Tortured Salvation: A Dark Contemporary Romance (Salvation Trilogy Book 2) Read online

  I put a hand on his chest. “She’s right. We can discuss it later.” It would give me time to settle down and put my thoughts into some kind of order.

  “I’m good with not being the bone between you two, too. So that gets my vote,” Mak said.

  “I can always kill him later,” Henry offered.

  Isak rolled his eyes slightly. “I’d like to see you try, old man.”

  My eyes widened at the man hovering over me. Did he have a death wish? Henry could take Isak out in a multitude of ways. Some of them would leave absolutely no trace of Henry’s involvement whatsoever.

  “And back to the subject at hand,” Charlie said in a calming tone. “The security desk downstairs said no one was in your hall. Haven in the truck said the same thing about what was on their feeds. But we all heard the knock at the door and the voice call out.”

  “Not to mention the picture came in on Henry’s phone,” Mak said.

  My brow furrowed at the last statement.

  “That’s right,” Vera said. “You were giving it back to me when you saw the screen.”

  I blinked up into Isak’s face. “How c—” I shook my head. “Why?”

  “And if Thea only survives on paper, then how did the stalker have her picture?” Mia asked. “And the message with it doesn’t make sense either.”

  I flinched at the name. Felt the hole in my heart bleed just a little at the reminder. But I shook my head, forced myself to focus on the here and now. “I don’t know.” My voice was hoarse as I looked at Henry. “Have you checked at all?”

  He shook his head. “No. You were my main concern and your man wouldn’t let me near you.” He glared at Isak.

  Isak gave me nothing but blank face. A stoic expression that told me to deal with it, it wasn’t going to change.

  Biting back everything I wanted to scream at him, I turned to Henry. “Can you access your system from here?”

  Henry nodded. “I just need a laptop.”

  “I’ve got one,” Sophie said from somewhere in the room.

  Henry nodded again and moved out of my line of sight.

  Charlie took his place. “Go have that conversation somewhere else. We’ll interrupt when we have something to share.”

  It didn’t take Isak more than five seconds to scoop me up and walk away with me in his arms. He elbowed my bedroom door open and then tossed me on the bed. With a quick hit, he slammed my door shut behind himself. Leaning against it, he stood there, arms crossed, head down, eyes hot.

  I righted myself on the bed. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m sure you still have skeletons in your closet. And I’m pissed at you for pulling a gun on Mak.”

  “She was an obstacle while I was trying to care for you. I won’t apologize for using whatever means are necessary.”

  “She’s my best friend, Isak. You can’t kill her.” I wanted to rip my hair out.

  “I wasn’t actually going to kill her. The safety was still on. But she didn’t know that.”

  I gave a short scream. “I don’t fucking care, Isak! Don’t ever pull a gun on her again.” I would protect what remained of my family with my last breath. Even if from each other.

  “Fine. Tell her not to stand in my way, I won’t pull a gun on her.”

  That was way too easy. I studied him in silence for long moments. “What are you thinking instead of pulling a gun on her?”

  His smile made my guts shiver. “Tell her not to stand in my way and I won’t have to hurt her ever. It will solve a lot of issues.”

  I bit back words. I didn’t know what words, because at that moment, I was a little lost for coherent thought, let alone speech. “You really are psychotic.”

  He nodded, his smile dropping away. “Yes. I am. You, and you alone, are safe from me. Not even Margo gets away with the shit Mak pulled today. And if Henry pulls a gun on me again, tell him he better be ready to use it.”

  My mouth dropped open. “Henry pulled a gun on you?”

  He nodded, a different kind of smile on his face. “I commend his bravery.”

  I slumped back on the bed. My life was officially crazy. My past sins were now out in the open. They were currently being used against me and it seems that all the people in my life were more than willing to shoot each other over me.

  I needed to leave. Get away from here. Let all of them live in peace until I found this fucker. Once he was gone, I co—

  My feet were grabbed, and I was flipped up and over in short order. Before I knew what was happening, my pants were down around my knees and cold air washed over my bare ass.

  “I told you to stop with the leaving shit,” Isak snarled. Then his palm came down and cracked against my ass.

  “Ouch!” I bucked and tossed, but to no avail.

  “Hold still or I swear to all that’s holy, I get a brush or spoon.”

  SMAK!

  “Isak!” Tears rushed up. But I bit them back. No, I was pissed right now. Not sad.

  SMAK!

  Heat flared from where he spanked me. It was the answering flare of heat in my pussy I wasn’t prepared for.

  I bit the back of my hand to keep from making any more noise. I shouldn’t be aroused by this. He was spanking me, for the love of the gods. What the hell was wrong with me?

  SMAK!

  The heat in my core spread as I felt moisture gather deep inside me.

  SMAK! “What did I tell you about leaving me?”

  I couldn’t answer, too confused to find any words for anything at the moment.

  SMAK! “Tell me, Zale.”

  I shook my head.

  He snarled in his chest. SMAK! “TELL ME!”

  “I’m not allowed to leave you.” My breath gasped out as the tears smashed against the barrier inside me. I braced myself for the fall of his hand. Some part of me wanted it. Wanted that pain to keep me in the here and now. There was nowhere else I’d rather be than with this man.

  Soft as butterfly wings, I felt him press kisses into my abused flesh. “Better.” He dotted my red ass with licks and kisses that felt like cool breaths of air. “I’ll never let you go, Zale. This stalker can’t have you. Mak can’t have you. Henry can’t have you. You’re mine. Always, forever mine.”

  Fighting not to wiggle under his touch, I gave in and just sank into the bed. Right now, I didn’t know which way was up. Everything inside me was a confused jumble of feelings, thoughts, and emotions.

  “Get it all out, minx.” His voice was soft, emotion layered through it until it felt like another physical caress.

  The face of my baby girl rose up in my mind. She’d had no chance in this world. Given to me at my lowest point and then she shone a light on my soul with her first breath. God had taken her from me, a mother incapable of caring for someone else so treasured. She’d gone back to heaven. If I believed the chaplain on staff at the hospital, Thea would receive a new body. One that time or disease or injury couldn’t hurt.

  It was my only comfort. And it was for her that I’d maintained my sobriety. I’d promised myself and Mak that I would go off the Oxy and Norco. I would stay off of them for the rest of my life. If my baby could survive in this world for two days without most of her brain and skull, I could live without the buffer of pain meds fogging my every day.

  As I cried for my lost little girl, warmth enveloped me like a cloud. Isak snuggled me into the heat of his body as he pulled a huge blanket up from somewhere. I cried into his chest. This man who had pulled a gun on my best friend for getting in his way. This man who had reddened my ass when I thought about leaving him again. Even if it was just to keep him safe.

  “She was beautiful.” The words popped out before I knew I was going to share. “She had my eyes. My darker skin. Papa’s nose. Momma’s mouth. She was perfect.”

  Tears rushed over me again. Huge buffeting waves of anguish that tore through me.

  Isak curled his arms around my back, held me closer to him. “I would have loved to meet her.”

  Sobs broke through my control at his words. All the stress from the last few days mixed with the grief that was never quite gone. Instead of trying to rein it in, I let it overwhelm me. I let it drag me down into the darkest depths of my soul.

  And there, I let it torture me.

  Chapter 3

  Isak

  Finally, I thought to myself. Fucking finally. It was like a plug had been yanked out. Everything bubbled and boiled within her, but at least this time, it was cleansing. Her grief and anger danced together like long-lost lovers. Her sorrow and elation clung to each other.

  It was pure torture for me to feel, but I would have traded everything I own to hold her while she finally let herself feel all of it. So I held her while she swirled in the tornado of mixed emotions.

  The fantasies I’d had of her pregnant in my kitchen took on renewed life. I could give this woman babies. So many babies. Ones that lived and loved and laughed. Ones that weren’t used as pieces on a chessboard. They would live free and happy in the knowledge that they were loved beyond measure.

  It took a long while for her tears to ease. The clutching hole of emotions in the pit of her belly was reflected in my own. But they were running out of energy as well. From the feel of it, she’d had so much stored up, it wasn’t really a surprise that she’d tried to take her own life. Had I been under that kind of pressure, I probably would have done the same thing.

  My security watch buzzed. Lifting my hand, I saw they were ready for us. A quick glance at the time told me we’d been in here for over two hours now. I hoped they had some actual answers for us this time. I was getting sick and tired of being in the reactive phase of this whole thing.

  Pushing the covers up, I got out of the bed. Breathing a sigh of relief at the cooler air, I looked around her ro
om. Moving to her vanity, I scooped up a bottle that had the word I was looking for printed on the front of it. Arnica.

  Revealing her body, I smiled at the fading redness in her ass cheeks. It was either spank her or shake her. And I’d chosen the one that would work for both of us. Her arousal had been more than evident when I’d kissed her reddened flesh. It had taken all of my control not to take her from behind when I smelled her cream soaked cunt.

  It took a lot of strength not to let my hands wander now as I rubbed lotion into her ass. But we were needed, and she was still under a moratorium. One I was willing to discuss with her now that I had a better appreciation for her actions when she tried to escape into death.

  “Come on, minx. They’re ready to talk to us.” I capped the lotion bottle and put it on her nightstand. Pulling her pants back up, I helped her stand.

  Her face was stained with tears. Her nose and eyes were red, but she was still the most beautiful woman to me. I pushed her hair back from her face. “You’re breathtaking.” I kissed her forehead.

  She sank against me, snorted softly. “I’m a mess.”

  I snarled low in my throat. “Don’t argue with me. You’re also breathtaking.”

  A knock sounded on the door. “Zale?” Mak called.

  “Come in, Mak,” Zale practically shouted.

  The door opened. “We’ve got a lead. A good one.” Mak stood in the door. “I forgive you for pulling a gun on me.”

  I shrugged. “I wasn’t asking for forgiveness. Stay out of my way when it comes to Zale, and I won’t come after you.”

  Zale sucked in a gasp. One that was about to crash over my head, I had a feeling.

  Mak smiled. “Same back at you, asshole.”

  “Mak!” Zale yipped.

  Mak didn’t look at her best friend. She kept her gaze locked on mine. “As long as we understand each other.”

  I dipped my chin. “Crystal clear.”

  “You’re both insane,” Zale muttered. She pushed from my arms and elbowed her way out the door.

  “Zale Amelie Griffin, you get your ass back over her, or I’ll tan it some more.” My voice was low and quiet, but the emotion that roiled in my belly was reflected in my tone.

  She stopped in mid-motion. Her head spun around slowly. “What did you just say to me?”

  I smiled as Mak practically ran out of the doorway. “You heard me. I certainly didn’t stutter. Keep walking away from me and I’ll paddle your ass some more.”

  Zale’s cheeks heated. I saw her weigh her options, but in the end, she did as she was told. She took the few steps back to my side. When she was tucked under my arm, she glared up at me. “I’m going to whip your ass some time. See how you like it.”

  Curling my arm around her back, I tucked my hand into the back pocket of her pants. Tightening my fingers, I saw her pupils dilate as the sensation registered. “Sure, minx. We’ll go with that.” It would never happen. Ever.

  A low whimper came from her throat, but I ignored it. For now. Walking back into the living room, I nodded at the security teams. The addition of those from the security truck made this an all hands on deck situation.

  Sitting in one of the side chairs, I pulled Zale down on my lap. Her quick gasp, followed by the slight tension in her body, made me smile. But it didn’t take her long to settle against me.

  I nodded at Haven.

  She rolled her eyes but got started. “Henry did an excellent job when he set up the paper trail for Thea. Because of his thoroughness, in addition to how the latest breach happened, we have two connecting points for this lead. One, the phantom knock and call out originated from inside this building. Two, the message to Henry’s phone points to three towers. With the advent of 5G with all the carriers in NYC, we have a much smaller net to check. I’ve got Sarah doing her official thing with the carriers right now. Since the other intrusion happened through the security office on premises, we’ve already started to cull through their records.”

  “We still don’t know the purpose of the message,” Mia said. “If Thea only exists on paper, then the threat is empty. A dead baby does not constitute blackmail or even a stake in this game.”

  Zale flinched back as a low whimper slid between her lips.

  Mia winced. “I’m sorry. That was insensitive.”

  Zale shook her head. “But you’re right. I don’t know why the message came in. Or why it came to Henry’s phone.”

  “Maybe they’re trying to tell you they know what happened and they know about Henry’s involvement,” Isabella said from the far side of the room.

  Everyone turned to look at the single female on my security team. Her blonde hair was up in the habitual high ponytail and her gaze was direct.

  “Explain,” Haven demanded.

  Isabella shrugged. “If the stalker knows that Henry is involved with all of this, this could be the opening move against him. The stalker has already taken the blood family of Zale from her. This could be the first shift to start taking everyone else away from her.”

  Zale’s eyes widened, and her pupils went to pinpoints. “No…no! You have to leave. I’ll pay for you to go somewhere. You can’t be here. You can’t be in danger.”

  Henry came over and cradled her face between his hands. “I’m not going anywhere. Neither is Vera. This asshole is trying to get you to isolate yourself. Remove you from all the protection he knows you have. That isn’t happening. We’ll be safe. More than safe. I promise you that.”

  Zale shivered and shook in my arms, but she nodded. “You promise me that nothing happens to you. To either of you.” She cupped her hands around his. “Promise me.”

  Henry smiled softly. “I already did, but I’ll do it again. I promise you, nothing is going to happen to either of us. He won’t get to you through us and he won’t get to us at all.”

  Zale blew out a shaky breath, but she nodded again.

  Henry stepped back, met my eyes.

  I nodded at him. We would have some things to talk about. Things that Zale didn’t need to stress over.

  Haven shifted to look directly at Zale. “Do you have anything else to add to the information about Thea?”

  Zale stiffened in my arms, but shook her head. “Not that pertains to this.”

  Haven closed her eyes and exhaled heavily. “That’s not what I asked. Is there other information about Thea available to anyone?”

  Zale dug her nails into my arm. “Henry ga—”

  “From you, Ms. Griffin. You wanted to be treated as an adult with all of this. If you want to be left out of the information loop, that is fine. This is me trying to accommodate your previous request.”

  I kept my mouth shut. Haven was right. And I think Zale needed to be the one to speak about her daughter. Going through an intermediary kept it removed. And my girl clearly needed to deal with all of this.

  Zale sighed. “According to our setup all those years ago, Thea was born with a heart defect. She’s in a permanent full care facility in Lee’s Summit, Missouri under close security twenty-four/seven. I even pay for the security through one of my donor accounts to KC Children’s Mercy.”

  Henry’s mouth dropped open. “You’re still paying that?”

  Zale looked at the man she viewed as a father. “Yes.”

  “I’ll add that to the financial record scan,” Banks said from somewhere in the open penthouse. I couldn’t see him, but I had no doubt he had his face shoved in a computer somewhere.

  “Why?” Henry asked.

  “Because I’m sure those other babies need the extra security.” Zale’s voice was hard, as if she were daring Henry to call her on her actions.

  Henry scraped a hand down his face. “I have no doubt they do, but they aren’t your responsibility.”

  Zale shrugged, settled even deeper against my chest. “It’s my money.”

  Henry sighed, smiled sadly. “Yeah, honey. It is. Continue.”

  Zale jolted against my lap. “Did you call the facility? Have any of the kids been taken or hurt?”

  Haven raised a hand. “Henry called. All patients are accounted for. The security you pay for has been notified. They’ve heightened their awareness and tightened visiting procedures until we call back.”

  Zale settled back down against me. “Good. That’s good. According to the fake reports I get every week, Thea is holding steady. She’s still unresponsive, but her brain activity is just enough to continue giving me hope.” Her voice broke, but she shook back her hair and stiffened her shoulders.