Chapter 10 #2
“I am not a joking man, sweet Sophia. I think that is a fair side to this delicious deal.”
“Why the change of heart? You just told me there is nowhere to run and no place to hide.”
“Facing reality isn’t something that I’ve been willing to accept, but I’ve grown weary of the chase. Maybe there are ways that you can provide me a new life.”
Witness protection. The thought wasn’t a bad idea, although he’d be required to give up members of the consortium as well as his entire family.
Shaking her head, she knew this man was cagey, would try anything to get away, but what if she could one-up him on the game? The arrest would take her very far in her career, no matter how unscrupulous her actions might become. “And what do you want in return?”
He took a purposeful sip then two steps toward her.
“Why, that should be an easy one for you to answer, my sweet.” Keeping his hand mere centimeters from her face, he eased his arm behind her head.
“We’ll make it even easier. Two days. Forty-eight hours.
A small portion of your life for the rest of mine. ”
As he pulled away the clip holding her long hair in place, she held her breath. Yes, she knew the answer. Sweet Jesus. He wasn’t joking. “I can’t do that again, Wrath. I just can’t.” She shuddered at the thought, her pussy clenching from the idea alone. Her desire for the man wasn’t the issue.
Her heart breaking into millions of little pieces was.
“This is entirely your decision, Sophia,” he stated in the most commanding manner. “You are precious to me. I never lied to you about that. I am also an honorable man, even for an assassin.”
Damn this man. Damn this life. The man thought she was going to fall into his web, believing anything he had to say. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep from moaning. What in the hell was she supposed to do?
“If you fuck with me in any way, you won’t have to worry about members of the consortium. I will take you out in a manner that will make you beg for your brutal friends. Do you hear me?”
“I understand completely. Tell me what I want,” he commanded and ran his fingers through several strands of her hair. “Tell me what you’ll agree to.”
Sophia was shaking, her blood pressure increasing but her reaction wasn’t from terror of the man, the killer standing in front of her, but from her heightened excitement. Blinding desire.
“Tell. Me.”
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. And I will again.
And again.
And again.
“Yes, I’ll submit to you.”
Wrath studied the range of emotions peppering her beautiful face.
He was jazzed, his muscles full of adrenaline.
Seeing her this way, vulnerable but perhaps also one of the strongest women he’d ever met was far more formidable than he ever dreamed.
She was exquisite in her mannerisms, the way her hands had wrapped around the gun, so capable in her skills.
His cock was hard, his heart thumping and his mouth watering to taste every inch of her.
Was she serious or playing the same kind of game he’d perfected?
The necklace she wore was telling in itself, the fantasy remaining in the fronts of their minds, perhaps even their hearts.
What they’d shared before had been magical and he couldn’t deny it.
He also couldn’t squelch the intense desires that had riddled every night.
The deal he’d made would undoubtedly end his life, but he was prepared to face the very wrath of the consortium.
All the damn soul searching he’d done in the last few days had been eye-opening.
He wanted another life.
He craved a family.
He required a passion unequaled by money or power.
All that wrapped around Sophia. And not a single man on Earth could convince him otherwise. Maybe he was a fool, but what the fuck. He was ready to take on a level of risk unlike any he had before.
“Fine. What are you waiting for? I said I’ll submit to you.” Sophia immediately looked away, her mouth twisting.
Her admittance was like sweet music, filling his soul with happiness. Inhaling, the lovely fragrance of her very wet pussy told him exactly how much she’d missed their time together.
She seemed exasperated, rubbing her brow as she took deep breaths. “What now?”
He debated the very question. Given his probationary station with the consortium, he had limited time before he was required to check in. Putting her in harm’s way would never be a consideration.
Unfortunately, her knowledge of the Dark Haven meant she’d been asking questions. If anyone from the consortium learned of this, they would issue a contract on her life. Keeping her close was indeed vital.
“You are now under my control. You will do everything that I command for forty-eight full hours. I need your phone right now.” He wasn’t stupid.
She’d come prepared, ready to take him out at any cost. He would deal with her car and he’d pay attention to the local law enforcement chatter.
While he doubted she’d left a trail, especially given the fact she hadn’t told anyone about what had occurred in Monte Carlo, he also wasn’t a fool.
She’d grown bitter, angry given the way they’d left things. Revenge was much sweeter for a woman.
“Fine.” Glaring at him, she yanked the phone from her pocket, staring at the screen before handing it over to him.
He chuckled as he accepted. “This will be protected for when we are ready to leave.”
She shook her head as if disbelieving in anything he had to say. “What else? My clothes? My badge? Do you need to frisk me?”
“Cut the sarcasm, Sophia. That doesn’t suit you.” He sipped his drink and stepped around her, gazing out at the crystalline pool, almost mesmerized by the lights. “There will be rules and yes, you will be required to follow them.”
“Yes. And you will abide by the terms.”
“I am a man of honor, Sophia. While you might think of me as nothing but a monster, I live by the honor that was taught to me many years ago. What I am doing is merely a job.”
She laughed. “A job. Living in the finest homes in the richest cities. Expensive meals and liquor, women, and cars. And all you have to do is murder innocent people. I have no idea how you were able to fool me.”
A flash of anger jetting into his system surprised him.
He rubbed his eyes, tamping back his emotions.
He refused to allow her to turn the tables.
“First rule. We will not talk about my business or yours, but I will tell you this much and it will not be debated. What I said to you before was true. Those innocent people you speak of were horrible individuals, allowing many to die or be killed. They used their power and influence in order to rape societies, stripping away what little many people had. And because of greed. Entitlement. They are the true soulless creatures.” He was almost disgusted with opening up, telling her anything, but for some odd reason, unexplainable in any manner, he didn’t want Sophia to think badly of him.
Sophia remained quiet then simply nodded.
“The second rule. I will not harm you, but I will hurt you.” He moved away from the window, circling her form, his index finger tracing lines and circles across portions of her naked skin.
“Okay.” She tried to keep her conviction even as her lower lip quivered.
“The third rule, you will call me sir.” He grinned, seeing the way she rolled her eyes.
This was a feisty woman and while she wanted nothing more than to submit, she had no understanding of what she was craving.
When she didn’t answer, he tapped her twice on the butt, taking the drink out of her hand and setting both down.
Things were about to get dicey. His cock was aching to the point he sucked in his breath.
No woman had ever elicited this kind of reaction from him.
She was the one. If he could have a happy ever after, it would be with her. That wasn’t a possibility, but he would enjoy every second out of her full submission.
And on his terms.
“Yes, sir,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Fourth and final rule. I am going to lock your gun along with my various weapons. You will not know the combination, nor is there any way of breaking the code. I will give you my word that you will be given back your weapon and I will not fight you when you arrest me.” He could sense she’d followed when he walked into the dining room, retrieving his Sig and holding it into the light.
He moved to his coat, pulling the knife that had been in his possession for years.
“Come with me.” He knew she would follow as he walked into the office, removing the Glock from the drawer.
“Don’t you have an arsenal? Sir?”
“Not here. I am a very careful man, Sophia. You should already know that by now.” He took long strides back into the kitchen, removing her weapon from behind his back.
While she narrowed her eyes, debating whether he was telling the truth, she exhaled. “Fair enough. Fair enough, sir.”
He kept her in his line of sight as he moved to one of the cabinets, opening the door and pressing a button.
Removing the black case, he could tell she was gleaning every detail as he pressed in the combination, allowing the latches to snap.
He turned the case around, lowering it down in order for her to see the contents.
“Impressive.”
“Only the best, but I have no doubt you’ve learned just as much about me as I have about you.
And remember the rule.” Chuckling, he placed her gun inside, his guns and the knives second, closing and replacing the case.
“Forty-eight hours and you will please me in every manner, my sweet and beautiful Sophia. Now, undress.” Wrath expected her to gasp or make certain he understood her displeasure.
When he only heard the rustling of clothing, he tipped his head. Simply seeing the beautiful budding flower, petals unfolding in front of his eyes, he was thrown, sweat beading across his upper lip. She had a way about her that shook his entire world.