Chapter 3 - Anton

“Stop your struggling; you are only making it worse for yourself,” I spat at her as I dragged her from my van to the door of one of our safe houses. Joyce dug in her heels, dragging her feet, trying to slow me down. Her body heat penetrated my chest.

She was a fierce storm bubbled up in a tiny bottle waiting to explode. I found this extraordinarily sexy and felt my heart skipping a beat. Even though she was most likely half my weight, the way she twisted, turned, and fought made holding her a bit tricky.

Joyce struggled all the way to the door. Ensuring I had a good grip, I pulled the keys from my pocket. Luckily, we had fitted automatic doors. I could not see how I would have managed to use a key with her in my arms.

I heard the door click as it unlocked. Grabbing her with both hands again, I lifted my leg and gently kicked at the door. It swung open with ease. Pulling her in was slightly problematic as she kicked her feet hard to the sides, wedging us.

Tired of fighting, I leaned back, picking her up as I twisted. Her feet came loose instantly, and I stumbled backward. Once inside, I turned and kicked back at the door. As it shut, I heard the clicking as the lock took hold.

We were in the living room with two double couches in front of us and two single ones to the sides. Moving forward a bit, I shoved her towards the couch. She landed softly on it and turned at lightning speed. As she tried to get up, I blocked her.

Standing before her, my heart raced as I breathed in her sweet innocence. I wanted to reach out and caress her smooth cheek. Keeping my desires constrained wasn’t something I had to do often. But I knew I couldn’t allow them to cloud my judgment.

“Settle down, Joyce,” I huffed, pulling off the tape I had placed over her mouth. “There’s nowhere to run. Everything is locked down. This is a safe house. You can scream, bang the doors and windows, hell, you can go crazy, and no one will know.”

The beautiful blond woman before me puffed up like a fish. She glared at me angrily. I couldn't help but smile as her cheeks pushed out and small frown lines appeared across her nose.

“You know,” I said as I walked to the desk in the corner and picked up the chair. Heading back, I placed the chair before the couch backward. Straddling it, I continued. “My mother always said, if you pull your face like that, it will stay that way.”

Leaning forward, I gently stroked her cheek. Her skin felt like warm Egyptian silk. “You surely don’t want that, do you?” I inquired. I wanted to close my eyes and pull her closer. Licking my lips, I could almost feel her kiss.

Joyce pulled back as she protested. “Please, don’t touch me.” She shifted sideways and jumped up, running for the door.

As I caught her by the arm, I swung her around, embracing her. “Stop, Joyce,” I huffed. “I know all about your cousin Jax,” I added, hoping to get some cooperation from her. I started walking with her in my arms back to the couch.

My palms felt sweaty as my heart rate increased. I could smell vanilla in the air. It reminded me of a freshly baked cake my mother used to make. It had a pleasant, warm odor as it came out of the oven. I couldn’t resist squeezing her tightly before pushing her back to the couch.

Filled with memories of a long-forgotten past, I struggled to regain my composure. Pacing around the couch, I shook my head to clear the past from it. I had a job to focus on. I couldn’t allow her to get into my head.

“Why do you think knowing Jax gives you the right to kidnap me?” Joyce spat at me as I sat back down. I saw something flicker in her eyes, but it dissipated as quickly as it appeared.

I chuckled at her totally innocent appearance. I could see the confusion on her face. “It seems you can’t grip the severity of it all,” I said. “Well, let me clear it up for you then.”

Joyce shifted as I spoke, and I paused for a moment, watching her. Her green eyes were surely the most striking of her features. Don’t get me wrong, she was a beautiful woman all around. But her eyes were something else. I had never met anyone with such penetrating eyes.

Feeling my breathing becoming harder, I took a deep, steady breath as I looked down at the floor between us. I couldn’t let her see the effect she had on me. I couldn’t explain it either, but I knew I had to push my feelings aside. Clearing my throat, I spoke in a deeper tone, hoping she wouldn’t hear my sudden affection.

“I know your cousin is a criminal. He’s been in prison and shunned from your family, has he not?” Glancing at her, I could see pain in her eyes. “I know what he has done and is still mixed in with,” I continued. She tensed up as I spoke, but it didn’t stop me. “I also know how deep he is mixed in. Your company and related jobs don’t allow people to work in the industry with ties to criminals. It is one of the cardinal rules.”

At this, she flinched. I could see fear crossing her face. Joyce parted her luscious lips as if she wanted to reply but then closed her mouth, turning her head away. “Before you say anything, let me clear it up some more,” I added. “If you think you’ll simply go out and find other work, think again. I will ensure you are never hired in this field.”

“What do you want from me?” she uttered. I could hear the defeat in her tone. For a second, my heart sank. I didn’t want to do this anymore. “You could have tried asking me first; maybe I would have agreed.”

This wasn’t what I wanted, but it was the only way to get through. “I know you wouldn’t have,” I chuckled, thinking about how she would have reacted if I had just asked. In my mind, I could see her screaming for security, and then I would have had to make a new plan.

“I like things to be done quickly, quietly, and right the first time. Threatening you is the only way to ensure you understand the seriousness of the situation. But don’t think for a second, I won’t see it through, understood?”

She nodded in agreement as she spoke softly, looking at her hands. “So, what do you want from me?”

After taking a deep breath, I spoke calmly. “All I need is information. I am sure you have it or can get it if you don’t.

Joyce looked up at me, her eyes burning into my soul. “What kind of information?” she inquired.

Leaning forward, I smiled as I continued. “I need basics such as floor plans for the south docks. I need the guard's schedules and patrol patterns. I need to know how to pack and label so packages won’t be opened to start with.”

Lifting her hands and waving them in the air, she protested. “I don’t have access to such things. Getting it will take some time. I don’t know…”

Knowing where she was going with this, I interrupted. “That’s not all I require. I also need to know what kind of shipments are delivered at what intervals. Who’s in charge of receiving and signing off?”

“I don’t know. I’m an intern. I am not privileged to such details.” Joyce protested.

“Maybe not, but I’m sure you can get it,” I replied, trying to stay calm. She kept on making excuses. Tasha checked her clearance. We felt sure she could get what was required. “Stop playing with me, Joyce. I need the information, do you understand?” I asked, standing sharply.

“Yes, but I can’t get all of that from here. How do you think I must access anything from outside the building? If you let me go, I can try. I can see what I can get you. I promise you I don’t know anything.”

Tears slowly started making their way down her cheeks. Joyce lowered her head and breathed in slowly. I felt bad for spitting orders at her. She was so innocent. But I also knew she was the only one we could use at the facility.

Shaking my head as I rose, I tried to figure out why I was suddenly flooded with sadness. This wasn’t me. She was a mark, and I have never had issues separating work and life.

I crossed my arms over my chest and wondered if I could trust her. Every fiber of my being screamed danger. Yet, my heart was leaning the other way. Then again, I had no other options, I reminded myself. “Okay,” I said, turning to face her.

“I will let you go for now…” I glared at her, pointing a finger. “Know this, if you make one wrong move, you will regret it. So, behave, or you will drown in the consequences.”

Joyce nodded. “I understand; now, can I get back to work before anyone notices I am missing?”

“Yes,” I replied, heading for the door. Glancing back, Joyce was on my heels, looking eager to leave. I assisted her into the back of the van again and buckled her in. “This is for your safety,” I said, sliding the door closed.

Pulling into the underground parking, I looked for a spot close to the elevators but secluded. “I am watching,” I said as I took the tape off her hands.

Joyce rubbed at her wrists, nodding. Stepping out of the van, I watched as she headed to the elevator and went inside. As soon as the doors closed, I called Tasha. The phone rang twice, and then her voice boomed into my ear. “Hey, Anton, how can I help?”

Tasha had always had the best phone manners out of all of us. I had never heard her being short with anyone over the phone. She liked to do that in person; even then, it didn’t happen often. Tasha was a kind, peaceful person, sometimes irritated but never angry.

“Hey,” I replied. “Can you keep tabs on every device that belongs to Joyce Lweis?”

“Okay,” Tasha replied, sounding skeptical. “What did you do?”

“She needs to access the computers from her office, so I let her go back in,” I responded, still unsure if I had done the right thing.

“I will let you know if anything jumps out then,” Tasha replied shortly as she hung up.

I monitored the cameras outside the office building for the next two days. People came and went, as did Joyce. Everything appeared normal. Yet, I couldn’t figure out if she was searching for the information I needed or not. I enjoyed watching her and took a ton more photos.

Just before closing on the third day, I received a text from Tasha. Opening my messages, I felt the blood draining from my body as I read it. ‘There is a strange note on her phone. Something about getting proof and turning the man in to the authorities.’

I felt my anger rising sharply as I realized what Joyce was planning. I couldn’t let this happen. I texted Tasha to let her know I understood, then waited for Joyce to leave the building.

She came out at her normal time and headed down the street to her home. I followed and parked across the road. I had to wait for the right time. I couldn’t just grab her with people still around. I watched her small home until dusk had settled before pulling my truck around and parking in her driveway.

Walking to her door, I knew I had to move quickly. I studied the street and surrounding houses before knocking on the door. Armed with my chloroform cloth, I waited. I could see the shock on her face as she opened the door. Before she could scream or move, I was inside, holding her in my arm with the cloth over her mouth.

She instantaneously went limp in my arms. Picking her up, I headed out. The night air was cool but refreshing. The street was quiet, just the way I liked it. Holding her in my arms, I smiled at her unconscious face. She was driving me crazy as I felt my body heating up with a strong desire for her.

Once she was buckled in, I returned to the safe house. I placed her in one of the rooms and locked the door. She would sleep for a good six to eight hours.

At least tomorrow was Friday, and I felt sure we could find a way to work around her absence at the office. I slept a couple of restless hours on the couch and got up at dawn.

Once I had prepared breakfast, I went to wake her. I placed the tray on the bedside table and pulled up a chair. “Joyce,” I whispered. “Joyce, it’s time to wake.” Looking at her sleeping so peacefully pulled at my heartstrings. She was more than merely beautiful.

Startled, she sat up and looked around frantically. “Calm down,” I said, smiling at her. “You’re back.”

She looked at me for a while before scanning the room. “You are in one of the rooms of our safe house. You were a naughty girl,” I said.

As the words left my mouth, I grinned. My mind flooded with images of her in cute, tight outfits, bending over for a spanking. Thinking of her in this way made me smile even more. Shaking my head, I stood up. I couldn’t allow these thoughts and images to invade my mind. I had to focus on the job at hand.

“I’ll leave you to freshen up,” I added, walking to the door. “There’s coffee and breakfast if you want. I’ll be back in a minute.” As I closed the door, I could see she was still confused and maybe even a little disoriented. But I had to make some calls.

Leaning back against the door, I took a deep breath. My heart was still racing. Except for the attraction burning inside of me, her fighting spirit and intense dominant presence were smoking up my mind.