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19. Hannah

Ihave no idea where we're going, but I stay alert, looking for any opportunity to bolt. Caleb drives us to an office building near the docks and parks in the subterranean garage. He walks around the car, opens my door and, the moment I step out, he takes a firm hold of my arm. As he guides me over to the elevator, I can't help but notice how quiet it is and more deserted than I expected. I guess since it's the weekend, nobody is here working. Great. Just freaking great.

Once again, I'm on my own. But, it's a place I'm accustomed to being and I have no intention of giving up. Not now, not ever. I'm a fighter and I will go down swinging. As nice as it was being rescued, I know this time around, I'll be rescuing myself. Because as much as I'd like to see Vin appear, I know he has no idea where I am.

A girl can dream, though, right?

No,I immediately scold myself. A girl has to be able to take care of herself and kick some ass when necessary. And that's exactly what I plan to do.

We take the elevator up to the twenty-fifth floor and I'm hoping we run into someone else. But my hopes fall flat as we step out of the elevator into a dimly-lit office. The place is a virtual ghosttown, not a soul around. Caleb finally releases his tight grip on my arm, but where am I going to go? I feel trapped. Deciding to bide my time a little bit and see what he's up to, I force myself to be patient because there's literally nowhere for me to run.

At least, not yet.

"This is my building," he states proudly and all I can think is whoop-de-doo. I mean, seriously, what does he want? A standing ovation?

Congratulations on all your money and being able to buy a building, you piece of shit.As tempted as I am to say it, I press my lips together and keep quiet. He also tried to buy me, too. More specifically my virginity. Hmmm. Maybe if he knew that was long gone, he'd lose interest in me. I file that little tidbit to use later.

"And this is my corner office."

La-di-da.What a braggart. It's so unappealing and my gaze skates over the room. It looks like any other office I've ever seen. Nothing special and not nearly as nice as the Rossi Vineyard office. I mean, yeah, the furniture looks expensive and I'm sure it cost a fortune. And, there is a nice view, I realize, wandering over to the big glass window and peering out over the city. But it would take a lot more than this to make up for the horrible man who works here.

"Come here," he says, motioning to me with his hand. "I want you to see something."

Not overly interested, I walk over to where he stands behind his desk, opening his laptop.

"Sit." When I hesitate, he places a hand on my shoulder and pushes me down into the large leather chair.

I hate how he's always manhandling me and realize I much prefer Vin's gentle touch. Gritting back a nasty comment, I wait as he opens a file.

"Look."

I see a bunch of numbers and names of corporations, maybe? Businesses? It doesn't really make any sense to me and I shrug a shoulder, not sure what he's bragging about now.

"I've been slowly buying up stock for Rossi Vineyard. But, it's a secret, so shhh. Don't tell anyone." He sends me a creepy smile and wink.

My attention moves back to the screen and I squint, taking a closer look. Oh, no. How much stock does he own? This can't be good. It doesn't make sense that they would sell so much to him. Unless…

"I'm buying it under different corporations I own that no one else knows about. They have no idea that I now own a huge controlling share."

The only reason he would do this is to hurt the Rossi family and their company. But I'm not sure exactly how it all works. Hell, until Vin hired me, I worked at a diner and my biggest problem was sore feet at the end of the day. Not billion dollar corporations and potential sneaky takeovers.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask, wanting to hear his plans so I can run straight to the Rossi family and fill them in on every single detail.

"Control. Majority shareholders have the benefit of voting and election privileges. I'll have a say in the direction the company decides to take. They'll be forced to constantly update me about how the company is performing. And, if I'm unhappy, I can request an election for new board members."

"But why do you even care?" My brow furrows.

"Why shouldn't I?" he asks, voice raising angrily. "They have everything and I'm tired of it. I'm going to usurp some of that power and use it to make even more money. If they want to negotiate, there's only one thing I'll accept."

My stomach sinks. "What?" I ask, dreading the answer.

"I want a seat with the Five Families. And if they don't allow me to join then I'll destroy Rossi Vineyard. I belong on that council, running this city just like the others. I deserve the respect people give them. I want it all," he hisses in a low voice near my ear.

A shiver runs through me and he's even more power hungry and manipulative than I'd originally thought.

"But, why don't we start with you giving me some of Vin's passwords first?"

"I already told you I don't know them. I just answer his phone and get him coffee." I hope I sound convincing enough, but he's looking at me like he doesn't believe a word coming out of my mouth.

"Hannah dear, let me make this clear for you. I'm on the precipice of ruling this city and I'm going to need a beautiful, young wife at my side. The moment I saw you at that auction, I knew it had to be you."

My mouth drops, not expecting to hear him say any of this. That's why he's been pursuing me so hard? He wants a trophy wife? Sorry, but that's not happening. I'd rather die.

"I'm assuming Vin fucked you, claimed your virginity, and it pisses me off that he stole you from me. But I'll get over it. Sure, he may have broken you in first, but I plan to show you so much more. Show you how to embrace pain and turn it into the greatest pleasure you've ever known. So even though he stole your innocence, I know he hasn't introduced you to the dark side. But, I will."

The dark side?I try not to cringe away from him, but I can't help it. I don't want anything to do with that kind of twisted desire or with Caleb. He's a monster and making me want to run, but I need a better plan than that.

"Vin may have bruised my ego when he outbid me," Caleb continues, "but that only gives me more incentive to destroy him. I'm going to take away every last ounce of power from the Rossi's and teach them a lesson. They aren't as great as they fucking think and I can't wait to knock them down a few pegs. And you're going to help me."

Like hell I am.

"And, the first thing you need to do is forget Vin and pledge yourself to me from this point forward."

Even though I should play along with this madman, I can't and, without thinking, I blurt out, "I love him."

Caleb's eyes narrow and, before I realize what's happening, he backhands me across the face. My head snaps and tears sting my eyes. Oh, God, that hurt. Beside me, he clears his throat.

"Sorry about that, but don't say ridiculous things like that anymore. Do you understand me?" I nod my head, not daring to look at him, and I see stars at the edge of my vision. "Now, let's go somewhere and have a little chat."

Confused, I frown. Why can't we just stay here? I'm instantly alarmed, but not wanting to get smacked again, I slowly stand up and follow him out of the office. We walk up a flight of stairs and he tugs me through the emergency entrance and onto the roof.

A horrible fear suddenly fills me and I stop walking, my feet digging in and refusing to budge. But Caleb is stronger and yanks me forward, right over to the edge.

"It's a spectacular view from up here, isn't it?" His fingers are digging into my upper arm and he leans over to look out at the city, pulling me with him, right up to the edge.

My heart and stomach sink. We're so high up, twenty-six floors to be exact, and falling would mean certain death. I glance around, wondering how I can escape. It's much louder up here than I would've expected with lots of vents and machinery. Chewing on my lower lip, I'm grateful for some potential places to hide, if I need to.

"I wouldn't recommend falling, though. It wouldn't end well." He smirks at me. "So, here's the situation, Hannah, and I'm going to be brutally honest with you. And before you blurt out something stupid about love again, I suggest you think hard first. Okay?"

"Okay," I force out when his hand tightens around my arm harder, like a damn vise.

"I'm going to rule this city, with or without you by my side, but I'd like you to be my queen. However, you need to forget about Vin Rossi, stop working for him, and help me humiliate him in every possible way I see fit." I squirm, trying to loosen his grip, but it's proving to be impossible. "Starting with those passwords. If you don't agree to give them to me then I'm sorry to say I have no use for you."

As if he needs to reinforce his threat, he suddenly releases my arm and grabs the back of my neck, forcing me against the low brick wall and pushing, making me look out over the edge and down at the sidewalk below. My hands grab hold of the edge, holding tightly, and my heart is thumping madly. Caleb makes sure I have a good view down to the sidewalk and it's dizzying and terrifying all at once.

At that moment, staring twenty-six floors straight down to the unforgiving pavement, I realize that if I don't agree to his mad plan then he's going to kill me.

With a cry, I twist, drop and manage to break away from him. Scrambling to my feet, I'm halfway to the door when his arms wrap around me and he hauls me roughly back against his chest. Disgust fills me when I feel his erection pressing into me. My fear is turning him on and I squeeze my eyes shut. He's enjoying this and I want to vomit.

"You feel that?" he whispers in my ear. "I'm going to put my cock into every hole in your body and you're going to enjoy it. I might even make a new hole with my knife and then fuck that, too. Because, you owe me your innocent blood. But you gave it to Vin," he practically snarls.

His words make me sick.

"That's right," I hiss and slam an elbow backwards, right into his side. He grunts, loosening his hold slightly, and I take advantage and make a quick escape. Unfortunately, he's so much faster than me and he grabs me again.

I let out a scream as he drags me right back over to the edge again. "That wasn't very smart, Hannah. All you've managed to do is make me angrier."

Then, Caleb roughly yanks me up off the ground, his fingers digging cruelly into my hips. He shoves me forward, until the front half of my body is dangling over the side of the building and I'm staring straight down to the ground.

Terrified, I don't dare move or even breathe. I'm at his mercy and if he lets go, I'm dead.

"This is the last time I'm going to ask you, Hannah, you little bitch," he growls. "Will you give me the passwords to access the documents I want?"

With no other choice, I yell up to him, "Yes! Pull me back up, please, and I'll do whatever you want."

The asshole lets me hang there, precariously suspended above the city for what feels like another minute before finally pulling me back up. Relief floods me and I sag forward, terror thrumming through my veins.

"See how easy that was?" he asks, grinning at me.

I don't think my heart will ever slow down and I hate Caleb Durant with a passion. I have no intention of giving him what he wants or betraying Vin and his family, but I needed to buy more time. I just hope the plan forming in my head works or I have no doubt that Caleb will toss me off this roof without a second warning.

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