Gladiator Read online

  “I’m okay.”

  “How about some food? You haven’t eaten in nearly twenty-four hours.”

  That much time had passed? What was my father doing? Was he okay? Everything came back to me. “I want to talk to Wilder.”

  “He’s unavailable.” She wasn’t as cheery as she was a moment ago.

  “What? What do you mean?”

  “He’s working right now. But I’ll pass on the message.”

  “He’s working?” I asked. “Does that mean he’s killing someone?”

  Judy’s face contorted in disapproval. “I’ll let him know you want to speak to him.” She walked out and shut the door behind her, purposely slamming it.

  I sighed then turned back to the window. Confusion took me by the throat, and I struggled to breathe. The only way I would make it through this was if I stayed calm.

  I decided to take a shower. That was one simple pleasure I could have. And when the water fell, it blocked out all other noise. It was a great way for me to pretend I was alone—even if I wasn’t.

  ***

  The hunger got to me so I finally left my bedroom. It was at the top of the stairs and doors were on either side of my room. Over the railing, I could see the living room down below. The furniture was similar to the kind in my room. I could hear Judy in the kitchen.

  I wanted to snoop around the house, but I didn’t want to get a beating for it so I minded my own business. As I headed to the kitchen, I took my time and examined every door and piece of wood. The living room had an expansive window, ten times bigger than the one in my room, and it showed the same view. The village glowed like it was on fire, and I hoped I would see a Who come out.

  When I entered the kitchen, Judy was cooking at the stove.

  “I’m glad you had a change of appetite,” she said as she scooped beef stew into bowls. “I was getting worried there.”

  “I don’t eat much. Just giving you a heads up.”

  “Well, you’re welcome to get anything out of the kitchen whenever you want.”

  “Thanks.” I should try to be nice to her. She may be Wilder’s employee but that didn’t mean she was evil like him. Perhaps she was forced to be there too. I had no idea. Butting heads with her would get me nowhere.

  Judy set the table and there were two places settings.

  Was she joining me? Or was that for Wilder?

  “Is he available yet?” I asked.

  She glanced at the clock. “He should be home any minute.”

  “Where does he work?” I asked. “Where does he go?”

  Judy acted like she didn’t hear my questions. “Wine?”

  “Got anything stronger?”

  She chuckled. “I can make anything.”

  “How about some whiskey and ice?”

  “That’s pretty hard for dinner, but if that’s what you want…” She opened a few cabinets then made the drink. She set it on the table along with a fresh loaf of bread from the oven.

  My mouth started to salivate.

  Just when I was going to take a bite, the sound of a door opening and closing fell on our ears.

  Wilder walked into the room in jeans and a thick black jacket. He took it off and hung it on the rack. Underneath, he wore a long-sleeved, gray t-shirt. The muscles of his arms were sharp and defined. His chest was wide and powerful, and his face was cleanly shaven.

  “Hey, Judy,” he said politely. “Dinner smells good.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled like his compliment meant a lot to her. “Sit down and dig in.”

  What the fuck? Why were they acting so normal?

  Wilder came to the table and took the seat across from me. He didn’t look at me and pretty much acted like I didn’t exist. When I took my father’s place, I didn’t expect to wake up in a beautiful house with an even more beautiful view. And I didn’t expect to have a maid who said I could have whatever I wanted.

  Wilder broke off a piece of bread and ate like this was totally normal.

  I watched him, no longer hungry.

  When he realized I wasn’t going to stop staring, he looked at me. “Yes?”

  Now that I had his attention, I didn’t know what to say. There was too much and not enough time. “My father. Is he okay?”

  “They dropped him off back at the house. He woke up with a bad migraine. Other than that, he’s fine.”

  “Did you tell him what happened to me?”

  “I’m sure he figured it out.”

  My father would come for me. He was a CIA operative, and he had the skills and resources to track me down. Eventually, he would figure out where I was and break me out.

  Wilder read my mind. “He’s not coming for you.”

  “Excuse me?” I still hadn’t eaten my food.

  “If you think he’s going to rescue you, he’s not.” Wilder kept eating like this conversation was casual.

  “He will.”

  “No, he won’t.”

  “He wouldn’t give up on me.”

  “That’s what bothers me the most,” he said with a sigh. “You were willing to risk your life to save him, but he won’t do the same for you. It’s disgusting.”

  “You don’t know him.” My voice came out threatening. I had nothing to bring him down with, but if it were just him and me and he didn’t have a gun on him, I think I could take him.

  “Yes, I do. You’re the one who doesn’t know him.”

  “Every villain thinks their crimes are justified. Hitler thought he was the hero, not the devil.”

  “He was the devil,” he said. “And I completely agree with your statement. But your father is the villain in this story. I hate to break it to you, sweetheart.”

  “Yet, you’re the one who kidnapped me.”

  “It’s not kidnapping when it’s voluntary.” He broke off another piece of bread.

  “Who are you?” He probably had a completely different name and identity. The guy I met in the bar was probably just a cover. It couldn’t have been a coincidence that he spent time with me and then kidnapped my father a few weeks after that.

  “Wilder.”

  “That’s not your real name and we both know it.”

  “Actually, it is.” He sipped his wine and kept eating. He seemed indifferent, like he didn’t care what I thought about him. “Everything I told you about myself was true.”

  “You didn’t tell me anything.”

  “Exactly.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest and didn’t eat. “If he’s such a dangerous man, why let him go? Why take me instead?”

  His eyes were glued to his food. “I have my reasons…”

  I knew what they were. I knew what he expected of me. He made it very clear he wanted me, and when he didn’t get me, he was disappointed. Now, he had exactly what he wanted. I was at his mercy, and there was nothing I could do but bend over and take it. “How can you consider yourself to be the good guy but take me hostage?”

  “You aren’t a hostage,” he said. “You gave yourself up voluntarily. I didn’t make you do anything.”

  “But you—”

  “That’s enough questions and accusations for the night.” He cut me off with just his tone. “Now let me enjoy my dinner. You can talk about something else if you want, but I’m not in the mood to be interrogated.”

  “Bad day?” I asked. “Have to kill some kids?” Venom seeped from my voice.

  His eyes met mine and there was a threat there. His brown irises practically looked black, and his muscles coiled like he was provoked. He was a snake about to strike.

  I fell silent because I was actually scared.

  He looked down again and kept eating.

  I cleared my throat and started to eat. “Switzerland?” It wasn’t really a question, but it’s the first thing that came to mind.

  “I love it here.”

  “Were you born here?”

  “No. I’m American.”

&n
bsp; “Oh.” I took a few bites of my stew and actually liked it. It was way better than anything I ever made, even the frozen cheese sticks.

  “I’ll show you around the village,” Wilder said. “You’ll love it too.”

  “Are you here all the time?” I may as well ask as many questions as he allowed. When my father rescued me, I wanted to have as much information as possible.

  “No. I have other estates around the world. This just happens to be my favorite.”

  “That’s nice.”

  “Do you like your room?” It seemed like he really wanted to know. He wasn’t just asking to be polite.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “The fireplace isn’t gas. Let me know if you need firewood. I keep it outside.”

  “Okay.”

  “Or Judy can take care of it for you.”

  I felt awkward asking anyone to do anything for me. I would much rather do it myself. “Do you ski?”

  “Snowboard,” he said. “I go whenever I have time.”

  “That’s another hobby of yours you didn’t tell me about.” It was hard to believe he was the same guy who made my knees buckle and my thighs squeeze together. Not once did I suspect he was a criminal.

  He chuckled. “I guess I forgot.” His eyes turned to mine and they lightened slightly.

  “Where do you work?”

  “There’s another building on the property. I work from there for the privacy.”

  That gave me an idea. If I could get to a phone or an Internet line, I could call for help. All I had to do was be discreet about it.

  Wilder read my mind without even looking at me. “If you try to call someone and tell them where you are, I’ll have your father killed. Call my bluff. I hope you do. If you try to hurt Judy or me, I’ll kill him. If you do anything outside of the rules I laid out, I’ll end his life with the snap of my fingers.” He looked up at me and stared deep into my eyes. “Do you understand me?”

  I didn’t need to call his bluff to know he was being honest. His eyes said it all. His entire body exuded hostility. There was so much about him I didn’t know, but I knew he had unlimited resources. He could make anything happen if he wanted it to.

  He continued to watch me as he waited for my response.

  “I understand.”

  ***

  The fire roared in the hearth as I sat on the floor facing the window. The white rug underneath me was so soft I could sleep on it. That’s how plush it was. When my hair was nearly dry, I braided it while I stared out the window.

  My former life was gone. I disappeared―fell off the face of the earth. My friends would wonder what happened to me. Dr. Phillips would be happy I was no longer in her class. There might be an investigation into my disappearance. My father wouldn’t lead the search because he would know exactly who took me. One day, he would find me. Wilder said that wouldn’t happen, but I didn’t believe a word he said.

  I didn’t know him—at all.

  The only solace I had was the view. It was the only thing keeping me sane. A psychopath was now my master, and there wasn’t a single thing I could do to get away. I’d chosen this life. It was my sacrifice. Bitching about it and feeling sorry for myself wouldn’t change anything.

  There was a stark knock on the door. It didn’t sound like Judy’s. Hers was light and somehow feminine.

  I knew it was Wilder.

  “Come in.”

  The lights were off because the roaring fire was enough. Plus, the lights from the village were better to look at anyway. My back was to him and I didn’t turn around.

  Wilder came into the room then sat beside me on the ground. He wore gray sweatpants that hung low on his hips. And he was shirtless.

  I tried not to look.

  He looked out the window with me and didn’t say anything.

  I knew why he was there. I had to fulfill my end of the bargain. I promised I would do as he asked in exchange for my father’s life. It was a fair exchange. And I was attracted to him. At one point, I wanted to sleep with him anyway. It wouldn’t be that bad.

  Right?

  He rested his arms on his knees. “It looks like something from a Disney movie, huh?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It’s isolated from everything else. That’s why I like it so much.”

  “Do you like people?”

  “Not particularly.” His shoulders were sculpted and made of stone. They were hard and defined, and almost caused a glare because there was so much definition to them.

  “I don’t like people either.”

  “I got that impression.” He moved his gaze to mine. He stared at the braid over my shoulder and took in my face. His eyes moved to my lips. I was wearing the plaid pajama bottoms and a t-shirt I found in the closet.

  I felt on display. He was soaking me in like a picture. All I could do was stare back. His chest was as hard as steel, and I knew I could shatter a coffee mug if I threw it at him. His hips were narrow and his stomach was tight. He had the perfect body I imagined he would have.

  But it didn’t change anything. He tried to kill my father, and he was the leader of some sort of illegal organization. He got his paychecks from killing and torturing. I would never want someone like that touching me.

  Unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice.

  He watched my mouth like he was considering how it would taste. He didn’t make a move, but his eyes announced everything that was about to happen. He’d wanted me since the first time we met, and now he was finally going to have me.

  And there was nothing I could do about it.

  Wilder slowly moved in, finding my lips with his. They were soft but aggressive at the same time. His facial hair didn’t brush against me like last time because he just shaved. I liked either look on him.

  The kiss was slow like he wanted to take his time. He pulled my bottom lip into his mouth before he moved to the top one. Then he tilted his head slightly as he massaged my mouth with his.

  I liked it. I hated myself for feeling that way, but I did.

  My lips responded to his in the same way. I’d kissed him before, and it was magical. But I’d never been kissed the way he kissed me now.

  He deepened the kiss then wrapped his arm around my waist. He pulled me to him with the strength of a mountain. He had no intention of letting me go. I could tell by the way he gripped me.

  My breathing picked up because I enjoyed it. I liked it when he touched me as if I belonged to him. I kept my hands to myself but they yearned to touch him. Eventually, one broke free and moved to the bottom of his chest. It felt like a concrete wall. I absorbed the warmth of his skin and slowly moved up, feeling the prominent muscles of his chest and then eventually his shoulders.

  He gave me a small amount of tongue, and I liked that too. I gave him the same affection and felt the temperature increase by ten degrees. My arm locked around his neck, keeping him anchored to me.

  He picked me up and laid me on the bed in a fluid motion. He was on top of me and still kissing me. His hand cupped my cheek before it traveled down my stomach and to my hip. When he was there, he slowly pulled down my bottoms.

  That’s when I started to freak out.

  He was going to take me however he wanted. I didn’t have a choice in the matter. The pleasure I got from his kisses evaporated. This man was a monster and killed people for money. How could I let him touch me like this? I could kiss him and protect my mind, but sex was another matter.

  He got my bottoms off then felt my smooth legs.

  I tried to control my breathing and suck it up. There was nothing I could do about this. There was nowhere I could run. I could fight him off, but that would just make it worse. He would come back with a vengeance and hurt me. At least he was being gentle now. There was no necessity in pissing him off.

  But I still didn’t want to do it.

  Wilder kept kissing me then pulled my top over my head. Now I was just in my br
a and panties. He broke our kiss and stared down at me for a moment. “You’re beautiful.” He kissed the corner of my mouth like before. “I’ve wanted you for a long time.”

  Those words didn’t sound romantic. All they did was bring me pain. I had no control over what happened to me, and the fact I’d become someone’s weak plaything disgusted me. I did this to save my father and I didn’t have any regrets about that, but I didn’t realize just how difficult this would be. I was going to let him use me over and over. My body was his and no longer belonged to me.

  I tried not to cry.

  Wilder kissed my neck then gripped the lace of my thong. He started to pull it down, his kisses becoming more heated.

  I didn’t want this.

  Stop.

  I could do this. It would get easier every time.

  No, it wouldn’t.

  He’s a murderer.

  “Stop.” I tried to push him off, but he was too heavy. Tears fell from my eyes because I knew my protests were pointless. He would just hold me down and take what he wanted. But I had to fight. I had to do something. “Please don’t do this to me. Please.”

  Wilder immediately stopped and moved off me. He lay on the other side of the bed and watched me. Instead of anger in his eyes, there was concern.

  I didn’t expect him to get off me. I thought he would just keep going until he got what he wanted.

  He wasn’t going to rape me?

  The tears were still coming down my face, so I ran into the bathroom and locked the door behind me. Wilder wasn’t going to come after me, but the lock made me feel better.

  I got in the shower and sat in the corner, letting his touches and caresses wash off me into the drain. Now I didn’t know what was going to happen. We made a deal, and he said if I broke any of his rules, he would kill my father. Would he kill him over this? Did I just kill the man I was trying to protect?

  Chapter Six

  I didn’t leave my room all day.

  Judy brought food and left it by the door. Without that, I would have starved. There was a TV in my room, so I watched that until the sun went down. When it was dark, I sat in front of the fire and watched it dance.