Bound: The Pentagon Group, Book 3 (8 page)

“No. I’m not.” He touched. Without delay, I unbuttoned his shirt, noting the tattoos which peppered his chest when I went to pull his shirt over his shoulders, he stood up and turned away. Under the dim lights of the room, I could see the tattoos on his arms and chest. His body was so different than Matt’s. He was muscular, but not as tall. Brady’s skin color was creamier compared to Matt’s tan skin. His skin looked smooth as silk because it was devoid of body hair.

“Let me see.” I asked.

“No. You’ll get sick. I think it’s just a graze, but I’m starting to feel a burn.”

“Sit!”

He looked tentatively at the bunk bed and sat. I went to the closet and found the first aid kit. I washed my hands and sorted through the contents. I assessed the cut, which had started clotting. It looked deep, but there was no trace of the bullet. Part of his tattoo had been severed from the rest of the design. Stitches would be in order, but wrapping him was the first step. I retrieved a clean wash cloth and washed around the wound. I took a roll of gauze and gently wrapped his arm, ensuring to assemble the fatty tissue and flesh to its normal setting. I stopped each time he winced to ensure it wasn’t too tight.

“Thanks,” he said when I finished taping up the gauze. I cleaned up. As I washed my hands, I heard him speak. I looked over to him, “I got you into an awful mess, didn’t I?” He said.

“Yeah, you fucked the craziest bitch in Boston.”

“Since when do you have a foul mouth?”

“Since you left for college,” I retorted, drying my hands.

Brady looked sullen, as if I had reminded him of a guilt he bared.

“How much longer, do you think?” I asked, wanting out of the tight quarters. I didn’t even like being in a small space with Matt for too long, unless we were making love. The closeness of Brady in the tiny space was unnerving.

“I don’t know. We’ve run a couple of drills a year for many years, so they’d know what to do. This is the first time an actual event has taken place. I don’t want to risk leaving the room and encountering them,” He said. I nodded.

“Can you call someone?”

“No,” he informed. There’s a phone in here, but they’ve instructed me not to call. They’ll call me to ensure we’re safe as soon as they’re able. I know this is a novel event for you, but I assure you, I have the best technology, resources, and trained security. I’ve even funded the local law enforcement to keep this community safe. We’ll be okay,” the sincerity in his voice and the assurances in his eyes made me relax. “Come sit,” he encouraged, patting the mattress.

I grabbed a water bottle for him, handing it over. I sat at a safe distance. For all we’d gone through we still had a lot to resolve. I needed to tell him where I stood on the matter. It was hard to formulate the words when there were competing emotions. In his care and protection of me, I saw the seventeen-year-old boy transformed into a man right before my very eyes. I saw Shay.

My desperate desire to escape this hatch and return to Matt kept me on high alert. “What time is it?” I asked. I lost track of time because I never carried a watch. My cellphone was my life line to time and commitments.

“It’s a little after six,” he stated, looking down at the large, metallic watch; no doubt a brand I’d never heard of before.

I yawned.

“You must be tired. Here lie down,” he offered, standing. My body ached all over, and after the ordeal I’d been through, I was certainly fatigued. Experiencing a large crash from the adrenalin surge I’d experienced all day, I crawled onto the twin sized cot. As I faced the wall, I felt a soft blanket placed over me. Within minutes of hearing his stirring and shuffle, I drifted off to sleep.

*****

Brady stirred me awake. Light was streaming from the entrance and he helped me up from the cot. “What time is it?” I asked once more,

“It’s ten,” he said, leading me to the bedroom.

“What’s going on?” I asked when I saw the team of people in the bedroom. A few men in black clothing and tactical gear were whispering in divided groups about his room. Another set of men, wearing police uniforms, filed into the room.

“They’ve captured everyone and they were taken to jail. I’m having a security detail from the U.S. flown in to take them back to Boston. We’ll have them charged there. These guys have taken statements of my men and myself. I asked them to let you rest for the night before asking you questions.”

Not feeling up to it, I nodded.

He continued, “I asked one of my maids to come back, and she made you dinner. We have it in the dining room ready when you are.”

My stomach rumbled at the mention of food.

“Please, I haven’t eaten since this morning when they took me.” He led me to the dining room with his hand at the small of my back. My heart ached thinking of Matt and the same way he would walk with me. I missed him.

“I need to call, Matt,” I stated. Brady pursed his lips. While he didn’t frown, I could tell by his lackluster eyes that he was less than enthused by the mention of Matt.

“Eat first,” he ordered. A feast was laid out on the table. It was all the foods my mother used to make. I served a little bit of everything on a plate and sat to eat.

“Aren’t you eating?” I asked.

“I have a few things to do first. I’ll be back. Please eat,” he finished with a soft smile. I dug in, tasting the flavors which brought the most comforting memories. My mother’s home cooking was one of the reasons I couldn’t keep my weight down for ballet. I realized later in life that I was stuffing myself full of her wonderful food for fear of one day missing it; missing her.

A young, pretty woman entered the room and asked in Spanish if all was well. I nodded, not stopping my chewing. I forced myself to stop when I was close to the point of overindulgence. She stood there all along watching me eat.

“Are you his Perla?” She asked.

“What?” I asked startled.

“His Perla,” she motioned toward the direction Brady exited. “You’re the little girl in the pictures in his room. He’s talked about you to Margarita and she’s told us the stories because we dared not speak to him so personally. You have the same eyes and fuzzy hair,” she stated without filter. I laughed, nodding in agreement. “But you’re smile is different,” she stated. I looked at her quizzically. “You’re more mature, more experienced; like you’ve gone through many struggles, so your smile is no longer of a little girl,” she observed. “Are you two finally together?”

“I’m a family friend.”

“Stories say he built this for you. He has always wanted to make this a family home. Margarita has tried to set him up with one of the many beautiful girls from the area, but he has never brought or stayed with another woman here. You are the first. In fact no one has ever been here before,” she reported. “I thought finally this was the commitment he has been waiting for.”

My heart sunk and my stomach roiled. I pushed the plate away, sickened by the thoughts of his dedication to me; an emotion I couldn’t return.

“Unfortunately, I’m married to someone else. I was brought here without my consent. He saved me from them,” I revealed.

“We heard. They caused such a stir. Usually the only raucous is an impending hurricane or tropical storm. Margarita was found locked in a room. When she was released, a couple of guards took her to a friend’s house because she was so shaken up,” she revealed.

“Was she harmed?”

“No, just frightened.”

A sigh of relief involuntarily left me. “Thank you for telling me.”

“Can I get you anything else?”

“Is there a phone I could use?”

“Oh, I think Don Shay would be able to help you with that. I just help with cooking and cleaning. Nice meeting you, Doña Perla,” she said. I nodded with a smile. Her use of ‘Lady’ made me feel like a fraud. It was a title I didn’t deserve. I was not the owner of the home, and I wasn’t Shay’s woman. I refrained from correcting her, and watched her walk away.

Looking around the beautiful dining room, which overlooked the sea, I thought of Matt and his home up north. I rejected the idea of living in such affluence, but the moment I set foot in this home, I could imagine myself living inside the opulent mansion, nurtured by the untold memories of my mother. Brady had created a haven for us and I had no idea of his true intentions. While I was desperate to know why, I was afraid the truth would be worse than being in complete ignorance. The moon illuminated the sea, and I imagined myself laying on the beach and frolicking in the water.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Brady interrupted, and I jumped at his booming voice.

“It is. I’d like to call Matt,” I announced without hesitation.

“I’d like to talk to you about that,” he answered. My brow furrowed and my frown was surely visible.

“Brady, I need to tell him I’m okay. I haven’t spoken to him since this morning. Surely, he’s worried sick about me. I’m worried about him. He needs to know I’m safe . . . and that I’m here with you.”

“Let’s go for a walk,” he extended the same hand which protected me in the past and just hours before. Without taking his hand, I followed him. We took a long winding staircase down to the lower level. “I’ll give you a tour tomorrow.”

“I want to go home as soon as possible, which is why I want to talk to Matt,” I whined. He didn’t respond and a grim feeling washed over me.

The downstairs contained a lounging and gaming area with a couple of pool tables and a few poker tables. A bar at the end of the room with modern looking stools highlighted the wall of alcohol. It was surprising to see so much furniture and drinks considering the maid’s revelation he hadn’t brought anyone else here. There were many strategically placed sofas and arm chairs for relaxed conversation around glass coffee tables. It all looked pristine, as if they were installed recently.

I followed him through the French doors to a paved walkway, leading to the beach. We walked past the long pool. The entire space was lit brightly in contrast to the darkened beach. I was slightly frightened when he kept walking toward the dark shore, but as we walked forward bright lights at our feet turned on, lightly lighting our path.

With the right person, this would have been the most romantic setting.

“I know you won’t be happy with this, but you’ll have to stay to talk to police and investigators about what happened since the crime took place here. I told them they can come back tomorrow when you’ve had some rest,” he informed. He motioned to the beach chair set back from the rising tide. I watched him sit on the other chair. I sat to take in the cool night breeze looking out at the vast darkness of the horizon.

“I would prefer to talk to them now and return home to Matt in the morning,” I reiterated becoming agitated.

“It’s late. My pilots are off duty.”

“Then I’ll go to the nearest airport and catch a flight back to at least Florida. I want out of here,” I cried.

“Is this place so bad?” He asked gently. He looked forlorn.

“No. This place is beautiful. You’ve done a great job with creating paradise, but I don’t belong here.” I hoped he could respect the finality of my words.

His Adam’s apple bobbed severely, and his eyes showed disappointment. It wasn’t my intention to hurt his feelings, especially after he’d saved our lives.

“How long did it take you to fall in love with Matt?” Brady asked sincerely. I was surprised by the question, grimacing at the intrusive inquiry. “You two had a whirlwind courtship. I’d like to know how long it took for you to fall in love with him?” He asked again. The expectation in his eyes was heartrending. I shook my head, battling within myself of how to respond.

“A few days.” I admitted.

“Give me that long to help you fall in love with me.” Brady said. His eyes pierced mine as I stopped breathing.

I turned away, shaking my head despite the quiver I felt with his offer. I couldn’t believe my heart was entertaining the idea of remaining on the peninsula with a man I once thought was my enemy. Although we were childhood friends, I didn’t know him. Because of his threats to my relationship with Matt, I certainly didn’t trust him despite him saving me from the ordeal we endured.

“Why? Why can’t you move onto someone else who can love you in return?”

“I want the opportunity to show you what true love really is. The love you found with Matt was clouded with lust.”

When I heard the word ‘lust’, I couldn’t disagree. We were constantly having sex or stimulating each other for gratification. While we had married a couple of days before, I still didn’t know Matt, but it didn’t mean our love was somehow artificial.

“What I have with Matt is real. We have a strong, deep love which won’t change.”

“Matt kept you so intoxicated with orgasms you couldn’t see how distant he really is,” he argued.

I shook my head in disbelief.

“It’s what he does. He finds a woman he wants and has constant sex. Gives them everything he thinks they want, but keeps the one thing she wishes he would give” he revealed.

My eyes cut at him, and I shook my head.

“He doesn’t give all of himself to a woman. Once he’s had her, he’ll pull away. It’s what he did to his wife.”

I couldn’t hear anymore, sifting through my memory banks for something to counter his argument. I didn’t have enough information to dispute his claim. Stella’s revelation of Matt’s inexperience with love came to the forefront of my mind.

“I can make you fall in love with me without even touching you.”

Heat rushed to my face and I was oddly titillated. “I want a chance to prove you and I are meant to be together. I’ve worked so hard to build a life for us to live together. Once I was sure I could get you close, he took you from me.”

“Why didn’t you just tell him to back off?” I asked.

“We’re both so similar. Neither of us would back away from what we really want. He made up his mind and went after you. Part of me resolved that if I couldn’t have you, then at least you were with a good guy. The more I saw him make you happy, I just couldn’t continue seeing you two together. I set up the blackmail to stop you from being with him, so much for that working.”

I squirmed in my seat, trying to dissect what he was claiming and reasoning what about me would make a man change the course of his life to win me over.

“Why me?” I asked.

“Why not you?” He countered.

“I need to know why you’ve built this. Why here?” I asked, motioning to the estate. I gave him enough time to answer, but couldn’t stop from further asking, “And upended my relationship to have me? And what do you want from me, exactly?” I demanded.

“I want you to be my wife.”

The blood rushed to my cheeks and I felt my pulse quicken.

“I’ve never married, hopeful we could one day reunite. I’ve always wanted to be with you because I’ve always thought of you as family. You’re the first girl I’ve ever wanted to take care of. And I’m hoping you would be the last,” he revealed.

His words were too good to be true. It all felt contrived. I continued listening to his declarations.

“You were so young at the time. When I finally thought you’d be ready to marry and have a family, I found you were already married.”

I nodded, thinking of how I jumped at Ben’s marriage proposal. I thought I’d never have someone feel that way about me. It was daunting to have two men desire me.

“Why did you marry so young?”

“He was kind and attentive—” ‘—at first,’ I failed to quantify. I hitched myself to Ben so quickly, seeking the family I’d lacked as a little girl.

“But he was beneath your worth.”

“Who are you to make such judgments?” I argued.

“Because I know you. You wanted more for your life. Even at your young age, you could easily rattle off what you wanted, and never did you say you wanted to marry or be in business.”

“People change. Little girls grow up and realize their dreams aren’t always capable of becoming reality.”

“Why did you stop dancing? Changed schools?”

“I couldn’t do it anymore. The pain was too great. I couldn’t lower or even maintain my weight. Genetics played a huge role. My mother may have been thin because of illness, but I remember when she was as curvaceous as I am now. It was time to have a realistic dream.”

“Is that what he told you?”

I knew he meant Ben. I paused for fear of admitting Ben had suggested attending business school. Ben suggested a future position at Parisi. We were introduced by Dougie when he dated my best friend, Dougie. Dougie was Ben’s good friend. We weren’t exactly dating at the time, but his suggestion left an impression on me. I had decided to make a drastic change, quit dance, and went to Vegas to make quick money. I returned to Boston with tens-of-thousands of dollars to finance the changes; all for Ben to think me more suitable to date and marry.

“I made my choices. It has served me well in the last several weeks while working at Pentagon,” I defended.

He nodded and said, “You have. You’ve done a brilliant job. I love the direction you’ve taken Pentagram. I’ve wanted it for so long, and because of you, it’s happening.”

While I knew he meant my recent work, I regressed back to when Matt had stolen the key to acquire information about Liberty. I remained quiet as I glared at him. He sighed and groaned, tossing his head back.

“I didn’t mean to imply you helped us acquire the property. I do feel terrible about what’s happened to you, but Aida admitted her role, so I hope you can forgive me.”

I deliberated if he was truly repentant.

“If you had nothing to do with it, then there should be nothing to forgive.”

I locked eyes with him, and he was steadfast in his stare. He looked at me as impassively as Matt. A shudder surged through me and I’d wondered if he and Matt had learned the physical expression in the course of doing business together for almost two decades.

“For now, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.” I warned, making the same blank expression.

“Why can’t you give me more, seeing as you’ve forgiven Matt?”

“You ask a lot of questions.”

“There’s a lot I need to know so I can convince you to stay.”

“I’m not staying a week,” I finalized.

“Well, you will be staying at least a week. But I want you to agree to open to my hope to help you fall in love with me.”

“I’m married, Brady.”

He rolled his eyes.

“You’re not officially married.”

“I am. We had a ceremony with a judge. Matt and I are married.”

“You’re not legally married until the license is filed. Aida made sure it was in my possession.”

“Are you threatening to keep my marriage license?” I shrieked, moving forward on the lounge chair. My heart leapt and I felt sick.

“I’ll give it back to you once the week is over, after you’ve agreed to spend it with me,” he said.

“When I get back home, I’ll just have another ceremony.”

“Don’t be so sure I’ll make it easy for you two to file a new one.”

I was certain he would. I crossed my arms and turned away.

His face softened, “You must keep an open mind and heart, and allow me the same courtesy of romancing you as you allowed Matt. If at the end of the week, you still want to be married to Matt, I will take you home to him. I will return the license and you can have it filed.”

I felt sick. I couldn’t possibly stay with another man when I was clearly in love and committed to his good friend and business partner. But if they were such good friends, Brady wouldn’t make these overtures.

“No. I can always get a duplicate license. And we can file the new one,” I reasoned, and began to stand up.

“The closest commercial airport is forty-five minutes away. Otherwise the private airport, which I own is only a fifteen minute ride from here. I own most of this side of the bay, so there won’t be many options for you to return without my assistance.”

“And you’ll hold me here as captive as Aida intended.”

“I’d like to think you aren’t captive, but encouraged to accept my offer.”

Ever the businessman, he was making an offer I couldn’t refuse, much like Matt did by offering me his fortune in exchange for marriage.

“What do you expect from my staying?” I asked.

“For you to let me show you how much I love you without the physicality Matt employed. I care more deeply for you. I’ve been keeping the memory alive of us as friends, almost like family, since the day my Mom started working for yours. All I want is a chance to get reacquainted.”

I thought through his words. There was more history. He knows of my great loss and my family’s predicament. Even weeks after we were sexually active, Matt didn’t know me well enough to be married.

“If I refuse to stay here, demanding to go home, you would deny me?” I asked.

“I couldn’t deny you. But do you think when we get back to Boston, even if it is tomorrow, Matt would want me anywhere near you?” Brady reasoned with accuracy.

I shook my head ‘no’. Matt would keep me away from Brady, thinking he orchestrated this entire scenario just to spend time with me.

“However, if you say ‘no’, it would be uncomfortable for all of us to remain in business together.”

I thought it through, and Brady was right. Matt wanted to marry me to get the shares back under his control, thinking Brady was a threat to our marriage and control of Pentagon.

“If I stay, we are not going to be intimate. I don’t sleep around. Regardless of what you think, I’m not a whore.”

“I know you’re not. I’m sorry I implied you were one . . . I was angry and desperate to stop you from marrying him.”

“So making me feel worthless was your best tactic?”

“I’m not proud of my behavior, and I would never have mistreated you if I’d had a chance to love and worship you.”

His words were simultaneously ‘so right’ and ‘so wrong’. I was surprised by how sincere his apology sounded and how they made my body thrum with excitement.

“If I choose Matt at the end of the week, I get my license back and you will leave us alone?”

He looked at me and then looked down at the tide, rolling closer to our feet. He nodded.

“I need you to verbalize that you will let me and Matt be a couple, if I decide I want to return to my husband and file my license to ensure our marriage is legal.” I enunciated each word to make myself clear.