Carmen
Another cold shiver trickled down my legs as I walked toward the bathroom. Merely turning on the light presented another pleasant surprise. A bathroom fit for a queen. I ran my fingers over the beautiful marble fixtures, taken aback by how open yet how secluded the entire room seemed to be. When I noticed the closet, I hesitated before opening the two doors. There was very little inside with the exception of beautiful lingerie in several dazzling colors.
There was no doubt that they were expensive, the silk like spun gold. The moment I eased into a robe, tying the sash, I became the bought woman owned by one ruthless man. I took tentative steps toward the mirror, half expecting my reflection would terrify me.
Instead, my glowing skin brought a smile to my face and I had no idea why. The lightheaded feeling remained as I left the room, doing everything I could to compose myself. While I realized he would attempt to grill me, I was the one who needed answers.
I found him staring at his cabinets, as if he’d never noticed them before. The beautiful music coming from unseen speakers was classical, another surprise or perhaps he was trying to appease me. Either way, his swings in emotions and actions left an ugly pit in my stomach.
A bottle of wine had been opened, two goblets half filled. Red, my favorite, although right now all I could think of was the color of blood.
He turned and for a split second, there was no monster festering inside the man, no mafia kingpin ready to eradicate the latest enemy. There was only the absolute joy of seeing someone he cared about wearing a present he’d purchased himself.
I was drawn to him in a way I hadn’t been before as his eyes raked down the length of me.
“You’re stunning,” he said with absolute purpose.
“This is beautiful.” I brushed my palm down the front of the gown.
He rounded the corner of the island, closing the distance and cupping my face with such a gentle hold. “No, lovely lady. You’re what’s beautiful.” As he lowered his head, brushing his lips across mine, I found myself rising onto my tiptoes, ignoring the pain in my ankle.
I clutched his shirt, wrapping my fingers around the material, my heart skipping. Everything about this was entirely unexpected, a man I could see caring about. Perhaps.
The sound of his phone jerked the special moment away, the snarl coming from his lips infused with rage.
“Goddamn it.” Sebastian shifted around me, yanking the phone from his pocket. “This had better be fucking good. I do not tolerate interruptions.”
I folded my arms, loathing this side, unable to wrap my mind around anything about him.
“Yeah. Then you keep him there. I want the bastard on his knees. I want him to feel the weight of the anticipation of my visit. And I want him fucking terrified.” Sebastian ended the call, holding the phone to his head, exhaling. “Unfortunately, I have to go out. You will stay here, and Enrique will remain as a guard. While there is almost no food, Enrique will order anything you want. There is no other way out of this penthouse other than the front door, so don’t bother trying. If you do, you will be punished severely.” He walked closer until I was forced to look him in the eyes. “And you will not fuck with me on this.”
“That’s all you understand, Sebastian. Threats.”
He softened his expression. “That’s not a threat, my sweet girl. That’s a promise. You will learn one way or the other.”
Whoever had issued the contract on my life had disturbed him to the point he was shaking with anger. I wasn’t certain whether his emotional state was about my wellbeing or the fact someone had almost interfered with his ugly mission of keeping me his prisoner. Still, the way his chest rose and fell sent a flurry of butterflies into my tummy. Maybe he did care about me. Maybe there was a way to have a life.
“Where are you going?” I finally asked.
“There are some questions you won’t want to know the answer to.”
“What if I do? You act as if I’m not strong enough to handle the truth, yet you require my honesty. That’s not fair on several levels. I am fully aware that there are likely men from several countries who would enjoy bringing down my father, but even after two brutal assassination attempts, he never mentioned names. Perhaps he wanted to protect me or perhaps he didn’t think I was worthy of the information. If you want me to obey you then bring me into your world even just a little bit.”
Sebastian glanced toward the bank of doors, his eyes darting back and forth. After slowly turning his head, he exhaled. “Fair enough, Carmen. One of the men I believe who attacked you has been located.”
“And what are you going to do?”
“I will do what’s necessary, Carmen. Trust me, little girl. You may call me a monster but there are others who are much nastier than I’ll ever be. No one will ever be able to hurt you again. They will face the consequences.”
Consequences.
He’d used the word several times, as if his honor was never to be challenged.
When he walked away, I knew in my gut that he was going to kill the man who’d accosted me.
The funny thing was that I was almost giddy inside at the thought, envisioning the various brutal acts that Sebastian would impose, my mouth watering. Jesus. My hand was shaking, my heart racing. I wanted an act of retaliation. I needed to know the man would be punished.
What did that make me other than a monster?