Dangerous Beauty: Part Three: This is War Read online

  She continued to imagine her guys, so perfect and happy. Deeper and deeper she slipped until there was nothing but darkness.

  ~*~

  Cold, hard acrylic against her face, that’s all Anastacia felt. Slowly her heavy eyes opened. In front of her, all she saw was white. She frowned. Was this heaven?

  Slowly she pushed her heavy body up and looked around the room. The bathroom? She was still in the bathroom. She crawled over the edge of the tub and fell hard onto the marble floor.

  “Ugh!”

  Pushing herself up, she crawled to the mirror as fast as she could. She looked up and saw her reflection.

  “What. The. Fuck!”

  ~*~

  Anastacia ran down the dark streets in the pouring rain, hoping that she’d catch that lying thief of a doctor before he went home for the evening. Four hours! She’d been in a fucking deep sleep for four fucking hours!

  When the doctor’s private office came into view Anastacia ran faster. As she approached, she spotted the doctor himself exiting his office with an umbrella above his head as he fiddled with his keys, locking his office door.

  Anastacia ran up to him and pushed him hard.

  “You lying motherfucker!” she yelled right before she began spewing rapid curse words in her native tongue as she hit the man repeatedly.

  Somehow, the large man was able get a tight hold of her.

  “Enough, child!” he shouted, his deep, baritone voice thick with an Italian accent. “Enough I say!”

  He held on to Anastacia tightly with one arm as he used his other hand to unlock his office door. Anastacia became hysterical, screaming and thrashing in his arms.

  Once they entered his office, he carried her to a couch and released her. Anastacia stood to her feet quickly and pointed at the man.

  “If you ever touch me again I will have you killed!” she screamed. “Do you understand me?”

  “I do not touch you,” he shouted angrily. “I protect myself from your attack!”

  “You lied to me! You’re a liar, and I could kill you for it.”

  “Do not threaten me, child,” he warned. “I have shown mercy here tonight. You have committed many crimes coming to me today and on this night. I could have you arrested.”

  Anastacia lifted her chin in cold defiance. “Call the authorities if you must. My Paolo would have me out within the hour, and have your head for putting me there. I could call the authorities on you for your stealing!”

  “That is a lie! I steal nothing from you, girl.”

  “You took the money I gave you, and gave me something I didn’t ask for. You lied to me. You told me the medicine would give me what I needed.”

  “It did!”

  “No it didn’t!” she screamed.

  “You came to my office and ask me for help, and I gave it to you. This is all I offer to you, girl, my help.”

  Anastacia tightened her jaw as tears fell down her face. Annoyed by her emotions, she lashed out at the doctor, attacking him once more.

  The doctor quickly grabbed hold of her and shook her hard.

  “Stop, I say!” he shouted. When Anastacia stopped her tantrum he proceeded to explain. “You need to listen, child. You came to my office today and insulted my integrity as a physician, and as a decent, hard-working man. I do not take your money. I put it in a safe place and await your return. No amount of money will make me kill a child! You are but twenty years, girl. You do not need death. You needed sleep, so I give this to you. Now you are rested and you will think clearly.”

  Anastacia didn’t speak for a long moment as she stared into the doctor’s dark green eyes. Though his dark black hair was matted against his pale forehead, she could see the emotion in his eyes clearly. So much genuine concern. Nothing else, just concern. But why should she trust that? He didn’t even know her, why would he care?

  “Give me back my money,” she whispered.

  He shook his head. “I will not. Your money will remain in a safe place, Anastacia Stone. You will come back to me and get the help you need. Once we get you better, you can have money back.”

  “I’m not sick. I don’t need help.”

  “I disagree, young one. You need my help indeed. I remember what you told me, dear girl. I understand you are hurt. Is not easy for woman to lose child, but you cannot give up on living. We are human. The pain inside of our hearts can break us, but we must endure. I can help you endure …”

  Anastacia jerked out of his grasp. “I don’t need your help!” she spat. “You keep the money then! I don’t want it.”

  “Neither do I, child. I want to help you.” Reaching over to his desk, he grabbed a card. “Here, take this. It has my name and number on it. You will call me when you are ready to get better.” He sighed sadly. “Please do not do anything stupid. You have so much life to live. One day, or maybe even ten years from now, you will thank me for not helping you end your life.”

  “Fuck you!” Anastacia screamed, throwing the card in his face. “If you won’t help me I’ll find someone else.”

  She ran out of his office and into the storm as he screamed after her. Anastacia didn’t stop. She didn’t want him to catch her, she didn’t want to be helped; she just needed to think. She needed to make another plan.

  In the distance she spotted a nice restaurant that appeared empty. The sign still shone bright, so she decided to go in to sit and dry off a little bit. Once she entered, she was seated in the back of the restaurant, which she preferred, and given a menu.

  She didn’t want to eat. Nor did she feel like talking, or drinking. She wasn’t even supposed to be alive right now …

  “Pardon me, is this seat taken?” a male asked, breaking her trance. Not even waiting for her response, he took the seat across from her.

  Anastacia looked up at the man that had spoken to her but didn’t speak. Couldn’t speak … Even her annoyance at being spoken to couldn’t stop her from noticing him.

  The first word that popped into her mind when she saw him was smooth. So smooth, sleek, sharp, and flawless. An untouchable God-given beauty that she’d never seen before. Skin without a blemish, which was dark like hers, and seemed to glow … yes, glow. He possessed a different type of beauty. One she’d never seen before.

  “Hello,” he said, breaking the silence.

  Interesting accent, Anastacia thought, unable to place it. His voice—which was dark and hypnotizing— was smooth like silk. Anastacia’s eyes narrowed in on his full, sensual lips. They were moving, but she heard nothing. Her gaze lifted to his deep brown eyes, striking in contrast to his skin. She was fascinated by this alluring creature. Never before had she felt such an attraction. It was new to her, it was … exciting.

  Quickly she looked away from him. What had gotten into her? Maybe the doctor was right. Anastacia was losing her mind. Yes, the man was incredibly handsome, but the fact was, he was a man. Men only wanted one thing from her, and it was something she wasn’t willing to give to anyone else other than the two men she’d already given it to.

  She shot the oddly handsome man a cold look and motioned for him to get lost. “This seat is taken” she lied.

  The man chuckled. “Is it?”

  “Yes it is,” she said dismissively. “Now move.”

  “Move?” he asked with his brow arched and amusement in his eyes. “Why must I move?”

  Anastacia shrugged. “Because I don’t want to sit with you, that’s why.”

  He smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. “Keep talking. You’re accent pleases my ears.”

  Anastacia rolled her eyes. Great, he’s arrogant. Yet, arrogant seemed too simple of a word to describe him. “What do you want?” she asked, annoyed.

  He sighed, furrowing his brows thoughtfully. “Well, that is a loaded question.” He shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t know, I suppose I want what all humans secretly want. Power, freedom, world domination … a family, a home, a dog—”

  “Okay, stop,” Anastacia snapped, cutting him
off. Although she was amused, she used her willpower and fought against it in effort to get rid of him. “Thank you for sharing, but that’s not what I meant. I mean, what do you want now? Why are you intruding on my evening?”

  His eyes squinted in a smile as he sat back, crossing his legs and straightening in his seat. “I suppose the simplest answer to that is … company.”

  “Company?”

  He nodded. “You’re alone, I’m alone. Why not be alone together?”

  “Because we can’t be alone if we are together.”

  He smiled. “True, but we can be alone together.”

  Anastacia sighed, frustrated with the handsome stranger. “I don’t want to be alone with you.”

  “But I would very much enjoy being alone with you.”

  “Why?” she asked sharply.

  After staring at her for a moment, he replied, “Your eyes …”

  Her brows furrowed in confusion. “What about my eyes?”

  “I am drawn to your sadness.”

  Drawn to my … sadness?

  “You’re beautiful.”

  And there it was, that stupid word. Beautiful. Anastacia hated the fucking word. It had become meaningless to her. “Thank you,” she said, her words empty of gratitude. “You can go now. I don’t need anyone else to remind me of my appearance.”

  “I said nothing of your appearance, pet.” She would come to realize that this was the first of many times this man would refer to her as pet.

  “The beauty I speak of is not as superficial as that. Your outward appearance is nice, I do not deny that. Although I imagine you’ve looked better. Right now you look like a messy … homeless woman. Those ridiculous wet clothes,” he muttered as he glanced away from her, unimpressed.

  Anastacia frowned, casting her eyes downward in embarrassment. “I assure you, I am not homeless,” she said softly.

  “I have no doubt that of that, pet.” He smiled warmly. “You sit like a young woman of great wealth. Now, like I was saying, the beauty I speak of is in your eyes.”

  “What is in my eyes?”

  “Sadness, heart-break, utter despair.” He folded his hands in his lap. “I find the pure emotion quite stunning. Telling eyes are attractive to me.”

  Telling eyes … He was interesting, to say the least. And that easily, he’d hooked her. Looking away shyly, she whispered, “Thank you.”

  “What is your name, pet?” he asked.

  “Anastacia,” she whispered, unsure why she suddenly felt so shy.

  Suddenly, he reached across the table and touched her hand, causing her to inhale a sharp breath. It was just the slightest touch but it gave her butterflies.

  “Anastacia …”

  Even the way he said her name was perfect. When she brought her eyes back to him, the smile he wore was both devious and beautiful. Anastacia felt herself being pulled deeper and deeper into an alternate universe. His eyes were hypnotizing. Wherever he took her, she’d be more than willing to go with him.

  “I am going to be straight forward with you. I find you intriguingly beautiful and I want you. Tonight, I am taking over the world, pet. Would you be interested in joining me?”

  “Yes.” The word left her lips with no effort at all. She wanted an escape, and he would be that for her …

  His smile widened and he took her hand. “There it is, that beauty in those eyes. I saw your answer before you even said it. Come,” he commanded as he stood to his feet and straightened the jacket of his black suit. “There is no time to waste.”

  Now? They were leaving now. When he extended his hand to Anastacia, she took it. He pulled her up from her seat and they began walking toward the door.

  “Wait,” she said quickly.

  He stopped immediately and turned to face her. “Yes, pet?”

  She glanced up at him meekly as the shyness crept back into her system. “Your name,” she whispered. “You never told me your name.”

  A small smile appeared on his face as he turned to her and gently grazed his fingertips across her face. She felt her breathing pick up the moment he touched her.

  He leaned forward and kissed first her left cheek, then her right before placing his lips on her forehead. “Silas, pet. My name is Silas Steele.”

  Silas Steele …

  Chapter 1: The hit. Carter and Spook Steele.

  Six years earlier …

  “Carter!” Robert shook his sleeping daughter harder. “Carterina, get up now!”

  Yawning, Carter’s hazel eyes peeked open. A smile spread across her pretty face as she stretched her tired limbs.

  “Yeah, Dad—”

  When she stopped talking and frowned, Robert knew that his little girl felt it, too.

  Someone was in the house.

  She turned a worried, fearful gaze to him and he nodded that she was right.

  “Daddy, what’s going on?” she whispered.

  “Shh …” Robert guided her from the bed. “There’s no time to explain, baby girl. It’s time for you to go.”

  Fear immediately flashed through her eyes and she shook her head frantically. “No,” she cried. “Daddy, please, don’t make me go. Please come with me! We can get out together.”

  Tears filled her big, beautiful hazel eyes and Robert’s heart twisted painfully in his chest. He should have been more prepared for this. He’d known this was coming, yet he hadn’t talked to Carter like he was supposed to. Unfortunately, it was too late. This was it. Silas was making his move before Robert was ready. The sneaky fucking prick!

  “Daddy?”

  Carter’s frightened voice brought him back to the present. He gazed into her eyes, wishing he had time to tell her all that was about to happen. He yearned to tell her everything, but there was no time. She had to run, and he had to trust that her mother would find her before Silas got a hold of her. The last thing Robert wanted was that fucking bastard winning this … little war they were having.

  “Come, baby girl.” He pulled her from the bed. “To the window. You know what to do.”

  She immediately began to cry. “Daddy, no,” she sobbed. “I can’t. I’m scared.”

  Robert gripped her shoulders and turned her to face him. “No,” he whispered sharply. “Do not do this, Carterina! You will go, and you will be strong.” He touched her face softly. “We will meet at the train station. Go!”

  Without looking into her eyes, he pulled her to the window. He knew if he did, he wouldn’t do what he knew needed to be done. There were men here to get him. He knew they weren’t sent by his brother; this was Mitchell’s desperate attempt. Robert planned on killing Mitchell and telling Angelo the bastard’s idiotic attempt at killing him, but this shit was about to derail all of his plans. Robert knew that he could beat the men in his home, all of them, but he needed to be ready for surprises. Silas was watching the house, and Robert knew it. This meant that he’d intercepted the men Mitchell had sent, and sent them in under his instructions. Robert also knew that Silas wouldn’t stop Carter from running. He wasn’t ready for Carter yet. He had an end game and that was having Anastacia and Carterina back in his life. Tonight, Silas sent the men in to take him … only him.

  Tonight Silas was making his move, and Robert was pretty sure he would succeed.

  Fuck!

  Robert helped his daughter climb out of the window. “All right, baby girl. We don’t have much time. You know what I want you to do, Carter. I want you to run. Do not look back, just run. Go to the train station and get the money I have there. It’s not much, but it will last until …” Swallowing, Robert took a deep breath as he finally looked into his baby girl’s eyes. The devastation, fear, and innocence there nearly broke him. Robert hadn’t cried since he was a child, but now he could feel unshed tears stinging the backs of his eyes. He could very well be saying good-bye to his little girl for a very long time. Not only that, but he needed to tell her about her mother. Given, this was not the best time, but Robert knew he no longer had a choice. He had to do it. �
��Baby girl,” he began, “I need to tell you something.”

  She nodded and took one step down the side of the house. “Yes, Daddy,” she whispered.

  Robert clenched his jaw to keep from pulling his little girl back through the window so he could comfort her. He needed to pull himself together; he had to be an example. He knew that if he didn’t show strength, she wouldn’t.

  It was time to tell her to look for her mother. Robert took a deep breath and continued. “Carterina, I need to tell you that your—”

  Robert’s rapid words went unsaid when the distinct pop of a silenced gun hit his ears and something pierced his leg, causing it to immediately go numb. Completely losing his balance, he fell to the floor with a thump. From outside of the house he heard Carter scream and cry, “Daddy!” over and over again.

  Robert shot up to sitting position and quickly pressed his back to the wall. He’d been shot with something, and it wasn’t a bullet. He was positive he knew exactly what it was since he’d come in contact with the numbing chemical many times before. It was Silas’s favorite toy, and he’d armed whoever was coming to attack Robert with the cowardice shit! Robert gritted his teeth and raised his arm out of the window just as a man he recognized slowly walked into his bedroom.

  Interesting, Robert thought. Mitchell had hired contract killers that Robert knew personally, and the motherfuckers took the job … huge mistake.

  Robert hit the side of the house, and calmed his terrified little girl. “I’m here, baby,” he yelled. “Run, Carterina! Leave here now!”

  As he heard her sobs getting further away, he closed his eyes, praying that her mother would find her and that she would be safe from Silas.

  “I love you, baby girl,” he whispered.

  “You know, I always thought that the moment you became a father was your weakest moment, Spook.”

  Robert’s jaw ticked as soon as the man spoke to him. He looked up at the sneering man and smiled. “Weakness?” Robert growled. “If I am weak, then what are you, Mr. Matt?”