As he pumped his thumb inside my mouth, I was sick inside, sucking his thumb like it was a lollypop. His eyes were dancing, his twisted mind obviously working overtime. I was furious and worried, but I couldn’t afford to lose my shit. I had my mother to think about.

  The moment he popped his finger free, I hissed at him. It was like he took my breath of discord as an admittance I hungered for passion, capturing my mouth. The sensations I’d been uncertain of before returned, all the electricity in the world centered around this moment.

  And this man.

  I wanted to lash out but the thrill of being in his arms, the sick desire I had for him continued. The fact I’d gripped his shirt, pulling him even closer was a betrayal of my convictions but here I was, lightheaded, my core already heated to a thousand degrees. He thrust his tongue inside but he was gentler than before, taking his time to explore, knowing he had all the time in the world to do so.

  I obviously wasn’t going anywhere.

  When he broke the kiss, I used the same hand to wipe my mouth, trying to put some distance between us. He chuckled.

  “We’re going to New York for the night. I’ve brought you something special.”

  “New York,” I repeated. “Why?”

  “Because I want to show you something, my perfect dancer.”

  “I can’t go. I can’t stay here. I just can’t. I know you don’t care about my hopes and dreams, my obligations or my fears. You certainly couldn’t give a shit my best friend was murdered, but maybe you’ll care that I have a mother who needs me. We have no one else. No other family. She’s all I have and she’s… well, she’s in an aging facility around the clock. She can’t take care of herself and I certainly am not qualified to handle her needs. I’m barely making ends meet paying for her care. Maybe you can understand how hard it is since you have a mother. Everyone does. And I’m certain she loved you.”

  I wasn’t certain what I was hoping to accomplish with my admittance but as soon as I had, I could see a darkness shifting into the man’s eyes. Not just from sadness but the kind of cold that anyone would be terrified of.

  “My mother was murdered by my father when I was seven years old.”

  “What?” I couldn’t have heard him correctly. There wasn’t a chance. “That can’t be true.”

  “I assure you, perfect dancer, it’s true. Which is one reason I had no trouble hunting him in the middle of the woods like the wild dog he was. I know all about your mother and your finances, sweet baby girl. While your mother, in my humble opinion, is a bitch who doesn’t deserve you in the least after the way you were treated, I do have enough humanity left in me to understand you would be devastated if you couldn’t afford to take care of her. So I’ve taken that off your plate.”

  “What does that mean? Please tell me you didn’t hurt her. Please.” My grip on his arm was tight, my fingernails digging into his skin. He slowly lifted a single eyebrow.

  “I’m not in the habit of hurting women who are in the throes of dementia or any woman for that matter. Contrary to what you might have heard, I’m only a monster to those who deserve to face extermination. I’ve taken the liberty of having her moved to a much better facility not far from where we are now. At my expense, of course. Now, you’ll be allowed to see her from time to time if you follow the rules.”

  “What rules?”

  “We’ll go over those.”

  “Why am I here? Why are you spending all this money on taking care of a woman you obviously hate? And don’t tell me because we’re soulmates.”

  “That is the truth, my sweet. However, there is a simple reason you’re in my house and in my life. You will dance for me. My private little dancer. You will help me control my demons because I assure you that without what you can provide, I would unleash an explosive wrath. You are truly my perfect dancer.”

  With that he walked away, leaving me cold and aching inside.

  As I fell against the wall, I knew he wasn’t lying.

  And while I might not think I knew him, our connection had allowed me to take a single look inside his blackened soul.

  He wasn’t just a monster.

  He was one hundred percent insane.

  CHAPTER 18

  Creed

  “You look stunning,” I told her from across the seat in my jet. And she did. She looked like a fairy princess in the long crimson velvet dress, the style suiting her soft curves perfectly.

  Bella didn’t bother looking at me, remaining tense in her seat, still sipping on the same glass of champagne I’d handed her moments after the plane had taken off.

  She’d coiled her long strands of hair into a spectacular bun, adding a diamond-encrusted hair pick to keep her hair from falling. With her red lipstick and the dazzling shoes that I’d had purchased, she could be mistaken for royalty.

  Her silence was starting to irritate me, especially since I’d make certain the night would be something she’d remember as a fairytale. However, I’d reminded myself more than once that she still felt under duress, especially after what had occurred at my office.

  Sadly, as much as my rage had remained festering in my system, my brothers had convinced me going on a rampage would do nothing but turn our worlds upside down. No, I didn’t want that, but I would become the savage I was known to be when I confirmed the person responsible for the assassination attempt.

  In my mind it was Antonio.

  Or Carlos.

  Or hell, maybe Bella’s father, furious that I’d taken it upon myself to own his beloved daughter.

  As some would say, the plot was thickening.

  I’d snagged some DNA from the hairbrush she’d used, asking Kane to personally drop it off with a buddy of mine who could expedite the testing, and was also easily able to hack into the prison system, obtaining Armand’s DNA. I should know in a couple of days if what I suspected about Bella’s heritage was true or not.

  It was important to know but I wasn’t certain how or when I’d break the news to her if it was found to be true.

  I’d purposely made reservations at the poshest establishments in New York City. I’d also had Kane take the time to leak to the celebrity photographers that I was in town bringing someone special with me. I’d made quite a name for myself in the Big Apple over the years, personally responsible for breaking the internet more than once.

  Everywhere I went, I was considered a celebrity for my philanthropic contributions, the various businesses I owned, and the fact I’d been on several city magazine covers along with my brothers over the years.

  As well as the notorious and very mysterious stories that had developed over time.

  To hear the good people of New York tell it, all three of us were wealthy tycoons brought here from another planet. That was the most preposterous rumor. The closest to being accurate was that we were royalty from an underground crime syndicate controlling the world.

  Even the hint of danger hadn’t stopped women from throwing themselves all over us when we were in public. That included Chicago as well. Some would say what wasn’t there to love about being recognized, fawned over, and tossed panties to.

  If I had to be honest, I’d be forced to say in my twenties, I’d loved every minute of it, eating it up as I had the endless supply of pussy. However, now that I was in my early forties, I’d grown weary of the games being played, the fake rumors, and the plastic women. Maybe that was another reason I’d gravitated toward the innocence and pure beauty of Bella Rothschild.

  It hadn’t mattered to her in the least that she’d come from Hollywood royalty. She’d shied away from it for obvious reasons, including her mother, and if I had to guess, it simply wasn’t what she was made of.

  What I didn’t know was if the rumors were correct about her father, how that would change her outlook on life or how she chose to live it. I almost laughed at my last thought. I was in control of her now. She’d act the way I chose.

  My lovely dancer finally looked toward me, her nervous habit of chewing on her inner cheek in full force. “I thought you were concerned someone would try to kill you again.”

  “If you only knew how many men have tried to end my life over the years, you’d understand why I’m not concerned.”

  “Does that mean you have nine lives?”

  Finally, a slight sense of humor. “Perhaps, although I don’t think the analogy works for my personality.”

  “No, you’re more like a vulture. Aren’t you?”

  “Ouch. You know how to hurt a guy. Maybe it’s best we don’t talk shop tonight. Is that suitable to you? I have a lovely evening planned where we can get to know each other so much better. Besides, I have something special for you.”

  She eyed me warily as I pulled out a velvet box from my tuxedo jacket. I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy showering anyone with gifts until now. The critics would say I was socially inept and had never been taught how to run a household or provide emotional support for a family. Things like holidays and birthday celebrations had rarely if ever been observed after my mother had been killed.

  It was odd that the memories of when she’d tried very hard to keep us a real family had surfaced when I hadn’t thought of them since a couple of years after her disappearance. Obviously, it had to do with having Bella in my life. I could remember being given gifts, things I hadn’t even asked for.

  She’d even insisted on a Christmas tree, teaching her boys how to decorate while holiday music played in the background. Shit. The last thing I needed was to go down memory lane. It wouldn’t do me any good.

  “I thought this would go perfectly with your dress.” I opened the box and leaned over. After deciding a trip to New York was in order, I’d called in various favors for the perfect dress, the most spectacular location for dinner and tickets to an event, all of which had cost me an arm and a leg.

  In my mind, she was worth every penny and then some.

  While I’d debated flying home given my private jet, I knew I would need some time after ravaging her to hunt down Armand Marcello prior to leaving.

  I’d brought Kane and three other soldiers, which should be enough for protection and tracking the man.

  I noticed Bella’s eyes lit up for a few seconds as she peered down at the ruby and diamond choker with a heart-shaped ruby pendant. It was by far the most I’d spent on jewelry in my life, including my priceless watches.

  However, I could tell within seconds that her moment of being impressed quickly turned sour. She lifted her head, her eyes full of venom.

  “This isn’t the movie Pretty Woman, Creed. You can’t buy me with fancy clothes and expensive jewels. I’m not for sale to you to anyone. I’m not your date. I’m your prisoner. You might have saved my life but that doesn’t give you the right to act as if you own me. I’m not going to be your friend, your lover, or the love of your life. You might use this body, but you won’t get the chance to break me if that’s what you’re trying to do. I know how it works. You ply me with fine food and wine, act as if I’m your darling princess so I’ll become enthralled with you. Then you’ll turn into the bastard you really are, locking me in your house or better yet, inside a cage. You’ll force me to follow stupid rules while stealing my entire life. I’m not going to fall for it. I will escape your tyranny. You are a madman after all, completely insane.”

  The words hung in the air and I sensed Kane was studying me, waiting for my usual surly reaction to someone being so egregious in their stupidity. He’d even lifted his eyebrows, fearful I’d hurt her or worse.

  But I surprised myself, doing nothing more than rolling the tip of my finger down her shimmering cheek.

  “You’re right, my perfect dancer. I am certifiable, and very dangerous, capable of doing the kind of heinous activities that would haunt you for the rest of your life. Yet I assure you that my intentions with you are entirely pure.”

  “Pure? Do you really expect me to believe that?” She jerked her head away, prepared to rise from her seat.

  “Sit the fuck down,” I growled, although I kept a smile on my face.

  A flash of fear in her lovely eyes disgusted me. This was supposed to be a perfect night of passion and even fun, something I knew little about. I wasn’t going to allow her to ruin it.

  When she continued being the rebellious little vixen I’d experienced from the start, acting as if she was going to toss the rest of her champagne in my face, I snapped my hand around her wrist.

  “I suggest you remember who you are with and where you are physically secured at the moment, my darling. I don’t want to hurt you in any way, but I will in order to keep you safe.”

  She swallowed and glanced out the window, obviously calculating a plan of how she might get away while in New York. I noticed she wasn’t trying to break free from my hold although she remained tense.

  When she finally looked back into my eyes, she blinked only once before glancing at the necklace I still held in one hand. “You’ll promise me you won’t hurt my mother.”

  “Absolutely. I meant what I said. She will be well cared for and protected. No one will know where she is.”

  “Does that mean she’s in danger as well?”

  “Yes, it could very well mean that, Bella. I don’t want that for you.”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip this time, finally starting to relax to some degree. “While she hates me and has since the day I was born, she’s still my mother. I’m sorry about yours but she’s all I have.”

  “I understand more than you realize. I miss mine as well and if things would have turned out differently, perhaps I’d be a better man. That’s something I’ll strive to become.”

  “Why?”

  I wasn’t certain why I’d said the words. I didn’t need to convince her of anything. She did belong to me. As I searched my mind, I realized that I honestly did wish I could be a better man. Maybe that was something she could do as well, remind me why being human was vital. “Because of you. And so you know. When I noticed the gunman trying to take your life, I would have gladly stepped in front of the bullet to keep you alive. You mean that much to me.”

  For the first time, I sensed a moment of real softness, the sweetness that was an innate emotion in the woman presenting itself all over again. Where I refused to accept pity from anyone, no matter how luscious or beautiful, the look she was giving me wasn’t that. It was something else.

  Her eyes shimmered this time as if finding a crumb of a man she could like. She even rewarded me with a slight smile. “The necklace is beautiful but it’s too much.”

  “Nonsense,” I told her, releasing my hold. “It will be my pleasure to provide you with the finest things in life. Anything that your heart desires can and will be yours.”

  I was surprised she didn’t say ‘for a price’, but she remained quiet, thinking about the situation. I was no fool. Trusting her would take a lengthy period of time but for tonight, perhaps we’d be able to enjoy a nice evening together as a couple.

  I liked the word more than I’d thought I would.

  “May I do the honors?” I asked and pulled the necklace from the box.

  She appeared nervous all over again but nodded, slowly shifting in her seat to allow me access to her neck.

  Instead, I pulled her into my lap, which forced a slight moan from her lips. She would soon realize exactly what she did to me, my cock at full attention already and the night was still young.

  Her tension returned as I carefully placed the necklace around her neck, taking my time to fasten it. Her breathing was irregular, which was completely understandable. I was almost immediately intoxicated by the perfume she’d chosen, the change in what she’d been wearing perfect for the evening.

  When the necklace was fastened, she pressed her hand against it and I marveled at her long fingers. They were so delicate, just like she was. The girl was easily breakable but not in the way she was thinking I intended on doing.

  Taming, yes. But why would I break a sweet soul such as hers?

  “Beautiful,” she whispered.

  “Yes, you are. In every way. I have a few surprises in store for you tonight. I do hope I please you.”

  And I did. As odd as it sounded. I wanted her laughing and happy, her eyes lighting up as they had after her performance the other night.

  I also wanted her to dance just for me, to put all her heart and soul into a prized number that no one else had seen. She was my prized possession, my perfect wish, and the only woman my heart could fall for.

  As I held her in position, I noticed the bright lights of New York just off to my periphery. “Now, you’re going to be a very good girl for me, perfect dancer. I won’t take anything less. If you so much as attempt to escape or try and ask for help from anyone, I will punish you in a way that you will never forget. I’m not a man to be fucked with. I think you’ve already made that determination, but just so we’re on the same page. Do I make myself clear?”

  She shuddered in my hold, her long fingers gripping the armrests of the chair. “Yes.”

  “That’s my good girl. Now, we’re going to have a fabulous night.”

  Bella

  Dressed like a princess.

  Treated like a queen.

  Wearing a half million dollars’ worth of jewelry.

  The perfect gown.

  The prettiest shoes.

  The best-looking man in the entire Big Apple.

  Guarded. Protected. Catered to. Fawned over. Photographed.

  The night was exactly what every little girl’s fantasies were made of.

  Only I continued to feel like nothing but a prisoner because that’s what I was. That’s what he’d made me.

  Still, I had to admit that when we’d stepped out of the limousine only minutes before, seeing the number of paparazzi had created a little wave of excitement inside. A long time ago in what seemed like a different lifetime, the few times my mother had allowed me to be by her side at a movie premiere, she’d caused the same reaction.

  Men hungering for her.

  Women despising her.

  Photographers capturing every moment.