Liam O’Grady looked up.
“What?’ he growled, drinking again.
And then, he added, looking straight into his brother’s eyes,
“I’m breaking it off with Paige.”
St Just stood up,
“I think I’ll take Sarah to meet our pet,” he said in a quiet voice but his anger was evident as he strode out, shutting the door quietly behsin him.
*
Bianca
Dr Sarah Pine was on her phone but she shot St Just a curiosu look as she said,
“And why exactly do you want me to go and check this new sex toy of yours? ”
They were in his black Mercedes V class, a staid vehicle as compared to Liam O’Grady’s flashy collection of fast cars.
St Just, who was behind the wheel, looked over at her, a small smile on his lips. Sarah had been his lover at one time but she was happy with her husband now, having married him just three years ago.
*
She shook her head in exasperation,
“Saint, I hate it when you give me that John Cena look of yours,” and his grin widened.
She had been one of the few women he had dated who enjoyed bondage but who had also been good in bed sans kink.
He ran a hand over his face and growled,
“You’ve met her, haven’t you? Bianca Cruz?’
Sarah’s brow furrowed as she grumbled,
“You guys change your … uh…pets so frequently, I barely have time to remember faces, so forget names.”
Not this one, thought Finn St Just and frowned as the thought crossed his mind. Somehow, little Bianca was special.
*
He steered the large sedan onto the freeway and sighed,
“Liam had gone to …see her this morning,” he ignored Sarah’s brows that shot up in astonishment. Liam O” Grady had a penchant for work. No wh*re had ever managed to catch his attention enough to make his desert his responsibilities and rush to have a quick bout of s*x with her!
St Just was speaking, grimly as his hands tightened on the steering wheel.
“Unfortunately, his uh…fiancee turned up when they were almost making out in the pool…she went ballistic…beat up our Pet.”
Sarah Pine had turned in her seat to glare at him.
Her voice was low and vibrating with anger as she said in a low voice,
“How is she, this girl? Your unfortunate PET?”
Disdain dripped off her voice but St Just had drawn up at the big gates of the house already.
*
Bianca
I had slipped down to the library, dressed in a chunky yellow sweater over my T-shirt and jeans for the rain had been continuously falling since afternoon. I lay on the couch, trying to ignore the pain in my arms and face as I tried to read a copy of poems by Seamus Heaney which happened to be the first volume I had pulled out.
As my lids fluttered wearily, I heard the sound of doors slamming and sat up in alarm, almost falling off the couch.
I stumbled to my feet, eyes wide in terror as I heard the sound of St Just’s gravelly voice before he strode in, flinging open the door of the library.
A woman entered behind him and I darted behind the couch, preparing to fling it at her; if this was St Just’s fiancee come to attack me, I would not go down without a fight!
*
The woman stopped and stared, a reluctant smile on her beautiful face and I recognized her. She had been the doctor I had met on the first morning, who had done a check-up, as he termed it, of my body as I lay before her, naked and deeply self-conscious. She had checked me for drug usage and had done her best to set me at ease.
“Ouch, kiddo. That’s a damn big shiner you’ve got,” she said, her lips pursing in a firm thin line.
I lowered the book and felt St Just ‘s hard tawny eyes on my face. Swearing, he stepped to me and I shrank back, to find the bookshelves behind me.
Gently, he reached out and touched my face, his touch tender and I relaxed.
The doctor cleared her throat.
“Saint, could you wait outside, please? I’d like to be alone with this young lady for some time.”
Her voice brooked no opposition and St Just stroked my cheek gently as he leant to me and whispered,
“I’m sorry for this, pet.”
Suddenly, my eyes were overflowing and I turned blindly.
He immediately pulled me into his arms and held me as I sobbed, my arms going around him as I struggled to control myself. The doctor stood there silently.
After a while, I moved away, and St Just pulled out a large handkerchief.
Shyly, I wiped my cheeks and looked up at him.
“Thank you,” I whispered. The doctor shook her head and then pushed St Just , shoving him to the door.
“Just wait outside, Saint!” she snapped. But when she turned to me, her face was soft with concern.
“Sit down kid, let me check your face.”
She said it in a practical way and soon, I was feeling better and comforted and a hot cup of soup made me feel even better. A tad drowsy, I realized and looked at her fearfully.
“It’s alright kid,” she said with a soothing smile.
“I’ve added a pill to make you sleep.”
I sighed and drifted off, lying there on the comfortable couch.
*
Sarah Pien was livid as she stalked out.
“HOW DARE…” she began to shout as she strode over to where St Just was standing at the window, his large hands in his trouser pockets, staring out at the rain.
She shoved him, forcing him around as she cried,
“That poor KID over there, she was a virgin when I checked her a couple of days ago, now she’s been used thoroughly by you and …thrashed!!!”
She stood, her fists clenched, jaw thrust out and St Just sighed, stepping to her, his large hands on her shoulders.
“Just tell me, how is she?’ he said in a low voice. Sarah swallowed.
“I need to have words with a certain Mr O,’ she went on and then as he shook her shoulders, she snapped,
“Oh, she’s as fine as a person who has been unexpectedly attacked, can be. It’s more of a psychological shock, poor kid.”
Taking a deep breath, she silently accepted the drink St Just offered her. She rotated her neck and then went on,
“She’s pretty innocent, Saint. I would hate to patch her up…”
there was a warning in the doctor’s voice and St Just shook his head.
“Dunno, I don’t feel like…”
Sarah Pine swung around, incredulity on her features.
“Well, well well…” she said slowly. Then, placing the glass on the table, she stood and said,
“I need to get back to my clinic, Saint…”
He led her to the door,
“Thanks, Sarah. I’ve asked Max to drop you,’ and as she turned to say something severely, he added,
“I’m staying with her…but I won’t hurt her.”
*
After Sarah had left, still looking bemused, he went across to the library and lifted Binaca in his arms. She trembled but wound her arms around his neck obediently, as he growled at her to do so.
Slowly, trying not to hurt her further, he carried her up the stairs, his precious cargo.
As he lowered her onto the bed, she moaned and clinging to him, said in a shaky whisper, “Please. Don’t leave me. I’m scared”