Chapter 14

Daniel

The hunt.

Since I could remember, I'd loved the concept of hunting humans. I'd both tempered my strange desires over the years as well as tried to shove them into the darkest reaches of my mind, but the fact my wife had disappeared made the desire to conquer prey a crazed need all over again. Perhaps it all based on what my father had instilled in me as a kid or that shock of having a woman like Maria able to thwart my men that made my blood boil, and my cock ache more than it had before.

I wasn't certain but it didn't matter. What did was that she belonged to me. If she honestly believed she could just run away without consequences, she was out of her mind.

And I was determined to track her, capture her, and bring her back to my lair. The thought gave me a smile even though every aspect of attempting to find her over the last four hours had proven futile.

When I couldn't find her in any of the places I'd believed she could be, including the hotel where she'd stayed with her family for over a month, I was forced to realize I didn't know my wife at all.

Not that we'd had any decent conversations. I sat in the passenger seat, fuming over having been forced to search for hours. There hadn't been a single enemy in my life I hadn't found, not one. Granted, it had been years since I'd been required to do so. Maybe my skills were rusty. Kane said nothing from the driver's seat as we remained in the parking lot of one of the restaurants Maria had been followed to, but I could tell he was getting impatient, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

Where the fuck could she have gone?

"You're certain she wasn't taken?" I snapped, my nerves already on edge.

"I'm not certain of anything but she did steal a car," Kane snapped back. We'd driven thirty minutes in a short period of time in our attempt to find her. I had men all over the fucking place, scouring the city, tossing over every rock to try to locate her. I had no doubt the threat had been real.

"Why haven't our men found it yet?"

"I don't know what to tell you. Maybe she left the city."

"Not possible. She wouldn't do that."

"Are you certain? I saw the anger in her eyes when she stormed out. She was forced into marrying you."

Anger rose like bile in my throat, the concept she'd dare go against my rules something I couldn't accept. Was her hatred that great? I rubbed my jaw then fisted my hand, the aches and pains from the accident nothing in comparison to the rush of adrenaline from the thought of losing her. It was ridiculous but the woman had already crawled under my skin. I closed my eyes, able to envision her face, the horror of seeing me covered in blood creating a sudden turn in her acceptance. The sound of his drumming fingers was finally too much.

"Stop fidgeting," I barked at him even though I was doing the same thing by adjusting the cuffs of my shirt. Maybe that's because the expensive cotton material continued to scratch the cuts from the accident covering my neck. I even slid my finger under the collar, regretting I'd worn a shirt and tie, the attire far too suffocating.

My anger at the men supposedly guarding the house who'd allowed her to leave without so much as a notice continued to increase. There were vile and brutal thoughts about the need for savage punishment. All because a young woman with limited knowledge of the city had managed to get away so goddamn easily.

"What the hell do you want to do? I have men searching for her but it's as if she never existed. Maybe all this was a game to her. Did you think about that?"

"Trust me, Kane. She exists. And what the fuck are you getting at?" I knew because her scent continued to strangle my senses. His deep exhale and shake of his head were no less infuriating. "Be careful how you fucking answer me."

He took a few seconds, cursing under his breath. "I don't mean any disrespect, but did you ever consider the fact this was some game being played."

"She wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to marry me, Kane. That wasn't some act."

"I don't know. I'm just suggesting you think about the possibility."

The man was right that I had to consider everything, but her emotions had been real. I scanned the perimeter of the parking lot, trying to get my head out of my ass.

"Did you check the airports and train stations?"

"That's the fifth time you asked me and the answer continues to be the same. Fucking yes. Maybe you're going about this the wrong way."

"Meaning what?" My anger was increasing with every second there was no information. She'd left with her purse, but she couldn't have gone far.

"Meaning there must be somewhere in this godforsaken city she told you she enjoys. She was in this country for weeks, which means she did more than go out to clubs."

"Let's just say we didn't do that much talking."

"Christ," Kane huffed. "I don't want to know."

"Meaning she refused to tell me any juicy details about her personal life." Maybe because I hadn't cared enough to learn. I glared at him before planting my elbow against the passenger door, running my finger back and forth across my lips. I was shifting from being concerned and annoyed to something much darker. If the woman honestly believed she could do this without consequences, she was dead wrong.

"Maybe she needs space to think. You did almost die, which means you should be concentrating on finding the asshole who did this. Although I think you have the answer to that."

"Are you finished rambling?" I asked him. Friend or no friend, he was toeing a line he shouldn't cross and somewhere inside he knew it.

He threw up his hands, knowing me well enough to realize the attack was enough to yank out the violent man inside of me. And Kane didn't want to be anywhere near me when someone took the brunt of my frustrations.

"She's my wife, Kane. You know, for better, for worse, for richer and poorer. That kind of bullshit."

"Since when did you take vows like this so seriously?" He dared to grin but as soon as I gave him a harsh glare he rolled his eyes, grumbling under his breath.

"Maybe this shit was forced on me and maybe Maria did grow up in an environment where facing danger is something she should be used to, but that doesn't mean facing it up close and personal wasn't challenging. Besides, if anyone gets wind that she's out there all alone, Liam and his disgusting son could take advantage of her. That will initiate a war that won't be stopped without dragging this city through hell."

"Then hopefully you can figure out where she is, because the longer she's gone, the likelier that is to happen."

"Not if our men don't talk."

"What if she's seen?" Kane demanded. "A glorious photograph of you and your lovely bride did appear in the gossip column of our local illustrious rag tabloid." When he felt the weighted heat of my angry gaze continuing, he appeared embarrassed. "Not that I pay but so much attention."

"Uh-huh." I closed my eyes, trying to will myself into her shoes. Stilettos that had made her long legs sexy and her butt the perfect size for grabbing and… shit. I was losing it. I leaned my head back, thinking about what little she had told me. Suddenly, something dawned on me out of the blue. "I know where she is."

"You do?"

"I'm positive. Drive."

"There's the car," Kane said from beside me.

My lovely bride hadn't done a good job of hiding it. Maybe she wasn't bothering to try or maybe it had been dropped off and nothing more. I wouldn't relax until she was in my arms.

There were those in my world who believed they could get away with anything no matter how heinous the activity or how far against the rules of right and wrong they went. Yet there were also those who tried to run and hide, using every cent they had to find the largest, safest rock to crawl under. I'd found them every time. So had my brother. The reasons were simple.

There wasn't a single man or woman of power who didn't feel the need to brag about their accomplishments, no matter how sordid they were, at least to someone they believed they could trust. However, those who hid in plain sight were often bypassed, even ignored for a lengthy period of time.

But they were always found because I was damn good at what I did. Even if the only reason I'd found her was because I'd eavesdropped on a conversation she'd had with my sister. They'd compared their favorite coffees, including a little corner bistro where Maria had gone out of her way so she could enjoy their mocha latte.

While the location of the small business surprised me somewhat, I'd already learned there was much more to my lovely bride than I'd originally believed. However, she would need to understand that her behavior had not only placed her life in jeopardy but possibly that of my family as well. Our enemies would use any method of getting to us possible. And Maria's actions could be far too tempting to ignore.

As I stood outside the small shop, Kane continued to grumble behind me. He'd driven around the block three times to ensure no one had dared follow us. I appreciated his caution but with each passing minute, the wasted time could bring additional difficulties.

"Stay here, Kane. I won't be long but it's possible Maria won't want to come willingly."

"Maybe we should have brought a knockout drug with us."

I turned my head slowly, doing nothing but exhaling. He rolled his eyes.

"Sorry, boss. Just stating the obvious."

"You and I will need to talk about respect after my wife is secure. Until then, do as you're told." I had no idea why he was determined to annoy the fuck out of me now, other than he'd taken an immediate distrust to Maria because of her father and his ruthless activities. While I couldn't blame him for being leery of Giovanni, treating my wife with any level of disrespect was unacceptable.

I walked in before I said or did something that would terminate our friendship. I'd never argued with him over a woman. The truth was that I'd never brought a single date to my ranch before. I'd simply never allowed myself to get close to anyone. Not because I'd been worried about the woman's safety but because my home and privacy were both sacred to me.

I stood inside the crowded, small venue, scanning the perimeter very slowly. It was almost impossible to see every table in the facility given the number of people crammed inside. The place was also loud, so much so if Maria was here to think things through, I couldn't imagine how she'd be able to do so.

After milling through the groups of happy-go-lucky people, I was about to give up on my quest when I noticed a lone figure sitting alone at the table closest to the corridor leading to offices and/or restroom. A twinge of both anger and need furrowed into my system the moment I recognized her.

There was also a sense of relief, something else I hadn't expected.

I stared at her from afar, trying to curtail the fury I felt, instead figuring out how I could best allow her to understand what we were now both facing.

I moved closer but she was so lost in thought she either didn't notice my approach or didn't care. Maybe she didn't understand that no matter where she went, I would find her. Only when I sat down did she finally lift her head, the look of shock on her face followed by a closing off of her emotions.

But not before I saw a single tear slipping past her lashes.

She quickly wiped it away, every muscle in her body tensing. An intense vacuum surrounded our meeting, the wild and uncontrollable electricity shifting from one to the other managing to briefly block out all other noise.

Except for the rapid hammering of her heart.

Or was it mine?

I said nothing, simply taking a few seconds to ensure she hadn't been hurt before taking in the atmosphere in the quaint shop. The scent of various coffees was almost overpowering, but I could certainly see why the place was obviously a fan favorite. The old brick walls had been left intact, adding to a jazzy vibe, especially given the blue neon signs on two walls highlighting what libation the place served.

"What are you doing here?" Maria asked, the strangling sound of her voice indicating how nervous she was.

"Searching for my wife, a woman who left my house without permission and without protection. Both are unacceptable." I wasn't certain at first if my words had been drowned out by the intense music blaring through unseen speakers until a flash of anger swept through her shimmering eyes.

"Damn you."

"I'm already damned, Maria. Aren't you going to ask me how I found you?"

"I'm certain you have your ways. Bad men always do."

"Because I have enemies, Maria. You might have been kept a little princess in your former life but that won't help you here. The brutality enjoyed by monsters never takes a day off and doesn't care if you're considered innocent in the ways of truly bad men." There was a haunted look in her eyes but that wasn't about me. I couldn't help but wonder what my little bride was hiding from me.

"Is that a threat?" she asked, although I sensed her defiance was short lived by the nervous tic on the corner of her mouth.

"No, baby. I'm not the kind of man to make threats to a woman, and I'm not the bastard who's determined to make your life a living hell."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it? Now, why did you leave?"

"Because I needed time alone. I knew you wouldn't allow me to have that." She acted as if she was going to toss the rest of her coffee in my face but put on the brakes. Maybe because she knew exactly what I'd do.

I sat back, studying her as she bit her lower lip, fear settling in her gaze where discord had been before. Only she wasn't terrified of what could happen should anyone else have found her. She was petrified of what I'd do here and now. I leaned forward very slowly, steepling my hands on my knees.

"You worried me, Maria. I realize we barely know each other but you could have been hurt."

"What does it matter to you?"

As I rubbed my jaw, I resisted the desire to yank her across my lap, teaching her a harsh lesson. Instead, I scooted my chair close so only she could hear what I was about to say.

"Let me tell you a little story. When I was a little boy, I ran away from my mother one early December day. I was maybe five or six at the time. She'd taken my brother and me Christmas shopping, something both Constantine and I had begged her to do. Meanwhile, my sister was home sick with the flu, which was why my mother had almost said no."

She took a deep breath, her lower lip quivering.

"Going out was against my father's wishes. He'd recently had a threat made against both him and the family, something I certainly didn't understand. That's why I bugged my mother endlessly. She'd also wanted to have pictures of her boys on Santa's lap. You see, my beautiful mother had never believed there were evil men who would dare try and hurt children or women for that matter. However, she learned a lesson not once but twice on a rare snowy evening. I'd made a fuss about a toy that I didn't know was already purchased and wrapped. Because I was acting like the brat I was, her attention was pulled from my brother after I bolted, finding a hiding place. During that time, Constantine was left all by himself, even though my mother had told him to come with her." I stopped talking long enough to lift my gaze, never blinking. Her eyes were opened wide, her breath more ragged than before.

The memory was one I couldn't stand to think about, even if I didn't remember much of what had occurred.

"What happened?" she asked a few seconds later.

Maria almost sounded genuinely interested. "The blip was all the time necessary for two men to abduct my brother. Of course, I was only told this later, but he was taken out the back door of the toy store, tied up, and tossed into a trunk. I can't imagine how terrified he was. When she realized he wasn't following her, she panicked because she realized Constantine was also nowhere to be found. Fortunately, my father had learned she'd left without his permission, tasking two of his men to follow and keep us in their sights. If it hadn't been for their quick thinking, including one of them being shot and almost losing his life, my brother would have been used as a pawn, maybe even killed in retaliation for a business deal gone wrong. Meanwhile, I'd been safe and sound hiding in some boxes in the back room of the store."

She pressed her hand against her lips. At least she had the decency of appearing horrified.

"Anyway, Constantine was recovered less than an hour later but as you might imagine, he was traumatized. My father went on a killing spree. I'm certain you know all about blood in the streets as your father was as much a savage as mine was."

Her jaw remained clenched, every muscle tense. "At least you were both safe."

"Yes, safe. After the dust settled, my father learned that one of his most trusted men had betrayed him, making a single phone call to my pops' most dangerous enemy because he'd seen my mother leaving the house unescorted. It would seem my father's enemy had waited patiently for a single mistake to be made." I reiterated the message by lifting my arm, pointing my index finger into the air. "One phone call, one mistake and a few seconds and my mother could have lost her oldest child. I assure you the man who'd tried to have him kidnapped would have tortured my brother before killing him. There is no respect or rules followed by certain venomous creatures."

A sickening part of me wanted her to feel the pain I felt at that moment, the ache that had nagged at me until I'd found her.

"Why are you telling me this? Is the horrible story supposed to make me feel guilty for wanting a little space? I'm sorry about what happened to you."

"Are you, my lovely bride? Or is it possible that you and your family wanted me dead?" I didn't really believe she was responsible, but I did want her to understand the significance of her actions.

"How dare you. I don't want you dead."

"Hmmm… I hope you're being truthful with me." When she lifted her arm, I stopped her before she had a chance to slap me for my insufferable comments, clasping her hand with enough pressure she yelped.

"I hate you. I just… hate you. All you want is someone to control, to own. And you want to hurt me. Go ahead. If you honestly think that will change anything, then do it. I'm not certain I care any longer. This life isn't what I thought it would be."

"Someday you'll need to tell me what you believed or hoped would change." I brought her hand to my lips, placing her fingers against the cuts in my face. Tormenting her this way wasn't anything I'd ever done before. I kissed her knuckles, letting go of her arm, forced to take another deep breath. "The story is to help you embrace the reasons why there are rules and help you understand that with every decision made, good or bad, right or wrong, there are consequences."

I leaned further forward in my seat, surprised she didn't try to jerk away. "What consequences would a child need to face? It wasn't your fault."

"My father didn't see it that way. I endured the sound of both my brother and my mother being disciplined by my father while I was forced to listen in on their punishments. I assure you that I never forgot the horrible lesson."

"Oh, my God. Your father was a bastard, a wife and child abuser. No wonder you're the way you are." Her tone was bitter.

"Think what you want, Maria, but my father knew there was a single way of getting through to all of us, a six-year-old included. Maybe my father chose his punishments well because none of us broke those kinds of rules ever again, which meant no one was ever given the chance to abduct two of my father's children."

"How could your mother every stand to be around him after that?"

"Because they loved each other dearly."

She gave me an incredulous look. "Well, so much for love. In my world it's not masked as a reason to abuse women or children."

"Then your father was ridiculous enough to allow you to wear rose-colored glasses for far too long. Trust me, sweetheart, that I was the one who suffered the most. But I learned from every ugly vision, every worry that I'd lose my mother and brother. The experience changed our entire family. Had it not been for the woman my brother finally allowed to break through the shell he had around him, I have no doubt he'd have remained just like our father. Brutal and violent."

"What about you? Is that what you want for whatever spawn I'm required to bring you?"

We were at a crossroads that might never be repaired. "I never wanted children, Maria. I am well aware I'd make a terrible father, but I didn't enter into this contract with the notion that I could get out of providing an heir for your family as well as mine. You will bear my children."

It was easy to see by the hard expression remaining on her face what she was thinking. Maybe hating me was in her best interest.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you need to understand that often the consequences are too late. In the case with my brother, he was found. You have no idea how many family members aren't. I don't want you to ever face the kind of terror my brother did because of ignoring the rules because you hate me. I'm not a good man, Maria, something you already know. However, I'd hoped to make your life at least tolerable if not more. I can see other methods will need to be used."

"What does that mean?"

"It simply means you're going to learn to obey me. Now, we are going home. You can either walk out of here with me or I'll take you out. It's entirely up to you." I could see the flash of hatred in her eyes just as I'd seen several times before, but it meant bringing and keeping her in a safe place, then she could hate me all she wanted.

"You're such a bastard."

"I am but I have a perfectly good reason to be and that includes the need to protect my wife. If you need more proof as to the reason why, other than the fact I was almost killed, here it is." I pulled out the photograph, lifting it in front of her.

There was no reaction this time, no sense of any emotion whatsoever. But I could feel her angst increasing, the hatred of the life she'd obviously fought hard to escape. Well, there would be no chance for that now.

"Take a good look at this, my lovely bride. Someone wants to take you away from me and that will not happen. I will do everything in my power to protect you but won't be able to do that if you dare attempt to leave again. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

"Yes. You're trying to scare me."

The laugh erupting from my chest was a telling of the man hiding behind the mask of civility for far too long. "You will not escape me, Maria. Where you run, I will follow. Those who try and take you away will face harsh punishment."

She glared at me with such defiance and determination that I only wanted her that much more. Her scent was intoxicating but it was her unbridled need to break free from the ugliness of her personal dungeon she'd placed herself in that was such a tremendous draw. And dear God, I wanted to consume every inch of her.

"You'll never break me," she whispered as if reading my mind.

"I'm not trying to break you, my beautiful pet. I'm simply telling you the truth. This is our reality. It's not going to change. The best I can do is promise to protect you, and I will, but that comes with a price: the loss of some freedom. For you, it means until I can trust that you fully comprehend you now belong to me, you will be secured inside my home."

"As your prisoner."

"Call it what you will."

"A prison," she snarked.

"You might not choose to believe me, Maria, but running away placed both our lives in further danger. They will stop at nothing to get to me through you."

"Who are they?"

I half laughed. "While it's yet to be confirmed, an enemy that decided to invade my family's territory."

"Why? Because of your charming personality I would assume."

"Because I refused to allow my sister to be forced into a marriage with a barbarian."

Her features softened but only briefly. "Unlike me."

"You agreed to this. You signed the contract. Yes?" When she tried to look away, I grabbed her jaw, jerking it forward. "Do you know how horrible I would have felt if I'd lost you?"

Her jaw remained clenched and she pressed her hand against my chest, doing her best to break the connection. "Why?"

"Because I actually give a damn about you."

"That changes nothing."

The crack between us was widening. Maybe that's the way it needed to be, although she would learn that she had no choice but to follow my rules or she'd face daily punishment. "Do you also understand that you will be punished for your actions?"

She eased from her chair, very slowly lifting her head. "Yes. But I would and will do it again."

"And you'll be punished after every. Single. Time. It's time to take you home."

"I don't have a home any longer, Daniel. I wasn't allowed to make choices. I have no friends, no people who care about me left in my world. I have no pet to curl up with and keep me warm at night and I certainly have no ability to come and go as I please. Every act of freedom, every sense of being who I was once is now gone. You might have captured my body, but that's all you can take from me. Not my soul and certainly not my heart." She made the statement as if I'd killed her parents, abducting her from her home country. However, her sadness was heartfelt, her voice filled with angst.

I was stunned how much her words affected me, how strange yet fulfilling the sense of being her protector was. But there was more that confounded the fuck out of me.

I didn't want her hatred. I wanted her devotion.

And even her love.

Maybe it was the way she issued the statement, the sadness in her voice that hit me so hard. Or perhaps I was forced to realize that I had no understanding of how to make her feel better. None.

Home.

Perhaps it was too much to ask that she ever consider my house her home.

But the strangest part of all was that I wanted to make her feel at home more than anything. What did that make me?