CHAPTER THREE: THINGS ESCALATE
When they had reached the sprawling, ivy-covered mansion last night, Katherine had been locked in a rather palatial room. Her tired morning eyes were a testament to her fitful sleep. Her shower had helped refresh her and despite her search, she found only a thin white robe to cover herself. She paced fitfully back and forward, unsure of the ordeal that awaited her.
The redhead stopped by the bow window to admire the view across the impressive grounds just before she heard the sound of a key in the lock. She turned to see Desmond enter with another man.
"This is the boss," he gruffly said. "You better treat him with respect!"
The small black man was casually dressed but the cut of his shirt and trousers was immaculately tailored. He stood quietly for a short while as his eyes took in her body through the thin gown. It seemed as if he was daring her to speak, but she knew better.
"Welcome to my home, Katherine," he eventually said. "It seems you added a little complication to our activities last night."
The little colour remaining in her cheeks begin to drain away. Her vulnerability was quite clear.
"What... what are you going to do with me?"
"Well, that all depends on you, Katherine," he softly drawled. "I'm not into gratuitous violence, whatever you may have heard."
"I haven't heard anything," she gushed. "I don't even know who you are!"
"So you say," he murmured, walking across and taking her hand. "For now, just call me Eddie. Here, why don't we sit for a moment while I explain the rules?"
He led her to the bed and eased his athletic body beside her on the soft mattress.
"First, Katherine, you will appreciate that I have to protect my empire?"
Katherine nodded. She did not understand which empire he referred to but knew that any wrong move spelt trouble.
"Good! Joshua and his father are thorns in my side and I need to remove those thorns," he continued. "Hopefully I can do so to everyone's satisfaction, but that remains to be seen."
His black thumb stroked her palm as if attempting to provide reassurance.
"Unfortunately, Katherine, your friend Mario double-crossed us. He did so to such an extent that we needed closure on our relationship with him. The fact that you were in his suite was unfortunate, shall we say."
He looked across at Desmond. "And careless of us," he rasped.
Desmond shifted uneasily from foot to foot, looking down at the floor.
"But you know what, Katherine? I can trust Desmond with my life. The question is, how much can I trust you?"
His grip on her hand tightened, as if to reinforce the point.
"You can," she whimpered.
"Yes, I know you will tell me that, Katherine. But then, in your position, you will tell me anything. So let's establish the rules."
She gulped, the dryness in her throat increasing as his grip tightened further.
"First," he said with an eerie smile, "common sense tells me I should get Jimmy and Tommy to take care of you right now!"
Her pulse quickened and bile rose in her throat.
"They want to, you know! And who could blame them? You are the only witness that could send them to jail for a long, long time."
The tightness that ran across her chest made her whimper.
"So, if I allow you to live, there are just three things you need to understand."
Katherine blinked rapidly as she attempted to contain the physical sickness threatening to overpower her.
"If you ever lie to me or Desmond about a single thing, you are dead!"
He paused for a second to allow his words to sink in.
"Understand?"
Katherine nodded as the vomit entered her lower chest.
"Second, you do everything asked of you without hesitation. Whatever that may be! Understand again?"
Her eyes began to weep from her feeling of nausea as she silently nodded again.
"And finally, you make no attempt to escape or to contact anyone."
He raised his eyebrows as if to emphasize the point.
"Break any rule and I shall have you killed."
Her breathing was short, rapid, gasps and she whimpered again as he took hold of her chin.
"I feel that you understand but perhaps you should tell me," he insisted.
"Eddie... yes... I'll obey every rule. I'm caught up in this by accident and I don't want to be. I have no intention of telling on anyone, I promise."
Soft tears began to fall onto her robe. Eddie silently waited until she began to recover, making no attempt to comfort her or frighten her further. He had achieved what he wanted.
Composed again, she took a long gulp of air and slowly raised her eyes to his. She found they were smiling at her.
"You okay?" he asked, a hint of compassion in his voice.
She nodded slowly, her breathing more regular as she regained control.
"Good," he said as he turned to Desmond. "You can leave us now."
As soon as the door closed behind his number two, he began to unbutton his shirt.
*