Chapter 4

KINLEY

Tina had returned with me to my room where she had left me.

I took a long shower before putting on a pair of shorts and a simple top before going into the room.

I paused when I saw Gianni sitting at the dresser, a glass of amber liquid in his hand.

His black jacket was gone and the first few buttons of his black shirt were undone, revealing a glimpse of the tattoos on his tanned chest.

He watched me silently as I walked over to climb onto the bed.

"Those attacks, do they happen often?" He asked suddenly. 

I shrugged, pulling my knees to my chest before pulling the comforter over myself, "I, uh, sometimes. It depends on my level of anxiety I guess," I felt uncomfortable speaking to my captor about this.

He took a sip of his drink before pouring more into the glass from a bottle on the dresser.

I took a breath as he came over to sit on the bed.

He wasn't close to me, but I could feel my chest begin to tighten again.

"Here," he held out the glass to me, "I'm pretty sure you need it more."

I stared at it before taking it in shaking hands and taking a sip, making a face as the liquid burnt down my throat. 

GIANNI

"I, uh, I'm a cruel man but I do not condone rape. I'm sorry for what happened tonight," I had never needed to apologize before and I was sure that I was doing a terrible job.

Even as the words left my mouth, I wondered what had gotten into me. 

Kinley nodded, "Okay."

"I should go. You should rest," I got to my feet, "I'll leave the bottle. Talon will come to check on you."

She nodded again, she looked like she wanted to thank me, but she also wanted to slap me; it was my fault that she had been put through this, I knew.

"You look so gentle. So meek. So innocent."

Kinley glared at me, I could see the anger rising in her, wait, was I seriously getting turned on right now?

"You're disgusting."

I smirked and returned to my spot on the bed, "Do you really believe that Gattina?" I leaned over so that I was caging her against the headboard, "Or is that what you're trying to convince yourself of?"

I could tell she was both terrified and intrigued by me.

The lust in her eyes was clear.

"You've kidnapped me and locked me in a room. Tonight I was almost," she shook her head, not wanting to say the words, "I was in danger tonight because of you."

Anger flashed in my eyes at her words, "I did not put you in any danger!"

"If you didn't drag me here I wouldn't have been in any danger at all! By bringing me here you put me at risk and you know that."

I brought a hand to her chin, running my thumb over her bottom lip lightly as I spoke, "I brought you here as collateral against your dear cousin's debt. And as I told him, you will be safe. And I keep to my word, Kinley. That man who tried to hurt you tonight will be dealt with accordingly."

Kinley lifted a hand, swatting mine away, "Don't fucking touch me." Although her words did not waver, a small part of her somewhat enjoyed my touch, I could see it.

I might have been a scary person, but she was still a hot-blooded woman at the end of the day, and I was a very gorgeous man.

I chuckled, "So feisty, yet so vulnerable. Like a wild horse simply waiting to be tamed."

Kinley scoffed, "You're sick."

"Am I? What is it that makes me sick? The desire to take ahold of you and force you into submission, perhaps?"

Her cheeks flushed and she turned her face away from me, "Get out."

"I will have you, and I will have you exactly how I want you," I got to my feet once again and walked out of the room.

KINLEY 

I let out a shaky breath and downed the alcohol in my glass just as Talon walked in.

"How are you feeling?"

I shrugged a shoulder, "I'm being held captive and as if that isn't traumatic enough I was almost raped tonight. So I'm doing just great."

"Sorry," he smiled sheepishly and took a seat at the foot of the bed, "Pretty stupid, question, huh?"

I nodded, "Yeah, pretty much."

"I guess you can tell I'm not really used to making small talk then?"

"Yeah, I'd say it's obvious."

"Look, I know that I tied you up and had a part in bringing you here, but I want you to know that you can trust me. And that I will do my best to make sure he doesn't hurt you."

I frowned, "Who? Gianni?"

Talon nodded, "Yes. I've known him for years and I care about him, but he's a cruel sadistic bastard with some nasty tendencies towards his women."

"I'm definitely not going to be one of his women, so I wouldn't worry much about that."

"I hope not, I'd hate to see him hurt you the way he's hurt, Tina. He has a way of breaking people."

"Talon, you seem so different from him, why are you even involved in this?" 

He sighed heavily, "Gianni took me in when I had nothing and no one. He has been a very good friend to me. Maybe one day I'll get the honor to tell you the story under more normal circumstances."

"I guess we will have to see how long it takes Dom to get his debt sorted out then."

Talon shook his head, "Dom won't be able to pay off his debt soon enough. You're going to be here for years if Gianni doesn't come to his senses."

I felt my chest tighten at his words, "What? What do mean?"

"Kinley, your cousin owes Gianni a lot of money. Even without the interest piling up it would be impossible to get that kind of money."

"That doesn't make sense, Talon. Then why would Gianni take me?"

"Kinley, he took you to scare Dom. To play mind games with him. He was planning on killing you, but the way he reacted tonight, I'm more worried that he might have some sort of interest in you now, and trust me when I say that if I am right, he will never let you leave this place."

I felt my skin prickle at his words. 

And once again I was left with an overwhelming sense of fear.

              ~•~

Translation

Language - Italian 

Gattina - Kitten