Ransom (3 page)

              Later, he came back and pulled up a chair next to the cot.  He gazed at her.

              His steady eyes on her were disturbing.  “What?”

              He shook his head, smiled at little as if amused.  “I mean you no harm.  I want you to know that.  You’re here for a reason.  But, I will not hurt you.”

              “And you expect me to believe that?”

              He shrugged.  “It doesn’t matter if you do.  It’s the truth.”

              “But, you can’t blame me if I suspect you’re trying to get in good with me to get something?”

              Her captor frowned.  “No, I can’t blame you.  But, if I wanted something from you, I wouldn’t be so underhanded.”

              His words did not calm her.  “You took me from my home.  I can hardly trust you.”

              “I know,” he replied quietly, and the stark pain in his eyes gave her a moment’s hesitation.

              She wondered if he regretted his actions.  If that was the case, why didn’t he let her go?

              An interesting ringtone from a cell phone rang out, cutting through the silence in the room.  Her kidnapper jumped, took out his phone and answered it.  It was clear he didn’t like the caller because he scowled.  “Yes. I’m doing it.”  His eyes widened after a moment and he muttered a curse.  “I understand.  No, you don’t have to come here.  I’ll do it.  No, Sanson.  I-“  He pulled the cell phone away from his ear and looked down at it.  “Damnit.”

              He was obviously upset.  She wanted to help him, but her reaction infuriated her at the same time.  It was good that things weren’t going well, that he wasn’t pleased.  He deserved it.

              He cursed again, a long string of words that were both disturbing and imaginative. 

              “You don’t like your client.  Or maybe it’s your boss?”

              “You think?” he countered.  But, he shook his head.  “You’re not getting answers out of me, dear, so don’t try it.”  He paced away.

              She moved her hand beneath the cushion, grasped the cool metal of the wrench, eased it out so that she could hide it behind her.  “Maybe I can help?”

              “How?  That bastard is coming here.  Now I have to deal with him.  Why couldn’t he just leave it alone?  Why did he have to know?”

              Know what?  He wasn’t making any sense.  Not that it mattered.  If the man that was coming was worse than her captor, she had a lot to fear.  She had to get out of here, and she only knew one way.  When he was turned away, she eased up slowly and advanced on him, raising the arm that held the wrench.

              He turned back in time to see her, his brows narrowed, and he caught her hand, easily knocking the weapon aside.  He grasped her shoulders, shaking her, his face in hers.  “Really?  You want to mess with me now?”

              Fear surfaced then, and she shivered.  What would he do?

              He kissed her, his mouth bruising on hers.  He jerked her tighter against him, moved with her to the mattress, sank down on top of her.  His weight was too much suddenly, she couldn’t breathe.  Panic erupted inside of her. 

              “No,” she whispered, moving her head away.  “Not like this.”

              His lips gentled on hers, sampling slightly.  His hands caressed her slowly.  Even as he leaned over her, he drew back to stare into her eyes.  His pupils were so dark, she was utterly captivated for a moment. 

              “You’re right,” he said hoarsely.  “Of course, you’re right.  Forgive me.”  Then he shook his head and got up.  He grabbed the wrench and left the room.

              Still shaking, she looked at the locked door.  She was grateful, of course, that he’d stopped.  She thought she knew that now, at least.  He was not the kind of man that would rape a woman.  And though it was some comfort, it was also disturbing.  Because if he really meant to have her, she was not sure she had any defenses against it.

              Sometime later, she heard shouting and roused, she got up and went to the door.  Her eyes widened.  The door was ajar, open just enough that she thought she might squeeze through.  Maybe.  It was worth a try, worth the escape.  Had her captor accidentally done it, or had he felt so remorseful that he’d allowed it? 

She edged up to the space in the door and froze when she heard a curse.  The sound of male voices nearby.   Through the crack in the door, she saw her captor with another man, a portly man with a sinister look to his features.

“What did I ask you to do?”

“To wait…to wait for a signal.”  That was him, her captor.  He had never seemed so hesitant before.

“No, what did I really ask, Mr. Redding?”

“I don’t understand.”

A gun clicked and Triana’s heart leaped into her throat.  “Yes, I asked you to wait, but that’s all.  I didn’t ask you to gain her trust, to befriend the girl.  You kidnapped her!”

His eyes blazing, he turned on the man, ignoring the threat the gun posed.  “I did
not
kidnap her and you know it.”

“You know what I meant.  I was talking about the rest of it.”

He sighed.  “I didn’t ask her to trust me.”

“Of course you didn’t.  You aren’t playing the role then.  Or maybe you’re too good to try to be bad.  This may put a damper on Louis’ situation.”

“I’ll try again, Sanson.  Please…”

“I’ll give you a second chance.  But think about it, Redding.  How can a man like you frighten a girl like her?”  Then he turned on his heel and walked out.

Triana frowned.  What was going on?  And why did the man call him Redding?  Was that his name?

She eased back, quietly shut the door.  In any case, they would have seen her try to escape.  She could have been in serious trouble then.  She returned to the mattress that was her haven. 

That man had held a gun to her captor’s head.  She didn’t allow herself to think why her kidnapper’s death would affect her.  She just knew it would.

But, there was something else going on here, something that didn’t fit.  None of that man’s threats had made any sense.  What was really going on?

Chapter 5

Lance paced back and forth before the door to the room where they kept the girl.  He had to build up the courage to do this right.  He had to…be bad.  He thought he had done well so far, until that call had come through.  When Sanson had so kindly informed him the place was bugged, an icy chill had spread down his back. 

He had to be better.  For Louis.  He had to.  He checked his watch, knew it wasn’t time for a meal so he had no excuse to visit her.  But, the need to see her was like a call in his blood.  He couldn’t stop himself. 

He went to use the key to unlock the door, then froze.  It wasn’t locked. Had she escaped?  He opened it, saw her lying on the mattress, her slender form there, her long red hair spread over the side of the cot. 

Relief swept over him. So did a muttered curse.  He must have forgotten to lock it in his haste. What was wrong with him?  Had he lost his ever loving mind?  Too much was at stake here.  Louis’ life was in the balance, and if he tipped the scales the wrong way, it was all over.  No one would forgive him. And he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.  This was far too important to screw up.

He shut the door behind himself, walked into the room. He lowered himself to squat beside the mattress, touched her back gently through her thin blouse.

She recoiled, of course. He had expected nothing less.  She faced him now, her features guarded.

He knew to expect anything with her. She had tried to protect herself. He accepted her anger and her confusion with regards to their mutual attraction.  But, he had to push her further if Louis was to live. There was no choice.  Girding himself to it, a sinister grin spread across his face. 

Her eyes widened.  He got some small satisfaction out of that.

“Triana,” he greeted her softly.

“I heard everything.”

Her quiet words undid him.  “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Don’t play dumb. You’re not. You’re a highly intelligent man obviously thrown into a complicated situation.”

The compliment was an ego boost, to be sure.  But, he couldn’t rely on it entirely.  “That’s certainly a kind thing to say.”

“I’m talking about your client, or your boss, whoever the hell the guy is.”

“What about him?” he said, cocking his head.

She stood up, stepped off of the cot, and he rose to even out their differences in height. 

“What kind of power does that man have over you? He could have killed you this morning. Why didn’t you fight back?”

“You don’t understand. You see, he needs me alive.  I-“ And then he remembered the role he was supposed to be playing. He gently pushed at her until she backed away.  “Then again, it’s none of your business, Miss Richards.”

“Oh, it’s Miss all of a sudden, is it? Are you just now remembering that I’m a lady? That never stopped you before.”  She stepped closer, waving her finger in his face.  “You should be ashamed-“

He gripped her wrists fiercely, but was aware of the slightest tinge of guilt for being violent with her. “Back off,” he said softly.

Her gaze met his and her chin lifted stubbornly. “No.”

He frowned, distracted by her beauty. “I may do something we’ll both regret.  I said, back off.”

“I’m not afraid of you.”

“You should be. And soon you will be.” He backed her up against the wall and claimed her lips possessively.  His calloused hands traced every curve as he kissed her.

She moaned.  “Why are you doing this to me?” she gasped.

He shook his head, ignoring her innocence. “Are you afraid of me yet?”

She swallowed audibly. “No,” she whispered.  “Never.”

“Your pride is strong, Triana.  But, you will learn.”  Lance lowered his head to kiss her neck and to unbutton her blouse. He suppressed a groan. “God, you’re beautiful.”  He unhooked her bra and watching it fall to the floor, he began to touch her breasts while she moaned in welcome.  He thought he would die from hearing that.

“Stop it,” she whispered, though she moaned again.

“It doesn’t sound as if you really want me to stop.”

“I do.  Of course, I do.  This is crazy.”

His murmur of agreement was lost as he kissed her breasts, sucked a nipple into his mouth.  She tasted like raspberries. 

But, he had to get some control here.  He was not going to rape her.  Instead, he was going to tease her until she pleaded with him to make love to her.  But, could he do that?  Take full advantage of a girl who’d been kidnapped?  She was the victim.

So was Louis, he surmised.  And he was the one he had to protect.

****

Triana could hardly think with his possessive hands on her. He jerked her tight against him so that her hips cradled his own. His groan set off alarms in her head.  What if he took her like this? With no protection, just against the wall? Would she like it, she thought randomly.

Of course, she wouldn’t. She wanted some romance with her first time.  And she didn’t want it to be during her kidnapping. That would be ridiculous. It was insane for her to have submitted to him at all. 

She fought now, turning her face away from his kiss, but the slide of his lips over her neck made her breath catch. “You’ve got to stop now,” she issued the command at will.

He looked at her.  “Perhaps you’re right.  I would not want to rush this passionate exploration.”

Her jaw clenched. The name she called him was not complimentary.

He chuckled. “I don’t know why it is you amuse me, Triana, but you do.” Then he picked her up and dumped her back on the cot, half-naked.  She covered her breasts with her hands, but his lifted eyebrow told her he’d seen enough, that it wouldn’t matter.

As he made a movement to leave, she called, “Is there a place to shower around here?”

He turned back, grinning.  “Certainly. I will help you with that.”

“I can manage myself.”

“Can you? I wouldn’t want you to be too resourceful. You surprised me with that wrench. You won’t surprise me again,” he promised her.

Her sprits fell as he sauntered out, and the lock grating in the door sealed her fate.

It was hours later when he returned. He advanced on her, drew a rope from behind him.

Her heart sprang into her throat.  “Stay away from me.”

“Not into bondage, Sweetheart?  That’s a pity.”

His sarcasm made her hiss. 

He wrestled with her and managed to tie her up.  Then he threw her draped over his shoulder as he walked out of the room. Where in the world was he taking her?  Triana could see nothing upside down.

When he set her down again, she stumbled and he held her with one arm. She looked around and saw they were in a fairly decent-sized bathroom. It was clean and modern. He reached into the shower stall and started the water.

When he turned to her with an appraising look, she shivered.  She had put her blouse back on, but now instead of unbuttoning it, he tore the seam, tossing it aside.  Outraged, she gasped, then watched almost hypnotically as he did the same to her bra. He tore her sweatpants and panties just as thoroughly.  “What are you doing?”

“I can’t leave you untied just yet.  Don’t worry.  I’ll give you another change of clothing.”

As she was naked before him and undeniably vulnerable, she trembled.

He reached for her, picked her up and moved into the shower.  He reached for a bar of soap.

Her hands and feet were tied and she could do nothing to fight him off as he held her in the circle of his arm. The spray from the shower soaked them both as he ran his soapy hands over her so intimately. He even soaped up her hair. She fought the urge to welcome his touch.  She felt warm everywhere, despite the chilliness of the water.  Her heart raced, and she whimpered. 

She gasped as his hands found every place she had, even the most secret ones no one had seen before.  But, his touch was methodical as if he was removed from the act entirely. She had to wonder at that.  He had never seemed indifferent before. 

He rinsed her quickly and then pulled her out of the stall, reaching to shut off the water. He reached for a towel and dried her off, still indifferent. She felt like a child, and what he was doing was so simple. But, it wasn’t simple.  She knew better than that.  It had only been building, just under the surface.