Theirs to Corrupt (Titans Captivated #5)

Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

Tessa

I clutch my keys tightly, the metal biting into my palm. The pain grounds me, reminding me that this is real. I’m with two men who might have saved me tonight but are scary beyond words. The way Pax dealt with all of those men…

“Thanks for everything you’ve done.” I bring up my chin. “But I need to go.”

Link’s eyebrow arches. “Go where, exactly?”

“Home.”

Pax crosses his muscled arms. “It’s not safe. Those guys were able to find you at work. No doubt they know where you live.”

A chill runs down my spine. He’s right, of course. The realization makes my knees wobble.

Reality closes in on me.

For the first time in my life, I don’t know what to do.

“Start talking,” Pax says.

I swallow hard. Part of me wants to lie, to protect myself in the only way I know.

But they risked their lives for me.

“As you’ve already figured out, my name’s Tessa.” I pause to pick up my water. Stalling. Slowly I take a tiny sip. “My brother…” I stop. Then I tip my chin. I’ve done nothing wrong, and I have nothing to be ashamed of. “He is selling me to settle his debts.”

Link’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t show any other sign of surprise.

“To the highest bidder. Who apparently is a man named Emiliano Sartori.” I shudder involuntarily at the thought of him and his leering gaze…the way he looks at me as if he owns me and wants to break me.

What I don’t tell them is that I’m still innocent. That particular detail is too personal to share.

“You have no other family?”

“My parents are dead,” I reply, the familiar ache of loss smacking me in the stomach. “Car accident two years ago.”

Neither man seems surprised.

“No extended family? Aunts? Uncles?”

“No.”

“Friends?”

No one is capable of protecting me from Axel. I shake my head.

“What do you know about your brother’s…business?” Link asks, his voice carefully neutral.

“Not much.” Since my hands are shaking, I slide my water back onto the island. Then I wrap my arms around myself, not as if that will actually protect me. “After our parents died, Axel…changed. He took over my dad’s accounting firm. Then the gambling started.” Unless it had been going on for a long time and I didn’t know. “He won some, and it made him…” I think back. “Obsessive. Then he started to lose.” I sigh. “He kept telling me he was going to win big, the next time.” The losses kept piling up. Sure he had some good days, just enough to keep him hooked.

Pax’s jaw tightens.

“I tried to get him to stop…”

“And the debt?” Link prompts.

How much does he know? “My brother has kept me in the dark. But I overheard things. Phone calls, conversations when he thought I wasn’t around. He owes money to some dangerous people.” A lot of money.

“And that’s where you come in,” Pax says, his voice low and angry.

“Yes.” Anger sears me. “A couple of months ago, I found an email he was writing. He said he had an asset that could clear his debts.” Me.

The silence thunders.

Both men’s eyes are cold. Calculating. Dark. “I ran,” I continue, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Look, Tessa…” Link plows a hand into his hair.

I tilt my head. Though I don’t really know him, I’ve never seen him looking anything less than totally in control.

“He owes money to the mob.”

The mob? Beneath me, the room tilts, and I grasp the edge of the island to steady myself. Frantically I shake my head. “No…” I grab my purse and shove my keys inside. “I have to go.” Run. Again.

Link shakes his head. “You’ll stay here while we figure out a more permanent solution.”

“I can’t.”

“We have resources,” Pax says.

Though his voice is steady and firm, it doesn’t reassure me.

Shaking my head, I rush toward the back door.

“Think it through,” Link urges.

Frantically I turn the knob, but the door is locked. Of course it is. I watched Pax type in a code.

“You have nowhere to go,” he adds.

Maybe the shelter for now? While I figure out my next move. “One of you can drop me at my car.”

“You’re willing to bet it’s not being watched?” Link asks.

Hating that he’s right again, I change tactics. After all, the last months have taught me to be resourceful. “I’ll call a ride.” If the service will pick me up without a credit card being on file. “Or you could take me to the bus station.”

“No.” Link snaps his response. “You’re staying, Tessa, fucking like it or not.”

Mutinously, furiously, I glare at Link. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“Want to try me, little dove?”

Tension charges the air, crackling like lightning.

“Look…” Pax raises his hand. “It’s the middle of the night.” His tone is measured and calm. The voice of reason. “There’s not likely to be any buses running. You don’t want to sit there alone.” He waits for a beat. “You never know what could happen.”

Like he intended, my mind supplies a million scenarios.

What if Link and Pax hadn’t been there to save me earlier?

Defeated, I allow my shoulders to sink against the door.

“Stay tonight,” Pax says, even though Link scowls at him. “You can make a plan in the morning, when you’re rested.”

“I…”

“One night,” he repeats.

What choice do I really have?

“You’ll have your own room,” Pax goes on. “With a lock on the door.”

Link remains quiet, his jaw tight.

Much as I hate to admit it, Pax’s suggestion makes sense, and I should be grateful. Instead I feel trapped.

Suddenly the fight drains out of me, and I’m more exhausted than I ever remember being.

Even though I can’t form the words, I nod.

“You’ll stay?” Pax arches an eyebrow.

I clear my throat. “Yes.”

Relief flashes across both their faces, but Link hides the emotion quicker.

“I need to let my roommate know.”

“Roommate?” Pax asks, and the men exchange glances.

Once I find my phone, I text Natalie.

She doesn’t respond, which isn’t a surprise. When she’s cleaning the office building, she has to keep her phone in a locker.

Still, we have promised to keep each other updated if our plans ever change.

“We’ll show you around, so you’re more comfortable,” Pax says.

My cellphone battery is almost dead, and of course my charger is in the car. So I turn off the device and drop it into my purse, leaving it on the back of a chair where I can easily grab it on my way out the door in the morning.

“Shall we?” Pax invites.

Link’s body language is stiff as he leads the way deeper into the house.

The main floor living room is luxurious with its leather sofas and chairs and gleaming hardwood. A state-of-the-art home theater system takes up one wall, while floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the backyard.

Another time, I might appreciate how elegant his home is.

“The gym and my office are down that hallway.” Link points. “So is my office.”

We climb the sweeping staircase to the second floor, and Link indicates a door at the far end of the hallway. “That’s my room.”

“Where does Pax live?”

For a fraction of a moment, Link hesitates.

The two men exchange glances.

Finally Link answers, “He has the guest house out back.”

Which is obviously something I didn’t notice earlier.

Just how big is Link’s estate?

Halfway down the hall, he stops. “This is yours.” Link pushes open the door. “The bathroom’s through there.” He tips his head to the side.

“Let us know if you need anything else,” Pax adds.

I won’t. “Thank you.” Without waiting for them to say anything else, I close the door. Then I lock it.

I remain in place until I hear them move away.

Then I really exhale for the first time in hours.

Now that I’m alone, my heart rate slowly coming down, I take in my surroundings.

The suite I’ve been assigned is enormous. A king-size bed dominates the space, and it’s piled high with pillows and a plush comforter that looks sinfully soft. A sitting area with a small sofa and coffee table occupies one corner, while a writing desk sits beneath a large window.

Once, on a family vacation, I’d had a room like this. But that was before?—

I shake my head to cut off the thought. No matter what, I won’t feel sorry for myself.

Resolved, I head into the bathroom. There’s a walk-in shower and an oval-shaped soaking tub. Of course there are double sinks, along with lots of fluffy white towels.

This space isn’t just comfortable, it’s wonderful.

“I’m only here one night,” I remind myself. Promise myself.

After undressing, I take a long, hot shower, needing to wash away the stench of the bar and the feel of the attacker’s hands on me.

When I finally emerge, I notice a robe hanging from a hook.

Link has thought of everything.

Once I’m snuggled in it, my hair wrapped in a towel, I pad back into the main room.

Not wanting to sleep naked, just in case, I keep the robe on and crawl beneath the covers.

Sleep comes in bits and pieces, and my dreams are plagued by shadowy figures and Axel’s cold laugh.

I wake with a start.

Sunlight is streaming through the windows.

Desperate to throw off the dreams, I rise onto my elbows and blink the world into focus.

Slowly I remember where I am, and memories rush back. Axel’s thugs. Link and Pax rescuing me.

Looking around, I notice a duffel bag on the floor.

Not just any bag, but mine, with a broken zipper and a tear in one corner.

Its presence chills me.

My door has a lock, but clearly that didn’t stop at least one of the men from entering while I slept.

Did they watch me?

Shaking, I toss back the covers to cross the room.

Unnerved, I crouch to open the bag. It’s stuffed with my belongings. Jeans, T-shirts, toiletries. Bras and underwear are tucked into one corner.

They were in the bedroom at my apartment.

The realization sends a chill through me. Did Natalie let them in? Or did they break in?

How dare they?

I bring my chin up. Anger replaces all other emotions.

No one gets to make decisions for me.

I need to leave, and fast.

Once I’m dressed, I crack open the door.

Seeing no one around, I hurry down the stairs and quietly slip into the kitchen.

Freedom is steps away, so close that my heart begins to gallop.

I snatch up my purse from the back of the barstool, and when I reach the back door, I grab the doorknob, hope surging through me?—

“Going somewhere, Tessa?”

Link’s cold voice freezes me to the spot.

But I can’t miss my chance.

Determinedly I turn it.

“You don’t want to do that.” Pax’s warning is soft, but firm.

Despite my sudden anxiety, I pull the door open.

Alarms shred the morning air.

“Authorities have been notified. Authorities have been notified.”

On and on a mechanical voice goes, ricocheting off the walls.

Frantic, I swing to face them.

With cool, measured calm, Pax closes the distance between us. Then he reaches above me to shut the door before typing into the keypad.

This close, I’m helpless, trapped.

He angles his wrist, showcasing his pricey smart watch. Then he taps a button, says some nonsensical phrase, then adds, “All clear.”

Moments later, the sudden silence almost deafens me.

I’m facing both men.

Link folds his arms across his chest, pulling his white dress shirt taut across his muscles.

Suddenly as frustrated as I am angry, I scowl at both of them. “Are you keeping me prisoner?”