The Lieutenant (Vengeful Empire #2)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

K ara

“Kara. Don’t you dare leave!” Havros’ voice boomed in the hallway. I could swear I felt the floor beneath my feet vibrating. “You don’t seem to remember that you belong to me.”

“Fuck you!” I yelled, yet didn’t waste a single second looking back to see if he was following me.

Of course he was.

He would never let me go. I was his. His possession. His kitten.

God! It was a term I’d come to loathe.

Even though I tingled all over from hearing his deep voice. Just like always. I’d tried so hard to escape, but the draw was too significant. I hadn’t been able to eat or sleep for weeks, thoughts of him consuming every moment.

I flew down the stairs, holding the metal rail with a death grip. I’d stolen the keys to his precious Ferrari. Why? Because I had no car, no method of escape without borrowing his sweet ride.

He roared like some animal from the top of the stairs. The sound reverberated in my ears, nearly tossing me into a panic attack. But I had to keep going. I had to get the hell away from him. If I didn’t manage to do so now, I’d never be able to.

Self-loathing festered inside as I continued bolting down the stairs, swinging around the turns, only once daring to look up the stairwell. He was there. I could feel his presence, the white-hot burn of electricity prickling my skin as it always did when he was around. I pounded my bare feet on the concrete stairs, my mind foggy as I tried to figure out where to go.

How could I get out of the country? I’d been stupid enough not to grab my passport and ID. I’d get nowhere. Someone had to help me.

“Ka-ra!” he bellowed. I’d never seen him this way. I’d never felt such obsession as I had the night before.

When he’d saved my life.

But I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t spend the rest of my life this way. I loved him. I hated him. I craved him.

How could this have happened? How could I have been so stupid to allow myself to fall so hard for a monster? He’d almost died. He’d almost been murdered because of who and what he was.

A notorious criminal.

A murderer.

I finally made it to the garage entrance, slamming both hands against the door and racing into the brightly lit space. Where had he parked? Oh, God. I hadn’t been paying attention, panic was still hovering over me in a dense, angry fog. Where? Where?

I spun in a circle, but knew I was running out of time. “Think. Think.” I took off running when I noticed the color red further down. That had to be his vehicle. It just had to be. With the keys in my hand, I pressed the key fob, my fingers trembling.

The slight blip with lights flashing drew my attention to the other side of the garage. I’d gone the wrong way.

A surge of energy swept through me, the rush of adrenaline from the chase pushing me forward.

Another sound.

A savage crash of the metal door as it was pitched against the wall.

Then footsteps.

I crouched down, taking several ragged breaths before peeking around the back of an SUV. There he was. All six foot three of him. Even in his moment of rage, he was still so handsome. The man reeked of power and sensuality.

The sudden quiet was almost as terrifying as his bouts of fury. I kept low, moving from vehicle to vehicle, listening for any change in direction.

When I heard nothing, not a footstep or an angry shout, I pressed my back against hard, cold metal. I was beginning to believe there was no way out of this.

“My sweet, precious gatáki . Come to me.”

His demeanor had completely changed. He was calm, so much so I almost moved into the open.

“I need my beautiful kitten. You know I can’t live without you.”

He could be so tender, so loving. I closed my eyes, uncertain what I should do.

“Come.”

His voice echoed, the deep, rich tone like smooth velvet. I was lightheaded, every muscle tense. If he found out… No, when he found out, I would never be able to escape. “No. Leave me alone. Please, Havros. I can’t do this.”

“You know I will never leave you alone. You are my everything, as I am yours. We are connected, you and I. We are as one.”

No. No. No!

I bolted forward, searching for the exit. Fuck the car.

A small wail pushed past my lips as I ran. Nothing was going to stop me.

Havros stepped in front of me, a wild look on his face. I skidded to a stop, trying to will my legs to work, to back up so I could continue running.

But he was too quick for me, grabbing me around the waist. As he pitched me over his shoulder, I started to scream. My disobedience was quickly met with two hard slaps on my backside.

“Be quiet, my love. I know you’re distraught. We will talk about this in privacy. I will protect you. I will destroy everyone who hurts you.”

“You already did that.” I was crazed, fear and trepidation crowding out all rational thoughts. While the horrible man had deserved his fate, I didn’t want my life to be this way. I couldn’t take it. I wouldn’t.

I wiggled in Havros’ hold, but exhaustion was almost all I had left. He was too big and too strong and I was too afraid he would make good on his promise to paint the city with blood. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I wasn’t that kind of woman.

Which was why I had to get away.

Havros took the steps two at a time, acting as if this was a normal course for our relationship.

“Why did you run, Kara?” There was such hurt in his voice, such sadness that tears formed in my eyes. I’d never wanted to hurt him.

I loved him.

“Because I’m afraid of you.” That was a lie. A lie! Why was I lying to him?

His breath hitched and he ran up the remainder of the stairs, taking long strides down the hallway back to his apartment. He locked the door, moving immediately toward the bedroom. As soon as he eased me onto my feet, I threw a brutal punch, skirting around him and flying toward the bedroom door.

He grabbed my wrist, yanking me backward and into his arms, instantly fisting my hair at the scalp. He lowered his head as he pulled mine back. His eyes were glowing, his chest heaving. I’d never seen him this way. “You have no reason to fear me, Kara. I will never hurt you. But I couldn’t stand by and allow what happened to go unpunished.”

“Please, Havros. Just get away from me.”

“You belong to me and I keep my promises. Anyone who touched you died.” I was no match for the man. He picked me up, walking with confidence toward the bed, our bed. The one we’d shared with passion for weeks. The very bed where I’d fallen in love with him.

He plopped down, yanking me over his lap as if I was nothing but a rag doll.

“Just let me go, Havros. Please.”

“I can’t and won’t do that, kitten. I thought you understood that you belong to me. Mine forever.”

“I’m just your possession. That’s it. I can’t live that way.”

“How could you think that?”

“Because that’s the way I feel.”

The ripping sound of seams splitting as he yanked my dress up to my waist made me cringe. I wiggled on his lap, doing everything I could to crawl off. He wrapped his long fingers around the elastic of my thong, tearing it off completely. “Then you have no idea.”

“Havros!” I moaned my opposition even as my core reacted. I was wet and hot, just like I was every time we made love.

The feel of his hands as he roamed them over my body was stimulating, my breath skipping even as I tried to ignore the sensations. He squeezed my butt cheek before tracing my spine with a single finger.

The vibrations humming through me were more electrified than before.

“You have no idea how I’ve suffered. The fear. The worry. I couldn’t lose you. Now you’re back and I will never allow anything to happen to you again.”

He brought his hand down on my naked bottom again and again. I was shocked because of his actions, yet wild with desire. The pain was ripe, breath-stealing, yet heat fizzled, electrifying my flesh. He’d spanked me before, but this time felt entirely different. He was in utter control of me, a reminder that I’d fallen under a crazy kind of spell.

I wanted him as much as he needed me.

The brutal spanking continued and when I almost managed to slide off his lap, he wrapped one leg around both of mine. My screams of protest were mixed with moans of desire. The feel of his throbbing cock pressed against my stomach was more incredible than ever. I craved my lips being wrapped around his thick shaft. I longed for him to fuck me savagely as he’d done so many times before.

As he started to caress my bruised and aching skin, I heard his dark laugh. “You yearn for my firm hand. Don’t you, little kitten?”

“Never!”

“How many times do I need to tell you that you’re a terrible liar?” To prove a point, he dipped his fingers to my pussy, driving them inside. My muscles clamped down immediately and I was bucking hard against him.

My single moan was incentive, Havros pushing his hand between my legs. His thumb had always worked magic, my clit pulsing the moment he swirled the thick digit around my tender tissue.

Everything became a blur as he thrust his fingers deep inside of me. I reared up, but he immediately pushed me down, almost immediately resuming the spanking. The moment was painful yet peaceful, the combination fucking with my mind.

I knew in my heart I would never be free of this man. Not in my mind or my heart.

After several additional brutal strikes, he took a deep breath.

“Everything you are, your body and soul, your heart and mind belongs to me. When will you finally accept that?”

The word ‘never’ was on my mind, but that would just be another lie. He controlled me.

He owned me.

If only I could hate him. If only…

He pulled me from his lap, standing at the same time. When he tossed me down onto the bed, I was shocked from his force. I scrambled to climb off the comforter, but he simply pushed me down again, reaching for his belt.

The bed was still the way we’d left it from the night before, covers pushed to the bottom, the sheet in crumpled wads. After he’d pulled down his zipper, he reached for me once again, easily jerking the dress over my shoulders. His expression remained dark and demanding as he pitched it aside.

Without undressing, he crawled onto the bed, wrapping his hand around my throat. “Mine.”

A single word, a culmination of everything we’d been through.

He kicked my legs apart, planting his other hand beside my head. Unable to help myself, I reached for his cock. Once my fingers were wrapped around his shaft, I stroked him several times while he locked eyes with mine.

“Tell me you want me, kitten. Don’t hold back.”

“I hate you.”

“Another lie.”

Havros didn’t wait for me to change my mind, pressing his cockhead at my entrance. He grabbed both arms, yanking them over my head and clasping one hand around both my wrists. As soon as he pinned them to the bed, he thrust the entire length of his cock inside.

I arched my back, the involuntary move just like I’d always done. A fevered excitement tore through me as he pulled out, driving into me again. The bed was jarred, my breath stolen as he continued to repeat his brutal actions.

The intrusion was savage yet wonderful, every synapse in my body alive and in motion. I remained breathless as he fucked me, struggling with his hold as he stared down at me. He continued hammering into me, almost immediately driving me to the point of an orgasm.

I fought my desires, but my body betrayed me as it always did. Seconds later, I was lost to the pleasure he’d always brought, my mind spinning as ecstasy rolled through me. I’d tried to tell myself I didn’t want this or him, but all was lost.

He was indeed my everything.

“You feel so good. Come again. I need to feel your sweet juice coating my cock.”

My body reacted to his sultry tone, another orgasm sweeping through me.

“Oh…”

“My good girl. My very good girl.” As his body stiffened, I stared into his eyes. His breathing was ragged, his strokes even harder and faster, hunger fueling the powerful man. There was no denying the connection. There was no sense in running.

He’d only hunt me down.

Havros threw his head back with a loud roar. The sound of a beast who’d captured his prey. He continued driving his hips forward, filling me so completely I rode another wave of bliss. His thrusts became even harder, picking up the momentum. His jaw clenched, his mouth twisting, and the sudden feel of hot liquid erupting deep inside caused me to turn my head. I couldn’t look into his eyes any longer for fear he’d see right through me.

He collapsed on top of me, the full weight of him sucking the air out of me. I was still tingling, but the emotions rolling through me overpowered the joy of our shared memories. Now the worry and frustration crowded in. Nightmares were real, demons always lurking in the shadows. That’s all I could think about as I stared at the man I loved.

I closed my eyes, barely aware he’d lifted his head until I heard his husky whisper. “Why did you try and leave me, kitten? Why?”

“I already told you. I’m afraid of you and what you’ll do.”

“Don’t lie to me, Kara. I know you too well. There’s another reason you left and you are going to tell me. Please. Don’t do this. Trust me.”

I’d always told myself I could never trust him, but I did with my life.

And my heart.

I finally opened my eyes, staring into his. Nothing between us was real, the weeks spent together a blissful fantasy. At least I’d thought so. The ache in my heart was more intense than before. As I opened my mouth to finally give him the answer he wanted, tears slipped down both cheeks, rolling ever so slowly toward the sheets.

“I love you, Havros, but this can’t work. It just… can’t.” Even as I was denying him with words, a post-orgasm haze washed over me. Every inch of my body continued to tingle.

“Why. Tell me why.” He smoothed hair from my face, darting his eyes back and forth. “I deserve to know.”

“Because,” I choked out. “Because…” Once again, I squeezed my eyes shut and blurted out the truth.

The horrible, damning truth.