Page 6 of Hunted Temptation (Alpha Nights: Unlikely Heroes #4)

Chapter Five

VAUGHN

The dress shifts as he holds it up by just his extended index finger. It’s a pink dress, which wouldn’t be an issue per se, except this isn’t just a pink dress. It’s made to look like a child's dress. It’s got lots of layers at the bottom with poofy sleeves and pale pink.

What the actual fuck?

Elodie reaches for the dress, her fingers sliding across the fabric that is displayed on the bed. He stays where he is for a moment, his mouth moving, and I’m pissed I haven’t been able to get some listening devices in her bedroom. I would like to know what the fuck is going on right now.

Scoggins leaves the room, closing the door behind him as Elodie slips the dress on her body.

I’m disgusted at the sight of her in that outfit.

It’s clearly some kind of kink thing, which is fine.

Kinks can be a hell of a lot of fun, even little-girl kinks.

They aren’t for me, but that’s for a whole fucked-up childhood reason.

This isn’t a fun thing, though. The way she’s wincing as she gently fastens all the bows and ribbons at the waist, up the center of the torso, and on the sleeves. She looks pale, beyond pale. And when she turns to face the full-length mirror, her eyes immediately turn downcast.

Shame.

This isn’t something fun. She’s not excited. She’s dreading this.

Once she’s dressed, she opens her bedroom door, then slips out into the hallway. She doesn’t go in search of her father the way I expect. Instead, she moves to another room down the hall. Then slips inside. I lose her for a moment before I am able to pull up the camera feed for that room.

It’s a fairly plain room. There is a bed in the center, with a metal headboard and footboard, plus a nightstand. The bedding is simple, light green with large, fluffy pillows. She stands at the side of the bed, turning her head to look behind her.

I watch as her father walks into the room. Another room that I don’t have a listening device hidden inside, and I’m completely fucking regretting it. Lifting my hands, I press my fingertips together as I watch what’s unfolding in front of me.

Scoggins moves toward her. She faces him fully, her eyes finding his. She tilts her head backward slightly, her eyes focused on her father’s. She slides her gaze to the side, then shifts it back to meet his. She tips her chin in a single nod before taking a step backward.

My brain is fucked up, so it goes to some seriously sick fucking thoughts. But then again, isn’t that who this motherfucker is? He is a sick piece of shit, and I have a feeling I know just how deep his depravity goes.

My phone rings. I don’t bother looking at the caller ID, mainly because I can’t look away from the computer. I have to watch the inside, the outside, all of it. I’m trying to concentrate on what’s going on, and really, I don’t have time to answer phone calls, but I do anyway.

“Vaughn.”

“We need to have a meeting tonight,” Theron murmurs. “An hour.”

I press my lips together in a thin line. “I can’t tonight,” I say. “I’m onto something.”

“Are you going to end him tonight?” Theron asks.

I want to tell him yes, but I’m not sure. If I kill him right now, what does that mean for Elodie? I think I may want her even more now. Maybe it’s because of some kind of trauma bond thing. I don’t know what it is, but I find her absolutely fucking mesmerizing.

Absolutely mesmerizing. I should not be as attracted to her as I am, but I’m going with it for now.

Maybe once I fuck her, I’ll be over it. Maybe it’s just that forbidden aspect.

The trauma, the forbidden, whatever the fuck it is, I don’t know, but if I don’t get a taste of her to assuage my desires, then I don’t think I’m going to be able to think straight.

“What are you onto?” he asks.

“I think there is a big fish coming to Scoggins’s place. I’m watching now.”

“Call me.”

Theron ends the call abruptly, knowing that I’m focusing on the job. At least that’s what he thinks I’m focused on. I’m trying hard to keep my attention on Scoggins, but admittedly, Elodie holds far more of my focus than she should.

Headlights flash in the corner of my eye. Turning toward the outside feed, I watch as a sedan pulls into the driveway. It’s expensive. An Audi. A moment later, a man unfolds from the back seat.

Whoever he is, he has a driver.

Interesting.

Scoggins shakes the man’s hand. I can’t see his face yet. He’s tall, wearing a suit, his hair short and perfectly combed. He appears to be a businessman. And judging by the car and the quality of the suit, even from just the camera, I can tell it’s expensive and tailored to him.

They’re making small talk, nothing major or even worth taking note of and remembering.

I’m trying to get a clear image of his face.

I’m going to send it to Hale and Boden in hopes they’ll be able to figure out his identity.

Though I’m not holding my breath, at least not with the speed I’d need the information.

I don’t see his face as Scoggins guides him toward the bedroom, where Elodie is wearing that ridiculous dress. But before Scoggins opens the door, the stranger reaches for his hand, stopping him.

“How old is she?”

Scoggins turns his head. “Eighteen.”

“Eighteen?” he asks, his voice deepening and a tone of disapproval lacing his single word.

Scoggins chuckles. “Barely. I thought this would be a good way to earn trust on both sides.”

Trust. What a fucking joke. What a whole piece of shit. There’s nothing about these men that I would ever equate with the word trust . Shaking that thought out of my head, I continue to watch them, wishing I could get more of a slight profile of this fucker’s face.

“That I can get behind. Once I’ve tried out what you have to offer, I would like to discuss different options. You have different options, yes?”

My stomach turns.

Yes, these sick fucks are those kinds of sick fucks, and I know exactly what he’s talking about. Scoggins confirms with a single head nod before he pushes the door open. The stranger walks into the bedroom. I flick my attention to the bedroom and ball my fingers into fists at my sides.

Elodie is in the middle of the bed, on her knees, her eyes downcast. Her poofy dress spread out around her. The man grunts. Scoggins doesn’t leave. He walks in behind him, closing the door, and stands at the wall, watching.

The stranger keeps his back to the cameras as if he knows exactly where they are placed. As he approaches the bed, I watch as he lifts his hand, cupping Elodie’s chin and forcing her head up, forcing her to look at him.

Then, as if a band snaps, his control slips, and he grips the sides of her face, her cheeks, forcing her mouth to open slightly. He leans forward, his face just inches from hers, almost as if he’s examining… her teeth.

I’m done.

ELODIE

The man walks into the bedroom. I don’t know him. He doesn’t introduce himself. He’s dressed to the nines in a suit nicer than I’ve ever seen before. He’s handsome, too. Green eyes, light-brown hair, tall and lean.

It’s a shame because he’s definitely a pervert. I find myself wondering if he has a famous model-type girlfriend. He probably does, and either she knows what he’s into and doesn’t care, or she is oblivious.

My wondering stops when he grabs my cheeks. When he leans forward, I know what’s happening. I can’t remember the last time someone did this to me, but I know what it is without even having to think about it.

He’s inspecting my teeth.

He turns his head slightly, looking over to my father, arching a brow with a grin. “She seems to be in good health. You’ve taken care of her teeth.”

My father clears his throat before he speaks. “She is. She sees a doctor regularly and undergoes regular testing. Everything I do is and will always be aboveboard. Elodie isn’t just one of my girls. She is my daughter. My prized girl.”

My stomach clenches with every word my father says. He’s trying to sell me to this man, at least sell what I am, entice him to want me. To take me. To use me. I want to throw up everywhere.

The man dips his chin in a single nod before he straightens, thankfully releasing my chin. “Show me what’s under that pretty little dress, doll baby.”

His words come out syrupy. I hide the shiver of disgust that slithers up and down my spine. The very last thing I want to do is show him any part of me, but I know my father will lose his mind if I don’t, and it’s not like I can leave.

Inwardly, I scream, while outwardly, I do as he demands.

Slowly, I spread my knees apart, making sure to sit on my ass.

Placing my heels on the mattress, I gently glide my skirt and petticoat up my thighs.

I’m not wearing any panties, but if I just flash him, he’s not going to like that.

He wants the little-girl vibes, so I have to go with shy and meek.

I’m just about to expose myself to him, just a little bit, when the door flies open. I gasp before I even look up. A man stands in the doorway—a tall man with dark clothes. I have no idea who he is, and he doesn’t give me enough time to study his features.

I watch in horror and fascination as he turns to my father, points a gun at his temple, and pulls the trigger.

Then he shifts his attention to the man in front of me and does the same.

They fall onto the floor, not a single word spoken, and the extra-long tube at the end of his gun is the reason it was so quiet. He’s got a suppressor.

I’m frozen where I am on the bed, my skirts still hiked almost all the way up my thighs. I can’t move. Clearly, I am not a fight-or-flight type of girl. I’m a freeze-in-my-spot kind of girl. The man turns toward me, his blue eyes sparkling as he watches me for a silent moment.

“You got anything you want to take with you out of this house?” he asks.

My lips part, and I shake my head. There’s nothing here I want. “This whole house could ignite, and I wouldn’t give a single shit if I ever saw anything again.”

“Sounds good,” he says with a grunt. His eyes scan the room before he jerks his chin. “Change outta that shit and pack a bag. Hurry.”

My body finally moves. I jump. I don’t know what it is about the way he tells me what to do, but I scramble off the bed and sprint to my room.

After changing out of the ugly-as-hell dress, I grab a pair of sweats and a tank top, then throw some panties and clothes from my drawers into my backpack that I used for school.

Anything else I’m going to have to figure out later.

The man is standing in the doorway, his eyes on me for a moment.

Those blue eyes hold me completely and totally frozen.

Rendering me absolutely useless. He moves toward me, standing so close to me that my breath hitches.

He smells amazing, of ocean breeze and sandalwood.

I didn’t think those could mix, but they do… and well.

When he reaches forward, I hold my breath, unsure of what he’s going to do next, but he surprises me by extending his arm and grabbing my bag, tugging it out of my hands.

“Come,” he demands.

I watch as he spins on his heels and walks out of my bedroom. I follow behind him. I’m not sure why, but it seems like a much better idea than staying here. I don’t think staying is going to do me any favors… it never has.