Assassin Territory [Assassins Book 1] (17 page)

“What the hell is taking Rick so long?” Lando heard a man complain.

“He’s inside screwing with a beautiful woman, moron. What the hell do you think is taking him so long? I don’t think he needs advice as to what goes where,” another man scoffed, giving him a scathing look.

Lando controlled the sudden rage that flared in his chest. He quashed it. Anger, emotion, would only get him killed. Though his heart pounded a staccato in his chest and his hands fisted, Lando moved with silent stealth. A smallish looking, slight man was off to the side, gutting the body of a very young Kodiak cub. Lando realized this was the man who had knocked him out from behind.

Payback time
, he thought with gruesome happiness. Creeping closer, Lando’s hands shot out, grasping with brutality at the man’s torso while placing a large hand over his mouth. Lando dragged him back into the bush, with ease lifting him off the ground. Alone, this man was no match for Lando’s strength. Pushing him to the ground, he held the smaller man, pinning his wrists down cruelly with his knees while resting his weight on his chest. With a brutal hand on his mouth and one gripping a handful of hair Lando leaned closely.

“I can tie you and gag you and then give you a more torturous death than you could ever imagine even in your worst nightmares, or, I will show you some mercy if you answer my questions,” Lando said with furious intensity into the man’s terrified face. He felt great satisfaction as the man’s eyes began to tear. One slipped from the corner of his eye to drop to the forest floor. He nodded as best as he could with his mouth and head held so firmly.

“Is the woman alive? Whimper once for yes, twice for no,” Lando demanded.

The man whimpered once. Again, Lando’s emotions swarmed, this time with relief, yet he refused to acknowledge it.

“Are there four of you?”

Again, the man whimpered once. Lando held his head poised; ready to snap his neck, he hesitated. His gaze once again shuttered into the mask he wore when he became death, his gaze foreboding intensity settled onto his helpless victim. He could see his image reflected back in the man’s dark eyes. He could tell the man understood his intent; he began to whimper uncontrollably up at him, his body began to shake.

“You said you used to kill.”
Christy’s pained voice sounded in his ears, giving him pause.

“Did you hurt her or rape her?” Lando menacingly asked of him.

The man’s eyes widened, sensing a hint of leniency. He whimpered once and tried to shake his head, imploring Lando to believe him, sobbing uncontrollably. Lando did believe him. He found when gripped in the throes of terror, a great many were unable to or incapable of a lie. He would, he decided graciously, grant him mercy, though he wanted to return the favor. Lando was surprised the men hadn’t searched him before dumping him. Reaching behind his back, Lando removed his gun and smashed it into the man’s head, rendering him senseless.

Ripping strips from the man’s shirt, Lando tied and gagged him. The sudden shattering of glass and a terrified scream from a window captured his attention. He heard Rick’s furious voice, as well as Christy’s terrified cries as Rick snarled threats at her.

“What the hell?” one of the men declared, as Christy’s body was jerked back through the broken open window.

Lando resisted the urge to call to her. There were two more men outside to deal with, though he sensed the urgency of his need to move faster. The man who had Christy was obviously enraged. Lando was dumbfounded at what the helpless, tiny little thing could have done to him. She was completely defenseless and vulnerable against the power of a man.

“Damn. I bet he won’t leave any for us if he’s pissed,” one of the men complained.

“Maybe we better go take a look. He sounds mad enough to kill,” his partner said.

No longer opting for caution, Lando appeared before the two other men. Surprise was now on his side. After a flying kick to his rounded gut, one of the men took flight into the side of the cabin. He crashed heavily against the wall with a hard
thunk
as his head collided with wood; he slumped down to rest on his ass.

The other man, seeing Lando’s murderous look, tried to retreat, Lando tackled him before he’d gone two feet, and once again using his gun, he smashed it down onto the man’s temple. The man remained quiet, a trickle of blood oozing from a cut.

Rising, Lando grabbed the man’s arm and dragged him to his friend’s side. Using one of the standing cabin beams, Lando lashed their wrists, with one of the men’s belts. As one of the men began to stir Lando gave him a hard kick to his face. He couldn’t risk someone sneaking up on him.

Besides, I’m still pissed.

He then turned and ventured into the cabin. Urgency consumed him, though he needed to be cautious. The other man had Christy. He couldn’t place her into a position that this Rick character could use to his advantage. If he were to put a knife to Christy’s throat, they would both be doomed.

* * * *

Rick threw Christy’s limp form over his shoulder, knowing she had succumbed to her terror of him. Entering his room, he dumped her unceremoniously onto his bed. She was about to learn a very
in-depth lesson on who was boss. She would learn what it was to be completely submissive. She was about to learn that lesson now.

Taking one large, fisted hand, he grabbed the front of her shirt and ripped it off. He grabbed her wrists and tied them together so tight her hands began to turn red. He yanked her hands to one of the posts on the bed, stretching her arms up in a way he knew would be excruciating. Then climbing onto her slight form, he placed a great deal of weight on her tiny waist and slapped her across the face, hard. Christy moaned and woke. Rick made certain his face was as close to hers as he could get when she ventured to open her eyes.

“No, don’t,” she cried up at him, seeing his raised hand poised to strike. Her eyes tearing, she screamed when he sat back and slapped her face. With satisfaction he saw the red marks his fingers left on her cheeks.

“You want it rough?” he raged into her face. He grabbed at her breasts, his hands squeezing. Christy cried out. She pulled at her tied wrists.

“No, no, please,” she sobbed.

Rick grabbed at her pants. Not bothering with the zipper, he pulled them off. Christy tried to shift beneath him, to clamp her legs together. Rick was too strong to allow it. Her panties were torn next and she lay before him, exposed and vulnerable. Christy sobbed uncontrollably, begging him not to hurt her, pleading desperately with him not to break her bones. Rick was enjoying her whimpered pleas for mercy. He showed her none.

“Let’s see how rough we can make it.”

“Stop. Don’t hurt me anymore.”

Rick’s entire body covered hers, pressing her down into the mattress. One brutal hand gripped her bound wrists in a crushing grip. His tongue delved into her mouth, to the point of choking her.

Pressing one knee high up between her legs, Rick soon had Christy’s thighs apart. A large finger thrust eagerly into her, repeatedly, while he voiced malicious, harsh words telling her of what was to come, what he was going to do to her, what he would let the others do to her until he felt satisfied she was submissive.

Christy screamed in terror when he undid his zipper, and positioned himself, seeking entry. The sudden force of the blow smashing into his side and shoulder almost sent Christy off the bed with Rick, the rope ripping at her wrists and jerking her from his grasp.

“
Lando
.”

The man, Lando crashed into Rick. An enraged bellow came next and the force of the collision sent both men flying off the bed, crashing through the sliding glass doors and out onto the porch.

* * * *

Both men hit the wood porch amidst the glass, then each was up and swinging with a vengeance in a matter of seconds. Lando’s fist connected with Rick’s jaw. Rick countered with a blow to Lando’s belly. Hard-fisted, powerful punches were thrown with brutal intensity as each man strove for dominance.

Lando leaped into the air spinning and, turning sharply, sent a hard-booted heel into Rick’s face, propelling him backwards off the porch and onto the forest floor, blood flying. Landing hard on his shoulders and back, Rick flipped over, then jumped to his feet, and running, slammed his body into Lando’s midriff, picking him up off the ground sending them once more through the broken glass, back into the bedroom. Both men hit the floor hard.

They rose to their full height, facing each other. With an evil glance in Christy’s helpless direction, Rick pulled a long knife. Resolved, Lando pulled his gun. He couldn’t take the chance of Christy being hurt if he were to be killed. He was about to break his promise. This man would die.

The gun flew from Lando’s hand as the door was slammed open from behind him, connecting with his back; he careened sideways, almost ending up atop the bed with Christy. Christy screamed in terror as a large, enraged Kodiak barreled into Rick’s surprised form. It seemed the poachers hadn’t left the mother for dead before killing and taking her cub. They planned on returning for her carcass, but ran into Christy and Lando.

The mighty bear painfully followed their scent and had come seeking her young. Only to discover its slaughtered body. Rick screamed as the bear tore into his battered body. Her jaws clamped over his throat as he was knocked to the ground. His howls ceased abruptly to sickening gurgles. Lando pulled his knife out and cut Christy’s hands free. He threw her unclad body over his shoulder and raced frantically from the room, slamming the door closed behind him. Once outside, Lando tossed her into the jeep.

“
Fuck.”
He slammed his balled fist onto the wheel. “I need the keys,” he said to Christy, and vaulted from the vehicle before she could scream out a protest.

Lando approached the two men he rendered unconscious. From their bloody, ripped clothing he could see mama bear had been more pissed than he was. Neither man held the keys. Lando raced for the first man he took out. The guy hadn’t been spared from the vicious wrath of the huge bear. Lando riffled through his bloody pockets and found the keys.

Christy was screaming for him, and as Lando ran he could see the bear emerging from around the side of the cabin. She obviously exited in search of them after killing Rick. Lando dived into the jeep, yanking his door closed behind him. The bear was rounding in on them, her bulk rippling in her hurry. Lando tried three keys before the engine caught and roared to life. The bear was a breath away.

Tires spinning, dirt flying, Lando hit the gas and the jeep went hurtling out onto the overgrown road. They were safe. One last look back in the rearview mirror had Lando feeling sorry for the enraged animal. The Kodiak was on her hind legs, offering them a roar, her anguished loss apparent.

Christy huddled sobbing in the corner of the jeep. Though the heat in the vehicle was cranked to full power, Lando struggled to remove his outer jacket. It had dried enough to the point where it would warm her. He tried placing it on her, his hand touching her arm. Christy screamed, terrified, shrinking back from him. She held her arms once more in a pleading gesture.

“It’s all right, sweetheart, I won’t hurt you. It’s me, Lando; you’re safe now,” he soothed, concerned. He had seen what rape and even attempted rape could do to a woman. She was already so vulnerable and in pain. Lando couldn’t help but feel those men got what they deserved.

Christy looked up at him. Her arms lowered from their defensive position. Lando could see her rational thought return; she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. He saved her, and she needed him.

“Please don’t ever leave me.” Her tone so soft and pitiful it made his heart hurt.

Lando knew she didn’t just mean now, today. How could he leave her? How could he not?

“Did he hurt you?” he asked instead.

“He didn’t rape me. You stopped him. But he hurt me, Lando,” she sobbed. “I hurt up inside. My throat aches and my back throbs. My wrists, my wrists…” Her cries cut her words short and she clutched her wrists to her chest with obvious agony.

Lando noted a few cuts oozing small amounts of blood from little scratches while trying to squeeze through the broken window. He took in her split, swollen lip. Rick’s handprints were on her brightly colored, red, bruised cheeks.

Lando slowed the jeep’s frantic pace jostling them over the rough terrain. They approached a larger dirt road, Lando pulled over and stopped. He faced Christy.

“You need to trust me, sweetheart. I need to see what damage he caused,” Lando said. He cupped a hand against her head and pressed his forehead to hers.

Nodding slightly, Christy sat closer to him. She moved back on the seat, closing her eyes squeezing them tight. Lando pulled the coat away from her body; he turned her slightly and inspected the new bright red marks on her back. He rubbed a careful hand over her bruising throat and breasts. He checked to make sure the cuts on her body were superficial and made certain the bleeding had stopped. He kissed her swollen lips. Then very gently and with a great deal of tenderness, he felt up between her legs while offering her encouraging words.

She whimpered, clutching at him. Lando was relieved there was no bleeding. He took her into his arms after wrapping the jacket around her. Christy placed her head on his shoulder.

“Please, Lando,” she begged once more. Her tears flowed.

Bowing his head, Lando sighed. He rested his chin on her head. There was no other choice he could make. Her pleading, as always, unnerved him. “I won’t leave you, sweetheart.”

“Promise?” she asked, holding onto him tighter.

He could almost feel the hope surge through her, waiting for his response. He could see it in her gaze, hear it in the tone of her voice. She knew he wouldn’t lie to her, whatever his reply.

“I promise,” he vowed.

Lando followed the dirt road; wincing with each bump, very aware of Christy’s battered and bruised body sleeping fitfully beside him. She was in more pain now than when the plane crashed, but instead of wanting to put her to a merciful end, he wanted to save her. She couldn’t die. He wouldn’t allow it.