Alana Morris sighed contentedly as she moved to her bed and sat on the edge. Steve Sloan was a perfect specimen and one she would thoroughly enjoy claiming, even if it meant breaking him. She hadn't lied about having the drugs she needed to keep him under control, but she hoped it would not come to that. She wanted him to be with her and fervently hoped that some day he would love her, but for now she was happy just to lie down and snuggle up against his virile body.
Alana turned on her left side and cuddled up to him, running her fingers lightly across his chest, marveling at the strength emanating from his well muscled body. She leaned in close and rested her head on his shoulder, breathing in the scent that aroused her like no other man had done. She brushed her lips against his, and smiled when a huff of breath escaped his mouth.
"Oh, Steve, you will come to appreciate what I can do for you," Alana said and wished she could go further, but as much as she wanted him, she also wanted him to know he was at her mercy for now. She touched the scar on his right side and wondered when he'd been shot there.
"At least with me you will never have to worry about getting shot. You will be safe from people with guns or drug dealers and kidnappers. People like Bennett will never touch you as long as you are under my care," Alana whispered and kissed his slack lips before turning out the light and closing her eyes. Sleep was a long time coming as she resisted the urge to make love to the sleeping man beside her.
DMDMDMDMDM
Mark Sloan was far beyond tired as he studied the pictures and files that were strewn across both beds. There were several women mentioned in the files and they all had ties to Robert Bennett. Whoever this woman was, Mark knew she had information about his Steve and he needed to find out how she was involved.
Mark reached for several pictures, but as his gaze swept over them he noticed one tucked beneath a file near the edge of the bed. He reached for it and stared at the woman in the photo. She was pretty, but not overly beautiful and nothing about her would be considered memorable except her eyes. There was something cold about them that took away from the half smile she wore and he shuddered at the thought of being scrutinized by the woman.
"Mark, did you hear me?"
"Huh, sorry, Jesse, did you say something?"
"I asked if you'd found something?"
"I'm not sure, but there's something about this woman. I'm not sure why, but I think she knows something," Mark answered and passed the younger man the picture.
"Who is she?" Jesse asked as Mark picked up the dossier that came with the photo.
"Her name is Alana Morris and according to the records she's a licensed physician who's worked in several hospitals in New York and Boston."
"Anything else?"
"She came into a lot of money five years ago when her husband died in a mysterious boating accident. His body was never found and she had him declared legally dead before moving here and opening a small private practice. According to Carver's records she doesn't have very many patients and her office is seldom open."
"How much do you want to bet that her patients are people like Bennett and Rider?"
"There are several photos of men and women entering her office…Bennett is there and a couple of the women in those files. Carver seems to be working up quite a case against her," Mark answered and reached for the photo. "God, Jesse, I hope she's not involved because there something about her that reminds me of…"
"Biting on tinfoil," Travis finished for him and wished he could ease his friend's mind. "Look, Mark, why don't we get some sleep and come at it with fresh eyes in the morning."
"I guess," Mark said and began stacking the papers in a neat pile on the table between the two beds. He lay back against the pillows and closed his eyes, but he knew sleep would be a long time coming as his tired mind kept going over the possibilities without coming up with answers.
DMDMDMDMDM
The first sensation he had wasn't so bad, it felt like something warm was snuggled against his right side. The second was the scent that reminded him of wildflowers. The third was a little more disquieting as he realized his hands were cuffed to the top of the bed he lay on, while his ankles were equally tied to the opposite end of the bed.
Steve opened his eyes and looked around the darkened room, aware that the warm body lying next to him was Alana Morris. He felt disgusted that he couldn't do anything to stop her, but somehow he would find a way to escape the woman's clutches. He glanced around the room, but could only make out dark shapes except for the window opposite the bed. He knew it was still night, and knew he should try to sleep, but his thoughts turned to his father.
Steve knew Mark Sloan could be as stubborn as they came and if he was right Jesse Travis was also tagging along in his search. There was no doubt in his mind that his father was searching for him, but he was probably searching in the wrong direction. He regretted not telling his father about the change in his route, but he hadn't expected trouble along that stretch of road.
Steve felt the change in the woman lying beside him and tried to remain still, but felt repulsed by her touch as her fingers stroked down his chest and circled his navel. He knew he had to make her believe he was docile, but he could not do it all at once or she would be suspicious. It would take time to get her to trust him; he only hoped he had the time to do just that.
"I know you're awake, Steve, so please give up this pretense," Alana warned and pinched the area between his navel and groin.
"Don't…"
"Don't what, Steve? Don't touch you? Don't do this?" She asked and moved so that she lay on top of him with her hair hanging down over her face as she stared into his eyes. She brushed her lips against his and ran her fingers through his hair as she seductively ground her hips against his body. "I know you don't want me right now, Steve, but I promise there will come a time when you welcome me to your bed…"
"Never happen," he said.
"Now, Steve, you say that now, but I truly believe you will come to feel as I do. You and I are destined to be together."
"I might agree with you if I wasn't a prisoner," Steve told her.
"Perhaps in a few years when you and I are truly one we will call your father and invite him to visit us at our home. I'm sure he would love to see his grandchildren. Perhaps a boy and a girl or more if you want a larger family, but remember I want to keep my girlish figure," Morris said and lay down beside him.
"How will you explain to our children that their father is a prisoner?"
"I won't have to, by then you will have resigned yourself to the fact that we love each other. Now I have to go into the office tomorrow morning for a few hours so I believe it is time to go back to sleep. If you need something to help you I can get…"
"No, I'm fine," Steve snapped and closed his eyes as she slid off his body and lay down beside him. She rested her head on his shoulder and he listened to her breathing as she drifted off to sleep.
Steve looked toward the window and thought about his father. He knew there was no way to get a message to him, but somehow he would escape this prison and find his way back to the town and get help. Alana Morris may have won this round, but she would never win the war. He just hoped he survived long enough to prove he was right.
DMDMDMDMDM
Robert Bennett knew he needed to set things right or he'd lose everything he'd worked so hard to build. Rider and the others would not think twice about killing him if it looked like he was a liability. There were two people he blamed for the mess he faced, Alana Morris and Steve Sloan. He wanted them both dead and eventually that was just what was going to happen, but first he needed to keep Sloan alive long enough for him to be seen once the judge ruled on his upcoming case.
Bennett knew it was early for drinking, but he poured himself a stiff Scotch as the driver turned onto the street where Alana Morris kept her office. He downed the drink and waited for the driver to pull the car to a stop and open the door for him. He strode toward the door of the small building with the glass front and entered the outer office.
Bennett didn't wait for the secretary to finish her phone call and pressed down on the receiver. "Is she in?"
"Yes, she is, but she asked me to…"
"I don't give a damn what she said!" Bennett said and moved to the door that led to the inner offices.
"You can't go in there!"
"It's okay, Mary, I'll take care of Mr. Bennett," Alana said and held the door for the man to enter the inner office. "Would you like a drink, Robert?"
"I'd like to know just what the hell you're doing with Steve Sloan!" Bennett snarled and placed his hands on her desk.
"I am keeping him from testifying at your trial, Robert, isn't that what you're paying me for?"
"I'm paying you to do a job, but you seem to be putting a little too much into this. Steve Sloan needs to be freed once the trial is over with no memory of me being involved. I want the authorities to believe he is untrustworthy and incapable of showing up when he's supposed to be. I want this to be his fault and for those around him to…"
"Robert, you and I have had very little contact with each other and that's the way I prefer things. I have taken care of Steve Sloan and he will not cause you any more problems. He is no longer of any concern to you or anyone else except for me."
"I hired you to do a job and I expect you to do what you're paid to do!"
"That is exactly what I'm doing, only this is a more permanent solution to our problem," Alana said softly. "I will make sure you are not implicated in his disappearance."
"I already am!"
"No, you're not…not really anyway. I will have Alex take care of Sloan's truck and make sure it is not found until after your case goes to trial. Steve Sloan will simply have disappeared in the wilderness after his truck went off the road. The police will find evidence of brake problems, but they will find no trace of him."
"You're going to kill him?"
"On the contrary, Robert, Steve Sloan will be alive and well and somewhat happy. I have enough drugs and money to make sure he behaves himself and you can be sure he will make me very happy and as long as I'm happy you have no worries. I must warn you that if you do anything to interfere with my plans then I will talk to William and Aleksey and Brian and several others you are known to work with. Believe me they will do as I ask so please don't do anything stupid. In a few weeks I will have completed my tasks here and I will take Steve Sloan with me when I move. He will never cause you problems again," Morris explained with a hint of a smile on her face that never touched her eyes.
"You're crazy!" Bennett snapped and raised his hands while shaking his head.
"Crazy is simply a new mind set, Robert, but it's not something I call myself. I know exactly what I want and I'm not afraid to go after it. Believe me when I tell you that you don't want to mess with me because I can and I will make you sorry you ever asked for my help," Alana warned and poured a glass of wine for herself. "Now if you want to keep what you've worked so hard for then you'll leave my office and don't ever threaten me again! Do you understand what I'm telling you, Robert?"
"Perfectly, but you underestimate your value, Alana…"
"That's where you're wrong, Robert. You see I am willing to do anything and I'm not afraid of my associates. That's why they come to me with their problems. I take care of myself and I take care of my clients. Ask William, he knows exactly what I'm capable of so back off and leave me to my business and everything will work out!" Morris ordered and held the door for her guest. "I will call and let you know when to make my last payment."
"You better not screw with me, Alana!"
"I already have and I own you, Robert, so don't threaten me when you've got nothing to hold over my head. I'll be in contact…goodbye, Robert!"
Robert Bennett strode purposefully out the door without a backward glance and knew the woman held all the cards for now. He wondered exactly what she knew about Rider and the others and suddenly realized that maybe he'd been wrong about who was running the organization in this area. He glanced at the secretary and wanted to wipe the smirk off her face, but strode out of the office instead.
DMDMDMDMDM
Steve had no idea how long he'd been sleeping, but he remembered Alana Morris stabbing him in the arm with a needle just before he passed out. He glanced at the window and knew it was still daylight as the sun peeked through the partially open drapes. God, he hated waking like this, not just because of the restraints, but whatever drugs she was using made his head feel like it was going to explode. His mouth was dry, and he licked at his lips before testing the cuffs that held his arms above his head.
Steve knew he had to figure out a way out of this before Morris injected him with something more than a sedative. He needed to find a way to get to the nearest town and call for help. He slammed his head against the pillows in frustration and felt something give in the links binding him to the bed's frame. He tugged his right arm, and heard what he hoped was a weakness in the thin chain. It was impossible to sit up, and he silently prayed he had enough strength to pull himself free.
Steve heard someone outside the bedroom door and fought to control is breathing and relaxed against the pillows. He opened his eyes to mere slits and recognized Carmen Raul as she moved to check on him. She touched her fingers against his cheek as if testing to make sure he was alive and he tried not to react when she spoke softly.
"I am sorry…I wish Alexander and I had never heard of Dr. Morris, but it is too late for us…"
"No," Steve said softly and opened his eyes to look at the distressed woman. "It's not too late…help me and I'll make sure the police know you and your husband are victims as well."
"I wish I could believe you, but we have done many things that would see us put in jail. Perhaps someday you will find a way to forgive us…"
"Carmen, if she hears you talking to him like this she will punish us. Come, let him be and fix lunch," Alexander Raul ordered and took his wife's arm before leading her from the room.
Steve silently cursed the interruption and wondered if Carmen would help him if he managed to escape or would she continue to do as Alana Morris ordered. It didn't really matter, because right now he needed to concentrate on saving his own life. He renewed his efforts, tugging at the chains and soon heard what he'd been hoping for as the wood casing of the headboard splintered and he pulled his right arm free.
TBC
