Mikala's Passion (Pulse Series Book 2) Read online

  “Let’s get started, you stand here, Carl.” Landon instructed Carl to stand directly in front of him with barely room to breathe between them.

  “So, if I was an attacker, more than likely I’m going to grab you from behind like this,” Landon said, as he wrapped his arms around Carl’s shoulders. “Now, try to get away from me.”

  As Carl squirmed and struggled to get free of Landon’s grasp, the girls watched Carl’s face redden and a layer of sweat bead on his brow and upper lip. Eden elbowed Mikala’s side and they giggled when Landon gave them a wicked grin spreading from cheek to cheek. He was holding on a little longer than necessary, getting more out of the moment than the girls were and they were well aware of this.

  “Uncle…for shits sake!” Carl yelled, and Landon set him free.

  “In this case, I would have overpowered him, probably dragged him into a dark ally or a building and raped or assaulted him.”

  Carl leaned forward with his hands on his knees, trying to slow his breathing and looking daggers at Landon. “I absolutely feel attacked, thank you very much.”

  Carl was by no means puny, he was basically the same height as Landon and he had a rather nice beastly structure all his own, but it was obvious that Landon was the dominant force of the two in mass. It was clear that Landon was a gym whore, whereas Carl’s regimen was not quite as structured.

  “Why don’t you grab me Carl, use the same hold as I did.”

  Carl cautiously circled his arms around Landon’s burly chest. Being as he was larger than Carl, it was almost laughable at the challenge he had to keep his hands clamped. The girls couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Ladies, please,” Landon scolded.

  “Always, always go for the groin. In this hold, your hips are free to move,” Landon said, wiggling his hips to demonstrate, clearly rubbing his butt against Carl’s crotch and although Carl held tight he was trying to create a distance. “Remember you want to cause as much pain as possible. Hips to the side, reach back and grab the guy by the nuts.”

  Landon’s hand clamped onto Carl’s junk. Carl eyes bugged out and he let out a gasp that echoed throughout the room. Clearly he wasn’t in pain, but he wasn’t comfortable either as his face turned crimson and his mouthed formed a traumatized O.

  “You can let go now, please and thank you.” Carl asked, and Landon complied.

  “You okay?” Landon asked.

  “Fine.” Was all Carl could manage as he adjusted himself and cricked his neck from side to side. The stirring in his pants was unsettling, he needed to disconnect and started reciting the alphabet backwards in his head. It had been years since a man touched him and he wasn’t any more accepting now as he was then. ZYXWVUSTR…

  “Just a few more things I want to show the girls today, you up for it?” Landon asked Carl, with a manly slap to his shoulder. Mikala laughed at the witticism and turned away.

  Carl checked out his wrist watch so he didn’t have to look the man in the face. “I have a few more minutes to spare…I guess.”

  “Good, stand and face me,” Landon said, Carl complied, hesitantly.

  Standing facing each other, Carl finally glanced into Landon’s face. Surprisingly he found that both Landon’s smile and mocha colored eyes were alluring at this close proximity. If he hadn’t thought it so ridiculous he would say that he noted a look of lust behind that smile. He instantly rejected the idea of wanting anything with Landon, he wasn’t going to start questioning his sexuality again.

  Never again.

  “Men like to use a choke hold on a woman, like this,” Landon wrapped his huge hands around Carl’s neck, “makes them feel powerful.” He winked at Carl with a shit-eating grin. “But all you need to do ladies is slap his face and he’ll let go long enough for you to escape, like this,” He brought both hands together slowly tapping them against both Carl’s cheeks with a smile.

  “What the fuck’s that going to do?” Mikala asked.

  “Hold your breath Carl,” he warned, slapping his cheeks hard between his palms.

  Carl fell to the ground and stared up at Landon in shock. “Jesus H. Christ, that fucking hurt!”

  “It was supposed to, that’s the point,” Landon laughed, holding out a hand and helping Carl to his feet. “I can show you another way to take a man down with a single hit.”

  “These balls have had enough, count me out,” Carl said, shielding himself with his hand.

  “No balls involved,” Landon assured him. “I won’t lay a hand on them. I’ll have one of the girls take over, okay?”

  “Okay,” Carl snarled.

  “Eden, stand facing Carl, let him grab your throat.”

  “Okay.” She ran over and stood in front of Carl with a grin on her face. “Go for it Carl, so I can kick your ass.” She laughed and he chuckled.

  “All you need to do from here is smash him in the carotid artery, it will interfere with his oxygen levels and mess his head enough that he will fall to the ground like a bag of shit and you can escape. Like this.” Landon brought her hand up showing her and Mikala where to land their hand at the side of his neck just under his ear. “Now go for it and don’t hold back.”

  Carl braced himself as Eden and Mikala shared a titter before Eden drew back her hand and with every ounce of power she had in her tiny pint sized body, landed a blow in just the right spot and Carl crumpled to the ground at her feet.

  She jumped around with her hands over her head like Mohamad Ali, as if she had just won the championship fight and was announced the queen of the ring. “Get up Carl, I want to do it again.”

  “Fuck you and you and you.” Carl pointed at each of them and struggled to his feet. “I’m leaving. You can find some other sucker to slap around.”

  “Aw, come on Carl,” Mikala said, with a pout.

  “No, no more, no way, no how!” he announced, storming to the door.

  “Wait up a minute, Carl?” Landon called, following close behind.

  “That was fun. I can’t wait to show Chase,” Eden laughed.

  “He’ll be thrilled,” Mikala laughed, as she walked to the kitchen. “Coffee, I need major caffeine, want one?”

  “Not for me thanks, I really should be going.”

  Mikala took a sip of coffee leaning against the counter with a sigh. “Don’t go yet, I need you to help me pick out what I’m wearing for the club opening.”

  “Sure thing, you’re not buying something new?” Eden asked, leaning into the open refrigerator and retrieving a bottle of orange juice.

  “The budget says no to new. I have four dresses back from the drycleaners that I’ve only worn once. Help me pick one.”

  Mikala modeled each dress and Eden matched up shoes and accessories and when they were both happy with the ensemble, Mikala hid it in the back of the closet where Mason wouldn’t see. She wanted him to be surprised and wanted to have him drooling all night long and fantasizing about what he would do to her when he got her home.

  ***

  The grand opening of ‘Passion’ had been organized as an invitation only event. Existing clientele and the usual elbow rubbing crowd had been invited, along with some sports celebrities and local politicians. The Mayor had been asked to cut the ribbon, it was always a good idea to have city hall on your side, and even the chief of police was in attendance.

  Mikala had whisked Mayor Townsend off for a private tour in hopes that paying him extra attention and offering an exclusive membership, he would gladly look the other way if and when certain minutiae were ever disclosed.

  Townsend showed quite an interest in the 007 theme room, winking when he asked what her privacy policy entailed regarding anonymity and private entrances.

  “I assure you, should you require special services,” Mikala hugged his bicep, moving closer to his ear as they strolled along the corridor, “I will personally see to it that your anonymity is protected. My clientele after all deserve the best of everything, where they can conduct business meetings in completely private a
nd secure surroundings,” she said, with a knowing tilt of her head.

  “Where do I sign?” he asked, as she directed him to the elevator, punched in her code and stepped inside with Landon close by.

  “This is Landon,” she said, when Townsend eyed the extra body joining them. “Special security, we have excellent security on premises at all times.”

  “Seems you have overlooked nothing, Miss Santino, I’m impressed.”

  With a wicked smile Mikala whispered, “My club is my passion.”

  Walking off the elevator, they side stepped into her office as the sound of techno music blasted in the air. The dance club was in full swing with a larger than normal showing for a Friday evening.

  “Lively crowd,” Townsend joked, as they walked into her office and closed the door while Landon stood outside guarding the entrance.

  A Cheshire cat grin was pasted across Mikala face, as she came from her office with Townsend and escorted him out the back exit to a waiting limousine. She waved as it drove away. Landon checked the door to make sure it was secured properly and turned in time to catch Mikala when she jumped into his arms. “Can you fucking believe that?” she yelled over the music.

  “You did good girl,” Landon replied, placing her on the ground as she tugged at her hemline to make sure it was in place.

  “Am I interrupting?” Mason growled, as he approached the pair standing all alone.

  “Don’t be stupid.” She slapped her hand against Mason’s chest and then tugged him forward by his shirt. “You’ll never guess who I just signed up as a client.”

  “Three guesses?” he joked.

  “Mayor Townsend, can you fucking believe it, the fucking Mayor is on my client list!” She was beyond tickled pink and rushed off before Mason could say anything.

  “Stay on her Landon, she’s all over the place,” Mason ordered, as he lost sight of her in her black sequined, far-too-short-for-his-liking dress and stilettos. Even though the idea of pealing it off of her later had him adjusting himself for the umpteenth time, he just didn’t want anyone else having the same thoughts about his woman.

  Mason understood her excitement but had this pressing feeling as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, that all was not perfect in the world of Passion & Pulse tonight. And the fact that the techno beat resonating through the room was increasing his sizable headache, he was finding it hard to concentrate, which pissed him off. Nearing the elevator so he could head up to the club where it was far more refined with mellow music and conversation, he thumbed in his code and happily stepped into the quiet box, watching as the door slid closed.

  Mason’s head tilted back, he closed his eyes when it made contact with the cool mirrored wall. Lights flickered behind his closed lids, the elevator jerked to a stop and his eyes burst open. The emergency light came on and Mason frantically started pressing buttons, he opened the phone door and lifted the receiver to his ear, the line was dead.

  Panicked as fear grabbed hold of his chest, he pulled his phone from his pocket. Landon’s phone rang several times before he answered. “What the fuck is going on?”

  “What are you talking about?” Landon’s confusion had Mason baffled. “Where are you?”

  “Elevator, it’s not working, it stopped with me in it.”

  “I’ll see what I can do from my end, hang in there.” Landon said, calmly.

  “Wait,” Mason called into the phone. “Mikala, where’s Mikala?”

  “She’s over…” Landon went silent and Mason’s heart stopped. “She was right there a second ago, I’ll find her and we’ll get help, just stay calm.”

  “Stay calm? Are you fucking kidding me? You need to find Mik and right fucking now, I’m telling you something’s not right, get me the fuck outta here!” Mason roared into the phone, as the line went dead.

  Every thought that came to mind was a bad one. The only thing he could think of was Mikala and her screams he couldn’t hear and revisiting the day he found her on her office floor covered in bruises. The signal had obviously been scrambled as the screen on his phone displayed a Matrix of letters and numbers on a gray background. He was being fucked with and he knew exactly who was responsible. Terror choked him as his mouth went dry and a huge lump formed in his throat, Mikala was in trouble and he knew it.

  The elevator door slid open twenty minutes later, Mason viewed the somber faces that stood before him, one missing face in particular sent off an explosive reaction as he leapt for Landon and his hands tore at his lapel.

  “Where is she, Landon? If anything has happened to her, so help me God,” he screamed, mere inches away from Landon’s face.”

  “Mr. Reed, take it easy,” Blackstock said, in a sickeningly calm tone. “We know exactly where Miss. Santino is.”

  “Where?” Mason seethed.

  “The apartment upstairs,” Blackstock said, placing his hand against his chest to stop him from moving. “She’s not alone and appears to be unharmed, you go crashing in there now and she may not remain that way.”

  “How do you know?” Mason shoved Blackstock’s hand away and then like a light suddenly illuminating the way down a dark passage, he knew. “You have her on camera?”

  “Yes,” Landon said. “This is entirely my fault, Mase, I’m,”

  “This is that fuckers fault, the creep, is it him?” Mason asked, shoving past the group heading to the office. He noted the techno beat was missing and an unnerving silence met his stare as he looked into the dance club and the room was empty.

  “We decided it best to clear the dance club. Each person was questioned and sent on their way. The occupants of Passion have been secured and questioning is underway.

  Mason grit his teeth when he saw Mikala tied to a chair in the center of the living room at four different angles. She looked pissed and it made him happy to know that she was not showing signs of fear or surrender.

  “What’s the plan?” Mason swung around ready for battle.

  ***

  “I do not see any tears, so close to death and you are unemotional and cold,” crooned the creeper, as he lifted his gun into her sights and waved it about.

  “I don’t cry, besides, I wouldn’t waste any tears on you, asshole!” she burst out with venom as she glared at him.

  “We will see,” he laughed, circling her chair.

  She turned her head to follow him, “Fuck you!”

  The back of his hand struck against the side of her mouth. She straightened herself the best she could since she was tied so tightly and could barely breathe. She glowered defiantly as a trickle of blood streamed from her lip. “Watch your mouth, a beautiful lady should not talk with the mouth of a truck driver.”

  “Are you going to kill me?” Mikala asked, surprising herself at how calmly she spoke.

  He knelt in front of her and swept the hair from her eyes. “It never needed to come to this. All you had to do was listen to me. That was all you had to do.” He shrugged, “Now you leave me no other choice.”

  Mikala focused on the reflection of his gun in the shining layers of glaze on the hardwood floor. “Then I deserve to at least know why.”

  “We do not have time. Your friends will realize soon that you are missing.”

  “So give me the fucking condensed version, if I’m going to die, I should know why.”

  Tongue in cheek, she could see him contemplating whether to humor her with an explanation or get it over with and blow her head off. She was praying his choice would not be the latter. She watched as he retrieved an empty milk crate beside a pile of tools and set in on the floor not quite in front of her, just off to her side. He sat placing the gun on his knee facing her while he discarded his jacket and got comfortable.

  “My wife’s name…never mind, you don’t need to know that.” He started to get agitated and grasped onto the gun, holding it tight to his chest. “I never had to worry where she was,” his focus seemed to distort as he spoke, as if he were talking to someone else in the room, as if he was
dictating a memo, he spoke with great clarification, making sure the recorder could recall the story word for word. “She was always at home waiting for me…always. Ours was a perfect match, we were meant for each other and she worshipped the ground on which I walked. Until she discovered this place…” he snorted. “That’s when she met him.”

  Mikala wanted to ask who, but didn’t dare for fear of setting him off. She almost wished he would change his mind and not tell her anything more. She swallowed hard and licked her dry lips tasting the tang of drying blood, as her eyes roved over the room for any means of escape.

  It was insane how everything Landon had taught her about self-defense, just seemed to go out the window, the minute her captor yanked her back by the hair and buried his gun between her shoulder blades with the lethal whisper into her ear, “I warned you, bitch.”

  “Why me and not him then,” Mikala asked, trying to give the impression she was unaffected.

  His precarious smile told her far more than she wanted to know as he continued, “He has been dealt with, and Lori also paid for her sins, just as you will.”

  He stood pointing the gun to her temple, his hand visibly shaking. Mikala could tell he was hesitant. When he moved behind her and stroked his hand over her hair, she clamped her eyes shut, and prayed Mason was on a quest to save her, before the nut-job totally lost it and bullets started flying.

  ***

  “Here are the blueprints.” Chase swept the end of the bar clean with his arm as glasses and bottles crashed to the ground. He spread out the floor plan for the apartment and indicated for the head foreman to join them.

  “What’s done, what’s not?” Chase asked.

  It only took a few minutes to devise a plan of action from what the foreman had told them and once the elevator door was wedged opened, Mason turned to Blackstock as he stood by his side without a word. Blackstock glared at them stepping back as Chase and Mason loaded their guns.

  Blackstock raised both hands. “My hands are tied, you know this.” Then he held up a set of hand cuffs. “But I’ll be here when you’re done. Try and bring the bastard out alive, we found his wife and her lover shot to death in a hotel room not too far from here.”