Page 55 of Corrupt Desires

“There’s a reason my men aren’t to touch you unless I say. I want you all to myself, but I want you pliable and complacent. So, my men get to teach you some manners, and in return, they get a small taste of what is mine. It works out for everyone, wouldn’t you agree, princess?”

I’m sick to my stomach with the images he weaves that are stuck in my head. Killing James, wedding me, raping me, it’s all too much. I’m a strong, fierce woman under ideal conditions, hell, even questionable conditions, butthis,thisis breaking me piece by piece…

Pieces that can eventually be put back together, I just have to make it out alive…

Thirty-Five

James

“Is his family secured?” I pace my office, answering a call from Kayden hours after the doctor left the Romani house.

“Affirmative. Family is secured.”

“And the doctor? Has your team made contact yet?”

“From what I gathered from Franklin, he hacked into the doctor’s email and has been contacting him through encrypted messages. The doctor is aware of our plans and will be acting upon them tomorrow.”

Thank fuck. Finally, it’s starting to feel like we are getting the upper hand, planning ahead instead of on the defense picking up the pieces after shit hits the fan.

Kayden continues, “The doctor was instructed by Anthony to come back to treat Emilia again tomorrow afternoon, so while he’s there he’s going to deliver a message to Emilia. Text me if you want him to pass along a message from you, but otherwise the message he will deliver will be letting her know to keep her head down, literally… I really think we should try to get some rest tonight though, so that hopefully we can be ready to act tomorrow.”

He’s not wrong, but sleep feels like the most selfish thing right now while Emilia is going through god knows what. It feels wrong to have the comfort of a bed while she probably has a cot like the other women, or worse, the cold floor.

“I know what the fuck you’re thinking, James, and it’s not selfish to get sleep, it’s not selfish to take care of yourself. Itwouldbe selfish not to get rest and be at peak performance when we finally get to storm the fucking place. Emilia is going to need us all rested and ready to fuck people up.”

“Lord, you have the mouth of a sailor,” I say with a sigh, running my hand down my face. I will probably have to take my sleeping medicine if I want to get any sleep, otherwise my brain isn’t going to turn off, and I’ll just be tossing and turning all night.

Kayden chuckles, knowing that I see reason, but unwilling to admit it. “Yeah, well, don’t tell Mom, but seriously, get some rest, Brother. We’re going to need it.”

In less than four hours, we brainstormed a plan to get Emilia out of there. I’ve never been more grateful for Kayden and Franklin as I am now. None of this would be possible without their individual skill sets. Franklin, the brains and the technology, and Kayden, the one with the military experience and the muscle to back up our carefully laid plans.

Saying a brief goodbye to Kayden, I hang up the phone and head to my office. The last time I set foot in this room, Emilia came strolling in not too long after, distracting me with her body. Now, there’s only silence and this unbearable desire to hold her in my arms. Lord knows what I will do to get her back. There is no part left of me that rides the line of good and virtuous.

I am fully prepared to go in there as a prince of hell, seeking revenge and retribution on those that have harmed a single hair on her head.

* * *

Goingto bed at nearly 2:00 A.M., I finally get a solid twelve hours rest. After rolling out of bed and taking a quick shower, my resolve is as solid as steel. Today, we are going to get Emilia back if it’s the last thing I do. The past forty-eight hours have been excruciating without her by my side.

Strolling into the dining room, I see Aleks and Donovan are back at the house, seated at the table across from Franklin as he furiously types on his laptop. Matteo is seated next to Franklin, and Kayden isn’t to be seen, but I hear him in the other room; must be on a phone call.

“Good afternoon, everyone,” I greet the four of them, taking a seat at the head of the table. The two soldiers grunt a greeting, while Franklin looks up with a brief nod of his head before getting back to work. Matteo nods as well, his face still a swollen mess.

Just then, Kayden walks in, seriousness painting every line on his face.

“Everything OK?” I ask, worried about the answer he’s going to give me. I can’t afford any bad news right now, not when we are so close to getting Emilia back.

“All is good, Brother. My men are in position, all within a quarter mile of the premises in the surrounding woods doing recon, ready to spur into action at my command.”

“Good, good. Franklin, how are things looking in the house?”

“As to be expected unfortunately. They took Emilia back into the room without cameras about two hours ago. She was just brought back to the bedroom, conscious this time, at least, and fighting them every step of the way.”

Dread fills my chest but also pride as Emilia proves she’s a fighter through and through. I worry about what they will do to her for fighting them, however. It’s even more crucial that we get her and the other women out of there soon.

I’m getting antsy, wishing we could go in there now and just get it over with. But I know how important it is that we wait for nightfall. The cover of darkness and the element of surprise will be in our favor.

“Has the doctor been by yet?” I ask Franklin, hoping I didn’t miss too much.

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