Seduced by Danger (9 page)

“No, I’m going.” She took a deep breath. “I have to. Michael can’t fully defend himself if he’s in pain. He needs me. I can’t
not
go.”

“But you said the pain’s not as—”

“Doesn’t matter,” she cut him off. Michael needed her. He’d done everything he could to make sure she and
Aron
were safe. She wasn’t going to let him down. “We need to go. Now.”

“All right.” Cam reached for her shoulder. “I’ll take us into Central Park across from the building.
Teo
and I will go shadow but we’ll be right there with you all the time.” Rio and Stella would be staying behind after all. “The building’s warded but we’ll figure that out once we get there.
Teo
and I should be able to slip through the wards undetected or I’ll transport us inside when we know exactly where Michael is.”

She nodded, taking a deep breath. Thankfully, Lacey had taken
Aron
out of the room. He’d barely cried when Cam had made the cut across his palm and
Scarlata
had been there to heal him as soon as they’d had enough blood for the spell.

Then Cara had kissed him before Lacey had taken him, trying not to cling to him.

“Cara—”

“I’m ready.” She met Cam’s gaze. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Seven

Bennett made him wait, which turned out to be a good thing because he was alone when the pain running through his body suddenly eased.

Cara.

She was here. In the city he’d sworn she’d never have to return to.

He’d never prayed to the Great Goddess
Uni
before. He did now.

Blessed Goddess, don’t let anything happen to her.

He didn’t have time for much more because the door opened and the two goons who’d worked him over motioned for him to step out then escorted him down the short hall to another room.

This room was furnished—couch, chairs, tables and a bar where Bennett stood pouring himself a drink.

“Whiskey?” Bennett glanced at him over his shoulder, playing the good host, as if Michael wasn’t bruised and bloodied and being held prisoner.

Michael nodded, waiting until Bennett motioned with his shiny bald head for him to take a seat. When they were settled across from each other in leather club chairs, drinks in their hands, Bennett finally trained his beady black eyes on Michael.

“So, where’s my asset?”

“I want some assurances from you first.”

Bennett smiled, a slick curve of his lips that would send small children running. “That’s not the way this works, Michael. You know that. Just tell me where she is and then we’ll discuss terms. You will still owe me suitable payment but afterward, I’ll deliver you to your parents. I’m sure they have punishment planned as well.”

Yeah, his parents probably did have something in mind for him. Thumb screws, the rack, maybe an iron maiden. He wouldn’t put it past them.

He gave the impression of thinking over Bennett’s words then sighed. “I want your word that I won’t be permanently damaged. That I will not be maimed or disabled in any way. No loss of limbs or digits, no loss of eyesight or hearing. And I will not disclose the whereabouts of the money I transferred.”

Michael had a brief “What the fuck” moment when he heard the words coming out of his mouth. Guess he was more
Mal
than he’d thought.

Bennett smiled again. In triumph. “You always were a brilliant businessman, Michael. I may have a position for you on my staff at a later time. After your recuperation, of course. Fine, I agree to your terms. Now, tell me where to find her.”

Michael hid his smile, though it cost him to do it. “I won’t have to. She’ll be here soon.”

Bennett’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

* * * * *

Cara started to shake as the building came into sight.

She tried to hide it but the warmth of the day made it difficult. The fact that Michael was in there and needed her help kept her feet moving forward.

So did the fact that
Teo
and Cam stood at her side, dissolved into shadow, invisible to everyone. They wouldn’t know if the wards on the building would prevent them from slipping through the door undetected until they got there.

If Bennett dropped the wards to let Cara in, no problem. They’d follow her and make sure no one harmed her. If Bennett didn’t take her to Michael,
Teo
would search for him and Cam would stay with Cara.

If they didn’t drop the wards, if the spells on the building somehow allowed her to enter without having to drop the wards, Cam and
Teo
would materialize and fight their way in and she would run like hell and hide then call Sal to come and get her.

And she would pray to the Great Goddess that
Teo
and Cam would get to Michael and bring him home to her and
Aron
.

She needed to be strong for Michael now. She would walk up to the building where she’d been forced to admit that her life would never be normal. That she wasn’t fit to live in the world.

But…that wasn’t true. Her steps faltered as she realized that she’d been wrong.

Her sister Lacey had made a place for herself in her community just as Cara had on a smaller scale in the enclave. They weren’t animals. They didn’t attack unsuspecting men and force them to have sex. And if Michael lived through this, they could probably lead a somewhat normal life. Together.

“Cara…”
Teo’s
disembodied voice whispered in her ear.

“I’m fine,” she said. And she was.

Squaring her shoulders, she walked up to the building. She sensed the wards surrounding the building as she mounted the steps. An
etera
walking up to this building would have the unconscious sense that they weren’t welcome here, that they should turn around and leave. Immediately.

She knew the wards also alerted the guards inside to the presence of someone at the door. They’d be coming for her now.

She couldn’t see them through the smoked glass door but she knew they’d let her in.

Drop the wards. Drop the wards.

It became a mantra.

And damned if the stupid bastards didn’t do just that.

The two men who opened the door dropped the wards and waved her through.

Cara’s mouth dropped open in shock.

Way too easy. As if they’d been expecting her.

Then her breath caught in her throat and she started to tremble as she recognized the two large men flanking the door, staring at her. Kendall and James.

She knew them from before. They had liked to take her together. They’d never harmed her—none of the men Bennett invited to the apartment had been allowed to harm her or Lacey—but that was a time of her life she’d worked so hard to forget.

And now it slapped back in her face.

“They’re waiting for you upstairs, Cara.” Kendall stepped aside so she could enter. “Nice to see you again.”

That voice made cold shivers run up her spine. She knew she wasn’t alone but she felt like she was being served up on a platter.

Michael would never do that. He would never turn on her. She knew that in her heart. He must have a plan. He would never expect her to walk in here like a sacrificial lamb if he didn’t have a way to get her out.

Taking a deep breath, she didn’t say anything to Bennett’s muscle. Let them think she was terrified. And she was. Just not only for herself.

In silence, the men escorted her to the elevator and took her to the ninth floor.

She spent the entire ride trying not to hyperventilate. She wasn’t alone with these men. Cam and
Teo
stood next to her, dissolved into shadow.

When the wards had dropped, they had walked in with her and no one would be able to see or detect them unless they chose to be.
Linchetti
made excellent bodyguards for that reason. And
Teo
and Cam were two of the best.

If Bennett had only these two men with him, Cam,
Teo
and Michael would have no problem.

But when the elevator stopped and the door opened, her heart dropped. Three more men stood there, waiting. All men she remembered.

Fear hit her like a ten-ton weight on her chest as she saw Michael standing next to Bennett near the window. They looked as if they were sharing business secrets. Only the bruises covering Michael’s face displayed something less pleasant.

He’d taken a severe beating. His upper lip was cut and fat, and he had the start of shiners.

And when he turned cold dark eyes her way, she wanted to run screaming.

He’s playing a role. Play along.

She didn’t have to fake her fear when she pointed at Bennett. “Michael, what’s going on? Why am I here?”

“Welcome back, Cara,” Bennett said, as if she were an employee returning to work after an extended vacation. “Your presence has been missed but Michael has assured me he’s taken good care of you in my absence.”

Bennett motioned to the men at her sides who each grabbed one of her arms as he turned back to Michael. “I see you’ve kept her in perfect condition. That works in your favor. Your recovery will probably require months but our deal holds.”

The men began to draw Cara away to the back of the apartment. Toward the room she and her sister had spent so much time in. Used by strangers, feeding off their energy while they drove the men toward great heights of pleasure just by their very nature.

Bennett had traded her as a commodity. He’d used her own nature against her and made her believe that was all she was good for. She knew better now.

And she wasn’t about to let this monster rule her life any longer.

She wanted Bennett dead. And she knew Michael was waiting until she was out of the way and locked in a room, somewhere safe, before he made his move. But that would split their resources, forcing either Cam or
Teo
to come after her.

With a jerk, she twisted out of the hands of the men holding her and yelled, “Cam,
Teo
. Now.”

She ran for Michael as the de
Feo
brothers rematerialized, two swords in each hand.
Teo
threw one at Michael, who caught the hilt out of midair and held it to Bennett’s throat.

Teo
stood in front of the two men who’d been holding her, while Cam held the three near the door at
swordpoint
.

“Cara, behind me,” Michael said though his gaze never left Bennett’s.

Bennett barely looked surprised, his only change of expression a slight elevation of his eyebrows. “I see you came prepared. I underestimated you again, Michael. I’m impressed. Too bad you also underestimated me.”

Bennett disappeared and Michael turned to reach for her but he wasn’t fast enough as Bennett wrapped a hand around Cara’s throat and held a knife under her chin.

Cara froze, knowing he would kill her if he had to, to save himself.

“Just because I’ve risen to a position of power where I have people to do most of my dirty work doesn’t mean I don’t know how to handle myself,” Bennett said. “Or work my own spells. It’s something of a lost art for the
Mal
but one I managed to maintain over the years. Not bad if I do say so myself.”

Bennett began to move toward the door, taking Cara with her. When she dragged her feet, she felt the knife slice her under the chin, warm blood dribbling down her neck. Where he’d pulled the blade from, she had no idea but it was shorter than the swords Michael and the de
Feos
had but longer than a
pugio
, the Roman dagger she was more familiar with.

She watched Michael’s expression turn even colder and his hand tighten on the hilt of the sword. “I’m going to kill you, Bennett. You’re just prolonging it. You won’t get far. Give her back and I’ll allow you to live. I’ll offer you the same bargain you made me.”

“But see,” Bennett said, “I don’t have an emotional attachment to the girl. If I kill her, I lose a business asset. A valuable asset, yes. Perhaps an irreplaceable one. But not one I will give my life for.”

“You’re wrong, Bennett. She’s been amusing for the past few years but I’m not willing to risk my life for her any longer.” Michael smiled and the sight sent chills down Cara’s spine. He looked…evil. Whatever he was selling Bennett, he was selling it well. If Cara didn’t believe in him so completely, she would think he’d just sold her out.

She knew he hadn’t.

“Don’t you realize it’s never been the girl I wanted,” Michael continued. “It’s your company. You’ve built a rather nice one and you’ve just handed it to me on a platter. You thought five men would be enough to contain me and a reasonable amount to sacrifice to keep your secret.”

Cara felt Bennett tense behind her. “And what secret would that be, Michael?”

Michael shrugged. “That I had outwitted you. That I made off with one of your prized possessions. That I had defeated an attempt by your men to retake her last year. That I stole your money and you have no idea where it is.”

Cara swore she felt a blast of cold radiate from Bennett and the knife in his hand trembled again, causing more blood to run. Michael never glanced her way.

But she knew he was poised to attack.

She felt it, like a gnawing ache in her stomach. She felt his tension level increase as if it were her own, felt his muscles tense though he made no betraying movement.

And in the split second before Michael lunged forward, she jerked to the side and flung herself to the floor.

The clang of metal on metal repeated throughout the room as Michael and the de
Feos
engaged Bennett and his men.

Back-crawling, she looked up in time to see Michael swing his sword at Bennett’s head. Bennett brought his short blade up at the last moment and blocked Michael’s blow. Metal clashed against metal and Michael pressed forward but Bennett shoved him, forcing Michael to retreat a few steps.

Bennett moved fast on the attack, getting a few quick jabs that Michael’s longer sword stopped before it got anywhere near him.

A surreal feeling made her feel as if she were watching a film. People didn’t fight with swords in the world today. They used little blades to stab or cut each other open or guns to shoot.

There was a deadly beauty to a sword fight that mesmerized.

Michael and Bennett did not look evenly matched, not with Michael’s lean grace against Bennett’s squatter, rounder body. But what Michael had in grace, Bennett matched in skill. The man must have logged a lot of hours with the weapon. Even at a disadvantage because of his shorter blade, Bennett managed to hold Michael at bay.

Metallic pings filled the air with a discordant melody. She spared a second to check on the de
Feo
brothers, holding their own against their attackers.

She turned back in time to see Michael nick Bennett on the cheek , drawing blood in a thin line.

And that’s when she realized…Michael was playing with him.

Michael had become a skilled fighter in the past three years since they’d left this building. She’d watched him practice, watched him become as much a brilliant strategist with a sword as he was with numbers and money.

Michael was letting Bennett think he might win when Cara knew there was no way her mate would let him leave this room breathing.

She saw something she’d never seen in Michael’s eyes before—a hard, cruel expression that made her heart clench in her chest. He looked
Mal
.