Dawn Again

Eighteen

Sophie felt like her entire being was concentrated in that tiny piece of her which was under Richard's protective cover. She loved the courage and strength that he gave her by a simple touch. She wanted to talk, to ask him where they were heading, but she couldn't put the sentence together in her brain that also seemed to have moved itself to her hand.

After a few minutes, he gently squeezed her hand and then lifted his own hand up. As soon as he did that, Sophie could think again. She started, "Whe..." but did not get to complete as Richard put his hand up in a gesture for her to keep quiet. She then realised that he had a put a call through to someone. "Z. Where are you?" She heard Chad's voice.

"They attacked my place. We got away in the civic. I am heading to the cabin. Join me there ASAP." Richard disconnected the call, then dictated a message for James and sent that through. He then put through another call which was picked up almost instantly. "Quinn already has a bead on us. He must have someone, somewhere really high up." he started. "If I were a betting man, I'd say the director of FBI," said the voice on the other side and continued, "I'll see what I can do about that. But it will take time."

"It may not be enough Nathan. We need to take this to him. Not f*****g run like chicken. Do you know where is he?" asked Richard.

After a long pause, the man replied, "Yes. He is somewhere in Sudan brokering a deal." It was clear he did not want to tell Richard this.

Richard simply grunted and disconnected the call with, "We'll talk again later."

In a way, Sophie was happy John was so far away. But she also knew that things would only get worse when he got back. For a moment she thought to offer herself up as bait...let John take her back and Richard and his friends could rescue her. She quickly got wise. This wasn't some fairy tale where she has these bunch of brave Knights rescuing her. Besides, she realised she was indeed a coward. She did not want to offer herself up in the hope that John could be caught and brought to justice for what he had done to her. She looked at Richard. In profile, he looked hard and handsome. She could see he was not happy that John's men had found them so quickly. In fact, he looked furious. But she wasn't scared. No, she was shocked when she realised that she was actually thinking about the kiss back at his apartment. This was one complication she did not need. Just the thought of s*x sent her body into uncontrollable shivers and her mind practically blacked out. She did not think she could ever be intimate with a man again...even one as handsome and caring as the one current beside her.

With her heart and mind in a turmoil, Sophie finally fell asleep. Richard looked at her frail profile and wondered how such a delicate body had survived two years with the devil that was Quinn. There obviously was a mind of steel inside that delectable body. And, of course, Quinn would know how to inflict maximum pain, physically and mentally, without the subject dying. Richard's hands curled around the steering so hard, he had to consciously loosen his grip before he broke the wheel. His blood boiled at the thought of Sophie in Quinn's clutches. He had to do something quickly to remove the threat. But for now, Richard was glad she was sleeping. She'd had an incredibly long and hard day, and things were not going to let up anytime soon.

"Boss. Your wife was at none of the addresses we were given. We need Ballantyne's phone cracked and access to the tapes at his apartment. If they were at the apartment, we'll know from the tapes which car they ran in. I have a team following her phone. But I am sure the phone is not on her and is a decoy." Bruce updated his boss and hoped he'd be able to get him access to the tapes soon. Quinn snapped, "Call me back in 20 minutes. And Bruce, I expect my wife to be here in the next 42 hours. Do not fail me," and ended the call. Another call and 15 minutes later he had the make, colour and plate of the car in which Ana had run away with Ballantyne. He also had the car on traffic cams. John relayed it all to Bruce and told him that he'd get regular updates on the location until he caught up with the car. He had this beast clawing at his insides ever since he'd seen Ana's hand in the man's paw. John smashed his phone across the room, his third one in the last 8 hours, and prowled around the room. He had to have Ana, and sooner than the 42 hours he had given Bruce.

Ana looked stunning in her white Givenchy gown as she walked down the aisle on her father's arm. John was proud of her. She had composed herself admirably. Not even her mother could tell that she had had no choice whatsoever in whether or not she wanted to get married. John wanted her and she'd have to give herself to him. Finally, she was next to him, her father handing her hand into his. In the next few moments, she'd be totally and irrevocably his - she'd carry his name, wear his ring and bear his children. Yes, he was a happy man. And he could not wait for the bloody ceremony to get over so he could finally take her.

Four agonizingly hours later, John finally had had enough. He declared he was leaving and led Ana out. In the drive to his home, she wouldn't say a thing or look at him. John hooked a finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. "Mrs John Quinn," he said, "Did you like the party?" She lowered her eyes and said, "I wasn't there for the party. I was there for my parents." His opened his finger up from where they were under her chin and grabbed her jaw; his hold biting into her cheek. "You will look at me when speaking to me. The sooner you learn not to provoke me, the better it will be for you. These smart-ass comments will bring you nothing but pain, wife!" he said in his calm, cold voice. Ana simply held his gaze, although she was quaking internally, but said nothing. In a flash, John's mouth was on hers, his lips claiming hers, his tongue crashing through her barriers and invading her mouth. She nearly choked at the violence that was in the kiss.

As John led her inside he saw Ana take in the inside of his massive penthouse apartment. She looked perfect in his house, in his life. He slid his arm around her waist, pulling her in flush against him. Kicking the door shut behind him, he pushed her until her back hit the wall, and took her lips in a deep kiss. Her mouth was warm and soft and he needed more. She had her fist bunched in the lapels of his suit jacket. She was not fighting, but then she couldn't...could she? She was tiny, all of a hundred pounds soaking wet. He loved it that she was finally completely under this control. The one thing that he had found in the world that could upset his calm, his rhythm, by simply existing was under his control.

John remembered the wild s*x that he had had with Ana on that first day after their marriage, and then forever after. Until she had run. He had yet to decide what her fate would be after he had her back. But whatever he decided for her, one thing was certain. He would enjoy meting it out to her.