Unbound; The Dominator III Page 23

  Was she being lured for something nefarious? Given that she’d beaten Cleo to a pulp, I had hopes that they just wanted to thank her, to talk to her about her life, maybe. I was glad to get that response from Lisa and then her quick note that the other girl had warned her about some Kruna test we’d be facing.

  And it was good that she’d told me just what that was. I had a good poker face and growing up in the Ferrano household, tests were part of the normal, but you could never be too careful when it came to a game like this where your life could easily be at stake.

  After the cocktail hour, then dinner, I was invited by Delgado, Chen, Lucas, and another partner named Bart Shaw, who was an investment banking billionaire, for drinks.

  They didn’t tell me where so there was no point in looking to my wife for a ‘tell’ about whether the room was a safe sex-free zone or not. This might be their test for Angel.

  They had slaves in tow. None of them was a redhead so I guessed the girl who tipped Angel off wasn’t in attendance. We walked down a long hallway on the second floor in an area of the place I hadn’t spent much time in.

  “Girls, wait here.” Chen said and then we turned down another hall, leaving them behind.

  We stopped in front of a set of double doors. Everyone moved so that Angel and I were in front of a door with a black-taped plaque that overlapped both doors, split in the middle.

  There was a beat of silence.

  “We’re breaking in a new room tonight, folks. Dario, may I ask your wife a question?” That was Delgado.

  “A question?” I asked.

  Gan Chen spoke up, “It’s something you won’t disapprove of. I assure you.”

  “Go ahead,” I said, but giving Delgado stink eye.

  “Mrs. Ferrano, what do you think of this room’s name?” he pulled tape off the bottom to reveal a golden plaque that read

  AEM: 2013-2015

  in a small font.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  The eyes of the partners were on my wife.

  She stared blankly at the sign.

  “This room honors your wife’s contribution to Kruna. What do you think, Mrs. Ferrano?”

  “Thank you, Sir,” Angel said softly.

  He peeled the rest of the tape off, revealing in script,

  David Macleod, esteemed member. 1990-1993.

  Macleod Room

  Angel stared blankly at the plaque. I stared blankly at it. I had to hide my thoughts, my reaction. I gave Delgado a quizzical look.

  He gave me a smirk. Everyone looked at Angel. She looked at me and gave me a smile.

  “Shall we?” Delgado opened the door and we all filed in.

  Angel was completely composed. I saw Shaw and Lucas exchange looks. Satisfied looks.

  We sat.

  “Gentlemen?” I inquired.

  Someone came over with a tray of drinks. The room was nice. This wasn’t like the Townsend Room. It was less like a library and more like a western saloon theme. Bronze horse statues. Stuffed deer, bears, birds around the room. There was a long bar and the wait staff were dressed in western themed clothing. Girls came in, dressed like 1800’s prostitutes.

  If they did this to see if they’d get a reaction from her, they were fucking cruel. Name the room after her, list the duration of her captivity, and make the room remind her of her true home.

  Not just that, tell her that her father was a member. I didn’t know if that was bullshit or not but if it was bullshit, it was a good play.

  Most people wouldn’t hold it together through that. If she didn’t hold it together, she’d have failed a test she shouldn’t know about, a test to give them an idea of whether or not she’d remembered her training and the threats that would’ve been laid out about keeping her mouth shut and staying obedient.

  Two more days of this shit and then I could not wait until these motherfuckers were taken out.

  “How did you feel about the plaque, Felicia?” Delgado asked.

  “It doesn’t matter,” Angel replied, “That’s not my life. My life is with my husband.”

  I looked at him, “Need you to explain this shit.”

  “Her previous identity. We sometimes find that presenting our former assets with this information can be telling, can help us determine whether or not their master should have any concerns about them hanging onto their old life.”

  “So, you’re telling me that you weren’t already sure that she was committed to this life and you sold her to me?”

  “Uh, no.” Bart Shaw stepped forward, “We can assure you. No asset is transferred unless we are sure.”

  “Then this little game was pointless?”

  “It almost always is,” Gan Chen said, sitting down with us, “But it doesn’t harm anything to check.”

  “I disagree,” I said, sipping my drink. “If we’re planning to transfer more assets in the future, this test could leave a buyer thinking we were unsure.”

  “I see your point,” Joseph Lucas sat down, “It’s a practice that should be discontinued.”

  “How are you, baby?” I asked Angel.

  “I’m good, Dare.”

  “That didn’t upset you?” I asked, caressing her cheek.

  “No,” she shrugged, “I’m here with you. That’s all that matters to me now.”

  “What’s AEM?” I asked.

  “Her former initials. Has she told you?” Gan Chen asked.

  I shook my head, “Told me?”

  “Her birth name.”

  I shook my head, “She never told me, no.”

  “I’ve heard you call her Angel. That name is close to her birthname.”

  “Is it?” I asked.

  I looked at Angel, “Is it?”

  She nodded, “Yes, Master.”

  “What was your name before?”

  “Angelica, Master.”

  I shrugged, “Hm. Wow. Coincidence. Funny right? But she’s my perfect Angel, thanks to my partners here. A toast.” I raised my glass. They followed suit.

  “To my perfect Angel. And to a hopefully perfect partnership. Salut.”

  They all chimed in their cheers, in unison. I patted my lap and Angel, who was standing beside my chair, sat down. I passed her my glass and she finished the bourbon that was in it.

  The lights went low and they started playing.

  My angel and me? We simply watched for a little while until we could slip away and go to bed. It didn’t affect me this time. These people were scumbags but they were gonna get their due. Soon, if I had my way.

  We didn’t make love. We just held one another, nude, the sheets over our heads, as if that thin Egyptian cotton shield would shield us from the evil around us.

  When I’d asked her name and she gave it instantly, I felt a prickle of fear that she’d have a meltdown. But the looks on their faces told me what I needed to know. They wanted to know she was 100% obedient to me, that yes, their training stuck, but the key part of their training, the part that mattered the most, was that she would obey her master, whoever that master was. That meant that they’d trained her successfully. My asking her name overwrote what they’d taught about keeping the name secret.

  This could be good for her road to healing, too.

  Tia

  “But we can’t wait to have your shower. I’ve already bought like six footie pajamas in all different colors!” Ruby said. We were on the phone.

  I giggled. “Don’t they usually have the shower when the mom-to-be is as big as a house?”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “So, we’ve got months and months to go. I’m not even showing yet. Well… I had to suck in to button up my jeans this morning.”

  The girls had been over-the-moon excited when we’d had our sleepover. Initially they thought we were gonna booze it up, but I’d broken the news and they forgot about cocktails and instead we talked baby names.

  I had a platter of baby vegetables. We had baby bottle pop lollipops. No one got the hints so I finally put on
a maternity top I’d bought that had a graphic of an oven with a little happy face bun in it and they finally “ohhhhh’d” in unison and then we did a girlie group hug with laughing and jumping.

  Ruby made me call Rose, who was kind of fake-excited. She tried to sound supportive but I’m sure she thought I was too young, that we’d been married too short of a time. She was still being Rose, still being supportive.

  The only one who wasn’t 100% supportive was Mia. Little jabs kind of pissed me off and I let her know and she apologized.

  Final straw? The selection of pregnancy-themed movies I put out on the coffee table for them to pick from.

  “Where’s Rosemary’s Baby?” Mia asked.

  Bethany gasped, “Are you comparing this baby’s father to Satan?”

  Mia snickered. That was when I lost it a little.

  Okay, I lost it a lot.

  We cleared the air. It was good.

  I was in the kitchen, talking to Ruby on the phone about how my boobs were spilling out of my bra when I heard the distinct sound of paws hitting the tiles. Marley was running for me. He was so excited to see me that he peed.

  “For fuck sakes,” Tommy grumbled, coming in behind him.

  “Gotta go, Rubes. Call you back. Sorry.” I ended the call.

  “Aw, it’s okay,” I said and reached for a paper towel roll, throwing a bunch of squares on the puddle and scooting Marley out the side door to the yard so he would know that peeing needed to happen outside.

  I stood in the doorway. He wanted all over me but I encouraged, “Go pee, Mar.”

  “That bullshit can’t happen, Tia.” Tommy growled from behind me.

  “He’s just a puppy. He’ll learn.”

  Tommy was in a squat, wiping the floor with more paper towel, a bottle of spray cleaner in his hand.

  I smiled at the domestic sight.

  “You look mighty hot doing domestic chores, my husband.”

  He didn’t smile back. His patience was low today.

  He threw the paper towel in the trash bin outside and then went back to the kitchen. Me and Marley followed. Tommy was washing his hands.

  “Gotta go to the office,” he muttered.

  “I was thinkin’ maybe we’d have a little dinner tonight? Tessa, Lisa, Luc? Here?”

  I wanted Lisa and Tessa in the same room. I wanted to put them in a place where their breach could be healed. Luc and I had talked on the phone and she was already spending the day with Tess. Sarah had called and Luc went right over. When we talked, Luc said she’d get her here if I wanted to organize that dinner.

  “I don’t know what time I’ll be home.”

  “Oh. Maybe tonight isn’t the best night then. Maybe when Dario and Angel get home. When’ll that be?”

  “Couple days maybe. I’ll check. See ya later.” He kissed me quick while drying his hands and then he left. I didn’t want to leave it with Tess and Lisa. I decided maybe I should call Lisa and talk to her, tell her what was going on. She knew we were going to Vegas to get Tess back but she didn’t know, yet, about the rape.

  Marley ran by me with a nearly full roll of paper towel in his mouth. Tommy must’ve left it on the floor.

  I dashed after him.

  Tommy

  I stepped outside and got into my car, which Will had swapped out of the garage, since I’d left earlier to get back with the pup in Tia’s Jeep. I leaned over to plug my phone in to charge it when I saw a UPS truck pull in front of the gate.

  Normally, my security staff took care of deliveries, but I wasn’t expecting anything here at my house, most shit went to the office, so this gave me pause.

  With the state of things lately, I wanted to see what this was myself. I waited in my car while it pulled in. I’d grab whatever it was from Will after he signed for it.

  Will stood by the driver’s door talking for a minute. Actually, it was longer than was typical. Will gave the guy his index finger and jogged over to me.

  “He says Tia has to sign for it personally. Should I get her, or?”

  “Courier trucks shouldn’t even be on this side of the gate, man. No reason.” I slammed my door and walked toward the UPS truck.

  My eyes hit the driver and I nearly spit my fuckin’ teeth out in anger. Tia’s ex.

  Nick Gordon, that fuckin’ punk, was in that driver’s seat, looking like he was about to shit himself at the sight of me.

  The little shit who nosed around when we were in Costa Rica and who tried to get her to leave me? The beating I laid on him clearly hadn’t been enough. This punk was like a bad smell.

  I picked up my pace, storming toward him. He tried to pull the door shut but I got there first.

  “Shut the fuckin’ gate, Will. Now.” Will dashed toward the gate as the UPS truck started to reverse.

  I was on the step that led to the driver’s seat, holding onto the door. I thrust the door back open, one of those sliding milk truck doors. I jumped in and grabbed the stupid fucker, my fist connecting with his mouth, and then I turned the thing off. Fuckin’ little shit backed into my gate.

  Tia

  I was cleaning up torn paper towel with the vacuum cleaner. I’d gotten it away from Marley pretty quickly but not before he’d sat down and attempted to make a chew toy of it.

  I saw motion from the corner of my eye so turned and saw Tommy dragging someone in a brown shirt in by their brown collar.

  A UPS delivery guy?

  Nick?

  Holy shit.

  I turned the vacuum cleaner off.

  “Oh my God. What the heck?” I asked.

  “You tell me!” Tommy demanded, his eyes on fire.

  Nick struggled, holding an envelope in his hand, “I already said; it’s a delivery. From her Dad.”

  He was trying to struggle away from Tommy but he didn’t have the strength. Tommy was bigger, stronger, crazier, and angrier.

  “Fuckin’ punk,” Tommy spat, and dragged him into his office, “Tia, now.”

  I followed.

  Tommy threw Nick against the wall in his office, “You little fuckin’ punk. What the fuck? You have the nerve to step foot on my property? To get to Tia? What did you think you were gonna do?” Tommy folded his arms across his chest and leveled a killer dirty look on Nick.

  “I just have a letter for her, from her Dad. It’s my job, man.” He held the envelope out. Tommy snatched it from his hand and threw it in the direction of the desk. It landed on the floor. Nick was slumped against the wall. He reached to his utility belt for the signature thingamajig. As if one of us was gonna stop right now and sign for the envelope.

  Nick looked up at me. His lip was bleeding.

  “Did you hit him, Tommy?”

  “Did I?” Tommy looked incensed and glared at me like I was stupid, “You keepin’ shit from me, Tia?”

  I did a double take, “Huh?”

  He stormed toward me, “How many other packages has this little fuck delivered?”

  “Wh-what?” I was shocked at the accusation in his words, his tone, his eyes.

  His eyes were scary. I backed up and my back hit the wall.

  He eyed me warily and then spun and picked Nick up off the floor by clenching his shirt at his chest and threw him against the wall again. And then he punched Nick in the face.

  I screeched.

  Marley started barking.

  “Get him outta here!” Tommy hollered.

  I grabbed my puppy’s collar and pulled him out of the room and shut the door behind him.

  Marley kept barking from the other side of the door.

  Tommy kept punching. He was punching Nick like he was a heavy bag. Over and over and over.

  “Tommy! Stop it!”

  He ignored me.

  “What the fuck, man? How many times you been here?”

  “This is the s-second time.”

  Tommy glared at me, lip curled, like I was a piece of dirt.

  I jolted back, my blood running cold.

  “She didn’t see me,
” Nick said quickly, swaying like he was dazed, “I was just casing the place. Figuring shit out. I delivered something. Your guard signed for it and I left.”

  “You didn’t get the message last time, you stupid little shit?” Tommy pulled a gun from his back and put it against Nick’s cheek.

  “Talk,” he said.

  I fell to my knees on the floor, “Tommy!”

  “Shut it, Athena,” He glared at me and then looked back to Nick.

  “I got this route so that I could make sure she’s okay. Her father asked me to deliver a letter. He mailed it to me and I re-packaged it. I was just gonna try to talk to her when I delivered it.”

  Oh God, Nick.

  Tommy let go of him and got the letter from the floor and tore the envelope open. His eyes skimmed it and tossed it on the desk.

  I got up. “Tommy, let him go.”

  “I’m sick of his shit, Athena.”

  “Nick, you have to stop,” I pleaded.

  Nick wiped his lip, “Look at this guy, Tia. Look at what you married! You okay with this? The stuff you used to feed me about being an upstanding citizen? Volunteering, making a difference in the world, and this is who you marry? Someone who pulls a gun on me for tryin’ to just talk to you? Ruby told me you’re carrying his baby, Tia? Seriously?” Nick scrunched his face up in disgust.

  “Shut your mouth,” I demanded, “That’s my husband and the father of my child you’re talking shit about. Get the fuck outta here and don’t come back!”

  “Nice try, Tia. He’s not walking outta here,” Tommy said, emotionless.

  Nick and I both gawked at Tommy. Tommy standing there with a gun in his hand.

  “Let him go, Tommy. He’s not coming back. Right Nick?”

  Nick shook his head, his eyes on Tommy’s gun.

  Tommy cocked the gun.

  I gasped and threw myself at Tommy, “Let him go. Don’t do this.”

  He glared at me, “I’m sick and fuckin’ tired of people trying to fuckin’ take you from me, Athena.”