"Nic?" Maria's soft voice touched him like a physical presence.
She stood leaning against the door frame to the bedroom, her arms wrapped protectively around her waist. She wore form-fitting jeans with the holes in the thighs and knees and a sleeveless red shirt that clung to her curves. Her feet were bare, the way she preferred. The clothes were old. She refused to wear any of the expensive, designer clothes he insisted on buying for her. He knew they would fit her to perfection and look flawless against her Latina beauty, but the woman simply refused anything that he purchased for her, despite his threats. It made him furious every time he looked at her. More so because she was so fucking beautiful in her old, ratty clothes anyway.
He wondered again what impulse had made him bring her. She was a problem he'd never intended to make his, yet he couldn't seem to let her go either. He kept her coldly at arms length, mocking her trusting personality and crushing her enthusiasm for life while secretly drawing in every sliver of warmth he could from her. It didn't make sense. But like an addict, he couldn't stop himself from indulging in her. He took her body every chance he got, ruthlessly bringing her alive and forcing her to enjoy their time together despite the less than perfect beginning to their relationship.
Nic stalked over to where she stood. Maria uncrossed her arms and straightened with her back against the door frame. He could see the pulse beat in her throat pick up. He took a fist full of her shoulder length silken black hair and used it to force her head up. She complied, her breath quickening in expectation. Before he could lower his head to join their lips, she spoke, her husky voice hesitant.
"Are you going to use me for bait to draw Franco out of his Las Vegas hotel?"
Nic's fingers clenched in her hair, causing her to wince. Her dark, accusing eyes never left his. Despite his aggression toward her, she'd given him her heart, she'd trusted him and the people around him. He knew if he betrayed her again, she would hate him this time. It didn't matter though. He was going to do what he had to do and he was never going to let her go. She could live with her hate.
He told her the whole truth. "Yes, Maria, you were always going to be my bait. That was my plan from the beginning. That was why I took you out of Las Vegas and kept you."
Tears of pain filled her eyes and she tried to wrench away from him but he held her tight. "You said... said you wanted to punish me for the honey trap."
She tried to push him away, so he grabbed her wrists and held them. "And I did, but I also knew he would want you and eventually he would come after you, which would give me the opportunity to take him out."
She stared up at him, her eyes pools of anguish, a sob escaping her throat. "I hate you."
He nodded and kissed her forehead gently before releasing her.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Daniel looked down at his phone once more, confirming the address of the restaurant. Somehow King had gotten it out of Claudia and the boss had texted it to his man. Daniel was confused, but grateful. He didn’t trust himself not to hurt Addison. He didn’t know how the fuck other people trusted him not to. Especially King. The man had seen up close and personal what Daniel was capable of doing to others human beings. King was delusional if he thought gender would make a difference to Daniel. Yet, for some reason, King had sent Daniel the address to an upscale sushi restaurant in the river district.
Rage seethed through him as he once more pictured Addison in the arms of a faceless stranger. Then the faceless stranger was joined by another man and the ecstasy on her imaginary face doubled. Daniel had to clench his hands on the steering wheel of his truck to stop himself from tearing into the restaurant and causing a scene.
Not that he cared. It didn’t bother him in the least to stalk in there and drag Addison out over his shoulder, after putting a bullet in each of her boyfriends. Except that she might be upset. And that part did bother him a little. Though he was pissed at her, he knew she wouldn’t like being publicly humiliated. She had fucking cried when he threatened to drag her out of that hotel in a bathrobe. So he would wait until she appeared. Then he would beat the shit out of her dates and drag her home.
He wasn’t sure what he was going to do after that. Because all of his former reasons for keeping his distance still applied. He still wasn’t any good for her. He would still probably end up hurting her or worse. But he couldn’t seem to fucking leave her alone. The fact that he couldn’t manage to go a week without at least listening to her proved that. He’d installed those listening devices in her apartment exactly five days after he threw her out of his life.
And like the deviant pervert he was, he lay in the bed he’d bought just for her, inhaling her scent and listening to her talk to herself, cooking, playing her cello, occasionally masturbating and sometimes even peeing with the bathroom door open. He would stop listening when he knew it was too far. When she would rather die of embarrassment than have someone hear those private moments. But otherwise, he was often there with her, when work didn’t otherwise demand his attention.
Pathetic. He knew. But it was all he had of her. The only way he could be close to his woman without causing her pain.
It wasn’t enough. Because if Addison was ready to start dating again, then he was going to be forced to listen to her in the throes of ecstasy with another man. Or men, according to Claudia. And that was going to be far more dangerous for Addison’s health than Daniel just taking her for himself.
He was still in the process of trying to figure out what the fuck he planned on doing when she suddenly appeared on the sidewalk. Like an angel, she stood in the door of the restaurant, the warm glow of the interior lighting her up from behind, creating a silhouette around her beautiful curves. She stood like that for a moment with her coat draped over her arm, breathing in the spring evening air appreciatively, a half smile curving her lips.
Clearly she was enjoying her date so far. Daniel got out of his truck, slammed the door and crossed toward her. Her smile began to falter as she felt a larger presence approaching her quickly. Her date was still inside the restaurant, probably still taking care of the bill. She tried to step aside, assuming he wanted to get into the restaurant. Instead, Daniel caught her by the waist and shoved her rapidly around the corner of the building into the alley. He pushed her up against the graffitied concrete and, before she could call for help, covered her lips with his hand.
He meant to reassure her right away, so she wouldn’t be scared for more than a second, but having her in his arms again felt so good he needed a moment to just enjoy. He bent against her and pressed his much harder body into her soft curves. She struggled against his hold, screaming into his hand. He caught her wrists before she could punch him and forced her to stand still while he dropped his head into her neck and inhaled her familiar scent. He felt tears touch the edge of his hand where it bit into the softness of her lips, which broke the spell.
“Shh, Addison, it’s Daniel,” he muttered.
She slumped against him, her panic instantly subsiding. Then all at once she went tense from head to toe, drew her foot back as far as it would go with the wall behind her and sent it into his shin. He grunted. It fucking hurt, considering she didn’t have a lot of leverage. He shoved a knee between her legs and forced them apart so she couldn’t kick him again. He moved his hand off her mouth and levered his forearm against her neck.
“Scream and I’ll make it hurt,” he growled.
“Fuck… you,” she said breathlessly.
He smiled grimly. Addison was pissed. She only used bad language when she was really mad or really turned on. She breathed heavily, her small breasts pushing up and down against his chest. It was driving him crazy. He wanted her so bad he was ready to shove her dress up, tear her panties off and fuck her right there in that dirty alley for anyone to see.
“You’re coming home with me,” he said.
“The hell I am,” she snapped. “Let go of me, Daniel, right now.”
“You aren’t going home with them,” he snarled. “I’d rather kill you than see you fuck someone else.”
