Chapter Eight
I sat in the chair in my room and read through the briefing Wilder gave me. The video surveillance showed my father remained absolutely still for hours at a time. He stared straight ahead, hardly breathing. It reminded me of a reptile sitting on a rock, waiting for the right moment to strike before it snatched up its prey.
It was painful to see him that way, locked up in the interrogation room for the entire day before they put him in his cell to sleep. Most days, Wilder didn’t even go in there to interrogate him. It seemed like he put him in there for no reason at all.
Wilder knocked on the door before he stepped inside. “Hey.”
I shut my laptop because I didn’t want to look at my father anymore. “Hey.”
He walked inside and sat on the other couch, looking strong in the tight shirt he wore. He’d been down in the bunker for most of the day. It was past dinnertime, so he put in a sixteen-hour workday, at least.
His ambition didn’t bother me. He was passionate about his work, and I respected that. If I got to see him for just ten minutes I was happy.
“Take a look at everything?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“You think you can handle this?”
I shrugged. “We won’t know until we try, right?”
“You’ll be fine, Gray. He won’t hurt you.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about.” If he wanted to kill me, he wouldn’t have stopped Wilder from shooting me.
“Then everything will be okay. Just ask him the questions I gave you. Look him in the eye, and don’t be afraid.”
“That’s part of my nature, so we’ll be okay on that front.”
Wilder gave me a sympathetic look, understanding this was hard for me. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“It’s just…it’s hard to accept all of this is real. My father really is a criminal, a murderer. I still see him as my father, but in reality, I really don’t know him at all. He’s a stranger to me. Now we’re enemies. It’s hard to believe…”
“Yeah, I can only imagine.”
“I think I need more time to get ready for this…but I know there will never be enough time.”
He gave a slight nod. “Tomorrow, then?”
Now that a date had been set, a jolt ran through my heart. The imminent event was upon me, and there was nothing else I could do but push through and get it over with. Rip off the bandage. “Yeah. Tomorrow.”
He left the chair then kneeled in front of me, his intent obvious based on his movements. His torso separated my legs, and he yanked me toward him on the chair. My chest was pressed to his, and he brushed his lips past mine in a tantalizing way.
The second Wilder was close to me, I forgot about everything else except the two of us. My hands moved up his hard chest, feeling the powerful muscle underneath the fabric. My hands migrated to the bottom of his shirt before I pulled it over his head. Beautiful skin was revealed, along with a few scars. Somehow the marks made him more beautiful. I stared at each one before I pressed a gentle kiss to the skin.
Wilder watched me, his sympathetic expression changing to one of desire. He pulled my shirt over my head then pressed his lips into my neck, kissing and sucking the warm skin as his sweet breath filtered across me.
He got my bra off then moved his mouth to mine, kissing me with the kind of softness I loved. When we kissed in Switzerland, it was always with lustful ferocity. All he wanted to do was fuck me like one of the others. But now his kisses were heavy with passion, heavy with promise.
I was glad I stuck to my guns and didn’t cave, as many times as I wanted to. If I slept with him and allowed myself to be just another woman, we wouldn’t be there right now. I knew Wilder didn’t want me just because he couldn’t have me. He wanted me because he realized he couldn’t stop thinking about me, wishing he was with me.
He scooped me into his arms and transferred me to the bed. The sheets and comforter were perfectly made, and my body immediately wrinkled them once my weight dipped into the mattress. He pulled off my jeans and panties before he yanked his off.
He climbed on top of me, his frame heavy and his skin warm. His knees widened my thighs, and he moved his arms behind my knees. I couldn’t wait to have him, so I grabbed his hips and pulled him toward me, feeling his hard cock press right against my folds. I didn’t care about Wilder’s darkness or his rough exterior. I knew the man underneath that cold visage. He was beautiful with a heart of gold.
He moaned quietly as he pressed his lips near mine. He wasn’t inside me yet but he clearly enjoyed the anticipation. He didn’t need to lubricate his cock before he pressed the head inside me, knowing I would be soaked for him just like every other time.
He pushed through my lips then slowly entered my tight channel. He took his time even though I was certain he didn’t want to take it slow. Inch by inch, he entered me until he was completely sheathed, surrounded by my slick arousal. “Jesus Christ…” He pressed his mouth against mine but he didn’t kiss me. He breathed into my mouth as he stretched me apart with his massive size. “Damn, I could live here.”
My hands snaked up his back and felt the muscle ripple underneath this warm skin. My nails pressed gently into his muscle, and I restrained myself from slicing him up. I never felt more aroused as I did when Wilder was inside me. My body craved his, but my heart also needed his desperately.
Wilder straightened himself on top of me and began to move, slowly sliding in and out of me. It was slow and gentle, a direct contradiction to everything about him. He preferred to move quickly and strike hard. But with me, he treated me like a rose pedal.
I never realized how much I wanted it.
Wilder made love to me on the bed, his lips brushing against mine as he rocked into me. Sweat formed along his back, and my hands slid through the moisture. I gripped him tightly and rocked my hips with him, taking his length at the same pace he gave it.
One hand moved into my hair and fisted it, like he didn’t have a good enough grip on me. His pretty eyes were glued to my face as he continued to thrust inside me, his pace slightly increasing. When he finally kissed me, the touch was scorching.
My hands moved into his hair, and I twisted his strands in my fingertips. “Wilder…”
“I can’t believe I waited this long…”
I was so glad that we did. I could tell I was about to come the second he was inside me. Maybe it was all from his package, but I suspected most of my pleasure derived from my heart. I adored this man with everything I had, and knowing he felt the same way made everything between us stronger.
I locked my ankles together against his back and gripped his shoulders as I rocked my lower body into him. I took his length harder as I felt heat surge through me. No matter how deeply I breathed, I couldn’t get enough air. My body was being swept away with the passion, and I couldn’t even think straight.
“Let go.” He sucked my bottom lip into his mouth and gave a slight bite with his teeth.
I pulled him closer to me, feeling his cock hit me in just the right spot over and over. “Come with me.”
He groaned as he sheathed himself completely inside me. “I want to last longer, make you come again.”
He had plenty of opportunities to make me come over and over. Right now, I just wanted to feel that connection, to feel that surge of passion at the exact same time. I wanted him to come deep inside me just as I surrounded him with my own come. “No. Together.”
He didn’t object and rocked into me harder, his breathing growing more deep and strained. My headboard began to tap on the wall, and I hoped no one else could hear us. My hands dragged down to his arms, and I gripped his powerful biceps just as the climax hit me. I bit my bottom lip and rolled my head back as my pussy tightened around him. “Oh god…”
H shoved himself completely inside me as he came, filling me with his warm seed with a moan of satisfaction. His eyes were locked on mine, full of burning heat. He moaned again as he finished, getting every drop inside me. Once he was finished, he didn’t pull out of me. Instead, he leaned down and gave me a slow kiss on the mouth.
I kissed him back and gave him some of my tongue. It danced with his, leaving a small taste of sweat on my tongue. His hand remained buried in my hair, and he didn’t seem eager to let me go. It was only the beginning of the night, and we had so much time left to enjoy each other. That was only the first act, and we had many more to go.
“I was going to take you to dinner,” he whispered.
“Why would I want dinner when I can have you?” I ran my hands up his hard chest, feeling his powerful heartbeat through skin and muscle.
He didn’t smile with his lips, just his eyes. “I guess we can heat up some frozen burritos later.”
I smiled. “That sounds romantic as hell.”
***
I sat at the conference table with the paperwork scattered around me. I didn’t read anything because I’d already gone through it a hundred times. Now I just sat there with my chin propped up under my fingertips.
The front doors opened, and Ben walked inside, looking as good as new. It didn’t seem like he’d been shot the same day I was. He wore a brown leather jacket and dark jeans. “You need some encouragement?”
“No. Why?”
“You look pale as a ghost.”
I was about to walk in and interrogate my father. It was my first time doing something like this, and I had to interview the toughest criminal in the world. I wasn’t afraid he would hurt me. I was just afraid. “Just gathering my thoughts.”
He stood behind one of the chairs and rested his arms along the back. “You’ll be fine. Don’t stress about it.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Hey, you can do anything you put your mind to. I have no doubt about that.”
They were probably just empty words, but I appreciated it anyway. “Thanks.”
“Remember, Wilder wouldn’t have recruited you unless he thought you were right for the job. I know he’s a bit of a drama queen, but he’s really good at this stuff. Knows how to assess people. If you don’t believe in yourself, just remember he does.”
Now the corner of my mouth rose in a smile. “Thanks, Ben.”
He winked with a smug grin on his face.
Wilder walked in a moment later. “You ready?” He eyed Ben without jealousy then walked to the head of the table. Ben didn’t seem annoyed with him either. Like nothing happened at all, their coldness toward one another had disappeared.
“I guess,” I said with a sigh.
“You’ve got this, sweetheart.” He pulled a small box from his pocket and took the wiring out of it. It was a clear ear piece that was hardly noticeable against the color of his skin. “Put this in your right ear. He’ll know you’re wearing one, but cover it with your hair anyway.”
I inserted it into my ear then adjusted my hair around it.
“Good.” He stuffed the box back into his pocket. “Ready?”
Without Ben’s encouragement, I wasn’t sure if I would be. “Yeah.”
“You’ve got this, sweetheart.” The nickname was the only sign of affection he showed in the office. He never touched me, even when we were alone in his office. The only people who probably knew we were together was Maxine and Ben. “I’ll be on the other side of the glass, and a guard will be posted outside. No need to be scared.”
“He wouldn’t hurt me. We both know that.” If my father wanted to hurt me, he could have easily done it a long time ago. “Let’s do this.”
***
I walked into the room alone in jeans and a black jacket. My hair was around my face and down my shoulders. I didn’t wear a gun on my hip because I thought that would make the conversation more hostile than it already was. Besides, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to take it away from me and use it on the guard as he escaped.
My father was in gray cargo pants and matching shirt. It had a large V-neck in the front, revealing the prominent muscles of his chest. His arms were bare and covered in veins. My father was in great shape even though I’d never seen him go to the gym or even a jog around the block.
I couldn’t believe I never wondered about that before.
I sat in the chair on the opposite side of the table and crossed my legs. I did my best to appear stoic in front of him so he didn’t assume he had any type of hold over me. If he could see my heart, he would know how frantically it was beating in that moment.
I finally made eye contact with him, seeing the green eyes so similar to my own. His features were just as difficult to decipher. He wore a mask much thicker than my own, making his thoughts hidden in mystery.
I stared him down without blinking, showing strength despite the tension.
My father did the same.
Wilder had a microphone in the room behind the mirror. He could see both of us clearly, seeing our profiles as well as our body language. All he had to do was whisper, and I could hear him perfectly.
He instructed me not to speak first, to give my father an appropriate amount of time to make his first move. I always assumed speaking first in a conversation gave you the power, but Wilder corrected me.
To my surprise, it didn’t take my father very long to say anything. “I figured he would send you in here. I thought he would do it sooner, actually.”
Wilder remained quiet, letting me answer on my own. “He didn’t send me in here. I asked to speak with you.”
My father’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was debating the truth of what I said. “What did you want to speak about?”
“Everything. Nothing.” I crossed my arms over my chest and finally broke eye contact. I didn’t consider my movements an act of weakness. I wanted him to think I was vulnerable, that I wasn’t hiding anything. “All I ever hear is that you’re the most notorious criminal in the world. But you’re still my dad…you’ll always be my dad.”
Wilder spoke in my ear. “Gray, I know this is hard but don’t let your guard down.” He spoke with animosity, remaining calm so he wouldn’t speak me in the middle of the interrogation.
My father’s expression didn’t soften.
“I want to stop whatever plans you have set in motion. I want to put an end to whatever mayhem you have in the works. So you’re going to tell me who your contacts are and how to put an end to your terrorist activities.”
When he looked at me coldly, like my request was nonsense, I knew Wilder had been right all along. My father wasn’t gentle or kind. He was deadly. “Why would I ever do that?” It was a clear omission of guilt—and he didn’t seem to care.
“Because it’s the right thing to do.”
He gave me a smile that was grotesque. “Sorry, kid. I’m not telling you anything. You can let me rot in here as long as you want. It won’t take long for my men to find me. They’ll kill everyone in here. And I have a feeling I won’t be able to stop them from killing you.”
Like a knife to the heart, I was wounded. “Why did you stop Wilder from shooting me?”
He didn’t answer.
“Dad?” It hurt to call him that, but perhaps it would apply the right kind of pressure.
“You’re innocent,” he said. “An eye for an eye. That’s all.”
I saved him, so he chose to save me.
“Maybe I am a criminal, but I live by a code of ethics. You stuck out your neck for me so I did the same for you. But don’t expect it to happen again.”
I felt the tears begin in my chest but I stopped them from reaching my eyes. There was difference between being vulnerable and weak. He couldn’t know how much he just hurt me.
“Keep it together, Gray,” Wilder said over the speaker.
“I’m going to choose to not believe you,” I said quietly.
“Not believe me?” my father asked.
“Yes. I don’t believe you mean that. If someone pointed a gun at the back of my head, you would save me.” I wasn’t sure if I believed that or not, but I certainly wanted to. All those nights we had dinner together couldn’t have been meaningless. He had to have some goodness in his heart.
He cocked his head to the side.
“Even if you’re a murderer, you love me. I’m your daughter.”
He pressed his lips tightly together.
“I know you do. So you can sit there and pretend to be indifferent, but you aren’t fooling me. Now, you need to tell me everything you know. I’m not going to torture you or interrogate you. All I’m going to do is ask you to come clean.”
“What’s the incentive?”
“Incentive?” I asked. “The incentive is, you can prove to me you aren’t as evil as Wilder claims.”
He chuckled even though nothing about this was funny. “There’s nothing to prove. Confessing what I’ve done won’t change anything.”
“But it’ll certainly mean something if you can stop future attacks.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to stop future attacks. Sorry, sweetheart.”
I couldn’t believe this was the same man who raised me. How did I not understand that the man I lived with was an evil terrorist? I always considered myself to be observant and intelligent, but this went on for years right under my nose, and I didn’t even notice. “That’s a shame,” I said calmly. “Now we’ll have to do everything the hard way.”
He stared at the cuffs between his wrists before he looked up again.
“I want come in here again. So I guess this is goodbye.” I rose to my feet and kept my body perfectly straight. I couldn’t let him see how defeated I was, how heartbroken I was.
“Gray, you have to try harder than that,” Wilder said in my ear. “Apply more pressure.”
I ignored him.
“That’s it?” my father asked. “You don’t have other questions?”
“Like what?” I stood behind the chair with my arms resting on the back.
“The things I’ve done. When did this start? How was your mother involved? Why I do the things I do…you must be curious.”
I wasn’t curious about any of it. Only evil could understand evil. “I don’t care about your past or what you’ve done. All I care about is moving forward and finding peace. You obviously have no intention of righting your wrongs or making the world a better place. Therefore, I have nothing to ask you. You aren’t my father anymore. You’re just a criminal in a cell, and I have to do my best to fix all your mistakes. Because that’s exactly what it is—a mistake.”
***
“Are you alright?” Wilder met me the second I walked out of the room.
“I’m fine.” I wasn’t fine—at all.
The other techs gathered around to ask me questions about the conversation, but Wilder dismissed them so we could speak in private. “You don’t seem fine. I know that was difficult for you. No shame in that.”
I started to walk away, wanting to get to the elevator so I could retreat to my room as quickly as possible. “I really don’t know what to think about it.” I was glad Wilder didn’t complain about my performance. I could have done better but I choked.
“I think you hit a nerve with him. I could see it in his expression.” He walked with me, and for the first time, he grabbed my hand and held it—in front of everyone else.
I looked down just to witness it with my own two eyes.
“Take some time then see him again.”
“I said I wouldn’t go in there again. If I do, he’ll know I was bluffing.” I stepped inside the elevators and was relieved when the doors shut.
Wilder stood silently beside me, his hand still held in mine. “Just think about it.”
I didn’t need to think about it. “We’ll figure something out. Everyone breaks eventually. You just have to find their weakness.”
“And I still think you’re his weakness.”