He hated walking away, but he pressed his foot to the gas, spun his car around, and drove hard and fast, back in the direction he came. Opening his mouth, he screamed, letting out all the pent-up frustration he could think of.
He yelled, hit his car, floored it, and finally released the tension he had building up. With his voice raw, he did no more than drive all the way back to his apartment. After parking his car, he climbed out and made his way upstairs. When he got to his door, he paused.
Whoever had broken in hadn’t closed the door behind him. The marks on the lock were there, distinctive.
Son of a bitch.
While he’d been hand-delivering those girls to his father, someone had been breaking into his place.
Well, now he was pissed.
Pulling out his gun, which already had a silencer attached, he stepped into his apartment, careful as he closed the door and eased the lock into place. The man clearly didn’t know that to lock his door, he needed to actually turn the knob and put it into place. The door would close but spring open if not done properly.
This wasn’t his first time he’d needed to do this. He’d practiced.
After learning all of his father’s manipulative techniques, he’d spent hours knowing every single part of his apartment, where the creaky floorboards were. How his doors sounded when they moved.
Someone was in his laundry room. He took the steps and as he came into the doorway, he saw the man.
Before the man could react, he slammed him against the washing machine, smacking his head on the corner, and then, shooting him with a single bullet into the forehead.
It was over quickly.
****
Time ticked by.
Her body hurt. She needed to use the bathroom.
Pressing her thighs together, Elenore didn’t dare move. She didn’t know if he’d left or not. He hadn’t looked through the entire closet, even muttering about rich bastards. She hated being cooped up in a ball, but she preferred this to death.
In all of her captivity, she’d never wanted to die.
She screamed as the door was pulled.
“Elenore.”
The sound was muffled.
No one but Timothy the doctor and Raphael knew her name.
She fumbled with the lock. She shook so much it took her a couple of attempts to get the thing open. Seeing Raphael, she threw herself at him. “Someone was in your apartment. I forgot the cell phone. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’ve got you. He’s been dealt with but you can’t go into the laundry room. I’ve got you.”
He held her tightly and she sobbed against his chest. “What does this mean? If he was here?”
“It means my father is trying to test me. He does random checks like this. Don’t worry. I’ve already put the call through to let him know someone was in my apartment.”
“Why?”
“He will be stopping by.”
“Is that wise?”
“Yes. If I don’t do this, he’ll think I’m hiding something.”
“And you are?”
“Exactly. I’m hiding you.” He cupped her face. “I didn’t get a chance to get you any clothes.”
“I don’t care about clothes. The only thing that matters is you.”
He laughed. “I’m glad.” He kissed the top of her head, and she snuggled against him, not wanting to let go.
“What’s going to happen when your father gets here?”
“He’s going to take a look around and probably deny all knowledge of who that man is.”
“You’re going to trust him?”
“I don’t have a choice.” He stroked her cheek. “I couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to you.” He kissed her lips. “I’m sorry. I keep on kissing you and I don’t even know if you’re okay with it.”
She chuckled. “I am.”
“Do you like me kissing you?”
“I asked for it last night, remember? I like it.” He was the first man to ask her for something, even as simple as a kiss.
Didn’t he know how special that was?
“Can I kiss you?” she asked.
“What?”
“I’d like to kiss you, like you did for me last night.”
“I would love that.”
She cupped his face, stroking her thumb across his bottom lip. Now, she felt a little nervous. “I don’t think I’m a good kisser.”
“Don’t think, just let it happen. Feel what your body likes, what it wants.”
“I don’t know what it is I want,” she said. “I mean, apart from the kiss.”
“Then let your body take over.”
She pressed her lips to his, sinking her fingers into his hair as she pressed her body against him.
At first, he didn’t respond and she truly believed she was doing it wrong. She didn’t have a clue what to do or say. Pulling back, she saw him waiting for more. With her lips pressed against his again, she ran her tongue across his lips, seeing what it felt like to taste him. He opened up and his tongue teased across her own.
His hand came up, sinking into her hair, holding her in place as he kissed her back. She moaned and as he sat back, she moved to straddle his waist, feeling the hard ridge of his cock pressing against her core.