Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
O liver
Maybe he was too rough with her.
Oliver silently watched as Londyn quickly dressed and curled up on the opposite seat as far away from him as she could. She even refused to look in his direction, instead turning her face to the window. But he could see the tears tracking down her cheeks, and they annoyed him.
Or maybe it was more that they bothered him, and that was annoying. This girl, this goddamn girl, was too fragile for this world. Too sweet and fucking innocent for the things he had planned. Maybe he should do as she wished and slit her throat when he was done with her. It would be a kindness. A mercy killing from a man who barely knew the meaning of the word. Would extinguishing her light exonerate him? Erase all the bad shit he’d done over the years?
Ending her life was far more merciful than allowing Ruel and Erik to resell her to an even crueler master. Londyn would never survive a second auction, let alone another hunt. Speaking of which, how in the hell had she even discovered the existence of the Russians’ underground operation, anyway? One of the largest organizations of its kind, it was a closely guarded secret reserved for some of the most powerful men in the country.
“Who told you about the auction?” Oliver abruptly asked her.
Londyn startled at the sudden question but did not answer. Her lips thinned, and her arms tightened their grip around her knees as she drew them closer to her body.
Oliver ground his teeth. Stubborn little dove, she’d soon learn that his will was much greater than hers. There were so many delicious ways of getting what he wanted from her.
“Londyn,” he intoned with deceptive calmness. “Do not make the mistake of believing I will grow tired of playing with you anytime soon. If I am constantly required to force you to do what I want, to make you obey me in all things will only cause you misery. Now, before you learn how unpleasant I can be when I’m angry. How did you find out about the auction? Who told you?”
Londyn’s gray eyes flashed like lightning. She glared at him and then snapped, “No one told me. I found out what I wanted to know on my own.”
“On your own?” Oliver’s head tilted, an eyebrow arching high. “That doesn’t seem possible.”
“It wasn’t that difficult. I went on the dark web and found what I needed to know. We discussed it in my criminal-psychology class last semester. My professor said you could find anything you wanted there and told us how to do it. I searched for private auctions where the organization’s reputation and reports of the women’s safety were stellar. I bypassed those that gave any indication of being involved with human trafficking.” Chewing her bottom lip, she shrugged her shoulders. “Obviously, I got that part wrong. I should have delved deeper. Researched others before taking the first offer thrown out there.”
Oliver frowned. “It was very foolish of you, Londyn. The people running these auctions, like those at Diamond Lake Ranch, hell, people like me, can never be trusted. They will take and take and leave you with nothing. You’ll end up being a pawn. A toy for their amusement while you are destroyed in the process.”
Londyn met his gaze, the soft gray depths liquid with tears of frustrated anger. “I learned that lesson a long time ago, Mister Winter. The depravity of men is not new to me. I am very aware of the monsters in this world.”
“You have no idea what kind of monster you’ve been sold to, Londyn, nor have you ever experienced what I have planned for you. But you will see soon enough.” His voice roughened as he swallowed the rest of the bourbon in the glass. “I promise you that.”
Londyn sat curled-up on the seat, facing away from the gates as they slowly swung open to admit the car. She could not see the long driveway ahead of them or the coach house reserved for the use of his security and household staff. She showed no interest that they had reached their destination. Oliver wondered if she was possibly shutting down on him.
He had purchased this house and property nearly a year earlier, specifically for its remoteness and the security measures already in place. While the previous owners had tastes similar to his—both in decor and sexual proclivities—Oliver had never brought a woman to Big Sky Cabin before today. He preferred utilizing the property as a private retreat. Londyn would be the first to experience all the pain and pleasure in the well-appointed playroom built into the mountain’s base beneath the main house. Thinking of her entirely at his mercy with no intervention from outside parties or restrictions enforced by private clubs had Oliver’s cock hardening with anticipation.
It was another fifteen minutes before the cabin came into view, and as the limo pulled around the circular driveway, Londyn’s gaze slid to meet his.
“Is this yours?”
“It is. Before you consider making a run for it, be aware that the woods surrounding the cabin are just as dense and thick as those surrounding Diamond Lake Ranch. My security team is far more diligent.”
“Who else lives here?” Londyn asked softly.
“No one. I come here when I want to shut out the world,” Oliver replied in a brusque tone.
Londyn’s gaze dropped to Oliver’s hands. “So, everything here belongs to you?”
He gave her a tight smile. “Yes. Now, that includes you.”
She said nothing more as Joey opened the door and extended a hand to help her exit. A possessive twinge assailed Oliver when Londyn accepted the limo driver’s assistance. Fuck. Even that innocent gesture was almost more than he could bear to witness.
After climbing out of the limo, Oliver brushed past Londyn and bounded up the stone-terraced steps of the cabin. Keying in the code that unlocked the front door, he motioned for her to follow him. He watched as she glanced at Joey, who was gathering the luggage from the limo’s trunk and knew exactly what she was thinking. She thought she could establish some kind of ally. Someone who could help her escape this predicament.
But she would find little sympathy or commiseration in Joey. The man wasn’t nearly as sadistic as Malcom, but his loyalty to the Winter family was unwavering. The same could not be said for Oliver’s former right-hand man. Malcolm had been like a wild animal and controlling him had been difficult. His death at Kingston’s hands was justified. If he was still alive and tried assaulting Londyn in the same manner he had attacked Ava Blue, Oliver knew he would have tortured the man for days and days and in much more creative ways than Kingston had devised.
“Londyn. I’m waiting.” Oliver snapped his fingers as if summoning a wayward pet, knowing it would piss her off.
Londyn’s eyes narrowed, but she straightened her shoulders and obediently trudged up the steps to enter the house. Joey followed behind her, setting the bags down in the spacious foyer.
“Want me to carry these up to your rooms, boss?” Joey asked respectfully.
“No. I’ll manage it from here.”
“Need me for anything else?” Joey asked with a small smile.
“Not for a few days, at least. Feel free to go into town if you like or stay at the coach house. I’ll let Miss Miller know when I need her services.”
“Thanks, boss.”
Joey closed the front door behind him, leaving Oliver and Londyn alone. She quickly retrieved her small duffle bag, clutching it to her midsection like a shield.
“Who is Miss Miller?” Her gaze darted around the luxurious foyer.
“My housekeeper. She stays at the coach house when I come here.”
“Oh.” Londyn blinked as Oliver untangled her bag from her grip. He cupped her elbow in his hard hand.
“Come with me. I’ll show you where you will sleep.”
He guided her down the hallway, past the enormous great room, with its wall of windows and expansive view overlooking the valley. A stunning staircase constructed of deer antlers led to the cabin’s upper floors. Oliver grabbed her hand, pulling her up the wide steps until they reached a landing and a corridor lined by multiple doors. The hallway curved around a bend.
“Down there, at the end of another hallway,” he gestured toward the furthest end of the corridor, which curved around the bend and continued out of sight, “are my rooms. This one will be yours.” Pushing open one door, he let her enter the spacious bedroom first. He dropped her bag into an overstuffed chair.
“I have my own room?”
Her surprise amused Oliver. He nodded, leaning against the doorjamb as she moved to the center of the airy space. It was tastefully decorated in natural shades of ivory and pale green. Mounded high with decorative pillows, a four-poster king-sized bed made of lodgepole pines provided an obvious focal point. An attached bath with granite countertops in shades of brown and cream and a matching, glassed-in shower was also well appointed with every amenity she might require.
“I won’t cage you, Londyn, unless necessary.” Oliver’s gaze drilled hers. “Will it be necessary?”
Her head moved in a short, jerky shake, her lips tight. Oliver stalked toward her, closing the distance she had placed between them.
“There is a cage in the playroom, and I thought of placing you in it. But if you are a good girl and cause no trouble, you may sleep in here.”
Her lips tightened even more with his words. “Playroom?”
Oliver’s mouth twisted with a smile. “You’ll see soon enough. In the meantime, you will stay where I put you. Do you understand?”
Londyn nodded slowly, and Oliver could practically see her mind turning with a thousand questions. Sliding his hand around the nape of her neck, he forced her to look up at him. Her breath hitched as he handled her, her body taut with apprehension.
He was so much larger than she was. Taller. Wider. More muscular. At six foot five and two-hundred-and-fifty pounds, he towered over her. She was terrified of him, and while that was usually cause for delight, the unease in her soft gray eyes was also mildly disturbing. Oliver craved that fear, but he wanted it in a sensual setting with Londyn. He wanted her off-balance, wondering what he might do to her body. He wanted her writhing with need and frightened that he wouldn’t let her come on his dick.
“Good.” Squeezing her neck as a reminder to behave, Oliver stepped back before surrendering to his base urges. Goddamn. He wanted to throw her on that bed, tie her down and fuck her until she was screaming his name. “Freshen up if you need to. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”
A quick check of his phone revealed several missed calls from Kingston. Oliver’s silence no doubt worried his older brother, but the conversation he knew was imminent was not one he wanted Londyn to overhear. After keying in the code to his suite of rooms, he entered and went to the attached bathroom. He set the cell phone on the counter and tugged his shirt over his head. The bandaging over the wound remained intact, and Oliver peeled it back slightly to check for further bleeding. There was no fresh seepage, but it was best to keep it covered. At least it didn’t require stitches.
A smile tugged at his lips when he remembered Londyn threatening him with the paring knife. She was an intriguing contradiction. A mix of both innocence and fierceness. Even more appealing was her intoxicating response when he played with her. She enjoyed every minute of it, but the shame was obviously something she couldn’t reconcile.
If Londyn was conflicted over what he’d done so far, Oliver could only imagine how she would survive their future interactions. He planned on pushing her to the very limits of endurance. Possessing her completely would be the ultimate erotic experience. He damned sure intended on enjoying making her his new little toy.
His phone buzzed, vibrating against the countertop. Fuck. It was Kingston. Oliver placed the call on speaker, answering it as he pulled his shirt back on.
“What’s up?”
“What the hell have you done, O?” Kingston’s tone was low and intense. He was pissed.
Oliver rolled his eyes. Raking a hand through his hair, he checked his reflection in the vanity mirror. “What are you talking about?”
“You know damn well what I’m talking about,” Kingston hissed. “You bought a girl. An unwilling one. Have you lost your fucking mind?”
Oliver laughed. “Which pisses you off more, King? The fact I made a purchase? Or that it was a Diamond Lake auction?”
“Both,” Kingston huffed. “And the amount you paid?—”
“Who told you?” Oliver interrupted.
“Ruel. After demanding compensation for some guard that you apparently eliminated last night, he mentioned you purchased a girl they offered up for permanent sale. And she hadn’t volunteered for that spot on the auction block. Fuck, Oliver. Two million dollars...”
“Two point five, if you want an exact number. Should I remind you that it’s my money?”
Kingston was silent, then heaved an exasperated sigh. “After what happened last year, I hoped you would stay away from that shit.”
“That’s ironic, coming from you. At least I didn’t abduct this one off the street and hold her hostage for repayment of a debt.”
“Watch yourself, Oliver,” Kingston growled. “If I could go back and do things differently, I would. For Ava’s sake. This is wrong… and I’m telling you this based on experience.”
“It’s my mistake, and it’s done now.” Oliver wasn’t in the mood for a lecture from his older brother. The criticism was unwarranted and unwelcome, especially considering what Kingston did to Ava before he fell in love with her.
“You could let her go.”
“Or I could keep her. Did Ruel tell you I beat Barlow on the main bidding? And when we were both required to hunt her down, I beat him at that, too.” Oliver’s tone hardened as he recalled the bruises marking Londyn’s body. “As for the man I terminated, he abused my new acquisition in front of me. There was no other option.”
“You know they cannot be trusted, Oliver. You cheated them out a great deal of money when you backed out of that agreement.”
“And I just gave them a great deal of money in exchange for a woman,” Oliver calmly replied. “Between Barlow and me, they collected nearly five million dollars for her. I also gave them enough money before to smooth over everything that happened last year.”
“We both know the Russians are unpredictable. What is your plan when you grow tired of her?” Kingston pressed.
Oliver hesitated. He still hadn’t decided what to do with Londyn when this was all done. The thought of executing her made him slightly dizzy. And he knew he couldn’t physically return her to Diamond Lake Ranch for a secondary sale. He’d won her. She was his .
“Do you have feelings for this girl?” Kingston asked when Oliver remained silent. “That’s too much money to say you don’t.”
“I haven’t even fucked her yet, so your theories are completely off-base,” Oliver softly laughed. “The terms of the sale were pretty clear. She’s mine until I no longer want her. Then, it’s either eliminate her or return her to the ranch. They will sell her again if I decide that option.”
“Bring her to New York. Neil has spots open in the charity… she can stay as long as necessary. I’ll arrange a new life for her. A new name. Ruel and Erik will never have to know.”
Oliver’s jaw clenched. His older brother was the secret creator and largest donor to a charity aiding victims of domestic violence and abuse. At any given time, there were at least a hundred or so women who were part of the organization and received medical care, therapy, and job skills to rebuild their lives. Oliver had never understood Kingston’s involvement. Winter Enterprises ruled the underground criminal syndicate that dominated the East Coast; helping women in desperate situations was a contradiction of enormous proportions.
But then again, knowing the pain and torment Kingston’s mother and his own mom endured at the hands of their monstrous father, it made perfect sense.
“Oliver, think twice about this. You aren’t the same person you were last year. You aren’t the same person our shitty father beat and tortured. You don’t have to be like him. I chose not to be, and you can choose that, too. You can do the right thing. You can save this girl’s life,” Kingston urged. “Bring her to New York.”
“Don’t be so fucking dramatic, King. I plan on fucking her, not marrying her.”
Being told how to handle Londyn rubbed Oliver the wrong way. Irrational resentment bubbled inside his gut, although at the same time, he knew Kingston was only trying to help. “I’ll think about it,” he finally muttered, unable to hide the anger in his tone. Being angry was not the best mindset when dealing with his new treasure, but there was only one way to calm his internal demons. His usual method for calming those beasts was a good, hard fuck.
“That’s all I can hope for. While you are handling this next job, I want you to consider the possibilities open,” Kingston said in a weary voice. He quickly rattled off the details for thejob he was sending Oliver on and closed with these parting words. “You’ve come to a crossroads, Oliver. I hope you take the right direction.”