Layover (Open Skies Book 1) Read online

  He knocked, making her jump. “Time’s up.”

  She took a breath and opened the door, crossing her arms over her chest.

  He stepped inside, eyeing her from head to foot and back up. “Panties off. I can see the line of them. It’s not attractive. This dress was meant to be worn without undergarments.”

  She took a step back.

  He grabbed her arm and yanked her against his chest. “You’re trying my patience, Libertad. Panties off, now, or I tie your wrists to the shower curtain rod and remove them myself. Maybe that’s what you want? Is it? Is your pussy already wet for me? I’m beginning to think you’re one of those women who enjoy being taken against her will.” The corner of his lip lifted in a smirk. “I can play that game if you like it, Libertad. It makes my dick all kinds of hard.”

  She shook her head. “No. I don’t fantasize about rape, Eddie. Let me go.” She yanked her arm hard enough to free herself and stepped back until she hit the wall.

  He smirked again. “We’ll see. Now, take the panties off.” He held out a hand.

  She’d been scared earlier, but now she was fucking terrified. He was going to end up raping her before this night was over. She could sense it. Her hands were shaking as she reached under the edge of the silk and quickly pulled her thong down her body, hoping she managed it without giving him a glance at her pussy.

  His hand was still outstretched, and she reluctantly set the thong in his palm.

  He brought it to his nose and inhaled before stuffing them in his pocket.

  She held her breath for every second of that, not exhaling until the panties were out of sight. If he had any nose at all, he would have smelled Jason on her panties. She hadn’t changed clothes since she left him last night. It had been late when she got home. All she’d done was change into her tank and shorts. The thong would still have remnants of his semen on them.

  For some reason it gave her a sense of pleasure knowing that another man’s semen was still inside her, still lingered on her pussy. Fuck Eddie.

  “Now take your hair down and fix it. I like it loose, down your back.” He pointed at the vanity. “Everything you’ll need is in the drawers.” He leaned against the doorframe. “Hurry. I don’t have all day.”

  She shoved off the wall and started going through the drawers until she found a brush. Her hands were shaking as she took the thick band out of her hair and then started working the brush through the knotted mess.

  Think, Libby. You have to get yourself out of this house. No one knows where you are. She groaned inside her head as she pictured her phone on the kitchen table, the phone that Jason could have used to track her.

  Is he looking for me yet? She didn’t know what time it was or how long she’d been out from being drugged, but she did know Christa had been due home in the early afternoon. And Libby nearly smiled when she remembered the coffee and the shattered mug. Christa would know something was wrong the moment she got home. How long ago was that?

  Eddie spoke of having dinner later, so she had to assume she’d only been asleep a few hours. Maybe she could convince him to let her out of this room. If he locked her inside, she didn’t stand much of a chance. It was doubtful anyone would hear her screaming from wherever this basement was.

  Chapter 31

  Jason’s phone buzzed in his pocket as he reached the front door of the Lopez mansion. He yanked it out and read a text from Christa.

  We were wrong. Whoever took Libby did go farther into the condo. They ransacked her room and took the dress Eddie sent her.

  “Fuck,” Jason muttered. He glanced at Tank. “Eddie has her.”

  Tank nodded, not asking for more information as Jason pounded on the front door.

  He had to wonder if Eddie really lived here with his parents. It seemed incredibly unlikely that he’d kidnapped Libby and brought her to his parents’ home, but this was where they needed to start.

  He knocked again, several times, not waiting long in between before he did it again. By the time a thin, older man opened the door, Tank was next to Jason.

  The man looked annoyed. “Can I help you?”

  “Is this where Eddie Lopez lives?”

  “May I ask who’s inquiring?”

  “No, you may not fucking ask—”

  Tank set a hand on Jason’s biceps. “We’re looking for Eddie the son, not the father. Does he live here?”

  “None of your business.” The man started to close the door.

  Tank stuck out his foot and stopped him, slamming his hand on the door at the same time. “I’m sorry, sir, but this is important. A woman is missing, and we think she’s with Eddie.”

  The man gasped and took a step back. “There’s no woman here.”

  “Her name is Libertad Garcia. You met her the other day,” Jason pointed out, grateful that Libby had given him all the details about her encounter with the Lopez family.

  The man nodded. “I know Libertad. Eddie’s girlfriend. If she’s with him, she wouldn’t be missing. But I haven’t seen her today.”

  Another man came from deeper in the house. “What’s going on, Franco?”

  “These men are looking for Eddie’s girlfriend. They’re incredibly rude, too. Shoved their way into the house.”

  The man’s expression went from curiosity to fury in seconds. He rushed the rest of the way forward and tried to shove Tank out of the way. Fat chance of that happening. There was a reason the man’s nickname was Tank.

  Jason planted his hand on the door and gave it a firm shove at the same time, ensuring they could not be shut out of the house. “Look, the police are on their way here. They’ll be here any moment. You can either help us or wait for them. Your choice, but time is of the essence here. Is Eddie home?”

  The man came closer, puffing out his chest. “Get the fuck out of my house right now.”

  Jason stepped inside, shoving the man out of the way. He started storming deeper into the house, glancing in every direction. He didn’t give a single fuck that he was breaking the law. Instinct told him Libby was here.

  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Eduardo said.

  Jason didn’t respond.

  “My son doesn’t live in the main house, you fucking asshole. I haven’t seen him today. He’s surely at work. Most people work during the day.”

  Jason turned around. “Where does he work?”

  “None of your business.”

  Jason stared at the older Eduardo for a second. Something else the man said had caught his attention. “Main house? Is there another house on the property?”

  “Fuck you,” Eduardo shouted.

  Tank grabbed the man by the shirt and slammed him against the wall. “Where the fuck is your son? Start talking.”

  A woman screamed.

  Jason spun around to find her rushing forward. A classy-looking woman dressed in extremely expensive clothing like Eduardo. Jason thought she must Eddie’s mother.

  She screamed again. “Eduardo, what are these men doing here?”

  “Go back to the kitchen, Elena,” Eduardo told her.

  Jason approached her. “Tell me where your son is, ma’am.”

  “Eddie? I assume he’s at work.” She put her hand over her heart. “What do you want with my son?”

  “I believe he kidnapped my girlfriend this morning.”

  She gasped. “You must be mistaken. Why would he do that? He has his own girlfriend.”

  Jason shook his head. “No, he does not. He has mine.”

  Two large men came running from deeper in the house, both wearing all black. What the fuck kind of people were these?

  The men were big though, almost as big as Tank and Jason. Jason pulled his gun out of the back of his jeans and held it up, praying to God they weren’t wrong about this. Jesus. Fuck. They were in deep now. But his gut told him things were not on the up and up here.

  Fucking mansion with a fucking butler and two bodyguards? Mafia. Drug cartel. Something illegal. Money was drip
ping off the walls in this place.

  One of the men reached for his back.

  “Don’t you fucking move an inch. Stay right there,” Jason shouted.

  The man held up his hands. So did his partner.

  “Where the fuck is she?” Jason shouted.

  The men glanced at each other, pissing Jason the fuck off.

  Tank was still holding the elder Eduardo by the shirt as he dragged the man past Jason and deeper into the house. Elena stood whimpering in the corner of the hallway, clutching the front of her blouse.

  “Hatch,” Tank shouted. “There’s a fucking guest house in back.”

  One of the two men suddenly bent forward and rammed his full body into Jason, knocking the breath out of him. Jason barely kept his grip on his gun.

  Jason righted himself and came after the bastard, swinging a hard left hook that knocked the guy against the wall. He slammed his head hard enough into the drywall that it cracked as the guy slid to the ground.

  The second man charged next, pulling his gun.

  Jason swung around and kicked the gun out of his grip, sending it flying before Jason landed a punch to the guy’s stomach. While he was doubled over, Jason grabbed his shirt and kneed him hard in the face. These assholes didn’t know who the fuck they were messing with.

  Elena was screaming again, but Jason gave her a hard look. “Shut the fuck up. Where is your son? Does he live in the guest house?”

  She nodded. “Yes, but if he’s done something, I don’t know anything about it.”

  Sure she didn’t. Jason didn’t give a single fuck right now. All he cared about was rescuing Libby from Eddie. He made sure the two men were out cold and then jogged deeper into the house.

  Tank still had a grip on Eduardo, who was putting up a fight near the back door. “Listen, old man, I don’t want to have to hurt you, but I fucking will if you don’t knock it off.”

  The guy kept struggling.

  Jason glanced around and then reached for a long, elegant cord that was holding back the expensive drapes. It was meant to be decorative, but today it was about to be useful. He grabbed a chair from the kitchen table and shoved it against Eduardo’s knees, forcing the man to sit.

  “Stop,” Elena screamed. “Don’t hurt him. He doesn’t know anything.”

  Jason ignored her as he tossed the rope to Tank.

  Footsteps rushing into the room made Jason spin around to find Sweets and Kraft joining them.

  “About time you got here,” Tank joked. “Go, Hatch. We’ve got this. Sweets and Kraft can secure the goons in the hallway. Go find Libby.” He nodded toward the back door as he jerked Eduardo’s hands behind his back.

  Jason yanked open the door and left it open as he jogged out the back. He spotted a second house beyond the pool. He rounded the pool and ran toward the house.

  He didn’t bother knocking this time. He kicked the front door in on the first try. It splintered and swung hard against the wall.

  Someone screamed. The sweetest voice he’d ever heard. He ran toward the noise, trying to pinpoint where it was coming from.

  “Downstairs,” she yelled, the second half of the word muffled. If that fucker hurt her…

  Jason found the door to the basement on the other side of the kitchen. It was standing open. He took the stairs two at a time, gun drawn. When he hit the bottom, he found Eddie at the foot of the stairs. The guy was holding Libby’s back against his front. He had a hand against her neck, and he was swinging a knife around.

  “Get the fuck out of my house,” Eddie shouted.

  Libby’s eyes were wide, and she was struggling, but she looked unharmed. If this asshole hurt one hair on her body…

  “Drop the knife, Eddie,” Jason said, keeping his voice calm. He could easily take this man out. He was trained to kill in situations like this. Eddie was making it far too easy. He wasn’t even holding the knife at Libby’s throat, and he didn’t appear to have a gun.

  Hell, even if he had a gun to her temple, Jason could kill him with one shot to the head and end this game, but that kind of action would traumatize Libby for the rest of her life. He didn’t want to kill Eddie if he could avoid it.

  “Fuck you,” Eddie sputtered, his spittle flying through the air. “She’s mine.”

  Jason kept inching closer. He glanced at Libby again to make sure she wasn’t in shock. She was close, but not there yet.

  “Put the knife down, Eddie. This is over. The police are on their way. If you end this peacefully, it will be much easier on you. If you hurt her, you’ll end up with the death penalty.”

  Eddie was shaking. That was a good sign. He was fucking crazy. He tightened his grip on Libby’s neck, pulling her almost off the ground.

  She grabbed his forearms, trying to free herself.

  Fuck. Jason didn’t want to have to shoot Eddie. “You can’t get out of this, man. I was on a special forces team with the Army. So were my friends in the main house. You don’t stand a chance. Put. The. Knife. Down.”

  Eddie’s fingers tightened again as Jason shifted his focus to the man’s other hand. He followed the pattern as Eddie swung the knife back and forth. He needed to put an end to this, and he wanted to do it without killing Eddie.

  The moment his arm was on the backswing, Jason was ready. His plan was risky. If he misjudged by even a few inches, Libby could be severely injured.

  And…now. Jason swung his foot around and kicked the knife out of Eddie’s hand. It went flying across the room, and Jason lunged forward, slamming his fist into the side of Eddie’s head while his attention was on his injured wrist.

  The second he made contact, Eddie’s grip released.

  Libby slid downward, but Jason caught her and pulled her away from Eddie as her assailant crumpled to the floor. Thank God. Jason didn’t want to have to continue pummeling the asshole.

  Libby was gasping for air as Jason hugged her against his chest. He finally released her just enough to hold her face and look into her eyes. “Are you hurt, baby?”

  She rubbed her neck but shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”

  Relieved, he pulled her against his chest again.

  “You found me,” she whispered, her body shaking violently.

  “Yeah.” He was choked up himself. Emotions flooded him now that the adrenaline rush was passing. He’d rescued dozens of people in his military career, but none that mattered to him as much as Libby. None he was in love with.

  Several voices came from upstairs.

  “Down here,” Jason shouted. “It’s over.”

  Feet pounded on the stairs. Police. Four of them. They had their guns drawn, but they holstered them as soon as they realized Jason had already knocked out the assailant.

  Jason hated thinking about all the damn questions and red tape they were about to endure. Hours of questioning and statements, but at least Libby was safe. She was in his arms. He was never going to let her go. He would be by her side the entire day.

  There was just one problem. He found Tank coming down the stairs behind the police. “Could you find something Libby could put on?”

  His woman was shivering against him, and he knew she would still be shivering even after he wrapped her in more clothing. She was in shock more than anything, but there wasn’t a chance in hell he was going to have her spend the day in this ridiculous dress that barely passed for lingerie while everyone stared at her.

  “On it.” Tank nodded and headed down the hallway.

  Chapter 32

  Libby was still shaking four hours later when they finally got back to Jason’s house. She was drained, and couldn’t muster up the energy to open the passenger door.

  It didn’t matter. Jason was there in seconds. He reached into the car and unbuckled her before grinning. “Mind if just this once I lift you out of the car?”

  She smiled back, grateful he could find some humor in a very shitty day. “I’d like that, but don’t make a habit of it.”

  He stuck one hand under her knees
and the other behind her back and lifted her into his arms.

  She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he carried her inside.

  Without stopping, he continued straight through to the master bathroom and sat on the edge of the tub. He reached in and turned on the water.

  She sighed. “Good idea. I’m so fucking tired, but I want to wash this day off first.”

  He stood her next to him and eased the thick sweater off her shoulders. It had provided her with cover and warmth all evening. Beneath it was the stupid black dress.

  “May I?” Jason asked as he reached for the hem.

  His hesitation both endeared him to her and also pissed her off. She cupped his cheeks. “I’m fine.”

  He held her gaze. “I know you think you are, and I know you told the police that Eddie didn’t touch you, but I also know it doesn’t take much for a woman to be traumatized for a long time after what you’ve been through. I won’t contribute to your terror.”

  She leaned closer and kissed him gently. “I’m fine, Jason. I need you to touch me. Erase this day with your touch. Dominate me in that way you do that tells me I’m yours and I’m safe and I’m loved.”

  He smiled and then cupped her face and kissed her so hard she nearly fell over backward. When he was done, he met her gaze again. “God, I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  He pulled the dress over her head and dropped it on the floor. His gaze roamed her body, inspecting her for injuries. She knew this, and she let him, saying nothing. Except for minor rope burns on her wrists and bruising at her neck, she was fine.

  When he was satisfied, she grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head. “Join me.”

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.” She reached for the button on his jeans next, but her hands were shaking. He eased them away and finished undressing himself.

  His glorious cock caught her attention and sent arousal through her body. She bit her lip as he stepped into the tub and then lifted her by the waist over the edge. He settled against the end of the tub and spread his legs, reaching for her.