Chapter Ten

Tamatha

“If you say one more word, Sloane, I’ll find a way to make your entire family disappear.”

The tone of Benecio’s voice stopped me in my tracks on my way to Domino’s room. After dinner, he was called off to business again, and though he seemed angered to be taken away from his fun, I breathed a sigh of relief to be free of him. The sun set on the paradise of an island, and the only thing I could think of was that Domino and I were trapped. There was no way to run, nowhere to hide, and the only thing keeping us safe was me bowing down before the master of this domain.

“It doesn’t matter what the reason was. You were supposed to vet this job, and you knew it involved a child. I should break your neck now, but I’ll let you live. Your second chance with me? Finding out what you can on the senator, and that’s that.”

I tip-toed down the hall, not wanting to gain his attention and knowing I couldn’t stay in the hall like a fool. Benecio’s phone rang again.

“I need the shipment sent immediately. The Serbs are only going to wait so long for their girls. Get it done, I’ve got money to make.”

My stomach dropped. He talked about killing and selling women so easily, and this was the man who wanted my son to be his heir and me to be his wife. Life with him was a step up from sleeping with strangers on the street, but how much better? Afraid I’d hear more, I slipped into Domino’s room. For now, though, I buried my nose in my son’s hair, took in the soft scent of his berry body wash, and was thankful we were free of the hell of our previous life. Domino’s clothes cost more than I could make in a year, and he chatted non-stop about what Italian Rene and Nathan had taught him when I wasn’t around.

“They are nice. Can we stay here, Mommy?” he asked.

His eyes begged me to say yes, and I knew he felt the security I didn’t. Benecio was a fairytale king, and the wonders he showed were precious to a child who was born into pain and lived his days in a poor, if not happy, home. I could give him this. If I could open my legs for random men I couldn’t even remember, then I could make sure he had a roof over his head, protection at his feet, and a life I never could have given him.

“Yes, baby. Mommy is going to marry Benecio, and we’ll be able to stay here forever.”

“Does that mean he’s going to be my new dad?”

I sighed and lifted Domino into my arms. The wide windows framed the rising moon, spilling natural light into his bedroom. The T.V. played silently in the background, and he tried to stifle a yawn, jet lag setting in.

“You’ve never had a dad. That man was just someone who helped me make you, but he doesn’t deserve to be called your father. And Benecio … he’s just going to be mommy’s husband. You don’t need to understand it all. Just trust me, okay?”

“Yeah. I’m happy you are around now. I miss you when you’re gone.”

“I missed you, too, baby.”

I sniffed, forestalling tears as I held him tightly and rested my cheek on his head. Slowly, an old lullaby I thought I’d forgotten, one I’d sung to him so many times before, slipped from me. Domino snuggled against my chest, and I continued singing long after his even breathing told me he was sleep.

“You’re good with him.”

Benecio’s voice didn’t surprise me. I knew he’d come looking eventually. But what did shock me was he didn’t tell me to come with him. Instead, he came further in the room, his sleeves rolled up on his forearms, and sat on the couch across from the bed. He ran his fingers through his hair, dislodging the long strands until a swath of it fell over one eye.

“I won’t hurt him,” he told me.

“Why are children so important?” I asked, instead of examining why he wanted to tell me that.

He closed his eyes for a moment before sighing. “Because they are defenseless.”

I saw it in his eyes, then, the sadness and old knowledge. But I didn’t ask. I didn’t want him to be more than my captor. I didn’t want to feel anything toward him but resignation. But the twinge in my heart called me a liar.

“He’s had it rough most of his life,” I said instead.

A self-deprecating laugh filtered from Benecio. “I understand that.”

This time I couldn’t stop a question from slipping through. “Did you grow up the same?”

His hard eyes met mine, filled with rage and death, and I remembered the phone calls and how he’d killed Alec. I sucked in a breath and clutched Domino closer. Benecio was a sleeping dragon.

“My father snitched on the Sicilian Mafia, thinking the government would give him a new life and a chance to start a new family. He never liked me, you know? Apparently, I’d been a mistake, and he got saddled with my mom. He only used her to get Made, and then she got knocked up. He knocked me around in retaliation.”

He meant to shock me, to garner sympathy so he could stamp it out, but instead I blinked at him and withheld the emotion he searched for.

“So you hurt others to feel more like a man?”

“No, I hurt women because I’ve got mommy issues. She fucking hated me too. Disowned my father and took me to America so she could start a new life. Don’t know why she didn’t just leave me behind, but I guess a weeping child made her look more pathetic. She dropped me off as soon as she could.”

“To family?”

“To the streets.”

I forced my face to remain blank as he searched my gaze.

“Did you kill her?”

He choked out a laugh, surprised at my response. “You’re bloodthirsty. But no, I didn’t have to. She’s lived a long life in the States, and I entertain myself with bringing her misery. Dear Old Dad never made it out of Italy. I was alone by the age of fourteen. Got in trouble, went to jail, got my GED, and decided I could do something else with my brains instead of being all brawn.”

I kissed Domino on the forehead, unsure of the late-night revelations from the man who’d soon be my husband. He knocked me for a loop, and just when I thought he’d come at me physically, controlling me with sex, he gave me his past instead. I didn’t know how to wage this war with him, and I was already embattled, exhausted, and dug in the trenches.

“You would marry me, do anything for me, just to keep him safe?”

“Yes,” I answered immediately.

“I want to see.”

I trembled. “What?”

“I want to see what anything is.”

He still watched me with an unblinking stare, but there was a wall, too, and none of his previous emotions leaked out.

“Benecio—”

“There’s a dress on my bed, go put it on. When you have, stand in the moonlight, hands on the glass in front of you, on your toes.”

I swallowed, not wanting to play this game but knowing I had to. And I hated most of all that my pussy thickened at the thought. I was just as broken and messed up as he was. And even worse? I wanted his loyalty for my son for myself too. I was pathetic. Slowly, I pulled away from Domino, knowing Benecio wouldn’t leave until I did as he requested.

“Will you stay here?”

“No. I’ll follow you into the living room and wait.”

I nodded, appreciating the concession. His heavy footfalls followed me out of Domino’s room and echoed with the closing of the door. Benecio stopped in the living room area and sat down in an armchair while I continued. A balmy breeze filled the house from open windows, bringing in the saltwater scent from outside, which expanded in my lungs with each step. The hardwood floors were cool under my bare feet, and the silent swish from my slacks filled my ears. The master suite was downstairs and took up most of the square footage. The room was surrounded by windows that would let in the morning sun, and Benecio had none of them covered. As I padded through the door, my gaze traveled over the sitting room area. It housed a mounted flat-screen T.V. and plush, white area rug in front of a seating area. The door leading to the master bathroom and walk-in closet was to the left. Eventually, I couldn’t look at anything else, and I focused on the oversize bed covered in dark-red covers and golden pillows. The dress Benecio had picked out was resting on the lower left corner. In reality, though, it couldn’t be called a dress—I recognized the negligée. It was nothing but black lace held together by nude fabric. With trembling hands, I stripped out of my clothes and folded them neatly before placing them on the back of the couch, and then I picked up my night’s attire.

It felt different, this moment. I knew how the night would end, and my heart galloped in my chest. In the darkness, I couldn’t deny the pull Benecio had on me and the way my mouth went dry at the knowledge I was obeying him right now. It was twisted, what we had, but palpable, and I couldn’t deny it. The lace material slid over my skin, hugging my curves as it molded over my body. Sleeveless, it cut deep between my breasts, almost to my navel, and accented my rounded hips and pert tits. I let my hair fall straight around my shoulders and padded softly over to the window. It was cold against my palms, and I lifted to my toes, feeling my calves bunch with the exertion. And I waited.

Benecio was Satan, just as beautiful and beguiling. Yet I trusted him. He promised not to hurt my son, and I believed him. Without even truly knowing me, he’d destroyed the man who’d hurt us so much. He could have taken Domino, left me behind, or left us to fend for ourselves, but he’d brought us to a white-sanded paradise and made me his future wife. It shouldn’t have made me want to bow at his feet, but I did. Heart pounding, I waited for him to enter his room, and I felt his presence long before I heard him. Attuned to him, I swore I sensed the moment he was done waiting and came toward the bedroom. I don’t know how long I stood there, but my calves ached, my back arched painfully, and I took shuddering breaths … but I did not move. The fuzziness in my head blurred the lines between direction and need, and I suddenly didn’t know if I did it for Domino or for me.

I feared it was the latter, and it made me sick to my stomach.

Benecio came further into the room, and I heard the shuffle of fabric but didn’t dare turn around. The only break I allowed myself was licking my dry lips with a delicate tongue. When his breath touched my shoulder, I felt rooted, anchored to him in a way that was electrifying and frightening. What is he doing to me? I didn’t know the answer, but the urge to understand disappeared as he placed one hot hand on my hip.

“So fucking perfect,” he whispered, and the tone of his voice only dragged me further under his spell. For a moment, he was as drugged by this as I was.

“Push your ass back but keep your hands on the window.”

I shifted, doing as he commanded, and my ass went flush with his cock. His heat seeped into my sore skin, making me hiss, but my knees became weak too. He grunted in appreciation before trailing his hands over my backside and fingering the hem of the dress.

“This will be painful,” he warned, but I heard the pleasure in his voice.

It didn’t matter, of course. He wouldn’t stop from doing what he wanted, and I was helpless to deny him. Slowly, he pressed back on my chest until I was almost in a backbend and slapped my arms to let me know I could remove them from the glass. Precariously balanced, I let him place my hands on his hips as he stepped forward. My lower back screamed, and I knew the pain would get worse. The position was meant to degrade and control me. The move put his cock in my face, and I could see the heaviness of his balls. The strain in my back was acute, but being on my toes helped ease it somewhat.

“Open your legs wider,” he demanded.

I sucked in a breath and released it as I shifted into position as he wanted. It lowered me until his cock was above my face, thickening when he fisted it. I watched, entranced, as he jerked it back and forth with hard strokes.

“I’m going to fuck that pretty mouth before I taste you.”

It was the only warning I got.