Captive to the Dark (16 page)

“I’m not going to go.” Mary’s hand pushed against her stomach. “I can’t. You want to show me off and I’m afraid if that were to happen, my father will figure out what we’re doing. He might try to keep Lily or call the whole thing off. I can’t risk being the cause of that.”

For her to care about someone she didn’t even know to the extent that she was had me walking toward her. Such a big heart my Mary had.

“He will not call it off. I have a plan.” I pulled Mary in front of the dresser, wrapping my arm around her from behind. “If we call the authorities, tell them there’s been a mistake. That you haven’t been killed in a boating accident, that you’ve been with me, then that covers our ass, legally. We’ll go in. You can talk to them. We’ll tell them we’ve been on a romantic getaway here at my place in Washington. We hadn’t even heard the news. Your father will no doubt say he couldn’t get ahold of you so he didn’t know we were together. It’s perfect.”

I pulled her hair back off of her shoulder, kissing her neck. “As for your father, I have a week or two left before you have to leave. You’re innocent in me wanting to show you a good time. After all, he has every intention of marrying you off. I’ll tell him you needed enjoyment before you’re shackled to that piece of shit, Jordan. You don’t have a choice. We’ll meet him for dinner. You’re to look down almost the whole time. Show him who you take your orders from. He’ll believe it.”

Mary turned in my arms and looked straight ahead at my chest. “Are you sure this will work?”

Her not looking at me was driving me crazy. I lifted her face. “Who am I? Of course it’s going to work. I get what I want and in this case, it’s for me and you to have a good time before this switch. Well, if you even want to call it that. We’ll get Lily and you can tell your dad to piss off. It’ll be fine.”

Slowly, she shook her head back and forth. “Slade, I can’t do that. I can’t just tell him to piss off, like you say. He’s my dad. I have to go back.”

I blinked. Once. Twice. Then went over her words again. “Go back? To marry Jordan?”

Mary tried to step back from my arms, but I wouldn’t allow her to.

“Answer me, damnit. Are you seriously considering marrying him?” The silence was answer enough. I grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the door. Marcio was waiting just outside. “Is Terrance ready?”

“Yes, Sir. We’re all set to go.”

“Good, get the bags.” I pulled Mary down the stairs and to the helicopter with her barely able to stay steady on her heels. It didn’t get better after that. For the whole ride, she stared out of the window, ignoring me. If this was the way it was going to be, we were going to have no problems fooling her father. For the life of me I tried to figure out why in the hell she was even giving this ridiculousness any thought. It was insane. Absurd. The more I let the possibility eat at my mind, the more I raged. She was mine, damnit. No one else’s. But could I make her stay? I knew that answer…not happily.

The flight blurred by in hours of thought. How was I going to fix this? Convince her that even if she went back, she didn’t have to get married? Was there any way to get her to believe it? She was giving in. Giving up. Letting her father win. Just like I was doing.

The city came into view and I stared at the Bay Bridge. My penthouse had a perfect view from the wall length windows. We’d be landing on my roof in a matter of minutes, and I was dreading it. I’d waited for this moment since I’d decided Mary was coming. Now, there was no excitement in showing her my place. She probably didn’t even want to be here anymore.

Marcio leaned forward, talking to Brace and Terrance through the headsets. No telling what they were conversing about. I didn’t care, as long as they did their jobs, and that was to hurry up and get me the hell home, stand guard, and watch over Mary. The home part they’d gotten done.

We landed and I unbuckled, waiting for Mary to do the same. The moment Brace opened the door, I swept her out and through the roof’s door. Her heels clicked against the stairs, but I continued to race us into my penthouse. The resistance to my hand only made me angrier. She was pulling back on purpose.

“How much longer is your silent treatment going to continue?”

I pushed the key in the lock and threw the door open. The smell of apple cinnamon wrapped around me and I’d almost forgot how my housekeeper, Cilia, kept my home in that fragrance. The tension eased from me almost instantly. Fuck, I missed this place. For the last three months I’d maybe stayed the night here a total of a two weeks. All I wanted to do was lay down and forget about everything but me and my slave. 

Still, Mary remained quiet. The view drew her closer to the glass and I watched while she walked forward to stare at the bridge. The sun was beginning to set, casting deep shades of pink and orange into the sky. Thick puffs of clouds took on a darker tint, almost looking surreal. The backdrop couldn’t have made a better picture. I wanted to capture her just as she was, framed by my multi-million dollar view. I’d hang the artwork in every home I had, reminding me of the pain and pleasure we’d gone through together. Everything that she’d given me at a cost that I’d probably never know. Regret splashed against my insides like tidal waves, cleansing my anger toward her and Jordan with every increase in tide. If I was going to make things better between us, punishment wouldn’t work. But I knew what would and, although a bit uncomfortable for me, I was willing to try my best, for her.

Ringing filled the large living area and I could have cursed for it breaking such a monumental moment within me. I reached into my pocked and hit ignore at Christopher’s name on the Caller ID. We used to be really good friends. He was my partying buddy, my VP. I had no doubt he was looking to get together. Why he hadn’t gotten the picture yet was beyond me. I’d blown him off now for the last month and a half.

Instantly, my phone rang again. Christopher. Fuck. I clicked it open, watching Mary turn around. It took me a moment to remember what I was doing. No, I’d have the picture of her be like this. With her facing me. Or, maybe I’d have both made, to sit next to each other. The most perfect piece of art I would ever own. Priceless.

“Speak.” The annoyance behind my tone echoed thick in the quiet room. Laughing and an array of bangs sounded before I heard Chris take a deep breath.

“About damn time you answer. You’ve been ignoring my calls now for weeks.”

“What does that tell you?” Again. Regret. I was being a dick, and it was all because of Victor. He was the last person I wanted to see. “Don’t listen to what I just said, I’m a bastard. It’s been a rough time.”

Silence only told me he couldn’t agree more. “Any news on Lily?”

Should I tell him? Not? “She’ll be back home in the next week or two. Persistence paid off.”

“That’s great news. We should celebrate. Get your mind off of whatever is weighing you down. Bastard doesn’t even begin to describe how you’ve been lately. You owe me, big time. Slade Industries would have fallen apart without me.”

Way to rub it in. “Well, I’m home now. Mark a vacation into your books for next month. I’m sure you need a break.”

A laugh left my friend. “Nah, it wasn’t that bad. I’m good. Just want you back to normal, man. That’s all.”

Normal. Now there’s a word that didn’t belong in my world. I was anything but.

Christopher continued to talk, but my eyes stayed focused on Mary. She looked so solemn. So sad.

“Chris, let me call you back. I have a meeting in a little over an hour and I need to get ready.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Lunch at Vizzatori’s. Noon.”

Was there any point in arguing? I knew it had to be done. Christopher was my key at getting caught up with how my company was doing. “I’ll bring my date.”

“Date?”

I hung up before he could quiz me more. Mary’s attention was on mine and it didn’t look good. Maybe it was because I couldn’t pinpoint the exact emotion she was immersed in. All I knew was she was upset and I needed to try to help her.

“Come.” One word. That’s all I had to say for her to walk forward. No arguing. No fighting. Just pure obedience.

Blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders while she lowered her head and came to kneel at my feet. It was the first time she’d submitted to me on her own. The significance had my eyes closing and my hand weaving through her hair to bring her closer against my thigh. Could I keep this moment forever? Live the love I was beginning to have for her, repeatedly? That way it’d never go away, like her?

Mary’s hands reached up, gripping the back of my leg, holding on tight as if I were capable of the secret deliverance she so desperately needed. If only I knew what that was. If she would just tell me what to do.

The door opened and Marcio set our bags just inside. It didn’t take him long to catch my
get the fuck out,
look. The moment was ruined. I eased Mary to her feet, cupping the sides of her face. So many things wanted to pour from my mouth and yet nothing came except the obvious. “We should get ready.” Stupid. My hands dropped and I walked over, grabbing Mary’s main suitcase and one of her bags. The weight didn’t even register. I was pissed at myself. Confused on what I should say or do. The last thing I wanted was to sound like a fucking broken record, or worse, weak. No. I’d said enough. She knew where I stood. The final step was up to her.

“Are you sure I have to go?” Mary followed, her voice so soft I could barely hear her. Was she really that afraid to face her father with me at her side? I’d protect her. Fuck, I’d kill the bastard for her. With pleasure.

“You’re going.”

I tossed the luggage on the white silk comforter and opened the long bag that held the dress I’d bought her to wear. It was an interesting design. The black material was meant to fit snugly over the skin. The high neckline was perfect for covering the bruises while giving off an elegant flare. It would stop just below her elbows. But, my favorite part would be the slit in the floor length material. It’d stop mid-thigh. Easy access for what I had planned after we were finished with the meeting.

The bag that rested over it tore in my haste to get it off. Oh yeah. I smiled. I’d almost forgotten about the intricate lace, see-through design on the back. Fuck, it’d go so low, stopping just above her ass. My cock was getting hard just thinking about seeing her all dressed up.

“Put this on.” I opened her bag, pulling out the garters, stockings, make-up bag, and hair pins, placing them down for her to take too. No panties or bra. Shit, I couldn’t wait to see how she was going to look.

“Yes, Master.”

My hand didn’t move even after she took the dress. While she walked to the restroom to get ready, all I could think about was pulling her back to the bed and fucking the ever living life out of her.
Master.
Coming from her lips, I believed her. I felt every bit the title she’d granted me. I could call myself one all day long, but that didn’t make it true. Having Mary’s acknowledgement as my consenting slave, did.

The door closed, and with it, my hand lowered. Butterflies swam in my stomach as I walked to the closet and grabbed out one of my many suits. It was time to get ready to meet Victor and I couldn’t deny how nervous I was. I, Slade Roberts, always got what I wanted. Unfortunately, to get my sister back, I wasn’t so sure I’d succeed this time. 

Chapter 13

Mary

Classification. Who was I? Where did I belong? What would be the outcome of my choices, whatever they were? Where did it all fit? I was torn. Torn between two people. My father, and the man I could only dream would see me as more than a walking disaster. Even if he did, it didn’t fare well for us. We came from two different lives. As much as I wanted to escape the one that held my family, it didn’t appear possible no matter what conclusion I came to.

Light blurred through the window of the limousine while I stayed busy in my own little world. This place was what I knew. I’d stayed hidden here for more years than I cared to remember. Weight pulled at my ears and I brought my hand up to one of the princess cut diamond earrings. I wasn’t used to all this fancy stuff. From the shockingly sophisticated, yet sexy dress, to the heels, to the jewelry…I was out of my element. That wasn’t even including the sexy garter and stockings Slade had wanted me to wear underneath. It’d taken me ten minutes to figure out how to connect the damn things. And, all to meet my father? Would this be the normal thing while I was under his care?

“We’re here.” Slade grabbed my hand as we came to a stop at the main entrance. The large building had to have been twenty stories high. It looked to be a motel and restaurant combined. 

Anxiety left me shaking as the door was opened and Slade stood, helping me out. His palm settled on the middle of my back while he led me through the automatic double doors. A flurry of activity surrounded the front desk from bell boys to guests of the hotel getting their bags together. Slade led me to the elevator just as one of the doors opened. The moment it shut, he pulled me into his arms.

“Calm, slave. You’re going to be okay. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” Warmth from his hand penetrated into the back of my neck and I closed my eyes to the courage it gave me. Slade put me at ease. I believed him. “Now tell me, who owns you?”

My eyes opened and I looked up at him through mascara covered lashes. “You do, Master.”

“That’s right. Never forget that.”

As if I could. Or ever would.

“We’re meeting a detective before your father arrives. Do you remember the story we went over?”

Of course I did. We’d gone over it for twenty minutes before we’d left. “Yes, Master.” My voice sounded weak. Low. I knew it was because of the nervousness, but I didn’t like it. I’d been so strong now for years. One more crisis with my father was turning me into the internal zombie that’d taken me to the clubs in the first place. I had to get a grip on myself.

The ding had Slade stepping back. His hand resumed to the place on my back and he led me into the restaurant. Couples and groups of people rested at tables in the distance. Some were closely huddled together, romance clearly in the air, while others laughed while they conversed. Although the atmospheres differentiated, they all had one thing in common. Their clothing. The men were dressed in suits, most of them in dark shades, while the women could have walked down the Red Carpet for the luxurious gowns they wore. I suddenly didn’t feel so out of place.