Captured Miracle (2 page)

“I thought you’d play it this way.” His eyes were trained on me as he spoke. “So I made sure I was equipped with a move of proper response.”

I sneered. “This isn’t a game of chess.”

He laughed. “Ah, sweet humor.” He cocked his head. “But this is a game to me. A game I intend to win.” He grinned the same lopsided grin. His blue eyes were laughing in their over abundance of confidence. “Checkmate, Nova.”

You’re freaking insane!
I bit my lip to keep from screaming my thought at him. I watched, as his finger travelled over a button on a remote. A small screen dropped from the roof on my side of the car, and I stiffened in shock, feeling cornered. The image on the screen was of my home. I realized, chilled to the bone, that the footage was live.

He spoke, sounding cocky. “I have men positioned close to your family, where they will remain until I am confident that I have not only your compliance, but your loyalty and respect.” A new burst of tears fell from my eyes as I stared at the screen.
He was asking for the impossible.
“Nova,” his voice claimed my attention and my eyes flickered to his. “I am not above killing them, one by one, until I’ve gotten what I want from you.”

My breath was shaky, “What
do
you want from me?”

He shifted in the seat, his eyes skimming over my body. I felt the heat of his gaze over my skin, and my stomach churned. In all my twenty-one years, I’d never loathed another human being as much as I loathed him.

“What I want is simple, Nova.” He paused and I waited, holding my breath. “I want you to marry me.”

Chapter 2

“What?” I gasped, my lungs felt void of oxygen. They burned. I felt my fingers clawing at my throat, tugging the fabric of my t-shirt away from my neck, stroking the length of my neck - just
anything
to make the air flow through my airwaves again.

“I don’t repeat myself, Nova. Listen to me when I speak to you.” He reprimanded me with a cold, harsh tone. “You
will
marry me.”

I shook my head, frantically. “No.” I couldn’t stop shaking my head. “No, no, no I won’t.”

Through the dim lighting I saw one dark brow rise. That was the only infringement against the cool calm in his watchful expression. “Shall I kill your mother first?” He angled his head. His upper lip lifted into something that resembled a sneer, and I felt my blood run cold. “Or maybe one of your younger sisters?”

His words broke my heart and my determination. I couldn’t even find the will to grit my teeth. I croaked, “Why?”

“Why what?” His words were sharp.

“Why are you doing this? Why do you want me to marry you?” This time, I sobbed. “I don’t understand.”

He stiffened. “You’re in no position to demand answers. And if I want you to understand something, I will explain it to you.”

“This is my
life
.” I whispered.

“It
was
your life, love.” He grinned, but there was no kindness in the action. “You belong to me now.”

Numbly, I leaned back in the seat. The tips of my fingers felt cold and pained, they were tingling. It was as though my brain forgot to send blood in to warm my extremities. Shivers racked my body and my teeth chattered. When I spoke, my voice was small. I sounded so very weak, and I hated myself for it. “I, I don’t want to marry you.”

He smirked. “You don’t have a choice.”

“I’ll never love you.” I mumbled, aching inside. I felt dead. Everything I had ever hoped to attain from my life was quickly dissolving. I’d always been a big believer in fairytale love. I believed in the existence of a sweet, loving man, who would hold me from behind, moving my body to a romantic rhythm in his mind. I ached to be kissed unexpectedly, to feel a burst of butterflies fluttering lively in my stomach. I’d always dreamed I’d find my prince, and I would live happily ever after. But with every passing moment, I was seeing it for what it was, a beautifully improbable dream.

“I’m not asking for you to love me. I’m telling you that if you don’t marry me, I’ll kill everyone you’ve ever loved.” His eyes were focused intently on me as he leaned forward. “I retract my earlier statement. You do have a choice, Nova.” Hope flared in my chest and I held my breath. “You can choose to marry me so that your family can live, or you can choose not to marry me, and watch as your family dies. It is your choice, love.”

The fragment of hope I’d felt vanished into thin air. “That’s not much of a choice.”

“Ah,” he tisked. “But it is a choice. That is what you wanted, is it not, love?”

He really was a cruel beast of a man. I had no doubt he’d practiced the art of manipulation for years. He may have given me a choice, but either way my hands were tied.

Pulling a deep breath of air into my lungs, I looked into the eyes of a man with the heart of the devil. I spoke, “I’ll marry you.”

His blue eyes flickered with a sickening excitement and I shrunk into myself, wishing I could be anywhere but here. He regarded me for a long moment, his eyes slowly turning dark. “You really are a bleeding heart.”

I chomped down on my lower lip, crossing my bare legs. I wished I had a blanket to cover myself, but I’d be damned if I asked him for anything. Ever.

He spoke again, “We have a long journey ahead of us. I suggest you sleep.”

As if!
How the hell did he expect me to sleep after everything he’d done? Maybe he was mentally unstable. Of course, he was mentally unstable! He’d kidnapped me from my home and was forcing me to marry him. I shook my head, glaring out the window at the passing scenery.

When I’d woken to unfamiliar hands pulling at my body, covering my screams and threatening my family, the last thing I imagined was that I was being captured to marry some rich, egotistical brute. I’d thought I would be raped, beaten and murdered. I had never once suspected this. But maybe this was worse. Because I would be spending the rest of my life tied to a man I loathed with all my being. He had the rest of my days to torture me, and I didn’t know if I was that strong.

I replied, hoping my tone was cutting. “I don’t think I’ll be sleeping.”

He chuckled, “Suit yourself.”

Silence claimed the space in the limo, and I watched as Seattle’s glimmering city lights fell to the blackness that claimed the highway. My eyes burned, now void of tears, as I watched the land pass us by. I wondered where we were going, where he was taking me, but I didn’t ask. I couldn’t seem to find my will to speak. I didn’t really care where he took me. Caring would only lead to disappointment.

Hours passed as we drove. Slowly, the moon retired to the sun’s pink glow, before the entire sky was flickering with the magical hues of sunrise. It was beautiful. A sight worthy of an artist’s appreciative eye. It was Saturday morning and I knew that within a few hours, my family would rise. I was usually an early riser, and I knew that when they woke to find the pot void of coffee, they would come searching for me. They wouldn’t find me.

They wouldn’t find me.

The thought closed my throat and I gasped for breath loudly. From the corner of my eye, I saw the man, whose name I still didn’t know, stare at me in confusion. My fingers shook as I clawed at my throat, coughing. Tears clouded my vision and a panic I hadn’t yet experienced, set in. Loud sobs filled the silence. If I weren’t so panicked, I might have been ashamed at my display of weakness, but I couldn’t concentrate on that. All I could think about was my family. How desperate would they feel when they realized I had been taken? Would my mother blame herself?

“Oh, God,” the words were shaky and breathless. My eyes were frantic.

My heart climbed up my throat as the man moved quickly from his side of the limo to mine. His eyes were sharp as he took in my face, his hands heavy on my shoulders. “What is it?”

I shrugged away from his touch, but he only held my shoulders tighter. His hands were warm and steady. “Don’t,” I gasped the word. “Don’t touch me!”

He frowned, clearly perturbed. “What’s wrong with you?”

“My family,” violent sobs beset my body and I set my hands against his hard, muscled chest to push him away from me. He didn’t budge an inch. The man was built like freaking iron! “They’ll be so worried. They’ll think,” I shook my head, choking on my words. “Oh, God.”

He raised his brows. His expression was incredulous. “You’ve been with me for hours and you’ve only just realized this?”

“My mom,” I shook my head, sniffling. “She’s going to blame herself.”

He sighed heavily, his sturdy fingers slipping beneath my chin to force my eyes to meet his. “I’ve taken care of it.”

I shook my head, trying to shake off his touch. I hated his touch. “What did you do?”

“That isn’t your concern. But, I assure you, it’s taken care of.”

Again, I sobbed. “I don’t believe you.”

He shrugged, dropping his hand from my face. I thought he’d move back to his side of the limo, but he didn’t. Instead, he remained sitting beside me. He was too close for comfort. I scooted away from him, pressing myself against the side of the car.

He chuckled. “You may as well get used to me, love. You’re soon going to be my wife.”

“But I’m not yet.” My voice was still shaking, but the swell of panic I’d experienced was subsiding. “I’m not your wife, and I won’t ever
get used
to you.”

His eyes swung to meet mine. They were cold and hard. “Well, that’s your decision, love. But it’s going to make your life much harder than it has to be.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I demanded hoarsely. I set my hands in my lap, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my shirt.

He leaned back, eyeing me with interest. “I want a
wife
, Nova. Do you know what marriage entails? Do you know of the duties expected from a woman when a man takes a wife?”

I cringed in abhorrence. “I’m not sleeping with you!”

He laughed. “You will. And not only that, you’ll beg for me.”

The scowl that painted my face must have been hilarious, because he was grinning from ear to ear. “You’re delusional,” I spat. “I don’t even know your name.”

“My name’s Calix.” His voice was gravelly as his eyes bored into mine. “Calix McKnight.”

I didn’t reply, but I couldn’t help but shrink away from his persistent gaze. Why was he looking at me like this? Did he expect me to recognize his name? Had I met him somewhere before? Was that why he was doing this to me? Had I met him and somehow caught his fancy?

“What?” I snapped, glaring at him hotly. “Have I met you or something?”

He cocked his head to the side as though tasting my words, before finally replying. “No, Nova. We’ve never met.”

I nodded. I couldn’t help feeling confused as I stared at him. Minutes passed before I said anything. “I think you should move to your side of the car.”

He raised a single brow. “My side?”

“Yes, your side.” I pointed to the spot he’d claimed up until I’d had my shameful break down. “Over there.”

Calix made a show of pondering my proposal before shaking his head. “Nope.” His blue eyes settled on me and I shivered. “I think I’ll stay right here beside my fiancée.”

“I’m not your fiancée.” I muttered under my breath. “I’m your captive.”

Before I knew it, Calix’s hand was around my waist and I was on his lap. I froze. I could feel his heat through the very thin material of our clothing. His hands on my waist were burning though the flimsy shirt I wore. I may as well have been butt naked. As soon as the thought entered my mind, I flushed cherry red and scolded myself hotly. Gathering my courage, I pushed at his chest, trying to disentangle myself from his body. He refused to relent as he watched me struggle. I felt like a rabbit caught in a hunter’s snare.

I was helpless.

“Stop.” Calix growled, his voice vibrating through his chest. His tone was so commanding, I stilled. “You’ll listen to me carefully, Nova. I’m a very important man. I care about my public image and I care about how others perceive me. I will not be made a fool of by my fiancée. Yes, you are my fiancée. I’ll remind you, that you’ve
chosen
to marry me.” He paused and I stared at the seat beside him. I couldn’t bring myself to look into his eyes. I was so angry, I could feel my body quaking. He continued. “You will not fight me when I touch you, you will smile when I whisper in your ear and you will obey my commands, have I made myself clear?”

I chewed on my lip, determined not to answer him. Calix waited all of thirty seconds before he pinched my side. Hard. “Ouch!” I hissed, glaring daggers at him. “What the hell was that for?”

“I’ve already told you once, Nova. I expect a reply when I speak to you.” His fingers started rubbing the sore spot he’d pinched, his warmth quickly soothing the skin. I tensed. I didn’t want him to make me feel good. I’d take another pinch over this warm caressing. “There will be consequences for your indiscretions, Nova.”

“You’re an asshole.” I declared, staring straight into his piercing blue eyes. “You’re a fucking asshole.”

He caught my chin in his hand, stiffly holding my face mere inches from his. When he spoke, I could taste his breath. It was - sweet. I scowled, wanting to stick my finger down my throat. “That language is anything but becoming on you. I suggest you refrain from using it.” He winked. “Unless you have a hankering for punishment, love?”

“That doesn’t even deserve a response.” I wiggled on his lap, again trying to set myself free from the snare that was his arms. “Please, let me go.”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

My mouth dropped. “I don’t want to be touched by you. Why can’t you understand that?”

“I don’t care what you want, love.” Calix replied as though bored. “I care about what I want, and right now, I want to hold you.”

I gritted my teeth, “Why?”

He leaned forward, whispering in my ear. “Because I’m loving the feeling of your almost naked ass on my lap.”

I pulled away, and before I thought my action through, I’d slapped him hard across the face. The sound of the slap echoed through the limo and I gasped, the cold hard realization of what I’d just done settling into the deepest pit of my stomach.
Oh shit!