Page 8 of His to Keep
“I’ve ended things with Lorraine…it’s finally over.” He chewed the inside of his left cheek, skewing his mouth to the side. “Get up!” His eyes were like a raging storm, ready to whip up a powerful gale and tear down houses.
She wanted to ask what he was talking about, but her noises were muffled by the filth stuffed between her lips.
Lurching forward, he grabbed her bicep and yanked her upwards, so she was standing before him.
“I know you fancy me.” His Adams apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. He reached for her tousled hair and flattened it down the sides of her face. “Tell me what Rory said to you. What did he say to make you walk away from me?” His voice was ice cold, calm and sedate. “I want to know what he said that made you change your mind.”
Her head shook and her eyes widened as he released the rag from her mouth. “He didn’t say anything... I couldn't get into the room.” Her words rushed out in one breath.
His head cocked. “You tried to get in?”
She nodded repeatedly. “I tried three times. Then I left. I swear I didn’t mean to upset you, Carl.”
The corners of his mouth reached his eyes. “I knew it! You do want me. I’m always right!”
“Will you let me go now?” She barely heard her own voice over the thrumming pulse in her skull.
His nostrils flared and a hint of fury flashed behind his eyes. “I didn’t go to all this trouble just to let you go, Lana. You still left me to wait for over an hour, alone. When I went back down you were gone. You left me, like she did!” Carl began to pace, fisting his hands by his sides. “If it wasn’t Rory, then it must have been that bastard, McGrath.”
Lana sucked in a gust of air. “Why would he do that?”
Carl’s head snapped back over his shoulder, and he stared directly into her eyes. “Those McGrath fuckers think they’re God’s gift. Only he could block your key card. I bet he wanted you for himself.”
“No!” Her head shook, pretending it wasn’t true.
In one stride he was in front of her again. “This doesn’t change a thing, Lana. I want you and no one is here to interfere this time. It’s just me and you, sweetheart.” He shoved the rag back into her open mouth as she inhaled, ready to scream.
“Your hair is a mess. I like smooth silky hair, sweetheart.” He shook his head disapprovingly and pulled out a small tortoise shell comb from his pocket.
Lana squirmed feeling the tug on her scalp when the tiny teeth dragged through the ends of her hair.
“I’ll tell you a secret because relationships should be based on honesty.” His movements were slow and his lips inches from her ear. “You’re gorgeous, Lana. Even more beautiful than my ex-wife,” he whispered. “You and I look pretty good together…the perfect power couple.” His palm followed the comb from root to tip. “She’s in the house, Lana.” The words were spoken softly and controlled.
Her eyes bugged and uncontrollable whimpers rushed past the dirty gag.
“She wanted to talk,” he scoffed. “Bit fucking late for that, don’t you think?” His eyes became slits like a cautious reptile. “You’re my future now. She’s just a bitch who left me for a substandard guy.”
Lana flinched when his hot breath met her cheek. “I knew it wasn’t your fault that night in Verto Veneri. Now I know it was Marcus McGrath’s greediness that took you away from me. I’ve decided that you and I should leave Belfast together. We’ll tell everyone I was having an affair with you and that Lorraine was so broken hearted she ran off somewhere…we can iron out the details on our way.”
A ripple of fear spread over her skin with every feathery light kiss he pressed onto her cheeks.
6
“So, what’s the deal with this girl Lana?” Jamie asked as he checked over his shoulder and drove out into the traffic. “You seem invested?”
Marcus focused on the still water stretching towards the impressive yellow cranes at the Belfast dock.
“I can only describe it as an overwhelming obsession. I’ve never met a woman who could sink her teeth into my insides and make it hurt with unbearable pleasure.”
“Jeez, bro. You’re sunk.”
“What do you mean?”
“We’re on our way to rescue the girl from the love of her life. If he wasn’t a murderer, this would be awkward.”
A pained breath left his tight lungs. “She left him, they aren’t together anymore,” Marcus grumbled. “There’s something about her.” He rubbed his chin. “Can I commit to her, that’s the question? I’m so used to having things my own way, doing what I want, when I want. Women just complicate things.”
“And you want to be a lonely bachelor for the rest of your days?” asked Jamie.
