The Captive Series (32 page)

I walked up to the open window and hopped right through it even with my expensive suit. I couldn’t abide by not taking her in style. With the wet ground, we knew a trail would be seen, so one of my handy helpers made sure my footprints were erased from the spot as soon as I got in the window.

My years of experience made my entry easy as hell. I closed and locked the window so no one could hear her. I crept into her bedroom, putting my hand on the door just in time to stop her from closing it. She screamed out and ran to her nightstand without looking to see who was there. She was a smart girl. She pulled it open and searched around, trying to find what she needed to protect herself. I laughed because the gun she was looking for wasn’t there. My team already had been in her place earlier that morning while she’d been out stalking me for the hundredth time.

She stood up and looked at me with shock and fear in her pretty blue eyes.

“What’s the matter, Lana? You don’t like to be stalked?” I said as I stared at her hardened nipples through her top, causing her to stand straight as a board.

“I didn’t sneak into your house,” she countered, trying to make a futile point.

“You didn’t stay away when I asked you to; you didn’t stop when you were told to, and being suspended still didn’t stop you from following me around town. Now you’re going to have to pay.”

“What are you going to do to me?” she asked boldly. I wanted to answer it in so many different ways. What I wanted to do to her was a loaded question. Burying my cock inside her was the first thing that came to mind.

I gave her a smirk and continued to stare at her lovely peaked nipples. “You’re coming with me. The thing is whether you do it willingly or not, and that’s solely up to you.”

“I would never go willingly with you.” I’d had a feeling her stubborn ass was going to say that, but it didn’t matter. It was still happening. She hadn’t realized how bothered I was by our last encounter. Nothing was going to stop me from letting her go.

“Fine. Have it your way.” I walked up to her, trapping her in the corner. She tried to put up a fight, but she was no match for me. Lana’s struggle brought our faces inches from each other and her body was being held down by mine. Her potent beauty was even more dangerous up close.

“Behave, beautiful Lana, and nothing will happen to you.” My hands caught hers as she tried to strike me. I smiled and shook my head at her. She was fucking strong and determined. I knew she was fighting for her life, but I had no intention of hurting her. I just wanted to teach her a lesson and get her to back off and maybe open up for me. Something about the way she had continuously pressed me about the disappearance of Claudio Santini pissed me off. I couldn’t explain why it bothered me so much, but it did. Nikolai and Luciano claimed that I was jealous, but I knew it had to do with the fact that she cared for a monster. He was the scum of the Earth and now joined his brethren in the dirt.

She tried to use her legs against me, but I was prepared for this. She tried to knock me off balance, so I threw her on the bed and pinned her body down with mine.

“So this is what you broke in here for?” Her insinuation was clear as day, but I wasn’t going to fuck her until she begged me for it. When she cried out my name, I wanted it to be cries of pleasure.

“Not at all, Miss Grey. I don’t like my women unwilling.” I turned my face away from her because her beautiful blue eyes were hypnotizing and that’s when I saw it. On her beautiful white bedsheets lay a file opened with a picture of Santini and her at the altar. I growled and jumped off her. My rage was so all consuming. She’d been married to that bastard—hell, she could still be. That’s why she wanted to find justice for him.

I was disgusted with the emotions coursing through me. I tossed the file on the ground and left the room. She had no way to escape because my men had the place surrounded, but I needed to get some air. I walked out into the light rain, tilting my head up to catch the cleansing water on my face. All of a sudden taking her seemed all the more important, like I had more to prove. I hated Santini even more than I already did. After catching my breath, I looked at my guy and took the ties he had in his hand. It was time to take her away now. She was closer to the situation than just an eager detective. Lana had graced his bed. Revulsion and pure jealousy coated my mind. I shook off the feeling and walked back into her tiny house.

“It’s time to go, Lana,” I said as I entered the room. I knew she would try to hit me with whatever she could get her hands on so I came through the door in a roll, catching her off guard. I wrapped my hands around her thighs and took her down on to the carpet. My face landed right on her sweet snatch and I didn’t miss the opportunity to take a sniff of her heat. I could smell her arousal; she was actually turned on. It could stem from fear or from real desire. I’d find out soon. I kissed her covered mound lightly and pushed off before I used the zip ties.

“Let me go!” Lana screeched. She didn’t even flinch when I touched her heat with my mouth. Damn, I what I could do to her. It’d be only a matter of time before I had her bouncing greedily on my cock.

Lana continued to squirm as I used the ties. As a cop she knew that she was only going to hurt herself by struggling. “You can be quiet and this will go smoothly and painlessly…or you can continue to piss me off, and it won’t work out so well for you.”

She tried to sound tough as I got up from the ground. “You’ll pay for this,” Lana hissed from her now seated position on the floor.

My grin was so huge it should have frightened her, but she still had her tough girl panties on. “No, I won’t,” I said.

I scooped her up and flipped her over my shoulder, her jeans brushing lightly against my face. Then it dawned on me that she slipped on some clothes. I smiled because she thought it was a barrier between us, but if I wanted, it wouldn’t be. I walked calmly to my car and dropped her in the trunk.

“Where are you taking me?” Lana asked, shaking Sergei out of his thoughts.

“You’ll see when we get there.” He looked at the defeated beauty and regret was starting to seep in. He didn’t like her tied up like that, but he also knew she wouldn’t behave if he let her loose again.

“I know why you’ve been looking for Santini.”

“Why does it matter? Are you going to tell me where you buried him?”

“I told you before, I didn’t do anything to him. Not that I didn’t or still don’t want to rip his heart out, but when it comes to Santini, my conscience is clean.”

Lana just stared at him for a moment before she asked the question that was written in her expression. “Are you going to kill me?”

“Not if you behave,” Sergei answered. He had no intention of harming her, let alone take her life. No, as every second passed he was certain the guys were right.

“I’m supposed to believe you?” she asked with ridicule.

Sergei was offended, but due to the circumstances he’d let it go. “No, but it’s your choice how you want to handle your captivity.”

“Hmm…” Lana said, before turning away from Sergei to stare at the wall.

He could see the fatigue of the past two hours was wearing on her, and he didn’t like that he was to blame for her being uncomfortable. “Are you tired?”

“Yes, I am,” Lana said sleepily, eyes closed and head pressed against the head rest. Sergei stared at her, thinking about what was best. He would offer a compromise.

“I can’t trust you to behave so I can’t remove all the ties, but there is a bed in the back that you could rest in until we land,” he said as he pointed to the back of the plane.

She immediately opened her eyes and hungrily said, “I will behave.”

“Lana, I don’t believe that at all,” Sergei said, giving her a look of suspicion. As much as he wanted to believe her, he’d already been at the wrong end of her deception. His face wasn’t in for a second round.

Lana shook her head at him and rolled her eyes, adding, “What can I do? I’m trapped a mile high in the sky with nothing but the clothes on my back.”

He ruminated on her words and decided to give in to her. “That’s true, but just so you understand, I don’t need any more injuries. I won’t let it slide as easily as I did before.”

“I promise I won’t try to hit you again,” Lana said pleadingly.

Sergei glared at her as if to challenge her statement. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“This one I can. I’m just so tired,” she whimpered. He could see the dark circles under her eyes and relented. Sergei walked back up to her and took the key out of his pocket.

“Remember if you attack me again, I won’t be so forgiving,” Sergei growled while looking down at her menacingly. He may be interested in her, but he was freaking serious. He wouldn’t let it slide one bit.

“Yes, you said that already,” Lana grouched as she threw her head back on the chair and closed her eyes again.

Sergei could tell she was getting irritable. “Somebody’s grumpy,” he laughed as she glared at him.

Lana didn’t fight him as he removed the cuff from her hand. Scooping her up, Sergei carried her to the back of the plane and the bedroom. She was looking up at him with a tender, sleepy smile.
Man, I want to kiss her.
This would be romantic if she wasn’t my captive,
he thought.

Opening the door with one hand, he took her into the spacious cabin. The large bed was the same one that Nikolai and Bianca had shared, and the thought of sharing it with Lana was very tempting, too tempting. Once he laid her down on the bed, Sergei undid the ties at her ankles and hurriedly covered her with the blanket. As he lifted the blanket up to her chest, he saw the damage the cuff had done to her wrist. Guilt flooded him as he looked at the raw, red skin.

Whispering softly in her ear, he said, “I’m so sorry.” Sergei walked out of the room, but not before turning around to get one more look at her before he closed the door.

He sat down on the chair, staring at the room door, fighting the urge to rush right back in there to hold her.

Lana opened her eyes as she heard the cabin door close. He’d left her all alone and had undid her ties. She didn’t miss him whispering that he was sorry, but she wasn’t sure what he was sorry for. Not to mention, would his remorse get her out of this?

She looked at her hand that he had cuffed; it really ached. The skin was a little raw, but she couldn’t help blame herself for it. If she hadn’t been forcing his hand she wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place. He was rumored to be the right hand man of a mobster, and yet she pressed his buttons daily. What did she expect to happen?

She was lucky he hadn’t offed her already, but something in his eyes said he wouldn’t do something like that to her. His light brown eyes were too kind. Ever since she took it upon herself to find out what happened to Santini, she’d been too interested in Sergei Antonov. She liked the way his hair looked absolutely perfect, how even though he had a beard he was well groomed. She liked how he’d smirk at her when intentionally avoiding answering her questions or trying to hit on her. Every time he’d hit on her she’d blush intensely, like she’d never been hit on before. She hated that he teased her about her clothes. Unintentionally, she’d slowly started to change her style to please him. By the time she had gone back to the old Lana she’d been in college, she was embarrassed that she let herself go bland in the first place.

I hate the way he makes me feel
, she thought. She was too captivated by his presence. He always wore a suit, looking sexy all over. She closed her eyes again and tried to rest. She prayed that she would survive, her body and her heart. The problem was, did she just want to survive or did she want more? Before she’d seen him she never thought of more. Men were so far beneath her radar that some on the force thought she was a lesbian. If anyone saw her reaction to Sergei, though, they’d know she definitely loved men. 

The bed was so comfortable Lana started to get too cozy. Her eyes had gotten heavy and beat out her thoughts, letting her fatigue take over. Lana was just starting to doze when the door opened and Sergei walked in.

He took a seat next to her on the bed. She flinched when he took her hand. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I just came to tend to this,” Sergei said softly as he lightly caressed around the wounded flesh. The look of remorse was etched in his face, something Lana didn’t fail to notice.

The man confused her, so she asked, “Why?”

“Because despite what you may think, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Sergei started to massage some cream into the area, sending goose bumps up her arm. The sensation of his fingers caressing Lana’s skin sent her body aflame. After apply the soothing cream, he trailed up her arm touching the raised flesh, so tenderly it shook them both. Both jumped back from the riotous feelings.

“You do realize that that’s absurd. You kidnap me, then you feel bad for hurting me, but you won’t let me go,” Lana said while sitting up and rubbing her wrist, attempting to remove his touch from her skin. The sensation refused to go away.
Stubborn just like him,
she thought.

Sergei ran his hands through his thick black hair.
Damn, he looked sexy as hell with it all messy like that too,
she thought.

He grumbled agitatedly, “I can’t just yet. I’m going to take you back to Russia with me.”

Taken aback by his anxious behavior, Lana responded by asking for the one thing she needed from him—space. “Fine…can you please let me rest?”

“Sure.” Sergei took one last look at her before he headed back to his seat. Lana was left to ponder why he was doing this, because it didn’t make sense to her at all. Her mind was too muddled to think anymore, and so she fell fast asleep.

Lana woke up from a wonderful, strange but powerful dream. She didn’t realize how long she’d slept until Sergei knocked on the door. “Come in,” she called out as she sat up slowly on the bed. The rest was definitely what she needed. Her mind was not as mixed up.

Sergei walked in the door, his figure imposing, and offered, “If you’re hungry there is some food out here.”

“Sure, can you give me a minute?” Lana asked as she pulled the blanket up to her chest.

He nodded before he walked out, closing the door behind him. Lana got up and went into the bathroom to rinse up. She looked at herself in the mirror and said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t hurt her, and that she would get past the need to know him in every way.

Why does he have to be so handsome? He’s too tantalizing for me, and my heart goes freaking insane when he’s around. I hope he didn’t notice it. When he massaged the cream into my wrist I wanted to moan and purr. Damn him and my attraction to him!

Her mind had been wandering so long that she’d forgotten that Sergei was waiting for her. She heard the door to the bedroom open and close.  Then Sergei called out, “Lana!”

“I’m coming,” she shouted through the bathroom door. Lana hoped that he wasn’t angry and was going to tie her back up. Once she got out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, she said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to take so long. I promise you don’t have to tie me back up. I’ll behave for now.”

“For now? So you’re planning to escape later, are you?” Sergei growled as he grabbed her uninjured arm and escorted her back to their seats.

Lana lightly pulled her arm away from his grasp. “Maybe. I can’t make any promises beyond this plane ride.”

Sergei seemed angry about her pulling away from him. “Fine. Let’s eat because I am fucking hungry, I’m not very nice when I’m hungry.”

They took their seats, where the food was set up for them. Sergei waited until Lana sat down before he took his seat, confusing her. “What was that about? Are you afraid I’m going to do something stupid?” she asked suspiciously.

“No. I was just trying to have some manners.”

“You do realize how strange this all is, don’t you?” she said, amused by the situation. There were moments where he really muddled her mind.

“You’re really beautiful when you smile.” His words made her blush brightly, but she wasn’t the type of girl to be taken in by a man’s charm. She had been interested in him since the first time she’d seen him, but he was a mobster like Claudio, and no way was she going there.

“Thank you, Mr. Antonov,” Lana said formally, attempting to distance herself from any of the familiarity he made her crave.

“It’s Sergei, and I’m only stating the obvious. You’re uncommonly beautiful.”  Her blush darkened, making her more uncomfortable. Seeing this, Sergei commanded, “Now let us eat before we get ready to land.”

Dinner was eaten in silence, as they both felt uncomfortable by his words. The awkwardness of their situation had been escalated by the attraction they possessed for each other.

Lana stared at Sergei as he drank his glass of vodka, watching the way his Adam’s apple bobbed with each drink. Fascinated by it, she didn’t notice that Sergei had been watching her as well. She also didn’t know that the movement in his Adam’s apple wasn’t because he was drinking, but because he was gulping down the air and his excitement from her shameless admiration for him.

After he put his glass down Lana licked her lips, suddenly feeling extremely thirsty.

“Please excuse me,” Sergei gulped as he stood and walked back to the bedroom lavatory. Lana watched him rush by so fast she wondered if his food had not settled well.

Lana sat by the table thinking about what brought her to this point. Working nonstop to find Claudio had become an obsession. Everything for her had hinged on finding him. She had been unlucky so far until she came to work in Texas, and she had let her life and need for closure go too far. After chasing down Rykov and being warned that she was to drop the matter and pursue it no further, she had moved onto his sidekick. What she hadn’t expected was the need to see Sergei on a daily basis. It had even taken over the need to find Claudio. Now, she was being held captive by a man who made her feel bubbly inside. Her fate was in his hands, still undetermined.



††††

“What the fuck is wrong with me?” Sergei growled to himself in the tiny mirror. When he looked at Lana, he didn’t want her as just his captive. He wanted to see her to see him as the man he tried to be. He didn’t know if it was a lost cause, but he hoped this nutty plan of his might work like it did for Nikolai. He managed to win Bianca overnight. Sergei knew that there was no way of stopping his feelings for Lana.

After calming his pounding heart and settling down his desire, he walked back out to see Lana reading the book he’d been reading earlier. He smiled because at least she wasn’t trying to escape.

“Are you enjoying it?” Sergei asked as he took his seat across from her.

“Actually, I read this when it came out, but it’s one of those books that is good for a re-read,” Lana replied before handing it back to him.

“You could still read if you’d like,” he offered.

“Thanks. I might need it.” The implication was there, and there was no way to get around it. Lana was his prisoner, not his guest, and he needed to remember that.

Anika returned to inform them that they would be landing in half an hour. They prepared for landing and strapped themselves in. Lana didn’t make a fuss, and so Sergei questioned her motives.

“So Miss Grey, are you planning to behave then?” He sat upright and raised a brow, doubting the possibility.

Lana replied with a lot of sass. “I said I would behave at least until we landed, but I can’t guarantee afterward.”

“Very well, but if you try to get away I’ll only catch you and keep you longer,” he warned. Sergei tried not thinking about wanting to keep her forever because that would be a lost cause.

“So you’re planning to let me go?” Lana asked hopefully.

“If you’re a good girl, yes.” He didn’t like that she was so anxious. That seemed to pacifier her, at least, and set the tone for the ride to the Rykov estate. As Nikolai’s right hand man, Sergei had access to all of Nikolai’s homes. There was an SUV awaiting their arrival as planned, and to Sergei’s relief, Lana walked down the stairs with him and didn’t give him any trouble.

However it wouldn’t be long before Lana would try and make her escape. Sergei had no doubt of that, but that was something he was prepared for.