CHAPTER FOUR
ANTHONY
The little bitch thought she could outrun me. Barely standing taller than five feet, she was a skinny woman with dirt on her face and scrapes across her skin. I hadn't noticed from the car because I couldn't see her clearly, but there was madness in her eyes - madness and a vacancy that told me she'd died long before ever reaching this cliff.
Even if her soul had already been ripped from its living cage, her heart still beat and her lungs still drew in air. I wouldn't allow that same cage to be torn apart and shredded by the rocks that awaited her five hundred feet below.
There is nothing in this life that is so bad death is the only option.
Her body disappeared over the ledge after she flashed me a calm and resigned expression. With arms open as if she could fly, the white of her robe flew out around her legs, the scene playing out in front of me, time itself slowing down so that I could memorize every detail.
I jumped, my chest hitting the ledge so hard that I feared broken ribs from the impact. My arm went over the ledge and my fingers fisted, catching what felt like thick roots along the side. There was movement, weight that caught and swung back, followed by a heavy thud and a scream that tore through the night. I scrambled over the side, balancing on my abdomen to grip her by the shoulders and pull her onto land. She weighed little more than a feather.
For a little woman, she put up a difficult fight. Ignoring the rocks that tore into my skin, I refused to let her go, finally dragging her up and pinning her to the ground with my weight. Her hands and knees battered my body, her teeth sinking into my arm where she bit down.
Left with no options, I did what any man in my position could do. My hand found a rock and that rock hit her head, forcing her from consciousness until she was nothing more than a limp body sprawled across the ground.
“Forgive me,” I breathed out, not exactly sure what I’d do with her now that I finally had her.
“Mr. Bernal?”
My driver’s voice sounded behind me. “I’ve pulled the car over, but we have to go. If we leave it any longer, the police will be here in no time. The bridge operator already yelled for me to move it.”
I was fortunate that Brent was a loyal employee. He saw nothing and said nothing, simply happy for the generous paycheck he received each week.
“I’ll be there in a second.”
He nodded and walked back to the car.
Breathing out heavily, I looked down at the woman I’d just saved.
“Damn it,” I hissed beneath my breath, having no other choice than to lift her up and carry her limp body to the car.
Laying her on the seat, I shifted her legs to fall across my lap, noticing that she wore torn clothes under the thin robe. The interior light of the car wasn't bright enough to illuminate her features, but I was able to see enough beneath the dark mop of her hair to know she was beautiful.
The car door slammed closed and rocked the chassis. My hand hit the glass of the dark partition, the car jolting forward, kicking rocks out from beneath the tires. Through the intercom, Brent asked, "Where to, Mr. Bernal?"
My eyes memorized every inch of her body that I could see. The dirt, the bruises and scars. They all added to her allure. She was real, not someone pampered and spoiled by the world. She once had a strong spirit, her resilience obvious by the fact that she could so easily choose the unknown. What good would it do to return her to the place she'd already learned to escape? She wouldn't stop until she was dead.
My decision made, I ordered, "Return to Mr. Oliver's house. There's been a change of plans."
. . .
The doorbell chimed lightly inside the house, the engine of my car softly idling in the driveway in front of the portico. Minutes passed, my concern growing that Aiden and Rebecca had fallen asleep.
When the door finally cracked open, the friendly, yet tired eyes of Theresa, Aiden's housekeeper, peeked out.
"Mr. Bernal?" Opening the door wider, she cinched her heavy blue robe tighter around her body.
"I need to speak to Mr. Oliver. It's urgent."
She nodded, silver strands of hair bouncing at the sides of her head. "Come inside. I'll get him."
I didn't want to leave the woman behind, fearing that she would wake up and attempt to escape the car. With a voice far more forceful and rude than I'd intended, I said, "Tell him to come out to the car."
Minutes passed before Aiden's shadow crossed the portico. His body moved quickly, no shirt covering his shoulders, and only black, silk pajama bottoms on his legs. His feet were bare and his hair stuck out from fingers that had run through it. I'd hoped he would be sleeping, not indulging in his beautiful pet. Judging by the faint red lines that ran down his chest and back, I realized I'd been wrong.
Before he could ask, I opened the door and directed his attention inside. His brows narrowed, confusion in his eyes quickly replaced by recognition of what he saw.
With a rough voice, he asked, "Do I want to know why there's a dirty woman passed out in your car?"
"I need to borrow your medical room. She's injured."
"Then take her to the hospital and dump her before they see you. What made you think to bring her here?" Cold and uncaring, he made the suggestion without any thought as to the woman's condition. She represented a problem, and Aiden offered the simplest of solutions.
"May I please use the room?"
Hearing the determination in my voice, he sighed and motioned towards the house with an outstretched hand. "Of course. But I have questions, Anthony. Lots of them. Once the woman is secured, meet me in the kitchen. I'll have Theresa make coffee."
He moved out of my way, waiting for me to grab the woman and carry her inside the house before following. Reaching the room, he opened the door, closing it again once I'd passed. An exam table sat in the center and I placed her down before clicking on the staggeringly bright light. Aiden kept the room for use with the courtesans. Medical exams were always performed to ensure their health. Birth control was always administered to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
Her closed eyelids squinted against the light, her head rolling back and forth as she woke. She moaned out in pain, her body coming to life slowly as I strapped her down. Clean cotton washcloths and liquid antiseptic were within my reach, my hands moving quickly to douse the cloth and clean the wound on her head.
"What?" The word was gritty and raspy with confusion, her eyes not yet open despite the word that rolled across her lips. "Where the fuck am I?" Her blue eyes opened to a narrow slit, and after locking to my own for enough time to allow recognition, they widened.
Her mouth opened on a scream, her arms furiously fighting to rip her wrists from the restraints.
"You won't be able to move, Mi Bella. Stay still or you'll hurt yourself more." Using a soft voice, I attempted to cajole the frightened woman.
"Where am I?" She thrashed, wincing in response to some injury I hadn't yet found. "Who are you? What the hell is going on?"
She continued to fight against the restraints and I sighed. I let her struggle, allowed the adrenaline to burn off as she raged within a losing battle. I placed the cloth and antiseptic on the counter beside me and leaned against the wall. By the time I'd casually slipped my hands into my pockets, she was screaming every curse word imaginable and had threatened to remove my balls.
The door to the room opened, Aiden's eyes widening to see the exam table practically rocked off the bolts that held it to the floor. He started forward, his face a blank mask, but his posture that of a Master who was determined to control his prey. Stepping away from the wall, I strong-armed him, shaking my head to silently tell him to stay out of it.
We were equals, Aiden and I, and even though we were presently in his home, this woman was completely under my control. He could not intercede or undermine my authority...just as if she were my own courtesan.
Minutes passed as she struggled, Aiden and I both impressed with the strength she had. Even injured and unwell, the woman did not give up or give in easily.
Eyeing me as she began to calm, Aiden nodded toward the direction of the kitchen, shooting me a sharp glance before disappearing back out into the hall.
The room quieted and I took the opportunity to ask, "Are you quite done yet? I must admit the display you put on was impressive."
"Let me go. Please? Just let me the fuck go." A voice that had started strong weakened until it was nothing more than a choked whisper. “Not this shit again.”
Although I was curious as to the last words she spoke, I refrained from asking about them. There was no emotion in my voice when I answered, "Why would I do that?"
Standing behind her, I purposely kept myself in a place where she couldn't see my face.
"Why did you do this?" she cried.
"What did I do?"
Heavy sobs shook her frame. "You kidnapped me, you bastard! Now let me the fuck go!"
I winced. Her language would be the first thing I changed about her. She sounded like street trash, her vocabulary one used by those with nothing more intelligent to say.
Finally moving where she could see my face, I smiled lazily, giving off the impression of friendly familiarity. With a voice as soft as satin, I crooned, "You're mistaken, Mi Bella. I've done no such thing."