CAPTURED: 9 Alpha Bad-Boys(138)

The memory had ended abruptly thanks to Vaughn throwing a soccer ball at  my head and shattering the final moments my parents had together. That  had been the last time I ever saw her.

I rubbed my palm against my chest, cursing the tightness around my  heart. Confusion weighed heavily, equally as pressing as despair.

Jethro smiled. "I'm glad you're being more reasonable. That is one  question I will answer. The consequences of not coming with me are  Vaughn and Archibald Weaver, amongst other things."

My whole world flipped upside down-and this time it wasn't vertigo.

"Your life for theirs." He shrugged. "Simple really. But don't worry  about the details. There's the fine print and endless history lessons to  explain."

My heart stopped. My life for theirs? He has to be joking. I didn't know  if I should be screaming in terror or laughing with amazement. This  couldn't be real. It had to be a farce. A horrible, cruel joke of my  dad's to ensure I never wanted to date again. Please let it be a joke.

"You can't be serious." I might've been hidden from the world of men,  but I wasn't completely clueless. "You expect me to believe you?"

Jethro lost his ice, sliding straight into artic winter. "You think I  care if you don't believe me? Do you think all of this is bullshit and  you can somehow argue with me?"

My heart jack-knifed. He was so sure. So resolute. No hint of worry that his scam might be revealed. It isn't a joke.

Jethro lowered his voice to a hiss. "I'll let you in on another secret  about me. I never do things by half. I never take chances. I never hunt  alone." Leaning closer, he finished, "Ever since I set eyes on you, eyes  have been set on your brother and father. They're being watched. And if  you so much as sneeze wrong, those eyes will turn into something a lot  more invasive. Do you understand?"

I couldn't reply. All I could picture was Vaughn and my father being exterminated like vermin and never see it coming.

"Say another word and I'll end them, Ms. Weaver." With a glacial glare,  Jethro grabbed the handle bars and swung his leg over the black  powder-coated machine. Every inch was black. No chrome or colour  anywhere.

Shit, what do I do? I had to run. Run!

But I couldn't. Not now he'd threatened my family. Not now my brain had  unlocked a memory adding weight to Jethro's lunatic suggestions. Not now  I believed.

A debt.

I didn't know what it was. It could've been code for something I didn't  understand or literal and requiring payback. But one thing I knew, I  couldn't risk not obeying.

I loved my family. I adored my brother. I wouldn't chance their lives.  Not after this so-called debt broke up my parents' marriage and  happiness.

I jumped as the ignition growled to life, tearing through the silence,  and somehow granting me strength in its ferocity. Kicking the stand  away, Jethro took the weight of the bike.

He didn't wear a helmet or offer me one. I expected him to turn around  and deliver more information or demands, but all he did was reach  behind, steal my arm, and place it around his hips. The moment my hand  rested on him, he let me go, unknowingly giving me a safe harbour but  with an anchor I already despised.

I looked longingly at the building where my brother and father mingled  with fashionistas and the only world I knew. I silently begged them to  come running out and laugh at my stunned, fear-filled face yelling ‘we  fooled you.'

But nothing. The doors remained closed. Answers hidden. Future unknown.         

     



 

I'm alone.

I'm being stolen for a debt only I can repay. A debt I know nothing about.

I was idiotic to wish for more than what I had.

Now, I had nothing.

With a twist of his wrist, Jethro fed gas to his mechanical beast and we shot forward into darkness.



The Milan airport welcomed me back.

It felt like an eternity since I flew in, though in reality it'd only  been two days. My skin was icy, and despite my repellent dislike for  Jethro, I hadn't been able to stop huddling against him while he broke  speed limits and took corners at hyper-speed on his death machine. My  tiny skirt and sleeveless corset weren't meant for gallivanting around  Milan so late.

Pulling into a short term parking bay, he killed the engine and kicked  down the stand. I immediately sat back, unwinding my arms from around  his waist.

The fear remained in my heart, growing thicker with every beat. I  couldn't look at the so-called gentleman without swallowing a cocktail  of murderous rage and teary terror.

His profile showed a man with a five o' clock shadow beginning over his  jaw, windswept thick hair, and an edge that catapulted him from sexy to  dangerous. He stood out from a crowd. He drew need and desire  effortlessly. But there was nothing tame or kind or normal. He reeked of  manipulation and control.

He's an iceberg.

The car park wasn't empty, but it wasn't rush hour either. Despite the  clunking echo of a couple dragging suitcases toward the terminal, the  night was quiet.

Jethro climbed off the bike. Once standing, he rolled his neck, rubbing  the cord of muscle with a strong hand. His eyes latched onto mine. They  looked darker, more autumn leaf than precious metal, but still as cold.

I glowered back, hoping my hatred was visible.

His face remained closed off-not rising to the challenge of a staring  war. Holding out his palm, he waited. The way he watched spoke volumes.  He didn't wonder if I'd take his hand. He knew. He believed in himself  so damn much everything other than his wish was dismissed as ludicrous.

Too bad for him, I didn't do well with the silent treatment. V had  trained that out of me. Having a boisterous twin armed me with certain  skills. And ignoring moody males was one of them.

Swatting his hand, I pushed off from the black leather and landed on  bare feet. The brisk concrete bit into my soles. Wrapping my arms around  my shivering torso, I muttered, "As if I'd accept your help. After  everything you've done so far."

Dropping his arm, he chuckled. "So far?" He leaned closer. "I've done  nothing. Not yet. Wait until you're in my domain and behind closed  doors. Then you might have something worthy of being melodramatic  about."

My skills at coping with the future rested on being able to ignore his  threats and focus on the now. Standing tall, I said, "I could ask  something stupid like why are we at the airport, but I can guess why.  However, you failed to think about my schedule-"

"Schedules change."

"I don't travel alone, Mr. Hawk. I had tickets booked for my brother,  assistant, and wardrobe organiser. Not to mention the excess luggage.  They'll be expecting me. Hell, my assistant will be expecting me back at  the hotel tonight. All of this-it's a waste of time. It's a waste  because the police will be told and if you think my father won't come  for me, you're mistaken."

Even as I said it doubt crept over my soul. Tex Weaver shoved me into  this nightmare. Why did I think he'd come and bring me home?

Jethro crossed his arms, lips in a tight smile as if I were amusing and  not pointing out valid facts. "There were a multitude of mistakes in  that paragraph, but I'll focus only on the relevant points." Tilting his  head, he continued, "Your father is fully aware of everything. Your  loyalty to the man who gave you away with no fight is misplaced. His  hands are tied and he damn well knows it. As for the police, they have  no relevance in your future. Forget about them, your family, hope. It's  over."

His voice dropped to a growl. "Do you know why it's over? It's over  because your life is over. There's so much you don't know, and so much I  can't wait to tell you."

He shed his icy exterior, grabbing my hair and jerking my head back.  "You'll learn about your peerage. Your rotten family tree. And you'll  pay. So shut up, give up, and appreciate my kindness thus far because  I'm running low on decency, Ms. Weaver, and you won't like me when I hit  my limit."

My shivers evolved to full blown tremors. "I don't like you now, let alone in the future. Let me go."

He surprised me by stepping away, releasing me. My scalp smarted, but I refused to rub my head.

"You're testing me. But lucky for you, I know how to deal with troublesome pets."

Pets?

My hands balled.

How did I ever think I wanted him? The fact his lips had been on my face and his thumb in my mouth repulsed me.

Jethro's gaze drifted down my state of undress. "You're shaking. I don't  want you getting sick." His eyebrow quirked. "I'd offer you my jacket,  like the chivalrous man I am, but I doubt you'd accept it. However, I  have something better."

Spinning around, he drifted toward a deep shadow cast by one of the  large pillars. "Flaw? Get out here. You damn well better be-"

"I'm here." A man appeared from the shadows. Dressed in black jeans,  shirt, and black leather jacket, the only glint of colour came from a  simple silver outline of a diamond engraved on the front pocket. He  looked like a thief waiting for a victim. "Been here for forty-five  minutes. You're late." He tossed Jethro a duffel, running a hand through  long dark hair. "Lucky for you the flight's delayed."