“The helicopter is arranged for this evening. He’s bringing a few men along.”
“That’s fine.” I never expected him to come alone. Very rarely did I go anywhere without protection.
“Also, Joseph Ingram is on the line.”
My fingertips were resting on my lips, but I immediately pulled them away when I heard her announcement. My hand formed a fist. “What did he say?”
“Nothing. Just said he wanted to speak to you.”
“He has a lot of nerve…”
“You did tell him not to save her. But you never said he couldn’t contact you.”
I was too angry to smile. “You’re right…as usual.”
“I’m surprised he still wants her back. She’s insufferable, if you ask me.”
“I’m surprised you would say that.” I continued the conversation but considered what I would say to Joseph when I got on the line.
“Why?”
“You remind me of each other. Both spitfires.”
Ariel rolled her eyes in an affectionate way. “He’s on line one.” She walked out, this time closing the door behind her.
I stared at the satellite phone sitting on my desk, the one I used for work that was synced to Ariel’s line. I watched it for several heartbeats before I finally took the call. “Hello, Joseph.” I planned to say as little as possible, forcing him to speak with just my silence. But he better cut to the chase because I had shit to do. It gave me some sick satisfaction that his sister was attracted to me despite the fact that she was my prisoner. I already felt like I had gotten my revenge with that alone.
“Hello, Mr. Donoghue.”
Good start.
“I know you have London, and I haven’t made any attempts to get her back.”
Because you’re a pussy.
“But I hope you’ll reconsider letting her go.”
“Why would I do that?” I stared at my watch, seeing the minute hand circle round and round.
“She’s just an innocent girl.”
“She’s not a girl,” I said with a laugh. “She’s all woman.”
Joseph fell silent at the implication of my words, the vein in his forehead probably throbbing.
“And it’s not gonna happen. I’ve decided what to do with her. She’ll be leaving in a few days. Where she’ll go…not for me to know.”
“What do you mean?” Instead of keeping his cool, Joseph’s panic escaped in his tone.
“A friend of mine is coming to dinner tonight. He has a preference for slaves. I’m going to introduce her to him and tell him what her price is.”
“Who?” Joseph demanded.
One sick son of a bitch. I was cold and cruel, but this man was something else entirely. He made me look tame. “Bones.”
Joseph knew exactly who he was. Bones was known for his taste in women. He liked to use them, to break their legs and then chase them around his mansion. He was undoubtedly cruel, killing them once he grew bored. Then he would buy another slave…and the cycle continued. “Have mercy, Crewe…”
“He’ll pay me the four million dollars you didn’t. And then we’ll be even.”
“Come on, I’ll do anything you want. Please don’t do that to her. She’s a good person…” His voice broke like he was on the verge of tears.
I had no sympathy for him. “Shouldn’t have crossed me. I’ve told you that before.”
“There has to be a compromise.”
“Not when I know how much this bothers you. You know she’ll be tortured every single day of her life until Bones finally kills her. That can sit on your conscience every second until you finally see her grave and know her suffering is over.”
“I’ll do whatever you want—”
“Good bye, Joseph.” I hung up and tossed the phone aside, finished with Joseph Ingram forever. I would get my perfect revenge, and every person who heard the story would fear me. When I walked into a room, everyone would bow.
Because I was the scotch king.
6
London
Crewe walked into my bedroom without knocking, his brown eyes gleaming with sinister intent. “I’m having a guest for dinner. I want your hair and makeup to be done. Ariel can do it for you if you need help.”
There were so many things wrong with that sentence. “First of all, I can do it myself. Second of all, I don’t want to. And thirdly, who the hell is coming to dinner all the way out here?”
“A friend of mine. I want you to meet him.”
“Why?”
Crewe walked toward me as I sat on the couch. He looked formidable in his suit. “Because I’m going to sell you to him.”
“What?”
“Part of my plan. I’ll offer you for four million dollars. He’ll think about it for a while before he agrees.”
“Well, I don’t agree.” Crewe wasn’t the best man on the planet, but at least he didn’t rape me when I asked him not to. I would much rather stay with him, even if he was evil, because that was better than going anywhere else. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re my property,” he said quietly. “You don’t get a say in this. Do your hair and makeup or I’ll make it happen.”
This conversation was so overwhelming that I didn’t even think of the last time we spoke. When his thick cock was inside me, and I confessed that I thought he was good-looking and attractive. I was humiliated those words had come out of my mouth, but this conversation was far worse. “No.”
He stepped closer to me then grabbed me by the throat. “Do as I say. Or I will fuck you.” After a terrifying glare, he released me. “When I return in thirty minutes, you better have done as I’ve asked. Or my cock is going in your ass.” He slammed the door on the way out, making me jump out of my skin.
I did as he asked because I didn’t know what else to do.
If I defied him, he would make good on his threat.
But if I didn’t defy him, I’d have to meet a man who would potentially buy me.
Either way, I lost.
Crewe came back thirty minutes later, wearing jeans and a dark green t-shirt. His thick arms were on display, lean and toned with corded veins protruding from the skin. He had just shaved, so his chin was free of hair.
He looked at me with approval. “I’m a little disappointed. I was hoping you wouldn’t listen to me.”
I ignored the implication.
“Take off that dress.”
“You didn’t tell me what you wanted me to wear.” I stood at the foot of the bed with heels on my feet. I found the outfit in the closet, along with the other clothes Crewe had bought for me.
“Because I don’t want you to wear anything.”
The blood drained from my face.
“Strip down to your panties. Now.”
I’d already stripped for him once. I couldn’t do it again, especially in front of a stranger who wanted to buy me for immoral reasons. “No.”
“No, what?” His hand shot out to my neck.
I threw my elbow down so his fingers wouldn’t squeeze me anymore. “I’m not taking off my clothes for anyone. If you don’t like it, you’ll just have to—”