Page 15

Chapter

Fifteen

LUNA

N either Jasper nor Jack speak to us as they kidnap us.

That doesn’t stop Katya from demanding answers. “Where are you taking us? Tell me!”

Jasper scoffs. “I don’t have to tell you anything. You’re not the one I want anyway.”

Dread fills my stomach. This is it—Jasper has come for me. He and Jack will do terrible things to me. Unless Maxim can find us and stop that from happening, I’m going to get hurt.

I remember the way Jasper grabbed my face, how rough it was, how much it hurt, and how scared I was.

“Why are you doing this?” I ask.

Jasper turns around in his seat and gives me a smile that makes my stomach tighten. “Because Maxim took you for himself, and I never agreed to that. Jack wanted you. You’re rightfully his. He paid for you. So, he’s going to get you, and then I’ll have my turn.”

“You pig,” Katya seethes.

Jasper only shrugs. “It’s just the way it is.” Then he turns back in his seat, making it impossible for me to see his face.

Evie grabs my hand, trying to comfort me, but I don’t know how anything can make me feel safe right now.

Ed was a problem—but Maxim dealt with him. When Jasper left, I thought that was it. I’d be safe from them on. But he’s come to collect.

“I just want to be happy,” I whisper.

Evie’s eyes well with tears. “It’s ok, Luna.”

“Why are you crying?”

“I’ve had my fair share of getting kidnapped. This world is unsafe for women like us. It takes and it takes. I thought I was done with that. I thought I was finally safe.”

“But you’re not,” I say slowly as realization dawns on me. “You’re never going to be safe. I’m never going to be safe.”

“You will be,” Katya says. “We all will be. We can’t give up and let these men win.”

“I’m afraid you have no advantage here,” Jasper says, waving his knife at us.

“It’s just a knife.”

“Well, I have this, too.” He pulls out his gun, pointing it at Katya’s head. “I could so easily shoot you. You mean nothing to me.”

“Wait,” Evie says. “We’ll cooperate with you. Ok? Don’t hurt her.”

“It’s not you who should cooperate. It’s her.” He points the gun at me. “Don’t put up a fight, Luna, or I’ll hurt your friends.”

I can’t bear the idea of losing Evie and Katya when I just got them in my life. “I won’t put up a fight,” I whisper, bowing my head. God always wanted me to comply. I’m used to it by now.

That’s what makes me sadder than anything else—just how familiar I am with submitting to powerful men.

Jack eventually pulls up to a large apartment building. “Get the girls out, Jasper. Make sure they go in without a fight. I don’t want to cause a scene.”

“On it.” Jasper jumps out of the car and opens the back door, waving his gun at us. “I’ll shoot, so if I were you, I’d play along.”

I quickly get out of the car, with Evie and Katya following. I notice how they cling to each other. They’ve been best friends for years. I don’t have anyone to cling to who I can call a best friend.

Jasper makes us walk into the building. I notice he has to tuck his gun into his jacket as we head for the elevators. He can’t let anyone see that he has it.

“Security cameras,” Evie murmurs, nodding towards the ceiling. “They’re everywhere.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“Yes, but only if Dimitri knows where to look.”

“Maxim will also come. I know it.”

“Shut up,” Jasper growls once we’re in the elevator. “No one is coming for you. Maxim doesn’t know everything. Besides, even if he does find you, we’ll already be done with you, and he’ll have to settle for our sloppy seconds.”

Rape. I know that’s what he means. It’s what God wanted to do to me, and it’s what both Jasper and Jack want to do to me now.

When the elevator door opens, I consider running for just a second, but I can't leave Evie and Katya behind to get hurt. Jasper might shoot them. Kill them.

And it would be all my fault.

I watched Maxim kill Ed, and it was one of the scariest things I’ve seen in my entire life. And that was just Maxim saving me and killing the bad man who held me hostage all my life.

Evie and Katya aren’t evil. They don’t deserve to die.

Jasper unlocks an apartment door and ushers us inside. “Here.” He grabs rope off a table and tosses it to me. “Tie them both up.” He grabs two chairs and places them before me. “To that.”

“I can’t.”

“It’s ok, Luna,” Evie says. “Just do what he wants.”

“But—”

Katya firmly shakes her head. “We can’t risk anything. Do what he says. Listen to Evie.”

I watch in horror as the two women sit down on the chairs. They’re doing this because they don’t want to get hurt, but they also don’t want me to get hurt. I’ve never seen this kind of selflessness before.

Jasper keeps his gun pointed at me as I tie up Evie and Katya. Their hands are bound behind the chair.

“Feet, too,” he growls.

I wrap the rope around their ankles and to the chair then step back. “I’ve done what you said. Now, what?”

Jack enters the apartment. “Now, it’s time I take what I paid for.”

MAXIM

It’s Dimitri who runs into the hospital room to tell me his wife and sister are gone.

Luna is missing, too.

“What?” I struggle to sit up, but every motion causes a sting of pain through me. Even so, I ignore it. “What do you mean they’re gone?”

“They went to the library. Ava said a man showed up, threatened her with a knife, and made Evie, Katya, and Luna get into a car with him and another man. She was let go and went immediately to Nikolai. He just called me.”

“Two men? Did she say who?”

“She didn’t know either man. But she said Luna seemed to know who they were.”

Shit. Jasper and Jack. It has to be. Ava would’ve known if it was Anton—she’s met him once before.

“Ok,” I say slowly, ignoring the pain in my leg as I swing it over the side of the bed. “We need to find them. It’s Jasper, one of my guys. And Jack Clark, the man who hired me to retrieve Luna for him. I know where they both live. But the question is—are they at their places or somewhere else?”

“We’ll only know if we look. We’ll split up. Nik offered to help as well.”

If Jack is the one who truly wants Luna, then he would want to take her in his bed, not Jasper’s.

“I think they’re at Jack’s apartment. But have Nikolai go to Jasper’s place just in case while you and I go to Jack’s.”

“Got it.” He quickly calls Nikolai and informs him of the plan. Once he’s done, he looks at me quizzically. “Are you sure you’re up for this? You can barely walk.”

“I can walk,” I grit out, standing up. The pain is almost blinding, but I use all my will to ignore it. I’ve got this. I can save Luna once and for all. Get Jasper and Jack off her scent.

I need to kill them for good.

“Then let’s go,” Dimitri says.

I hurry as best as I can to his car, and he drives us to Jack’s apartment. It’s in a large building complex full of cookie-cutter high-end apartments. Nothing but the best for an asshole.

“What does that Jack guy want exactly?”

“He wants Luna. He wants to …” I can’t even say the words.

Dimitri nods once. “Understood. Then let’s go kill the bastard for taking our women.” He pulls out his gun, cocks it, and gives me a devilish smile. “Ready?”

“More than ready.”

I limp behind Dimitri as we hurry inside. From the background check I did on Jack, I know exactly which apartment is his. Number thirty-seven, floor eight.

We reach it within minutes. Dimitri pounds on the door. “Jack Clark? Open up.”

No one replies.

And then we hear it—a scream.

Dimitri takes one step back then kicks open the door. The sight of Evie and Katya tied to chairs makes my heart clench. Where is Luna?

Dimitri runs for them, but Jasper is behind him and uses a vase to hit Dimitri’s head. He stumbles.

“Dimitri!” Evie shouts, struggling against her binds.

My eyes look around the room widely, and that’s when I see him—Jack. He’s in a bedroom. His bedroom. I can see him from the open door.

He’s leaning over Luna, who’s pressed down on the bed.

I use all my strength to run at him, ignoring the pain in my leg. Luna needs me. She can’t get hurt, not because of me.

“Hey, Maxim,” Jasper says, making me stop in my tracks. “Stop.” I turn around. He has his gun pointed at Dimitri’s head. “I will shoot him, and then you’ll be without your business partner. Without your power. You can’t take me on with a fucked up leg.”

“Please don’t kill him,” Evie sobs. Katya remains quiet, watching everything intently.

I look back into the bedroom. Luna’s looking right at me with primal fear in her eyes. She’s begging me silently to help her.

Jack notices me, too, and gives me a dark smile as he grabs Luna’s face and forces her to kiss him.

All I see is rage.

Without hesitating, I lift my gun and fire at Jack.

The bullet hits him right in the side of the face, splattering his blood onto the wall and sending him slumping to the ground. Luna screams. It’s a sound I know I’ll never forget.

This is the second time she’s had to watch me murder someone.

I turn back to Jasper.

He’s frozen, eyes wide. Dimitri uses that to his advantage and grabs his gun. Jasper finally blinks then runs for the door. Dimitri fires at him but misses as Jasper makes it around the door just in time.

Everything in me wants to go after Jasper, but my leg is too hurt to chase him, and Dimitri is distracted with untying his wife and sister.

Luna needs me right now. She’s all that matters.

I move as fast as I can into the bedroom. Thankfully, she has her clothes on. I caught Jack before he could take things too far.

But the sight of Luna’s panicked, frightened face tells me it doesn’t matter that Jack didn’t rape her. He still put her on this bed. He still held her down and forced her to kiss him. He still kidnapped her.

Slowly, I sit down on the bed next to her. Luna is frozen as she stares up at the ceiling.

“Baby?” I murmur, reaching my hand out. “Let me help you.” Some of Jack’s blood is on her face. His lifeless eyes stare up at me from the ground. “Luna?”

She finally moves.

With a gasp, she sits up and throws her arms around me. I hug her back with everything in me.

I know at this moment that Luna is mine and I am hers.

I’m never letting her go.

LUNA

I can’t look at Jack’s body—not after what he did to me.

When he grabbed me and made me lie on the bed, I was sure that was the moment. Everything I’d learned about sex from Maxim and Rose wasn’t going to help me because Jack didn’t want my consent. He just wanted to take me for himself.

And then Maxim arrived just in time.

I am so, so grateful he saved me, but I’ll never be unable to see him shooting Jack in the face. Jack dying. Jack’s blood splattering everywhere.

I will never unsee Jack dead on the floor.

That’s why I turn my face away as Maxim leads me from the room. I’ve seen too much death in the past few weeks. All I want is a safe place I can call my home.

Evie and Katya hurry over to me.

“Oh, thank god,” Evie says, pulling me into a hug. It startles me. We haven’t known each other that long, but already, Evie, Katya, and Ava have treated me like friends.

Katya offers me a kind smile when Evie pulls back. “I’m glad you’re ok.”

“I’m not ok,” I whisper, hugging my arms around my body.

“Come on,” Dimitri says. “We need to get out of here. And we need to talk about what you girls were thinking leaving the house.”

“We just went to the library,” Evie says. “We didn’t think anything would go wrong.”

“You need to be more careful.”

“I agree,” Maxim says, holding me against him. I lean against his strong body, taking strength from it. “Until both Jasper and Anton are dealt with, I don’t think it’s a good idea to go waltzing around the city.”

Katya rolls her eyes. “Ugh. Not you, too.”

“Let’s go,” Dimitri says stiffly.

I notice Maxim limping as we leave the apartment. “You’re still hurt.”

“My wound will heal in time. But that didn’t stop me from coming for you.” He cups my face. “Nothing will stop me from coming for you.”

All I want is to kiss him and forget about what I just went through. But I hold back. Now is not the time or place.

Dimitri drops Maxim and me off at our home.

Maxim grabs a towel and wets it before dapping my face with it. “You had … Jack’s blood on your face,” he says at my confused expression.

“Oh.”

“But it’s gone now. He’s gone. You never need to worry about him again.”

“But Jasper …”

He gently takes my face between his hands. “I’ll deal with Jasper. He won’t get to hurt you. Not if I have any say in it. Ok?” The smile he gives me is so full of warmth and kindness. Instantly, I feel safe.

“Ok.”

“I just don’t want you to be afraid of me. After killing Jack …”

“I’m not afraid of you, Maxim. I’m just afraid I’ll lose you. Jasper already shot you in the leg. He could have done worse.”

“Jack shot me, and now, he’s dead. Jasper isn’t long for this world. Trust me. You’ll never lose me, Luna. Never.”

“How can you make that promise?”

“It’s simple. You need me, and so I’ll always be here.”

“Maxim,” I gasp right before I kiss him. I can’t stand it any longer. I need to feel his lips on mine. I need to know he’s ok and safe and sturdy. I need to know I’m all right, too.

Growling low in his throat, he wraps his arms around me and pick me up.

“You’re leg,” I say against his lips.

“I don’t fucking care. I got you.”

We kiss deeper, more passionately. Every touch of our lips lights me on fire. I know I could kiss Maxim for the rest of my life. Eternity isn’t enough.

He sets me back down and shoves the straps of my dress down, making the dress pool around my feet. “Is this ok?”

“It’s more than ok.”

His next kiss is so gentle and sweet I could almost cry.

My hands grip at his jacket, shoving it off him. Maxim makes a sound low in his throat as he tosses it onto the ground. His shirt quickly joins his jacket.

The sight of his naked chest makes arousal flare through me. He’s just so beautiful.

I run my hands down his chest, exploring every ridge and muscle. He inhales sharply. I know now that it means he likes this.

I’m not afraid of doing something wrong this time.

I stand on my tiptoes and say into his ear, “I want more.”

“More?” His gulp is visible.

“I want you to show me pleasure. I want to give you all of me.”

“Luna, after what just happened, I’m not sure …”

“Jack wanted my body, but it wasn’t his to give. My body is my own to give. And I want to give it to you.”

“I don’t want you to think you have to reward me for saving you.”

Roughly, I shake my head. “No. I’m choosing this, Maxim. I want to give my body to you. I want to have sex. I want to know what it feels like.”

I stare into his eyes for a long moment. His own eyes search mine, looking for the truth. There isn’t an ounce of lies within me. I want this. I’m choosing this.

“All right,” he finally says. “If you’re ready, Luna, then I want to make your first time so fucking special.” He grips my hips and pulls me in close, kissing me deeply. I could sink into his arms and never leave.

Together, we walk to the bedroom while still kissing. He’s seen me naked. He’s given me an orgasm before. I’m not afraid of this.

Granted, I don’t know enough to be afraid, but I think that’s a blessing. I can just feel and enjoy this moment for what it is—Maxim and I finally showing our love for one another.

Maxim pulls back and looks me over, his eyes full of desire. I take off my bra and underwear. This is about what I want finally, not about what other men want from me.

“Fuck. Luna …”

“Touch me.”

He wraps me in his arms again and kisses me with passion. I gasp. My bare chest presses against his bare chest. The sensation makes my entire body tingle.

Maxim scoops me up and lays me on the bed. With a tug of my hips, he pulls me to the edge and kneels on the ground.

“What are you doing?” I ask, my voice breathless.

“Showing you another way to experience pleasure. If you don’t like it, let me know.” He grabs my thighs and opens them. I’m not shy. I want Maxim to see my body. I want him to see all of me.

What I’m not expecting is to feel his face between my legs and his tongue on my clit.

I gasp, my hips jerking up. Maxim holds me down as his tongue does wild things to me. I can even feel his smile against my body.

Instead of trying to fight it, I let myself sink into the mattress and just feel the pleasure he’s giving me.

It’s both intense and freeing at the same time. I’m overwhelmed yet focused.

Maxim rolls my clit around with his tongue, sending spikes of pleasure through me. When I arch my back, the motion brings my hips closer to his mouth.

I can feel that familiar sensation growing through my body. I know what it means—I’m close.

Maxim doesn’t stop pleasuring my clit. He keeps bringing me closer and closer and closer …

Until I finally come.

“Oh!” I moan. My hips go wild as the pleasure rocks through me.

Maxim kisses each of my inner thighs before standing up and taking his clothes off. I finally get to see his penis. It’s erect, which he told me about before.

That’s going inside me , I think.

“You’re good for my ego,” he says. “Looking at my cock like you are.”

“How am I looking at you?”

“With awe.”

“I am in awe.”

“I had an idea,” he says, sitting on the bed. “I want you to be on top. My leg hurts, and it would be easier. Also, I think it would be good for you. Help you feel more in control of the situation.”

“What does being on top mean?”

“I’ll show you.”

“I trust you.” I trust Maxim more than anyone in this entire world.

Lying down on his back, he grabs my hips, helping me to straddle him.

“Like this?”

“Yeah, like that. Now, you’ll bring your hips down. My cock will enter you. You can go slow. Take your time. I don’t want it to hurt for you.”

“Does it normally hurt?”

“Only if you’re not turned on.” He brings his fingers between my legs, touching my slit. I gasp and arch my hips forward. He shows me his fingers—there’s a wetness on them. “You’re aroused, which is good. Just take your time. I’ll help you.”

Maxim grabs his penis and lines it up to my entrance. Instinctually, my body understands what I have to do. He’s supposed to go inside me.

Placing my hands on his chest, I steady myself as I lower my hips down. He only makes it a couple of inches inside me before I stop with a gasp.

“It’s ok, baby.” He rubs my hips. “Just take your time.” There’s a pain to his expression.

“Are you ok? Are you hurt?”

“No. I’m not hurt. It just feels fucking good, and I’m trying to hold back to let you get used to this.”

“What if I don’t get used to it?”

He squeezes my hips. “Then we stop. Do you want to stop?”

I know I don’t want to stop. “No.” With an inhale, I sink my hips lower, feeling his penis moving deeper within me. “Oh!” My hands leave behind marks on his skin from how hard I hold onto him.

“It’s ok, baby. I got you. I got you.”

I let out another breath, and finally, my hips reach his hips, his erection all the way inside me. Never have I felt such a deep sensation before.

I rock my hips back and forth, making Maxim hiss. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. It feels good, that’s all.”

I sit for a while, getting used to the feeling of him. Maxim has so much patience as he waits for me.

Once I feel good, I begin to move my hips around, figuring out what brings me pleasure. I find that when I rock my hips forward, it makes my body tingle. I love how it feels.

Maxim doesn’t take his dark eyes away from me as I explore his body with my own. “You like this?”

“I love it,” I admit.

“Good. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out for.”

“What do you mean?” I pant, moving back and forth faster on him as Maxim moans softly.

“I mean, I’m going to come, Luna. Remember what I told you about my semen?”

“Yes. Oh!” I gasp when I realize what he means. I want to experience that. I want to experience everything with him.

Maxim grips my hips tighter as he helps me rock my hips around. I find the perfect circular motion that feels just incredible. Every rock of my hips sends overwhelming pleasure through me.

My pace increases, and Maxim shifts his hips up to meet mine. “Maxim! Maxim!”

“Oh,” he groans, his body shuddering. It’s then I feel his semen inside me. It spurs me on, and soon, my own orgasm washes over me.

I tremble and gasp. He wraps me into his arms and brings me to his chest, holding me.

I finally did it. I finally had sex, and it was beautiful.

The doorbell rings, making Maxim tense.

“Who is it?” I ask.

“Stay here.” He gets out of bed, slipping his pants on. I wait for him in the room, even though all I want is to rush out there and see who he’s talking to.

I hear him open the door, but I don’t hear anyone talk. Then he closes the door and comes back into the room.

“What is it?”

He’s carrying a box in his hands. “It’s … it’s the result of the DNA test Ashley Walker took.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning, we’ll know if she’s your mother or not.”