I thought about his words of advice and shook my head. Who would ever have thought that seven merciless syndicate leaders would feel free to discuss personal relationships? “Maybe so, but she holds a key that she doesn’t know she has.”

  “Where is this key?”

  “Likely Miami.”

  He grinned again. “Why don’t you ask Maxim to see what he can find out?”

  Maxim Nikitin, the brutal Russian who ran Miami and New Orleans with an iron fist. He was the wildcard, a man with more rage than the rest of us combined. He had his reasons, although he too had found someone to soothe the savage beast inside.

  “Not a bad idea. I’ll consider it. I’ll have my hands full with sending a single warning to the Armenian pigs.”

  The driver pulled to a stop in front of the jet, and I peered over at Whitney, surprised she was still sleeping peacefully.

  “Like I mentioned, the jet is stocked. You’ll find some dry clothes and fresh linens as well.”

  “I appreciate the help and the use of the plane,” I told him.

  “Just do me a favor and don’t get it shot down. I just had the interior refurbished.” He laughed and exited the vehicle, his weapon in hand. His other soldiers did the same, sweeping the area in case marauders had followed.

  I stepped from the vehicle, checking my weapon was still in place before walking to the other side of the SUV. I carefully opened the door, gathering Whitney into my arms. As I cradled her against my chest, her eyelids fluttered open. For a few precious seconds, I allowed myself to gaze into her eyes, wishing I could be another man.

  If only for a little while.

  But that wasn’t possible, the hand dealt to me at an early age incapable of changing. Even if the hatred she felt wasn’t gripping, pulling her away from me, I’d ruin her life before she had a chance to live it.

  Doing so would steal the joy she exuded, filling her with hatred and rage that would never leave, scars that would never heal. If I were a better man, I’d take the plane straight to Miami, ensuring her safety then disappearing from her life.

  But I wasn’t that man.

  I was much worse.

  “Don’t forget the meeting is at your house this time,” Constantine said as he flanked my side.

  My house. The quarterly meetings of the Brotherhood were switched from one host city to another, the brilliant idea of keeping our anonymity Constantine’s alone.

  “I’m certain you’ll remind me,” I told him as I pulled her tightly against me. The way her hand was resting on my chest above my heart left a strange ache I wasn’t used to feeling. The woman had ceremoniously ripped a hole in my universe.

  “I am a stickler for rules,” he told me. “One week. Maybe I’ll hitch a ride and bring my jet back then. Do you need cleanup where you took temporary residence? The area is under my protection, so you got lucky, my friend.”

  “Then it would seem I don’t need to worry. I won’t take the jet out for too many joy rides.” I laughed as I carried her up the stairs. Another surprise hit me hard. I said a prayer of thanks that the bastards hadn’t hurt her or worse.

  Then there wouldn’t have been a single hole on God’s green earth where Zakaryan could hide.

  I eased her onto a seat, heading toward the cockpit for a short discussion with the pilot. After making certain of where we were headed, I returned to the main body of the aircraft, half laughing from the sight of what Constantine had done with the interior. I thought my plane had panache. His reeked of opulence. As I moved closer, I enjoyed taking a few seconds to bask in her beauty. She still hadn’t stirred but I needed to get her out of the wet clothes.

  As the engines began to whir, I moved toward the back, finding a closet inside the bedroom. After shucking my things, I grabbed a sweater and a pair of trousers, grateful Constantine was close to my size. Then I decided to run a bath. Goosebumps still covered her arms, her hair plastered to her face.

  As the plane soared into the air, I felt a familiar clench around my heart. It was something I hadn’t felt for a long time, the divisive emotion creating a rush of weakness that I couldn’t afford. Yet all I could think about was ripping off Whitney’s clothes, sinking my cock inside her tight pussy, fucking her like the savage she already knew me to be. Giving testimony to the fact, my shaft was hard as a rock, my balls tight to the point of being painful.

  The way she’d stood up to me and to Constantine shouldn’t amuse me. I would never have allowed a single one of my men or my brothers to get away with disparaging me in front of anyone. Only my two sisters had managed to slide past my usual gruff demeanor and harsh rules, enjoying taunting me from time to time.

  Then Whitney.

  She was all grit and determination, refusing to back down even after she’d been shot at. What kind of woman could stand up to two monsters without blinking?

  One that I owned.

  Jesus Christ.

  I turned off the water, grabbing a towel and washcloth before returning to the main cabin. She was as curled up in as tight ball as possible in a leather airplane chair. This time as I gathered her into my arms, her eyes opened wide, and she pushed her palm against my chest.

  “What are you doing?” Her tone was challenging, as I would expect, the defiance in her eyes a reminder of the fire and brimstone I’d seen several times.

  “Getting you warm.”

  “I can do it myself.” While she struggled to get out of my hold, her exhaustion wouldn’t allow her limbs to move the way she wanted them to. Frustrated, she wrinkled her nose, the quirky action forcing my cock to throb. Then she pressed her fisted hand against my cheek, a strangled whimper escaping her mouth.

  “You’ll have plenty of time to try and punch me for real later, beauty. I don’t want you catching cold.”

  “That’s an old wives’ tale.”

  “Would you prefer to stay in your wet clothes?” I asked as I moved into the bathroom, lowering her onto the counter.

  “I told you I can do it myself.”

  “Uh-huh. You’re drunk from the adrenaline rush.” I should have known better than to take my eyes off her for a second to test the water’s temperature.

  She hopped off, her body teetering. When I caught her in my arms, the momentum pushed us close enough her lips were dangerously close to mine. Enough so it was all I could not to capture her mouth, making good on my earlier desire.

  Her breathing scattered, she pressed both hands against me but didn’t try to scramble from my hold. The wistful appearance of her eyes, the golden flecks that always shimmered in the sun became dark with another round of anger.

  “Be careful, omorfiá. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

  “I told you not to call me that.”

  Grinning, as I started to remove her dress, she glared at me with all the hatred in the world. But the glint of rage slowly faded as I pulled the dress over her head, tossing it aside. When I gingerly lifted her leg, tugging the sandal from her foot, repeating on her other foot, she pinched her lips together.

  “There you go again dissecting me,” I said as I rolled my hand down her flat stomach, sliding my fingers under the thin elastic of her thong.

  “There’s a lot more to dissect since I know you’re a flesh-eating monster.” Even her words, as biting as they were, seemed slurred. The events had taken a significant toll on her.

  I sensed just how drained she was when she didn’t fight me when I removed her thong. As I eased her from the counter, her body continuing to sway, she finally gripped my arms.

  “Just to make certain you know. I will always hate you.”

  As I lifted her into the water, I took a deep breath. Even soaked from rainwater and perspiration, her sweet scent drifted into my nostrils. I’d never bathed a human being in my life but as I crowded onto my knees, reaching over the grab the washcloth from the counter, it struck me how natural this seemed.

  Too much so.

  She stared at me with half open eyes the entire time, barely blinking and remaining silent. I sensed the dozens of questions she would ultimately demand to be answered. I wasn’t certain that giving them to her would make her feel any better.

  When she floated an arm out of the water, lifting her index finger toward me as she pursed her lips, I waited to hear what she felt so compelled to say.

  As she drifted off to sleep again, I fell into the realm of being a sadistic voyeur, every thought filthy. One thing stood out in my mind. I hadn’t lied to her. I was a very bad man.

  CHAPTER 13

  Whitney

  Warmth.

  I felt it wrapped around me, soothing in a way that I’d hadn’t experienced in a long time. But when I opened my eyes, blinding sunlight assaulted my senses. It was too bright. Too harsh. Too much. I clenched my eyes shut again, shifting away from the warmth until a cool breeze tickled my skin.

  Thoughts and images raced through my mind, brutal and violent as if I’d been through a war. And my body ached, every muscle stretched to capacity. When I dared open my eyes again, I blinked several times to try to focus on anything. The world was hazy, just like the smooth edges of a dense fog had become suffocating.

  Then my mind’s eye became clear, the images no longer shadows that were morally gray.

  Phoenix.

  His handsome, chiseled face appeared in front of me, only I knew the apparition wasn’t real. I jerked up, my head swimming as a wave of nausea rolled through my stomach. Suddenly, the warmth turned into icy claw digging into my skin as I finally remembered what I’d just been through.

  Only it was no longer dark.

  I pressed my hand to my lips as tingling sensations coursed through every muscle. He’d undressed me. He’d given me a… bath. Wait a minute. Had I dreamt that had occurred? I peered down at what I was wearing, shifting soft sheets in the process. I was in an oversized tee shirt and sweatpants cinched at the waist. They were obviously men’s clothes, ill-fitting but warm.

  The bath hadn’t been a dream.

  As I thought about what I remembered, I realized for a brutal man, he’d been gentle and caring. That threw me as much as the fact he’d saved my life. Right? Twice. The ache in my head throbbed just behind my eyes. Where was I?

  I threw back the covers, shifting to the edge of the bed. I had to know where he’d taken me. As I glanced around the room, I expected to see bars on the windows, handcuffs secured to the headboard, every nicety stripped away since I was his hostage.

  The room was beautiful, one wall painted in deep purple, rich in color like a perfect petunia in summer. The furniture was light in color, ornate in design, the comforter and sheets a lighter shade of the accent wall. I carefully rose to my feet, swaying back and forth for a few seconds, still woozy. There were two windows, both with rounded arches. Mediterranean in appearance. And the art on the walls was vibrant and alive, a beautiful coastline with colorful buildings close to the shore. That’s when I realized I was inside his house.

  Had he taken me to Greece? No, that wasn’t possible. Was it?

  Very carefully I made my way to one of the windows, peering outside. There was green as far as the eye could see, a spectacular flash of vibrant colors dancing across the pristine landscape. The day was bright, the sun high in the sky, yet the horizon was ablaze in color, rich tangerines and deep fuchsias. There were no other structures that I could see, just a gorgeous fountain on one side, a glittering pool of deep turquoise on the other.

  I almost laughed seeing a cabana and pool house, a dozen lounge chairs lining the exterior of the pool, the turquoise cushions matching the six huge umbrellas. The outside seemed like a resort.

  Not a prison.

  As I moved around the bed to where the light sheer drapes were blowing in the breeze, I realized what I’d thought to be a window was a set of French doors. There was no reason for me to be cautious, but I was, folding my arms as I headed through the open space onto a gorgeous balcony, iron railings covered with flowering vines, the petals crimson, dazzling in color. There was a gorgeous marble table with four chairs allowing the perfect picturesque view of the grounds. If I didn’t know better, I’d say this was a taste of paradise.

  As I scanned the perimeter, I was able to notice a huge garage with six bays, aggregate tile leading up to the carriage doors. Three SUVs, all black in color and similar to the ones I’d seen while fleeing St. Louis were lined up in front of the house, all freshly washed and glistening in the sun.

  From what I could see, the estate was huge, the two stories sprawling over several thousand feet. Did that make me feel any better, protected from the monsters who’d tried to end my life? No. The ugly truth formed a pit in my stomach. I should be more frightened of the man who’d saved me than any stranger.

  I should be.

  But I wasn’t.

  I remembered I’d been in Phoenix’s arms several times as he carried me to safety, whispering soft words of comfort. Then the bath, dressing me in warm clothes. Why had he gone to that extreme? Nothing made sense any longer. I was trapped in a beautiful cage, held prisoner by a savage beast and my heart still raced every time I thought about him. There was no doubt I’d lost my mind.

  As I leaned over the railing, I noticed there were several workers outside carefully tending to the flowers. The light breeze floated their incredible fragrances across the balcony, and I took a deep breath. There were too many sensations, too much information that I’d yet to process. Then there was him.

  The man with the soft hair that I loved running my fingers through.

  The one with the sensuous deep voice, so rich and husky that I melted every time I heard him speak.

  The brute who enjoyed being rough, almost every kiss ripped with passion.

  And the killer who I’d witnessed gunning down at least three of the men in the street.

  Yes, they’d wanted us dead but that didn’t make it any better.

  He was a brutal crime lord and I’d fallen into his shadow.

  I couldn’t ignore who or what he was any longer. Although there were several questions nagging at the back of my mind, the one requiring the first answer was what he had planned on doing with me. Damn it. This was crazy. Shivering, I turned around only to find him leaning against the open doorway leading into the room.

  He appeared like a Greek god in his short-sleeve shirt and light-colored trousers. I allowed my gaze to fall from his sculpted face to his open shirt, then to the colorful sleeve, the ink somehow more vibrant in the bright light of the room.

  The man was a paradox. He was so angry and stern yet when he held me in his arms, it was as if his dangerous world faded away. The fact he was so gorgeous shouldn’t get in the way of what I was thinking, but it did every time. I purposely looked away, almost instantly hearing his heavy footsteps walking closer.

  “How did you sleep?” he asked.

  “Did you drug me?” The confrontational question held as much bitterness as I could tolerate.

  Now he was the one who looked away, his brow furrowed as if somehow my question had hurt his feelings. “No, Whitney. I’m not in the habit of drugging beautiful women. You’d been placed under significant duress. Often the body can’t handle as much as the mind.”

  He had no way of knowing the horrors running through my mind, nor would he care. This was just another matter of business to him.

  “Where are we?”

  “My home in Philadelphia.”

  Nodding, I glanced toward the open door, surprised I didn’t see a lock.

  Phoenix glanced over his shoulder, his eyes twinkling. “I didn’t lock you in. I may be the man you can’t stand, but I’m no barbarian.”

  “Aren’t you terrified I’ll run away?”

  “You can certainly try, but I assure you that one or more of my men will stop you.”

  Exhaling, I wanted nothing more than to lash out at him. “So, this is a prison.”

  “You can call it what you’d like, but I think you’ll find I haven’t built an estate that I love only to have it surrounded by an electric fence.”

  “But you have soldiers guarding the place. Men with guns.”

  He was amused by my statement. “Yes, that is a requirement in my world.”

  “Your world of violence and brutality. What a joyful way to spend your life.”

  His green eyes flashed with a hint of frustration. “It’s all I’ve ever known. Not a choice.”

  “We all have choices. It’s the ones we choose to make that define us in every way. You chose to lead a life of brutality.”

  “And you chose to live your life hiding behind your past.”

  “How dare you. You know nothing about me. Not a damn thing.”

  When he walked closer, the scent of him took my breath away. “The woman I was lucky enough to spend time with is filled with passion, awakening to her desires. That woman is fearless with a capacity for love unlike any other woman I’ve known. She’s beautiful and wise, honest and caring. She’s the epitome of innocence.”

  “That woman is also a fool. That’s not me.” I continued to search his eyes as if I’d find the man who’d peeled away the thick layers. He sighed, the sound filtering over me like a warm blanket.

  “I’ve taken the liberty of having a few items of clothing purchased for you. If they’re not to your liking, I’ll certainly be happy to get you anything you need or want.”

  “Haven’t you thought of everything.” I kept the crisp edge of my glare for fear of falling under his spell again. I couldn’t allow that to happen. He was too good at creating a magic haze.

  “I want your stay as comfortable as possible. You’ll have the freedom of roaming my home and the grounds. I do suggest you don’t try and escape. The consequences will be significant.”

  “How long do you plan on keeping me here?”

  Phoenix studied me carefully, daring to walk even closer. His intoxicating scent was enough to force the swoon into my stomach all over again. The sharp edges of his jaw set me ablaze, my nipples aching.