Virile.
Powerful.
Reckless.
Gentle.
I pressed my fingers across my lips as I leaned my head against the back of the seat, envisioning the way he'd looked when I'd been sucking his thick and delicious cock. I heard a moan slipping from my lips, forcing the driver to shift his gaze in my direction. If only we could live in the cabin, far removed from the rest of the world.
If only...
I must have closed my eyes, the exhaustion taking a toll. When I heard the rough voice, I jerked up, flinging out my arms.
"Whoa. Jesus, lady. I was just trying to wake you up. We're here." His gruff voice held a hint of amusement. The driver turned around, staring at me as if a hint of recognition had entered his mind.
I swallowed and avoided his gaze, darting a look at the massive mansion-style house positioned behind brick walls. "Thank you." As I opened the door, I grimaced, pulling out the bills I'd been given. "How much?"
"Thirty-seven fifty."
"Keep the change." I couldn't waste time waiting. What did I care? It was blood money.
He exhaled, studying me intently as he handed it back. "That's okay, lady. Somehow, I think you need a break. We'll meet again one day. Just remember you owe me."
I let out a deep breath, nodding several times. "Thank you. You're a good man."
"Naw, just one who's been in your place before. Take care of yourself. I hope you find what you're looking for."
For some crazy reason, I stood on the curb long after he'd pulled away, staring after the beat-up cab as if he'd been able to give me a sense of courage. Maybe things happened for a reason. I half laughed as I turned toward the mansion, glancing right and left before heading up the driveway. From what I'd been able to tell, there was no one following.
I was prepared to find several cars in the driveway, although I hadn't planned on what I would do if that was the case. There were no cars in sight, no sign of obvious life of any kind. I knew the senator was a man who preferred his privacy. His larger than life persona no doubt required time alone.
I took several deep breaths, glancing over my shoulder one last time before daring to knock on his door. A full minute ticked by then another. I had no freaking idea what I was going to do if he wasn't home. I'd invested my single moment of freedom in this. Jesus.
When I heard footsteps, I yanked my hair from the collar, trying my best to remain calm.
The man opening the door held a look of utter shock. "What the hell?"
"Senator Spalding. You and I need to talk."
He issued an exaggerated deep breath before nodding and ushering me inside, closing the door quickly. "I thought you were dead."
"Why don't we cut the pretenses, Senator? I am well aware that you somehow managed to fake my death." His eyes told me that I'd been right.
A wry smile crossed his face. "Well, I can see you are indeed just as tenacious as your father claimed you to be. Why don't you call me William? I think given what you're going through, we should be on a first-name basis."
"Does my father know?" My God, the man was trying to play me. He must think I'm some fool.
He shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked past me, heading toward the back of the house and into the kitchen. "Would you like some coffee? Maybe something stronger. It would appear you could use a libation."
"What I need is the damn truth. We'll start with an easy question first. Does my father know I'm alive?"
He lifted a single eyebrow before walking to a cabinet, pulling out two glasses. When he reached for a bottle of bourbon, I was almost incensed. He thought he could handle me. That much was certain. "Your father is a good friend of mine, but I couldn't afford to risk telling him. He's not a good actor. Plus, I'm not entirely certain he isn't working with that fucking murderer who killed my son. Your death had to appear real. Granted, when you disappeared, I honestly had no way of knowing whether you really were alive." The man was shaking like a leaf.
"Or if the monster, Axel Movino hunted me down, killing me for witnessing the murder of your son for something you did?" I'd shocked him again, his hand shaking.
William seemed to regroup, pouring two glasses and moving in my direction. When I refused to accept his offer, he simply placed it on the counter. "I'm not working for Axel Movino. I have no idea who told you that."
"You know exactly who made that suggestion. Maybe both you and my father were in on this. You also somehow found out that I'd had a relationship with Lorenzo Francesco years ago. While that surprises me, I realize you'd obviously go to any lengths to keep your good name and reputation. Wouldn't you, William?"
He studied me intently as he took a sip of his drink. The fucker was buying time, building another series of lies.
"I'm a careful man, Sierra. I have to be given what I do. You know that old expression about keeping your enemies close."
I almost laughed, the expression trite and overused. "Let me venture a guess, William. You thought that if certain evidence was slipped in my direction, I'd go running to Lorenzo instead of telling the story, maybe somehow giving you more of an inside to the Francesco family." He didn't even blink. "Or wait. Maybe you are working for the Movinos and figured any additional information I gathered would expose both groups of lowlifes."
A slight curl on his upper lip was the only indication he knew what I was talking about. "I assure you, Sierra, that I only wanted the truth exposed. It's been public knowledge for years that I can't stand the Francesco family and what they'd doing to our beautiful city."
"No, you wanted to make certain you weren't implicated in any wrongdoing. You do realize that Movino is a true monster. He murdered your son in cold blood. Don't you even give a shit?" Finally, there was some real emotion on his face, a mixture of anger and sadness.
He blinked several times, looking away, his breathing ragged. "I never wanted anything to happen to my son. He was all I had."
"Then why did you allow him to get involved?"
"Because I had no choice!" He bristled, shrinking back.
"Who was threatening you? Movino? I don't know anything about him other than the fact he's a murdering asshole, but I don't think he's smart enough to blackmail you." I could see there was so much more. I inched closer, daring him to look into my eyes. "Who the fuck is behind all of this?"
"I gave you a second chance at life, Sierra, because of my respect for your father. Don't fuck it up. I was in over my head when I asked my son to get involved, to provide you with evidence. I was wrong and now I'm going to have to live with it for the rest of my life."