Claiming His Prize Read online

  “Excuse the intrusion,” said Boss, stepping over the mess. “It’s come to my attention you’re giving my men a hard time. That doesn’t sit well with me. If you’re not aware that I own this fucking city, then let this be your wake-up call. I’m good at minding my own business, but when you step on my toes, that’s when we have a problem.” Boss directed his attention to the older man at the table, so Chains assumed that was their ringleader. He was smoking a cigar, holding it in his fingers now that the table was overturned along with his ashtray. “Someone upright the fucking table.”

  The other men moved to put it back into place, ignoring the body on the floor. Boss pulled up a chair and sat down, knowing full well Chains had his back. He pulled out a wicked looking blade and began spinning it on its tip.

  “You’re messing with the wrong family,” said the leader. He took a puff of his cigar, slowly releasing a cloud of white smoke.

  Boss chuckled. “Try it on someone else.”

  “How many men do you have? We have men all over city. If anything happens to me, they’ll want revenge.”

  “I know where every single one of your men live, where their families live, where their kids go to school. I know your mother’s nurse, Mary Vazquez, makes sure she has warm milk before bed every night. It’s a nice nursing home, by the way. With one phone call, I guarantee there would be no one left but you within the hour.”

  Chains winked when the asshole looked over at him. Boss wasn’t playing either. Chains had seen him keep his promises on more than one occasion. The man didn’t have a fucking conscience.

  “I don’t want any trouble,” said the leader.

  “Good to hear. I’d hate to have to get involved. Friends are always better than enemies.” Boss stood up, pocketing his knife, and left the guest house.

  Chains stayed behind, closing the door once Boss was gone. He smiled as the men looked at him with a mix of confusion. They always went for the right-hand men because it weakened the kingpin.

  “Nothing personal. Just business, eh?” Chains shot the two men on either side of the leader, one in the heart, the other in the head, leaving zero chance of survival.

  Once they were back in the car, Chains didn’t waste any time getting out of the area. He took the highway, eager to drop Boss back at home so he could release Lori from the basement. She’d been fucking with his head, making it hard to focus on work.

  “Any progress on El Diablo?” asked Boss, absently. Chains could see the light from his cellphone in the back.

  “It won’t take long. I’ve already mapped out his routine.”

  “Good. Good to hear. Once that’s cleared up, I’ll have a contract for you.”

  Tonight was just a maintenance call. A contract would be more involved, probably include tracking, intel, and death by a specified manner. Chains enjoyed the challenge, but also didn’t want something that would take him far from home.

  “Local?” he asked.

  “Does it matter?” asked Boss. The old bastard had unparalleled intuition. Chains should have kept his mouth shut.

  “Just asking.”

  Once he pulled up at Boss’s mansion just outside the city, he got out to open Boss’s door. The old bastard had an evil gleam in his eye as he stood up. “Looks like you have an intruder on the home-front.”

  Chains whipped out his cellphone. His alarm system hadn’t triggered.

  “I have eyes on all my men. Can never be too safe.”

  “Who is it?” asked Chains. There was no way Boss didn’t know what the fuck was going down.

  “Like I said, I have a date. Handle your own shit.”

  Chains rushed around to the driver’s side, biting his tongue to keep from telling Boss to fuck off. All he could think about was Lori locked in his basement. If anyone put one hand on her, he’d bring a firestorm of pain to the asshole. He sped down the highway toward his house, his heart racing. Material things could be replaced; Lori couldn’t. He only hoped they didn’t check the basement.

  As he raced through the darkness, he realized that the little good left in him was tied to that girl. He wasn’t just rushing to save her, but himself. Lori represented so much. She was his chance at redemption.

  If anything happened to her, he’d become pure darkness.

  Chapter Seven

  For the longest time Lori stood in the alleyway listening to the sounds all around her. The tears fell down her cheeks, and no matter how many times she wiped them away more kept coming. Any sane person would be happy to be free.

  She’d been kidnapped, taken against her will, and she was so sad because she didn’t want to go home. The thought of being just another babysitter tore her up. Her parents didn’t love her, and in the past few days with Chains she’d felt … cared for.

  Love was too strong a word for her to think or to feel. She wanted it for a long time, but she doubted that she’d ever have anyone love her. Rubbing her arms, she glanced around, realizing how dangerous it actually was being alone in an alleyway at this hour. She didn’t have a clue where she was, or what the hell she was doing. After getting out of the alleyway, she began to walk in the direction that she’d been taken from. The next time she saw that man—and she couldn’t for the life of her remember if he’d even given his name, it didn’t matter—she was going to kick him where it hurt the most.

  She hated this.

  Keep walking, Lori.

  The thought of going back home filled her with a sickness that she couldn’t describe, something soul-deep.

  You used to walk the streets on your own.

  Nothing has changed.

  You’re just used to a man caring now.

  The thought of Chains and his touch made her ache. She didn’t want to leave him. Just the thought of never seeing him again or not experiencing his touch filled her with regret.

  She stepped up the pace, wanting to get back the way she’d come.

  Panic filled her.

  What if Chains thought she didn’t want to be with him, or that she’d escaped of her own accord?

  She loved her spot in the basement as stupid as that sounded.

  It was the one space that no one could take from her.

  He’d treated her with such tenderness, and she didn’t want to lose that.

  Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she moved with determination. In the strange man’s haste to get her out of the house, she’d not even looked at the house where she’d come from.

  “Please,” she said, praying that Chains was home.

  She ran around the corner when she collided with a hard, muscular chest. If strong arms hadn’t caught her she’d have fallen to the floor.

  Glancing up, she saw it was Chains, and she threw caution to the wind, wrapping her arms around his neck, and holding him tightly.

  “You’re here. You came back.”

  He held her in a firm embrace, and the heat of his hands made her feel safe.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  She didn’t like how hard and cold he sounded. Like a business transaction.

  “S-someone came in. I don’t know his name. Something about you following him? Tailing him? I can’t really remember. He asked if I was your woman and he aimed a gun at me.” She pressed a finger to her forehead. “I thought he was going to kill me, Chains. Oh my God! I could have been dead by now.”

  “I would never let that happen, or let anyone ever hurt you,” he said.

  She stared into his eyes as his palm cupped her cheek.

  Resting her head against his chest, she held onto him, never wanting to let him go.

  “Hush, I’ve got you now.”

  “He just took me out, and then he left me in a dark alley.”

  “You didn’t go home.”

  “I don’t want to go home, Chains. I … I don’t have a home. Not really. I don’t have anyone who loves me or who cares.” She pulled away, but he wouldn’t let her go far.

  Chains captured her chin, and forced her to look at h
im. “I care. Okay? I don’t give a fuck about your family. They don’t care about you, and they don’t deserve you. You’re mine, and I’m not ever letting you go.”

  His words should fill her with fear or panic. They didn’t. She felt thrilled, and the smile on her lips was real. “Really?”

  “Really.” He ran his thumb across her lip. “Come on. Let’s go see what the bastard took.”

  She followed Chains back to his home.

  “Stupid fucking security.”

  “Are we staying here?”

  “Nope. Because of El Diablo, we’re heading up to my cabin, which even Boss doesn’t know about.” Chains closed the door behind him, and she followed along as he packed their cases with enough clothes to last a couple of weeks, by the looks of it.

  Her hands were shaking, and she expected him to be angry at her. He seemed so calm. It’s one of the things she liked about him—his control, his patience with her.

  “I didn’t want to go,” she said, reaching out to grab his arm.

  Chains stared at her. “Why didn’t you tell him to stop?”

  “I was scared. I don’t really know what happened. One moment I was waiting for you, the next he was in the basement searching for something. What did you have down there?” she asked.

  Chains smirked, but it was anything but friendly. “My boss has him on a goose chase right now. It would have been nice to know he planted a clue in my fucking house.”

  Lori frowned at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking about right now, and you keep talking to me as if I do.”

  He smiled. “One day, I’ll tell you.”

  When he made to pass, she grabbed his arm, and hugged him. Closing her eyes, she breathed in his masculine scent, and just relaxed. He was her safety net.

  For several seconds he didn’t do a single thing. He simply held still and waited.

  “Hold me,” she said.

  His hands went to her back. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’m just feeling … so much right now.”

  “Why?”

  She exhaled a heavy breath. “I didn’t want to go home. I just wanted to come back here to you.” She eased back long enough to look at him. “And being here with you, I feel so alive.” She cupped his cheek. “Is that weird?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never been normal in my life.”

  “I’m starting to think normal is overrated, but I don’t want to go back to my old life. Please, Chains, don’t make me go back.”

  “I’m not going to make you go back.” He covered her hand with his own.

  Whenever he touched her, she got a thrill, and she didn’t want to lose that.

  “Kiss me.”

  Chains stared at her for the longest time. All she wanted was his lips on hers, and when he made no move to do that, she lost her patience with him. Gripping the back of his neck, she pulled his head down.

  He could have fought her. He didn’t.

  His lips met hers, and everything that felt wrong in her world went away. The only person she wanted or cared about was right in front of her.

  She traced her tongue across his lips, and when he opened, she plunged inside, deepening the kiss. Releasing a moan, she closed her eyes, and gave herself over to the pleasure of his lips. One of his hands held onto her head, and he sank his fingers into her hair. When he held her tightly, she melted against him, not wanting to let him go.

  He broke away from the kiss and began to trail his lips down her neck.

  Her nipples grew tight and her pussy slick. She wanted him so desperately.

  Suddenly, he pulled away. “Not here.”

  “Why not?”

  “It’s not safe.”

  She tilted her head to the side, surprised that he’d stopped. “Wherever you are, it’s safe.”

  Chains smiled. “Well … listen to me. I know what’s good for the both of us, and staying here, is not good.”

  He grabbed both of their bags, and he took them downstairs toward the door, as she followed him out to the waiting car. Once the bags were inside the trunk, he opened the passenger door for her. She waited as he secured her seatbelt.

  “I can do that,” she said, trying not to laugh.

  “I know you can, but I want to do it.”

  She felt warmth fill her as his hand brushed across her breasts. Pushing some of her hair off her face, she sat back waiting for him to climb into the car.

  He wants to take care of me.

  Chains got behind the wheel, and she waited for him to start the engine.

  He didn’t pull away from the curb though. They stayed still, and for several seconds she did nothing but wait.

  Glancing around her, she then looked at him, and he looked torn.

  “What is it?”

  “I’m … thinking.”

  “You can’t think and drive?”

  He turned toward her. His gaze hard. “My cabin is a safe place.” It sounded like he was thinking out loud. The interior lights clicked off, and the quiet was deafening.

  “Safe like your house?” she asked.

  “No. It’s more secure than this.”

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  He stared straight ahead, his jaw twitching. “You’re going to hate me.”

  “I don’t get this, Chains. Don’t you want to go to your safe house?” she asked.

  He let out a heavy breath. “I’m going to regret this.”

  Chains suddenly grabbed her head and his other hand covered her face. There was a cloth in his hand, and she gasped, struggling against him.

  “I’m sorry, baby, but I can’t risk your safety. You’ll never know the way to the cabin. It’s only me, and I will always take care of you.”

  Everything started to get blurry, and she stared into his eyes. She felt safe.

  Even though he was putting her to sleep, just staring into his depths, she knew without a doubt that he was going to take care of her.

  ****

  Chains parked outside of his cabin and took a deep breath of country air. The drive had been quiet with Lori passed out. After checking over his security on his cell phone, he’d seen El Diablo enter, and take the files Boss stashed away to blackmail El Diablo. Seeing how easily Boss was luring the other man into the Killer of Kings’ web was really quite something. It just went to show that Boss was indeed the master at this game of cat and mouse.

  Regardless of how Chains liked to watch this game, he still didn’t like that it involved his home. He wanted to kill the bastard for pointing a gun at his woman, but El Diablo hadn’t hurt her.

  Climbing out of the car, Chains moved toward Lori, and stared down at her. Her eyes were closed, and she looked completely at peace with life. She was so beautiful, so sweet, and he absolutely adored her.

  “I’m so sorry, baby.” No one knew about his cabin. He kept the details separate from his life, and he rarely came here unless he felt a need to get away.

  Lifting her up, he carried her from the car into his cabin, which was spotless.

  He didn’t linger, going straight to the bedroom, and placing her on the crisp sheets. “I’m going to take care of you for the rest of our life together.”

  Chains made sure she was tucked in nice and tight before heading back to grab their bags. From there, he closed the door, and locked it. Resting his head against the wood, he breathed a sigh of relief.

  For the next week, he intended to be completely away from the world. No stress. No cell phones. No internet. No Boss.

  Maurice would be tracking him, and if the man found anything, there would be an alert on his pager.

  Stepping away from the door, he grabbed their bags, and set about putting their clothes in the closet. Every now and then, he glanced over at her, and watched her. He couldn’t sleep right now. He was far too wired.

  Once their clothes were away, he made his way into the sitting room. Grabbing one of the crime books from the shelves, he took a seat in his fa
vorite chair, and sat back. He rarely allowed himself the pleasure of relaxing. Even in his home that El Diablo had just broken into, he knew anyone could find him. Boss knew where he lived, as did most of the Killer of Kings. Most of the time, he didn’t mind it. He had this cabin that no one knew of, and that was the way he liked it.

  Boss’s incessant need, like some kind of father, to always know what they were doing, pissed him off. The only reason he’d put Lori to sleep for the journey was so that Boss couldn’t interrogate her or use her to find this place.

  This would be their place.

  Time passed, and still sleep wouldn’t come. He saw the sun coming up, so he headed to the kitchen and began to whip up some bacon and eggs.

  The concoction he’d given her wasn’t strong. She’d just had an extended night’s sleep.

  He heard her gasp at exactly six-thirty in the morning.

  “You drugged me!”

  Chains smiled. She sounded so outraged. It was so cute. When she came into the kitchen, he held a plate of food like a shield. Her hair was all over the place, and she ran a hand down her face. She glanced at him then at the food, then at him again. “What the hell?”

  “First, I did it for your own protection.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “It’s not. The man I work for … he has ways and means of finding out whatever he wants. This place is the only thing I have. I don’t want him to know about it, and I know Boss. He’ll want to know where I go when he can’t find me.”

  She frowned looking at him. “Boss? I can’t … not right now. I’m hungry, and I’m pissed at you. I’m hungry even more though.”

  “I made you breakfast.”

  “Is it poisoned?”

  “What’s with you and poison? It’s perfectly safe.” He stole a piece of bacon from her plate. She watched him eat it, and when he made to take another piece she slapped his hand away.

  “That’s mine.”

  “In case you were worried that I was going to poison you.”