I have friends in high places, asshole.”

I shook my head and smiled at her bullshit-spewing. Other than her father being connected to a mafia boss, she was a college girl. She needed to watch me slit someone’s throat and walk away without giving a shit about her pain or fear or tears. Show her that she couldn’t control me. That I was dangerous and not to be trifled with.

The thought of her watching me kill made my cock throb painfully in my jeans, and my jaw clenched even tighter.

What the hell would she think if she had a cock in that sweet mouth of hers? I’m guessing she’d lose her fucking mind as she sucked me off. How her perfect mouth would wrap around my cock.

Shit. No more fucking thoughts like that.

She was smart. Really smart. Maybe too smart. Before I could fuck her like she needed to be fucked, I needed to knock her down a peg or two. Thinking of how I'd let her go last night and her reaction, my wolfish rage simmered hotly within, making knocking her down a peg an easy task. There was a sadistic streak in her I wanted to exploit.

I wanted to watch her melt at my touch so fucking badly.

I shook my head and clenched my teeth. “Stop thinking about fucking your hostage.”

The term felt degrading and I was surprised at the sudden sting of how I’d said it.

Fuck, she hadn’t even been around me a full day and she was already messing me up inside. But she didn’t know shit about me, and I intended to keep it that way.