Chapter Nineteen
Julien
It was over.
Wrapping Mia in a blanket I kept in the car, I sat with her on my lap for a long time inside that broken down house just watching the sky darken, seeing the stars revealed, listening to her breathing when she finally slept.
After her punishment, I’d cleaned her, checking every one of the stripes that crisscrossed her body. I’d not broken skin — and it hadn’t been my intention to do so. Although the whipping was a harsh punishment, I’d not struck as hard as I could have. I knew that once I’d begun concentrating the strokes at her back, that pain would evolve, transform. There was still pain — that was unavoidable, and the point of punishment — but she found some peace in it. I could see it in the way her body took the lashes, in the look in her eyes.
And beyond that, she’d grown even more aroused.
I wondered if I could perhaps train her to always link pleasure with pain, and pain with pleasure.
But that was for another time.
My cell phone buzzed in my pocket just as I was about to wake her. I pulled it out and checked the display. It was Cash.
Mia groaned and moved a little, waking up slowly.
“Cash,” I answered.
“Got your next job lined up,” he said. I guess Cash could be called a sort of broker. Well, if you could have such a thing as a broker in my line of work.
“Oh yeah?” I looked down at Mia who was now looking up at me, listening, and at that moment, I wasn’t sure I wanted another job.
“It’s a good one. Hell, you don’t even have to exterminate this one. Delivery only.”
“Really?” That was curious.
“I’m sending the file now. Check your e-mail in a few minutes.”
“Timeline? I’m a little… tied up.” I moved my lips into a smile, tucking Mia closer.
“Then get untied. It’s a lot of money.”
“All right. Send the file.”
“Just hit send.”
With that, Cash ended the call.
“Who was that?”
I tucked the phone back into my pocket. “Colleague.”
“You have colleagues?”
“I guess that sounds cryptic.”
She shrugged her shoulder, then grimaced as she moved. Her cheeks flushed red and she lowered her lashes over her eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the ledger earlier?”
“We didn’t exactly meet in a way that made me trust you.”
“No, I guess not. Tell me how this story plays out.”
“That money my sister left me, Samuel gave it to her to make sure she kept quiet about the rape. I guess it was also to make sure I kept quiet. If I don’t claim it, it goes back to them. I don’t even really care about the money, I mean, a million is a lot—”
“Half a million.”
“Still, a lot of money. But if Jason would leave me alone, just let me live my life, I wouldn’t care about it.”
“But you know he won’t?”
“No, he won’t. He’s sworn it and he’s vengeful.” She studied me for a minute, the look in her eyes heavy. “I wasn’t the only one he hurt.”
It was my turn to study her.
“My sister. I don’t know if Samuel knows.”
“How do you know?”
“The letter she left me, and something Jason said, the thing he said that made me decide. The night she died, she was leaving. She was running away. Maybe Samuel couldn’t protect her from Jason? I don’t know. Samuel loved her and she trusted him. Or she used to. She wouldn’t have stolen from him. I kind of wonder if the book was my sister’s way of giving me some insurance, you know what I mean?”
“Do you believe your sister’s death was an accident, Mia?”
“It’s too terrible to think otherwise, Julien. I can’t do that.”
“And it was after that that you went to the police?”
She nodded. “Maybe telling the police what he’d done to me was stupid, maybe I should have just kept my mouth shut, but I was scared. I had no money, no job, no college degree and at the memorial service for Tanya, he made this comment, this gross suggestion…”
“Hinting he’d hurt Tanya.”
She nodded. “And that it was my fault. But with her out of the way, I was alone. He made sure I knew that. Those years I wouldn’t talk to her”—she shook her head, looking down—”can’t get those back, you know?” She looked at me with the saddest eyes I’d ever seen.
“I know.”
“But maybe I should have kept my mouth shut and run away, not been so stubborn, so hell bent on making sure he got what he deserved. My sister couldn’t make him pay, but I still could. There is no statute of limitations for raping a minor.”
“You did the right thing. The courageous thing. He raped and beat you to the point you miscarried. To the point you can’t have children. Is that certain, by the way?”
She nodded, despair shadowing her eyes. “The doctor said it would be a miracle if I ever conceived, given the damage.”
I nodded.
“He deserves to still be rotting in prison, Mia. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I know that. I just wish I wasn’t in this whole heap of trouble. What do we do now? Are you still going to help me?”
“I’m not sure you’d survive if I didn’t. Plus, half a million dollars.” As soon as I spoke that last part out loud, I knew I was lying. To her. To myself. This wasn’t about money for me. Not anymore. But I didn’t have time to think about that yet. “You wanted to know what happens now? We get that ledger back and we get you the money you’re owed — and disappear. Same plan, just expanded.”
She smiled a little.
“Ready to go? We’ll stop at the house to pick up some things and tell my grandmother we’re leaving. I want her to be aware, just in case.”
“You don’t think anyone would hurt her, do you?”
“I can’t see how they would have linked you to me, and without that, they wouldn’t know who she was. Let’s go. Can you stand?”
“Why did you do it? Why did you punish me like that?”
“I told you the answer to that the last time. I like to. Remember?”
She flushed red. “I… you didn’t need to punish me at all.”
At that, I chuckled and hauled her upright, gripping her ass cheeks hard. “As long as you’re in my protection, you’re mine to do with as I please. Punishment is part of that. Keep that in mind.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about calling Allison.”
“As long as you understand you’re not to have contact with her again, it’s good between us.” I inclined my head. “You paid the price. Or your back and your ass did.”
She dropped her head down and the red on her neck and cheeks intensified as she nodded.
“Let’s go. We’ve got a long night ahead of us.”
* * *
First thing was first. We drove to Pitigliano. I wasn’t sure what I was going to tell my grandmother. It was unlikely anyone would hurt her, but I didn’t feel right just leaving her defenseless. Once I checked that the house was secure, I left Mia to pack up our few things and went to the café.
“Julien,” she greeted me while stubbing her cigarette out.
“You should stop smoking, Gianna. It’s bad for you.”
Almost as bad as knowing me.
“And for you.” Even though she chuckled, her expression was expectant.
I sat at the counter while she made an espresso. “We have to go. Mia and I.”
She frowned. “So soon? Why?”
“She’s in trouble and that trouble caught up with us this afternoon.”
She put the small cup of espresso in front of me but didn’t speak, just kept her eyes on mine. I reached into my pocket for my revolver, but as soon as she saw it, she shook her head no.
“Gran.” It was what I used to call her when I was little. It had been a long time since I’d called her that.
“Put that away. What sort of trouble?”
“Bad sort. I don’t want anyone to have linked you to this somehow.”
She studied me. “I’m sorry I couldn’t take you and Charlie, Julien. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there when you needed me. I regret that still. Daily.” Her eyes moistened but she didn’t cry, just waited for me to respond to her confession. It was probably the first time she’d said that out loud.
I looked at this old woman in front of me, this aged version of my mother — even though I didn’t really remember what my mom looked like anymore. It was the eyes. They were the same.
“Past is past,” I said, meaning it, knowing I’d forgiven her even if it wasn’t a conscious thing. In a way, realizing that, knowing that I’d forgiven her, I’d also forgiven myself — at least a little.
Mia walked into the café then. The girl just couldn’t seem to listen, couldn’t do as she was told.
“I have everything,” she said.
“You were supposed to stay put.”
“I wanted to say goodbye to your grandmother.” Gianna came around the counter and hugged her while I took the bags out of Mia’s hands.
“Will you be back?” Gran asked once I stood, ready to go.
“I hope so,” Mia said, before I could answer — and I realized then how close they’d grown over the short time we’d been here.
“If anyone comes, Gran—”
“I may be old, but I can take care of myself, Julien. Don’t worry about me. “
One of the old men who always seemed to be at the café stood up. “Your grandmother is safe. If anyone wanted to harm her, they’d have to deal with me first.”
“And me,” another man added.
I smiled at the crew of them, the two old men and my grandmother, and I believed them. They may have looked past their prime, but I had a feeling they could indeed hold their own.
“Take care of Mia. And Mia, you take care of my grandson. He’s all the family I’ve got left. I expect to see both of you back here soon.”
“We have to go. Gran. You have my phone number. Call me with anything. Understand? Anything at all.”
She nodded and for the first time since I had been a kid, I hugged my grandmother again. She felt small, but strong, and I squeezed her tighter. “I’ll see you again, Gran.”
“Promise it.” She sniffled at my shoulder and I patted her back.
“I promise.”
When we pulled back, she quickly ran the back of her hand over her eyes, then gave Mia one more hug. “Take care of each other.”
“We have to go.”
“Good bye, Gianna,” Mia said as I pulled her along. I looked back once more just before we walked out the door.
I’d made a promise, and I intended to keep that promise.
“I just have to check one thing. Get settled, Mia.” After loading the bags, I retrieved my phone and opened the email from Cash. It contained the usual, a coded file to which only he and I knew the password. The file downloaded slowly, the text appearing first before any photos, and my chest tightened as I read the message.
The amount was one million dollars for delivery. Alive was preferable, but they would take dead — for a lesser payment, of course. But dead was only once she’d disclosed the location of a certain book. A telephone number and the delivery address were listed, along with the name of the buyer.
I felt like I was going to vomit.
The target’s name was listed next along with birthdate and last known whereabouts. I closed the trunk as the photograph slowly loaded, almost pixel by pixel, and there she was, the photograph of Mia taken before I knew her. I looked at it, looked at her smiling face, then looked at the back of her head as she settled in before she turned to me and smiled.
I smiled back and pushed my phone into my pocket, making my way to the driver’s side.
“Ready, Mia?”
She nodded. “You called her Gran,” she said as I backed the car out.
“I did.”
She squeezed my arm. “I’m glad.”
* * *
We drove until midnight then took a hotel along the highway. I know Mia noticed the change in my mood, but she didn’t ask about it. After a quick bite to eat, we went up to our room.
“So do you think we can just disappear? I mean, what are we going to do if Jason is—”
I gathered her up in my arms, loosening the embrace when she flinched. Her back would still be sore and I wasn’t in the mood to talk about Jason. Not yet.
“Come here, let me have a look at you.” I kissed her as I said it, my cock already standing at attention at the thought of having her naked soon. The intention was to distract her as much as it was to be close to her again.
One million dollars. One million to deliver her to her stepfather. It doubled the payment she offered me.
“Tell me something. Did you tell Allison about our deal this morning?”
“Am I in trouble again?” she asked, stiffening.
“No, I already told you we’re clear. I just want to know what you told her.”
“I told her you were helping me. I told her how I ran into you the day Jason’s men had come and why you were helping me. Why I couldn’t call her again until everything was settled.”
And I guessed Allison had passed that message on to her brother or father, or both, who would know about the murdered woman at the hotel across from Mia’s hotel room, the one Jason had sent his goons to. I wondered if father and son were working together now, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that if they contacted Cash, they knew about me. I didn’t believe in coincidences like this one.
“Julien?” Mia said, looking nervous.
I shook my head, shrugging off the thoughts. There was time for that, but not now. Now was time for something else. Looking down at her, I saw how small she was, how vulnerable. Without another word, I pulled her to me, one hand at the back of her head, the other on her hip. I crushed my mouth onto hers, my hard cock pressing against her soft belly while she opened for my tongue.
“I’m running out of clothes,” she mumbled through my kiss when I pulled her blouse out of her jeans.
“I will take care,” I said, smiling a little. “Although naked is always nice with you.”
Breaking our kiss, I pulled her top off. She wasn’t wearing a bra, but her breasts were small enough that she didn’t need to, and I imagined the straps would have cut into her shoulders and back. Kissing her again, I undid her jeans and pushed them off as she worked my t-shirt over my head. Placing my weapon on the nightstand, I helped Mia step out of her jeans so she stood naked but for a pair of lacy white panties.
Sitting on the bed, I grabbed her wrists to stop her when she began to push them down. I held her like that and looked at her, at the faint pink lines of the whip, at her otherwise flawless skin.
“Turn around.”
She hesitated, but I insisted, nudging her to do as she was told. She turned and stood with her back to me, most of her skin marked, lined with soft pink strokes of the whip.
“Put your hands at the back of your head.”
She craned her neck to look over her shoulder, barely able to meet my gaze. “Julien.”
“Do as you’re told, Mia. Look straight ahead and put your hands at the back of your head.”
I saw her tremble as she slowly obeyed and I met her gaze in the mirror across the room.
Rising to my feet, I gathered up her hair and twisted it so she could hold it up off her neck and I kissed her shoulder, kissed the topmost stroke. I looked at her as I did it, watching her mouth open slightly as she shuddered while I kissed each of the strokes along her shoulders, her back, moving down her body as I did, sitting down behind her while sliding fingers into her panties on either side to draw them down over her hips and to her ankles. I kissed the lines on her bottom and her thighs before taking my attention to her naked ass.
“Widen your stance a little to shoulder width.”
She did, the scent of her arousal one I’d come to know, one that made me salivate like a fucking dog.
“Now bend over and touch your toes.”
She shook her head and broke position, covering herself as she faced me. “I can’t… I—”
I stood and watched her lean backward when I covered the space between us, knowing the effect the difference in height between us had on her.
“Is your cunt wet, Mia?”
She looked down.
“I can smell it. Is it wet? Is it wet for me?”
She nodded, but wouldn’t look at me.
“I thought so. I want you to show me that cunt now. You’ve done it before. You’ve shown me your cunt. Remember? That first night?”
Her face flushed red when she turned wide eyes up to me ever so briefly.
“Now I want you to get back into position, turn your ass to me and bend over while I try to decide if I should come in your pussy”—I gripped her mound to a surprised gasp from her—”or on these pretty little tits.” Smearing her juices on her belly, I dragged my fingers up to pinch one nipple. “Or”—I went farther up toward her mouth, her face—”or perhaps on your face after I fuck your mouth.”
She swallowed, the scent of her filling the room now, and I sat back down.
“Ass to me, Mia. Let’s go.”
Although hesitant, she resumed her position.
“Good girl. Any preference as to where I come tonight?” I asked, just touching her back to encourage her to bend over. She moved slowly down, her ass spreading open as she did until she touched her toes. “God, that’s fucking beautiful, Mia.”
I heard her swallow and stood for a moment to relieve myself of my jeans and underwear so I sat naked on the bed, my cock a steel rod. “Arch your back, Mia. Push your ass out to me.”
She did without hesitation now. I looked at her exposed like that, her pussy lips open, glistening between her cheeks, her asshole just visible.
“Tell me, Mia, where should I come?” I asked, standing to bring my cock to her pussy, dipping it into the tight, wet passage. It took all I had not to just fuck her, but I wanted more. “I won’t fuck your ass tonight, although I do so enjoy that.” I pulled my cock out, kneeling behind her. With my hands on her cheeks, I spread her wider and began to lick the length of her, more teasing than anything else until she answered.
Truly, I was undecided myself. Where to fuck Mia tonight? It was the million-dollar question.
“Tell me,” I said, dipping my tongue inside her, making her suck in a breath. I closed my fingers around her clit and rubbed while licking her pussy lips before taking the nub into my mouth and sucking hard. Her knees gave way and she reached out to steady herself.
“Easy, girl.” Catching her, I rose to stand, bringing her up so that her torso was parallel to the floor. I slid into her pussy while with one hand, I rubbed her clit, and with the other, I played with her nipple, drawing the softest of moans from her.
“Tell me or I’ll have to choose,” I said, my cock swelling inside her. “I’ll give you a hint though. I don’t think I’m going to come inside this pussy I’m fucking. Not tonight. And your ass”—I touched two fingers to her back hole and she stiffened—”no, it’s too sore from the punishment fucking, isn’t it?”
She nodded, reaching out to hold onto the back of a chair to steady herself.
“I think,” I said, pinching her clit harder, moving a little faster in and out of her. “I think I’ll come on your tits and face tonight. We’ll see how much I can get into your mouth. Come, Mia, come as you think of how it will feel to be kneeling before me, sucking my cock until I’m ready to explode, then opening your mouth like a good girl while I come all over you.”
She moved, fucking my cock as I fucked her, and in the next moment, she came with a deep moan, soaking my cock and fingers, her pussy clamping down around me, making it almost impossible to hold on, to not come inside her then and there.
I pulled out of her and pushed her to her knees at once, stroking my cock as she opened her mouth to take me inside her.
“Good girl.” It was more growl than anything else as I gripped the hair at the back of her head and moved her along my length. “That’s it, Mia.” It wasn’t long before I was ready to explode, watching her with her fingers on her pussy as she sucked my cock. “Keep your mouth open, Mia.” With that instruction, I pulled out of her, pushing her backward a little, working my cock fast until I came, watching her watch me in fascination as the first spurts of semen splashed across her chest, her neck, her chin and her face before I brought the head of my cock to her mouth. She closed her lips around me while I deposited the rest of my seed onto her hot little tongue, closing my eyes as she milked the last of it from me, leaving me empty.