Alex’s body bumps into mine, making me step back closer to the wall, knocking my thoughts back to the here and now.
Only having heard that devilish laugh once before, the night I enjoyed Dimitri Sokolov’s touch and commanding ways sent my thoughts spiraling back to that night. The night that has haunted me from the exact moment he left that room.
I thought it would change something… How stupid was I to think that? It changed little. I was still used, worked for him, but it became clearer to me, Dimitri only chose men who wanted a blow job, never giving me the opportunity to achieve release for myself. Which would never happen anyway. I was their toy. For their disgusting, depraved needs only. Numb and indifferent after years of it. They all were part of my job.
“…Raven, you’re delusional if you think you can do that.” Deep resonating voice fills our space.
“It’s your last chance, Sokolov. Let us leave now.” Alex threads his fingers through mine, squeezing them tightly. Alex’s composure is unbreakable. I’m a quivering mess and it’s not from the rain, which continues to fall intermittently. Sokolov’s the one with the gun and the one with blood splattered all over him. We have nothing.
Raising his hand, Sokolov steps forward, pointing the gun.
“Do you see this, you motherfucker? This will end your life. But be assured, I will look after Isla completely. All of her sexual needs, I will fulfill them. She will take me every way I want her to. We will do some experimenting and see if we can’t find her a new love for the dark and dangerous. Fuck how I love it.” He lets out a low snigger. “And with you, my dear, I’m going to have you tied, whipped, and hanging in my Pleasure Room as soon as this mess is over.”
The sincerity in his voice and the hollow, dark pits of his eyes makes me shudder. “You will be punished for leaving me.” Alex pushes me behind him a little more so I’m only visible to Dimitri minimally. His stance is rigid and restrained. I normally would be having one of my standard panic attacks by now, but Alex’s solidness gives me inner determination to be strong for him. He needs me as steadfast as he is.
“Now, come here, Isla. You know who you belong too.” Another step forward and he’s now twenty-five feet from us.
Pushing me hard backwards Alex lunges at our nemesis, knocking the gun from his hand. I can’t move, but I hear myself screaming. Holy hell, what is Alex doing?
Both men tumble back toward an old doorway on the building and crash into the wooden frame. Alex has him around the waist, pounding his arm into his body. Dimitri is doubled over. His hands are trying protect his body, but Alex is unleashing his pent up fury now into his face, stomach and kidney area. The precision and speed is unnerving. Alex is a machine, that won’t stop until he is dead.
Is it so terrible that I want Dimitri dead?
Yelling for anyone that may hear me to come and help over the groans of Dimitri, his athletic body topples over momentarily. Alex stops for a fraction of a second to see how far Dimitri is gone. It’s then I see the low life reach around his waist, pulling out a knife from his pants so quickly.
“Knife… Alex… He’s got a…” Alex is fast and tackles Dimitri again but the blade rips past his chest, slashing his shirt.
Alex doesn’t stop, even though from where I am standing I can see blood pooling on his clothes. With Alex injured, Dimitri fights dirty, striking him where the knife gashed him.
“You had your chance, Sokolov. Isla is mine. She will never be fucking yours.” Alex arrogantly and contemptuously smiles, going blow to blow with our enemy.
Light rain continues to fall. The ground slippery under foot causes Alex to lose balance. He falls to the side and Dimitri takes his chance to get the gun.
A crash rings out… It’s not thunder this time. I run quickly to get to Alex. Then there’s more bangs, yelling, and the smell of freshly fired guns all around me. I focus only on Alex.
“We have to go now.” Alex has found his footing and pulls me toward him. There’s more than one person firing.
Bending down, I stay close behind Alex’s lead.
I can’t understand where Dimitri has gone and who is firing. I pray they are on our side. Alex unexpectedly stops. I run into the back of him. His powerful body turns, and his arms connect with my shoulders. He shoves me away from him. My legs stumble backward. My shoes are slippery from all the water laying on the ground. I step into a large puddle, splashing a huge amount of water up my legs.
What is he doing? I have to be close to him. I need him to protect me. My footing continues to awkwardly step backward. My ankle gives out as I hit another hole. I can’t make out where Alex is. But I hear a pained moan from him.
“Alex…” More gun fire rings out. My knees buckle from underneath me. My footing’s all wrong. Pain slices through my ankle as I try to correct my steps, but instead it gives out and I go flying back. Twisting my body slightly, it’s then I see huge block, stone steps near the base of a door. But it’s too late to change the way my body is falling.
A curtain of darkness closes across my eyes.
The hot sun blazes down on my head. The blue ocean water laps at the side of the sand. The ocean waves roll in, calming me. My head relaxes back on the shoulder of Alex. Sitting at Bondi Beach, between his legs, with his bulging arms wrapped around my midriff is heaven.
Out in the water, Jules is splashing a very well-built man. I don’t recognize his face. He doesn’t stand for it though, diving under the water. Jules quickly disappears under the water, squealing. The two of them resurface together, laughing and obviously enjoying each other.
Seth is trying to teach Kameron how to surf, unsuccessfully. Who would have thought a guy like Seth would be into surfing? Motorbikes seem more his thing. Kameron’s ink looks vibrant under the glistening rays of the sun and water drops. Why the hell she wants to learn how to surf mystifies me? But we do strange things for the people we love. And it’s clear as the ocean water in front of us, that these two have got something special going on here.
A baby cries. Turning our heads, we look at Sarah and her baby, who is lying under the protection of the pink sun shade tent. Her tiny pink and lemon bathing suit is adorable. Lying on her back, unable to move much, she still tries to pull the elastic fuchsia pink hat from her bald head. She knows what she wants, but it’s not happening. Such determination for a small baby. Alice has shown already she will be as determined as her mother and uncle. Sarah not winning too many battles already. Alice refuses to sleep until she is ready. She will only drink when she wants. And has the strongest temper, causing us to pray for Sarah that her little determined bundle grows out of it… Soon…
Glancing past the beautiful bundle, showing off their beach volleyball skills is Liam, Jared, and Ben. Girls clad in skin tight, skimpy bathers flock around them, acting helpless, vying for each of their attention. Their sculptured bodies, bronzed and tattooed, except for Ben’s, is certainly a spectacle any red-blooded woman would appreciate. I don’t know their stories yet, but playboy Ben is having the time of his life. Picking up girls by their asses covered by a scrap of material, to help them get the ball. Or leaning in from behind, showing them how to hold their hands together to hit the ball, touching any bare piece of skin he can. What a manwhore… And he’s so carefree and it makes it all worthwhile the torment I have endured over my life. Just to see him that happy.
“Isla… Isla…” A murmur enters my head. “I need you to open your eyes. Can you hear me?” Slight brushes of something waft over my hand. “Isla. It’s Jared. I need you to open your eyes or squeeze my hand if you can hear me.”
Jared? Why is Jared touching my hand?
Heavy, but stuck, I try to will my eyelids open, but there’s still darkness. Trying for my hand, I try and move my fingers. Holy crap, my head is exploding.
“Her fingers are moving slightly…” Warmth surrounds my hand more. “You know he would want us to have her as first priority. Fuck… Where’s the ambulance?”
A second voice joins in. “We shouldn’t be here. Benito’s left, so we should be outta here.”
“We’re not fucking leaving her to be trusted with the soldiers. Liam, too much has gone down. ” He sighs. “At least the bleeding’s stopped. Finally, some fucking good news.”
“We’ll just use the mugging gone wrong line. Are we clear?”
“Exactly what I was thinking, bro.”
His hand never leaves mine. I need to speak. Trying to move my mouth, I hear a moan.
Hell, is that me?
“Isla, honey. Don’t try and talk. If you can, open your eyes, the ambulance will be here soon. We have you, you’re safe.” His monotone voice scares me. Him being here scares the fuck out of me.
My voice box tries to work. “Where’s Alex? Is he safe?” But all I hear is more groans.
“Just lie still. Keep working at opening your eyes honey.”
Sirens wail. My eyes flutter from inside. I have to make them work. Where is Alex? Is he here taking care of Dimitri’s body maybe? Oh, how I pray that it’s his being cleared away and not my beautiful Alex’s. Screaming overtakes my head space.
“Fuck, she’s shaking all over.” Something is laid over my arms. A coat or jacket maybe. “She could be going into shock.”
“They’re here, Jared. Let them get to her.”
“Fucking hurry. Isla… It’s going to be okay. The paramedics are here. Don’t you go anywhere.”
“Jared, just tell me where the hell Alex is. I need my undercover angel. My heaven.” My head is yelling. But it’s not going anywhere. The words bounce around my headspace.
“Alex…”
Darkness veils my eyes… Again.