chair, gun ready, just as the penthouse door swung open. The tall, elegant woman entered the room as if she owned it.
Well, technically she did. The whole damn building. Her stride steady and determined, her presence as commanding in person as on the computer screen.
Even though he had heard much about the man, Ben hadn’t ever met Anthony, but he assumed the man trailing behind Rachel assessing every inch of space must be him.
After a casual nod toward Ben, she turned her attention to Aidan. “You must be Aidan. The jet is on its way to pick up your friend.”
“Thank you.” Aidan holstered his gun and took his seat again. “I’m sure hotel owners don’t usually stroll into guest rooms unannounced. I could have shot you.”
“And Anthony would have extended the same courtesy. I didn’t want you wasting a single second on what you were doing to stop and open a damn door for me.” She ignored Aidan’s scowl and walked over to the couch, her gaze on Ben but flickering toward Cal still sitting on the edge. If Ben hadn’t been watching her closely, he might have missed the subtle way she inhaled when Cal stood and extended his hand in greeting. “Calvin,” she said.
They shook hands for longer than what was likely expected. Cal stepped away as Rachel took his spot on the edge of the couch next to Ben.
“You know he’s tough,” she said, her fierce and confident gaze masking the worry shining in those blue eyes.
Ben nodded.
“And you know he loves you and is probably doing everything in his power to make it back to you.”
The tears stung his eyes. He nodded again.
“And when he’s back and safe, we’re both kicking his ass for scaring the shit out of us. Okay?”
Ben gasped a faint chuckle as a tear trickled down his cheek. He nodded again as he wiped away the wetness.
She squeezed his shoulder and stood. Walking over to Aidan’s workspace she cocked her head as she peered at the computer monitor.
Then she paled.
“Why do you have a picture of my ex-boyfriend on your screen?”
Breathing shouldn’t hurt this much. Likely a cracked rib.
Maybe two.
Fuck.
Pain meant he was still alive. There’s the silver lining. Ben would be proud of him for finding the positive in this shitty situation.
Ben.
Bull was a man of his word. And the promise he had made to the one man who mattered most was a promise he intended on keeping until the last of the air wheezed from his lungs.
I’m not going anywhere.
Bull lowered his head. Holding it up took far too much strength and he needed every ounce of endurance for the next wave of punishment.
He had lost count of how many punches and kicks the men had dished out on command. His eyes were swollen, and his broken nose throbbed. Air squeezed through his throat with a wheeze and his entire face pulsated. His bound hands behind him were numb. Better than feeling the rope that had been tightened enough to tear into his wrists every time he moved.
In his mind, he was ready for battle. Ready to unleash his own brand of kickass as he broke free and found his way back to Ben.
But reality cackled at his warped vision. In truth, he would be lucky to survive the second beating he knew was imminent.
Keep your fucking promise, asshole. You’re not breaking that man’s heart.
A sound to his right pulled him from his thoughts. The swelling of his eyes blurred his vision and made it difficult to see. Footsteps neared. Strong, steady.
A chair scraped in front of him, the sound extra sharp to his ears. A single finger under his chin thrust his head up, the sudden movement triggering a wave of nausea in the pit of his stomach. He swallowed heavily. Refusing to surrender, he met those dark amber eyes with steely determination.
Giving in meant the bastard would win…but the pain would ease.
It also meant a broken promise to Ben.
He wouldn’t surrender to the teasing darkness waiting for him on the sidelines. He would fight. Even when he only had a micro-ounce of life in his soul, he would fight to make it back to Ben.
“You should be dead by now, but I’m glad you’re not. I’m not finished with you.” He gripped Bull’s chin when he tried pulling away. “That first round was for my mother and the pain you caused her when you took the love of her life away from her. But you still owe me.”
Bull