Chapter Seven
REX STORMED DOWN the stairs to his office. He had to get the fuck away from that deliciously red ass. His goal had been to get her attention and teach her a lesson. But he had a feeling he might suffer just as much as she did from this lesson. His cock throbbed and his balls ached with need. Need he couldn’t... wouldn’t do a damn thing about because the object of his lust was a child and his captive.
And of course Tommy was waiting for him, a smirk in place. “Did you get that...sorted out?”
Rex scowled at him. “Fuck off.”
“What’s your problem?”
“Nothing,” Rex snapped.
Tommy raised an eyebrow and Rex sighed. “I spanked her, then I tied her to her bed. After I offered her a cell in the basement.”
Tommy whistled, “Overkill much?”
“No,” Rex growled. “It wasn’t. I’m sure I’m being watched. They would have snatched her the moment she set foot on the street. It would put my progress back months if not end the whole endeavor completely.”
“Sure, that’s the only reason you ”re mad.”
“Why else would I be?”
“Because you don’t want her to run from you.”
“She can’t run from me, she’ll get hurt.”
“True.”
Rex sat down behind his desk. He shifted uncomfortably; he was still fucking hard, and that pissed him off almost as much as catching Ari trying to escape. What part of everything he’d told her did she not understand? Now all he wanted to do was go back upstairs and take care of her pretty pink ass and hold her close. A good spanking scene was a favorite of his, but usually the ending was more pleasant for both him and his partner. Granted, he’d never kept a submissive long enough to really discipline one, but even with discipline, there should be aftercare. He felt uncomfortably bereft having to leave her there like that.
Tommy studied him for a long minute before saying, “You should probably go to the club. Soon.”
Rex’s hands gripped the edge of the desk hard. “No, I can’t. That would blow my cover.”
Tommy scoffed, “Are you seriously telling me you can’t get out of this house undetected?”
Rex glared at him. “Of course, I can. If I’m discovered though, that’s months of hard work down the drain.”
“Call Kayla, ask for a private room.”
This time it was Rex who scoffed. “She doesn’t actually want to see me, Tommy.”
“She said you could call any time as long as you played by the rules.”
Rex was silent. He didn’t know if he could play by the rules right now. “I’ll be fine.”
“If you say so,” Tommy said, letting the matter drop. “Any progress today?”
Rex opened the file he’d been working on that afternoon. “Yeah, one account looks like it’s had some kind of skimming program put on it. Every transaction, including daily interest, loses a minute fraction of a percentage. It’s added up to over half a million dollars though over the last year.”
“Well, there’s your problem then.”
Rex shook his head. “No, because that’s the only account that looks like that. Plus, I called the bank and told them about it, and they ran their security and couldn’t find the same problem in any of their other accounts.”
“So it’s specifically targeted at us?” Tommy asked.
“Looks that way.”
“How many other banks do we use?”
“Four. I can tell that the money isn’t adding up, but I can’t find a consistent pattern in them like I did in this one,” Rex told him, holding up the first file.
“Did those banks have any other complaints from clients?”
“None that they would tell me about.”
“So what do we do with this?”
“Shut down and reopen all the accounts for now, I guess,” Rex said. “I’ll get Liesel to set up new shell corporations for them. After that I’ll start daily monitoring.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Tommy said. “Any hope of getting back what we’ve lost?”
Rex nodded. “I’ve tagged some of the funds with Liesel’s help. She’s tracing its destination for me. Hopefully she’ll be able to reverse it once it gets there.”
Tommy shook his head. “You two are amazing. I really don’t know how I’d run all this without you.”
Rex shrugged.
“I mean it, Rex. Just because it’s my name that represents this doesn’t mean anything. We’d have gone under a long time ago without the two of you. I don’t want to run the family like our parents and grandparents did. Even If I did, I wouldn’t be able to. The digital world makes that impossible. We’re a team. Hell, this is more like a corporate team, than a family head with lieutenants.”
Rex blew out a long breath before saying, “Thanks. I actually really appreciate that.”
Tommy got up to leave the office. “Hey, Rex?”
“It’s going to be alright. She’ll understand eventually. You know that, right?”
“I do.”
Tommy left and Rex stared at the files in front of him, not really seeing anything. There was a lot going on in his head at the moment that made concentrating difficult. He closed the file and leaned back in his chair. He was still horny as hell. Every time he started to relax, his thoughts would drift to Ari and the thought of her tied to a bed upstairs and he’d get hard all over again. It pissed him off that she’d tried to run in the first place. He needed her to trust him when he said he wouldn’t hurt her. He didn’t know why he needed that; he just did. It wasn’t logical because the poor girl didn’t seem like she had anyone she could trust.
He also needed to know where the fuck five million dollars went. He and Tommy had big plans. Big legitimate plans for that money. It was supposed to take them in a new direction. One with less violence and more commercial business. Rex opened the files again and tried to concentrate. He couldn’t go upstairs in the mood he was in right now anyway because he wouldn’t be able to control himself.
Hours later, having made no progress, he made his way upstairs exhausted. He moved through his suite and opened the door to Ari’s room. He wouldn’t touch her, he told himself. Only enough to check her circulation. The soft light coming from the TV let him see her curled in on herself. He laid a gentle finger over her’s. Her skin was still warm and there was no swelling. His eyes stopped on her face. Tear tracks stained her cheeks and Rex had to move his hand before he clenched it into a fist.
Tomorrow, he would talk to her again. He had to make her understand why he was doing this. He wouldn’t be able to trust her, and she’d have to stay confined to this room unless he was with her, but he wouldn’t tie her up again. That made him want too many things he had no business wanting. Tomorrow he would fix this and do his best not to make her cry again.
The knock on the door jolted Ari awake the next morning. She tried to sit up, and the rope jerked her back. She groaned out loud at the pull on her arms. The door opened and Rex came in. Ari forced herself not to cringe away when he reached for her to untie the ropes.
“Come on,” he said.
Ari couldn’t tell anything about his mood this morning from his tone of voice. He didn’t sound angry anymore. She knew that could be deceiving, but she let it be a good sign. Besides, if he was going to play nice, she would too. It was the only hope she had now of getting her brother and sister from her stepfather, and she would do anything to make that happen. Rex took each of her arms in his hands and stretched them carefully. He pulled her into standing after he was done, but he held her for a few extra seconds because her knees wobbled a little. Once she was stable, he led her through his room to the bathroom.
She thought maybe everything would be fine as she went in and pushed the door closed behind her, but his hand stopped it before it could latch.
“The door stays open,” Rex said, his tone still even, but final.
Ari swallowed hard. “I’m not going to try anything. You made it clear what happens.”
“Good. The door still stays open.”
Ari glared at him, but he didn’t budge. She sighed and did her best to use the bathroom and brush her teeth without completely embarrassing herself in knowing he was watching her. He took her back to her room when she was done.
“You have fifteen minutes to get dressed and then I’ll take you down to breakfast.”
Ari just nodded. Shit. She’d really fucked this all up. Now that she knew he might be able to help her, she needed to get him to trust her again. She would do whatever he needed her to if only he would get her siblings to safety. She put on leggings and long t-shirt but didn’t bother with shoes. Ari hoped that by dressing in a manner that clearly suggested she planned to stay indoors Rex would see she meant what she said. She truly had no intention of trying to escape again. She knew better than that, especially now that she had suspicions about who he really was.
Since her father’s death, she’d learned enough about these families to know that they were ruthless. She wouldn’t push her luck again.
As she’d laid awake the night before, she’d come up with a new plan. She was going to tell him everything and hope her stepfather’s behavior disgusted him enough that he would believe her siblings needed to be removed too. If she could do that, she might have a chance.
Ari knocked on the door between their rooms as soon as she dressed to let him know she was ready. He opened the door a moment later. Clamping a hand under her elbow, he took her downstairs. Rex was all but her shadow as she got herself a plate of food and sat next to her while she ate. As soon as they were both finished, he took her right back upstairs. He gave her a small push into her room and was shutting the door when she begged him, “Please, wait. I need to talk to you. I need to explain.”
Rex froze and turned around. He gave her an appraising look, then said, “I’m not sure what there is to explain. I told you that you couldn’t leave. You took it upon yourself to leave.”
“I know. I’m just… I’m worried about some people.”
“And you thought the way to not worry was to leave here?”
“I need to get my brother and sister away from my stepfather and have a place for us to start over.” The words tumbled out of Ari’s mouth.
She watched his eyes narrow, and her gut churned. “Ari, that’s kidnapping,” he said, and she could tell that even though he’d said it as a statement, there was a question there.
This was a risk. “I know that. I do, it’s just…” she trailed off. How could she explain this? She had no proof of anything, nothing concrete, anyway. But she’d seen how sweet, cuddly Olivia had started cringing away from being touched. Or how Owen, with his big, loud little boy personality, spent more time sulking in his room than he did playing. Ari had tried talking to both of them, but if Stan had already threatened them, she knew they wouldn’t talk to her. She’d done her best, but she wasn’t around much, and part of that was on purpose. She was taking extra classes and working so she could graduate early and get out on her own.
Finally, she took a deep breath and opened her mouth to try to put some of what she was thinking into words. “My dad died five years ago. The twins don’t even remember him. My mom remarried three years ago. It was ok for a while. I mean, after Dad died we had to move and downsize, but I was old enough that I knew we would have had enough money from Dad that as long as Mom kept working we’d be ok. I didn’t mind helping out either. I love my brother and sister and watching them wasn’t a hardship.”
Ari left out the part about how her father died.
“What happened?”
“After Mom met Stan, things moved quick. They didn’t date long. He’s a lawyer, and she worked at his firm as a secretary. Within six months, he’d proposed. They got married, and he moved us back into a bigger house. Nothing like this,” she said, waving her hand to indicate the mansion she was now standing in, “but big enough. Another six months went by and then my mom quit her job.” Ari stopped, taking a deep breath. “I still don’t know why, but whenever I asked, she and Stan both told me not to worry about it. Next thing I knew, we were moving back into our old house and Stan told me I needed to get a job and help out. I really started asking questions then, but Stan made it clear he wasn’t going to answer them.”
“What did he do to you?” Rex growled.
“He came on to me. When I told him no, he broke my wrist. He told my mom that I fell down the stairs.”
“And what did she say?”
“Told me not to be so clumsy,” Ari said with a small sob.
“Why didn’t you report it?”
Ari looked at the floor. “After I got back from the hospital, he told me to keep my mouth shut or he’d do the same to Olivia.”
When Ari looked back up, Rex’s eyes were blazing. She took a step back. He must have realized how he looked, because he took a deep breath and raked a hand through his hair. Ari idly wondered what it would be like if he ran his hand through her hair. She gave herself a mental smack. What a stupid thought. This man had complete control over her life. Every word she said made him angrier, and here she was wondering what it would be like for him to touch her? No, she couldn’t even think about that. She only had one thing she could think about, getting her brother and sister safe.
“Your mother never suspected anything?”
“Honestly, after she took his side over mine, I stopped talking to her, so I have no idea what she thinks.”
“And why do you think now is the time to tell me about this?”
Ari hesitated, but she figured the truth was the best shot she had. Even if it might make him mad at her.
“I… you have cells… and things for… coercion… downstairs. I have… some idea about what that might mean. About who you might be.”
Rex’s eyes bored into hers, but she forced herself not to look away.
Rex moved further into her room and shut the door behind him. He started pacing around the room. Ari watched him. Rex and his family obviously had money, and with money came power. The kind she needed. If her stepfather was willing to sell her, how long before he did something like that to Olivia or Owen? Ari didn’t notice him stop in front of her, too lost in her own thoughts. She jumped when Rex’s hand landed lightly on her shoulder, and she braced herself. When nothing happened, she slowly raised her head to meet his eyes.
“I can’t make any absolute promises. I won’t lie about that, but I’ll do what I can to make sure you and your family are safe,” Rex said. He continued, “Do you have a plan? You’re only sixteen, Ari. How were you planning to take care of your brother and sister?”
Ari figured she was all in now; she’d better tell the whole truth.
“I’m not sixteen. I’m nineteen. Almost twenty. If I can get them, I can take care of them.” She paused and looked up at him. “I’m sorry for lying to you about that. At first, I just didn’t want you to be mad that your ‘purchase’ wasn’t what you wanted. After that,” she trailed off before continuing, “it just never seemed like the right time to say something.”
Rex’s eyes narrowed, and he stared at her for a long minute before asking, “What’s your full name and your siblings? I’ll get some investigating started.”
Ari hesitated. This was the only way she could see to get the help she needed. She could only hope he wouldn’t use it against her in the future. She didn’t have another choice, though. Her decision made, she said, “Ari Sloane. My brother and sister are Owen and Olivia Sloane.”
“Ok,” he said. “Let’s go downstairs. I’ll need all the information you can give me.”
Ari let out a slow, shuddering breath. As scared as she was that this would all be too much for her, she couldn’t help but feel it was nice to have some help. Even if it was from someone she didn’t really trust. She’d been doing most things on her own for five years and she was tired. She let Rex lead her back downstairs. He opened the door to the office to let her inside and when she hesitated, he smiled at her. “As long as I’m with you, you’re welcome in here.”
She nodded and followed him inside. He showed her to a chair beside the desk and sat down in one opposite her.
“I need birthdays for all of you, your mother’s name now and her maiden name, and the last known address for your family.”
Ari froze. “Last known?”
Rex nodded, “Hopefully they’re still there, but it sounds like whatever is going on with your stepfather is escalating if he sold you. Most likely he needed money, and fast. We can’t be sure that they haven’t been moved.”
Ari hadn’t even considered that. She’d been too busy just getting through the days and trying to find a way to get back to them.
“Hey.” There was a gentle command in Rex’s voice that she instinctively obeyed. “We don’t know anything yet. I just need as much information as you can give me so we can cover all our bases.”
“Right, that makes sense. Sorry,” Ari said shakily before giving him the details he’d asked for. She watched him write them all down. He asked several more questions about where Stan worked, where her mother used to work, and how they’d met. Ari gave him all the information she had, though it wasn’t much because her mother hadn’t ever really told her much about meeting Stan.
“That should be enough to get us started. I’m going to take you back upstairs. I want you to go lie down. I’m sure you must be exhausted. I doubt you slept well last night. We’ll talk more about this later today or tomorrow. When I have some more information.”
Back upstairs, she did as he’d told her. She didn’t think she’d really be able to sleep, but she lay down anyway. It was a strange feeling. She didn’t know Rex, not really, but knowing he was going to help her made her feel lighter than she had in years, despite the situation.
It turned out that he was right. She was exhausted. She hadn’t really rested in days, and she didn’t think she’d be able to today either since she was still worried about Owen and Olivia. She flopped down on the bed and turned on the TV to some comedy show. She didn’t even realize she’d drifted off until several hours later when a knock on the door jerked her awake.