He laughed under his breath. “You’re smarter than that, and we’ve already covered that scenario.” Sighing with an undercurrent of respect, he said, “I’ll tell you what. Give me your name, and I’ll give you a tiny trifle in return.”
“What trifle?”
“What do you want?”
“My freedom.”
“Yes, but that’s already been purchased, my dear. You’ll have to ask your new owner about your fate. Maybe he’ll give you your freedom if you please him. Maybe he’ll kill you and grant your freedom that way. Or maybe you’ll grow old in service until the end of your sexual days. Either way…tonight you will be delivered to him. This is your one chance to ask for something before all those choices are taken away.”
“Will you hurt my family if you tell you who am I?”
He grinned. “Do you have a little sister who looks like you? Because I have another interested party who would look after her very well indeed.”
I ignored the desire to vomit at the thought. “I’m an only child.”
“Ah, that’s disappointing.” He smirked. “You have my word then. Your mother is too old. Your father is of no interest. I promise they are safe if you tell me who you are.”
“Send them a letter. Tell them what happened to me. Give them the name of the man who bought me. Give them a chance to rescue me.”
The man lurking in shadow let out a guffaw. The American snickered, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth. “You have balls, girl. I’ll give you that.”
“His name for my name.”
He cocked his head, studying me deeper than he ever had. The moment stretched uncomfortably before he murmured, “I’ll send them a letter and tell them what happened to you. There will be no chance of rescue or details destined to set you free, but at least they will have closure over your disappearance. They will know they will never see you again.”
Tears pricked from nowhere, undermining my self-control.
The thought of my mother opening such a letter. The idea of my father learning his daughter was traded into sexual servitude.
No.
It would kill them.
But…if this was my last chance to say goodbye, then at least I could give them some resemblance of peace.
Even if I won’t earn any myself.
Bracing myself, I closed the distance between us and held out my hand over his desk. “Send them a letter saying I’ve eloped and found endless happiness. Tell them I’m happy and safe, and they never have to worry about me again. Tell them I’m selfish and cruel to disappear but I love them. For always.”
His stood and slipped his hand into mine. “Done.”
We shook.
We sealed the agreement.
I shivered.
I couldn’t help it.
The coolant in my bloodstream turned into ice crystals. The cage I’d placed around my heart webbed with thicker wire.
I was bartering with Lucifer…not for my own protection, but for those I would never see again.
His fingers squeezed mine, his eyes flickered to the man who’d moved from his spot in the shadows and loomed behind me.
I felt him there.
I heard him waiting.
My skin prickled.
My instincts cried.
But I completed my end of the bargain.
“My name is Eleanor Grace. And I will—”
A rag smashed over my mouth, stopping my oath. Preventing me from promising that I would win. That I would find a way to murder whatever monster who’d bought me and survive.
Fumes entered my nose, attacking my ability to stand.
My knees gave out as the world turned dizzy.
Bulky arms caught me, and the last thing I heard before everything went black was the American murmuring, “Goodbye, Eleanor Grace. Graceful to the end and elegant to a fault. Mr. Sinclair will enjoy destroying you.”
Chapter Four
“SIR, SHE’S ARRIVED IN Java. The crew are ready to collect.”
“Send the doctor first. Remove that damn tracker they insist on putting into their stock.”
“Yes, sir.” My second in command, Calvin Moor, nodded. He wore his typical suit even though the tropical heat made thick fabric unbearable. The humidity level, even at dawn, didn’t give any reprieve. “I’ll arrange the removal, and then you’re happy for final transportation?”
“Yes.” I looked back at my laptop and the latest test results from my scientists. Cal got the message that I was done with him and discreetly let himself out.
Only five a.m. and I’d already been for a swim around the island and met with yet another early bird arrival. Instead of sending this latest guest away, he was allowed to stay.
An older gentleman from Texas. Oil flowed in his veins as surely as blue blood from an American founding family. He was ruthless in business and had special perversions, but he could be trusted to play by my rules.
I tried to keep my mind on business, but it kept trickling back to my latest acquisition.
Had they found someone fitting my requirements?
Was she in good repair or damaged while in captivity and transit?