4
Kitty couldn’t stop shaking.
Take her to my place.
Those words sounded so callous, like she was a piece of meat to be delivered.
The girl is mine.
With shaky legs she set herself down on the bed in the guest room where Tracker had left her.Loula had whispered something comforting about how it would be all right.How she’d make sure he paid top dollar for what he was getting.
Kitty squeezed her knees together tight, but it did nothing to stop the shaking, nor ease the ache building inside her that she couldn’t describe.
It had started when he’d clapped a hand on her bottom as he’d carried her away from those leering men.It had grown worse when he’d growled and snapped.
He’d been angry, yes, but on her behalf.
No one had ever protected her like that.
No one had ever made her feel protected and safe.
But you’re not safe now, are you?She reminded herself.He’d take her innocence.The thought ought to scare her more than it did.
But truthfully, she was far more relieved than frightened.Surely a man who took her away from those vile men, who’d been so angry at what they might have done to her…
Surely he wouldn’t hurt her.
Would he?
She drew her legs up, wrapping her arms around them and burying her face in her skirts as her mind tried to keep up with all that had happened.
She’d done what had to be done, that was what mattered.Her brother would be safe.The twins and the babe too.Whatever he did to her tonight wouldn’t be pleasant, but it would be worth it.
He hadn’t said how much he’d pay, but surely it would be enough.She’d heard the numbers being bandied about…
Surely he wouldn’t cheat her out of what he owed.
Her mind flashed back to the other day with the book he’d gifted her.The unexpected kindness she’d seen in him.
No.He would not cheat her.
An eternity seemed to pass before she heard the click of the doorknob and the door pushed open.
Her head came up, but she didn’t speak.Neither did King.He stood in the doorway staring at her for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, he spoke in a gruff tone.“The crowd is gone.Go home like a good girl.”
Her chest hitched, her heart fell.
Home.What home?She’d been staying in the servants’ quarters here for months now, and before that…
Well, before that she’d done her best to avoid ‘home.’
She nodded, swallowing hard.She had to go back there.Of course she did.How would she give Maloney the money if she didn’t?
King was watching her too closely for her liking.“Well?”
Right.She was supposed to be jumping to her feet, happy to be free.“I need…” She cleared her throat.“I n-need the money first.”