I closed the book silently and stuffed it into my jacket pocket. Walking quickly, continuously scanning my surroundings as I traveled, I left the compound.
When I returned, Geese was staring moodily out his office window at the garden beyond.
"Where have you been?" he demanded, irritation evident in the sharpness of his tone.
"I was patrolling the grounds, to make sure those Bogards hadn't shown up again," I answered. It was partially true; I had spent some of my time walking the perimeter of the compound for just that reason. I take my job as head of Geese's security staff very seriously, after all.
"Hn," he grunted.
"Do you want me to take a security team and search for them?" I offered.
"No. There's no need to waste the manpower. Bogard's sons will seek me out…and when they do, make sure your team is ready." He turned around to look at me, his eyes sweeping lustfully over me. "But first…"
I allowed myself a mental sigh as I got the drift. Loosening my tie, I shrugged out of my jacket and began to unbutton my shirt. Before long, I was stripped to the waist, my bo lying nestled in the pile of clothes on the floor. Usually, when I'm most reluctant, that's when he's most insistent. Resistance only adds fuel to the fire, so even though I wasn't exactly in the mood, I wasn't going to fight him on this. I didn't want to give him any excuses to fuck with me…not today.
Walking around his desk slowly, he came to me. He ran his finger along my jaw line and down my chest, making me shiver slightly at his touch. He grinned, his purple-gray eyes dark with desire.
"You've been with me a long time, haven't you?"
I nodded, my fingers absently tracing his jagged scar.
"I still remember what you were like as a boy. God, but you were an awkward, vicious little thing…bruises all over your skinny legs from hitting yourself with your bo." He laughed, not exactly mockingly, but not pleasantly either. His hands caressed my back and chest, fingers now and then finding fresh and old bruises alike from recent fights. "You've come a long way, haven't you, Billy?"
"I guess," I replied, carefully neutral.
"All this time, you've stood by me, loyal even when other men weren't." His hands made their way below the waist of my pants. "Why is that?"
"I dunno," I mumbled, turning away because I didn't want him to see my unease. What the bloody hell was he driving at?
Suddenly, he shoved me hard into the wall, his arousal grinding painfully into my hip. His hands gripped my wrists tightly enough to bruise, while his dark amethyst eyes, just inches from me, burned holes into my head.
"I'll tell you why," he growled softly, his deep voice full of the threat of violence. "Because you're mine. Everything you are you owe to me. I made you, Billy Kane, and I can just as easily break you."
I felt a surge of panic. How could he have known what I was planning? Even my lover didn't know; no one did! In that instant, my entire world collapsed under the weight of a single indisputable fact: I'll never leave this place alive. No matter where I go, Geese will hunt me down. Maybe not himself, but he'll send someone…someone like me. Images of the pathetic wretches I'd executed flashed before my mind's eye. I never knew what they'd done to piss him off, and I never asked. But suddenly, I saw myself the way they must have seen me, and shuddered. I felt him slide my pants off, felt him press insistently at my entrance. I yielded to him, utterly compliant. I had no choice, what else could I do?
Geese grunted as he slid into me, fucking me roughly against the wall. I threw my arms around his neck to steady myself, but I figured he'd take it as a sign of acquiescence, which was just as well, all things considering. God, how could I have defended him all these years? How could I have taken his side against my own sister? Lily was right after all. I wanted to laugh at the irony of the situation, but I stopped myself. It would obviously have been a bad idea.
When he was done, I felt him slide wetly out of me. I stared at his chest, careful not to make eye contact. My mind whirled. What, where, how, why? Questions tumbled through my mind, but I didn't like any of the answers. I heard him zip his pants, and suddenly his hand was on my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes.
"You understand, don't you?" he purred. I nodded, averting my gaze. As I suspected he would, he took this as a submissive gesture. Fucking bastard.
He laughed, a sound that set me shuddering. Since he was through with me he turned to leave. Almost to the door, he paused.
"Oh, and Billy…"
I waited, leaning slightly against the wall.
"Don't make the same mistake your sister did."
My hands clenched in futile rage to the sound of the door closing softly behind him. So it was true. He'd shot her after all. It shouldn't have mattered, but somehow, it did.
I dressed quickly, as if I could cover myself with clothing. Whatever, at least I'd be warmer. (No matter what, Geese always kept his office at a frigid 50F.) The familiar weight of my bo was comforting. I would need it before long, but in the long run, it couldn't save me from the inevitable.
Not one to spend too much time wallowing in self-pity, I simply went about my normal duties as if nothing had happened. Hell, I've been doing it for years. First, I organized two security details to sweep the grounds in one-hour intervals. Then, I met with Hopper and Ripper to discuss a strategy for the final landing. All three of us agreed that it would be helpful if we enlisted some fighters from the recent tournament in the project. I assigned Hopper the task of contacting them, while I sent Ripper to make sure the men were properly armed. It was mid afternoon by the time I returned to my quarters. All that was left was the wait.
I sighed as I changed out of my suit and into my worn overalls. They were infinitely more comfortable, especially in the humid heat of the coastal summer. Some of us actually keep our rooms at a normal temperature.
I was about to grab a drink from my fridge when my walkie-talkie crackled to life.
Billy, you there? It's Hopper.
I answered it immediately.
"Yeah, I'm here."
Some of the men spotted them coming in from the cliffs. ETA 10min. What should we do?
"Get your men over there right away. I'll be there in a minute!" I barked, already halfway down the corridor and running for the stairs.
"Ripper!" I shouted into the walkie-talkie.
Yeah.
"You heard that? Get your men there now!"
Already on it! See you there, Ripper out.
Showtime.
