The Billionaire’s Pawn

LONDON

We landed in Sicily an hour ago. I was exhausted, and my emotions were everywhere. Right now, Striker had to share a room with me. Reed and Linden were in the same room, while Moses had his own.

I had suffered at the hand of those criminals and grew distrustful, and I still had nightmares because of my father’s selfishness. My anger towards him had gotten worst every day. I was kidnapped because of what he did. I felt awful and guilty, and I also felt loved and blessed at the same time that someone like Striker and Moses wanted to move mountains to keep me safe.

That arrogant son of a bitch. He maybe was my father, but no father would ever sell his daughter to save his own skin. He used me as a pawn. Now he dragged Moses and Striker into his mess, still trying to save his ass. I tried hating him, but I couldn’t despite my terrible suffering. I still held on to the good things he had done for me when I didn’t have a mother to run to-he was there for me most of the time.

“Vanderford, someone here wants to talk to you?”

“Who?” I asked Striker as he remained standing at the door.

“I’ll leave you two alone to talk.” He left, leaving me puzzled.

Then my father appeared.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” My nose flared. “I don’t wanna talk.”

“I just wanna apologize.”

“Which one you wanna apologize for, Dad? For selling me? For getting me kidnapped? For taking everything I worked hard for? Because of what? You are too selfish and use me to get what you want. You pass beyond an apology.”

“I came here to see you because I don’t know what will happen out there. If I won’t come back alive, at least I see you.”

“Just get out. Moses will make sure you’ll get back to your castle.”

“I’m so sorry, London. Forgive me, honey.” He looked in pain. He didn’t look like the father I used to know. He was miserable. I’d say he deserved it.

“Just shut up, Dad. I chose to leave my husband because you forced me to do something I couldn’t do to the person I loved. You didn’t just ruin me. You ruined my life and my marriage-the only thing you did right. If you ever get out of your mess, we’re done. I don’t wanna see you again. And I want nothing from you because I’d rather wait tables than be a Vanderford. You’re just like my mother.”

“I understand.” He turned back and got out of the room.

I felt exhausted. I slumped my ass down the bed when tears rolled down my cheeks. Maybe I would have suffered beyond this if I didn’t meet Striker. Now I understood why. It was all my father’s fault that my life fell apart.

I wiped the tears from my face when I noticed I wasn’t alone anymore. The door shut closed, but I couldn’t face Striker anymore. I felt ashamed. He deserved better. I could have trusted him and told him about my father’s true intention. It could have been done differently.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be? I just dragged you and your father in danger? What could be better than that?”

“I am the one who went to your father to make that deal. And I asked my father’s help ending this. Even if we are together and have a family, we will always be in danger. That’s why Pa agreed to help me.”

“I’m sorry for what I did. I haven’t apologized, haven’t I?” I suddenly remembered something and couldn’t do anything but chuckle sadly. I was still facing the wall. I didn’t have a gut to look him in the eye. “God, I’m such a terrible person.”

I took a deep breath when he had not said a word.

“I could have done it differently. I could have just said that Dad ordered me to spy on you on the thing called the project, but I chose the hardest. I was so stupid.”

“Yes. You could have just told me. It wouldn’t have ended like this.”

“I know.” I lifted my chin to look at him. He leaned his back against the wall, looking in the opposite direction. I couldn’t exactly read what was on his mind, but he hadn’t kicked me out of the room yet. “I wish I had time to correct my mistakes. And yet you are still here helping the man who forced you to be with me. You could have just thrown him to those wolves, and I wouldn’t hold a grudge against you.”

“Get some rest. Big day tomorrow.” He went to the door.

“You’re going out?”

“I’ll be with Pa. If you need anything, call me.”

“I can call room service. Thanks.”

Once he was gone, I lay in bed, alone in a suite. My life was miserable too.

An hour later, I decided to get a room service and soaked myself in the tub. The wine and desserts I ordered had arrived.

I was still in the bathtub when I heard shuffles. As paranoid as I was and knowing that we were in the enemy territory, I slowly picked up my phone and dialed Striker, and he picked up right away.

“Why are you calling me?” I heard his voice echo.

“I think someone’s here in the room,” I whispered.

“Yeah. It’s me.”

“Oh.” I felt embarrassed. “Okay.” I hung up the call and dropped my phone on the table, then I sunk myself into the water.

Then someone just patted my hand, startling me and making me gasp. I just inhaled water. My nostrils were burning. I raised my head to see him drinking my wine and eating my food.

“The hell?” I wiped the hair off my face as I scowled at him.

“Are you gonna drown yourself?”

“You think I’m suicidal?”

“No, Vanderford.” He took another strawberry. I didn’t know if he was trying to annoy me and ruin my moment or if he enjoyed eating my food. “What? You don’t wanna share this, too?”

“You can ask nicely.”

“I’m paying for this room, wife.” He poured wine out of the art manner into my glass. “Enjoy yourself.”

“That’s my glass, you idiot,” I reminded him as he took it into the bedroom.

“I’m paying, ain’t I?”

“Jerk!” I got out of the tub and rinsed myself.

After I put a robe on, I went to the room. He was in the center of the bed, only in boxers.

“Should I get a room myself?”

“If you can afford it, up to you.” He was so engrossed with his phone that I wanted to grab it from him and throw it out of the window. He didn’t even look at me.

“I have a paycheck, you know. But fine.” I went to my suitcase and grabbed something to wear. He started it.

Game on, Cade.

I placed my nighties on the bed. I went to blow dry my hair. When I was done, I returned, and he was still in the same position, like he was alone.

I untied my robe and let it drop to the floor, leaving me completely naked. As if I didn’t notice I caught his attention, I picked up the negligee and put it on. After I got a hydrating mask, I went to join him in bed. I applied it blindly. Then I lay beside him.

When our arms touched, I felt the straining of his muscles. He would be the strongest man on earth if he could keep his self-control at bay. And I had no doubt he was. It took me days to seduce him before he slept with me.

But this time, it was different. I was not teasing him. I was playing his own game.

“What are you doing, Vanderford?” His voice was deep, and he seemed to talk through gritted teeth.

“My bedtime routine, husband.” I linked my fingers together above my tummy. I knew he could see my nipples through my skimpy negligee, and my pussy was barely covered with the thin material.

“Whatever.” He turned to his side.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Can you cover me, please? The room is too cold,” I lied, but he got up and pulled the duvet up and covered half my body.

“What else, princess?”

Now he pissed me off. “The last time someone called me princess, he’s dead now.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Sadly, I was not the one who killed that asshole.”

“Watch your mouth.” His gaze dropped to my lips.

“Or what? You’re gonna choke me with your dick.”

“Just stop and sleep.”

“Yes, boss.”

He groaned before he turned his back against me. “If you wanna seduce me, try harder.”

“I wasn’t because your hate against me turns you off. You already told me that I could sleep with any man I want. That tells me a lot.” I swallowed down the pain. “And you can check my luggage. I didn’t bring my jammies. Too bad, right?”

I heard him sigh but didn’t say anything.

Tears fell to the corner of my eyes. No matter how hard I tried not to cry, being with my angry husband who hated me, no strong woman could ever keep that up. I had to get up from bed so he wouldn’t hear me sobbing.

I went to the bathroom to wash off my face. Then I thought of something stupid. Or maybe I wanted to test him. I grabbed a dress from the closet and wore it. I went to the adjacent room to put my makeup on. Striker might have fallen asleep, which made my plan a disappointment, but maybe I needed a proper drink.

I grabbed my clutch and picked up my high heels. I put them on when I was at the door.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?”

I froze in my place. “I thought you were already sleeping.”

“And you plan to sneak out?” He sounded pissed. “The last time you did, look where it took you.”

I turned around. “I need to get out, catch some fresh air-”

“In that outfit?”

I looked down at my black thigh-high slit mini-dress. “You didn’t let me finish. Get a drink and dance.”

“You hate nightclubs, Vanderford.”

“Then maybe I just wanna get out of your hair.”

“Your jerk and asshole husband can go with you if you want.” He roughly got up from bed. “I wasn’t sleeping.” He walked to the bathroom. When he came back, he was wiping his face, and he noticed me still standing right in front of the door.

“Just give me five.”

I checked the time on my phone. He was right. He was done in five minutes.

Twenty-five minutes later, we found a nice open restaurant where you could see the view of the ocean. It was pretty romantic if my husband was only in the mood.

I wasn’t hungry anymore, but I still ordered something for myself.

“Give me your phone.”

I gave it to him in hesitation. To my surprise, he took a picture of me in a stolen shot, then the view of the ocean. When he gave it back, I took a picture of him. I will post it later on my Instagram.

“I can’t remember the last time I went on a date.”