Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28678 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28678 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 143(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
My fingers curl into a fist as my stomach lurches. Albert is a monster, but Curtis is the devil incarnate. I plan to make sure they both burn in hell where they belong.
Ryker lets loose with a string of profanities that can be heard over the rumble of the engine. We’ve all seen and done a lot of shit in our time. But a woman or child in danger is something we don’t stand for.
Brody keeps his voice neutral despite our reactions. “They connected with a buyer for Sierra yesterday.”
I roar with rage, unable to keep silent. They think they’re going to sell my woman. They think they can just trade her like livestock. They will not survive my wrath. If they run, I will burn down everything in their path. I will scorch every patch of earth until they know exactly whose woman they messed with. Mine.
10
SIERRA
I straighten my dress one more time and try to smile at my reflection in the hotel room mirror. In five minutes, I’m going downstairs to meet the man I’ll marry. Actually, it’s just a meeting where he’ll formalize the down payment if he likes me.
It’s disgusting and creepy but now that Albert knows how much I care about Colt, he’s threatening to hurt him. I don’t know how he figured it out. I guess it was on my face when I returned.
Someone bangs on the bathroom door and I fight the urge to shudder. The moment I returned, Albert met me at the airport and immediately took me to see Curtis. He put me up in this swanky hotel room in Richmond with an armed guard.
The only time I’ve been alone in the past day has been when I’ve used the bathroom. I don’t even know the name of the man assigned as my guard. All I know is that he has a mean glint in his eye and he’s constantly touching the gun strapped to his hip. Almost like he wants an excuse.
“Just a minute,” I call and reach to flush the toilet. It’ll only buy me a few seconds to gather my courage. But it’s enough. I could run again then Albert might hurt Colt. Even if he didn’t, where would I go? I have no money, job, or options. The best I can hope for is to bide my time.
“You will get through this,” I whisper to my reflection in the mirror. Whatever I have to do to survive, I will. I’ll find a way.
“Get out now.” There’s another brutal smack against the door and my guard jiggles the doorknob.
I reach for it and quickly unlock it. Something in me knows that I don’t want to anger this man.
He surveys me up and down, licking his lips. I refuse to shiver under his appraisal. The dress is too tight, hugging all of my curves. I didn’t even get to pick it. The buyer did. He chose the style and his favorite color. Like a good little doll I’m expected to wear it.
“Is Albert here?” I pad across the thick carpet. I’m pretending to pay no mind to this enforcer when really I’ve been cataloguing him ever since I was brought to this room.
He favors his left shoulder most of the time. His thumb on that side has horrible scars as if it were nearly taken off and reattached at one point. But there are no neat surgical procedure lines. This was something hastily done by an amateur which makes me wonder how much nerve damage is in that hand. Would he really be able to pull his gun if he couldn’t use his right side?
This lecherous bully has other scars, and they tell me the story of a man who’s seen and committed great violence. Colt has scars and they told me the story of a man who was brave and strong, who survived the worst loss possible in the world. Yet he didn’t let it make him like them. He didn’t turn into a coward who preys on those who are vulnerable.
My heart feels bruised every time I think of my man. I wonder if he’s back at his ranch, believing that I didn’t want him.
Sitting on the bed, I unbox the shoes. They were also chosen for me. Red high heels that contrast my black dress with the cap sleeves.
I put them on, lacing them up my calf muscles. The entire time I’m aware of the enforcer’s hungry stare. How is it that all through high school I was bullied for my weight? The boys were relentless, making it clear that they would never see past the surface.
But I’m out of high school now and suddenly surrounded by men who don’t mind my weight. Well, that’s not true. I guess they don’t really notice anything about me. I’m just a body, a living doll that they can play with for their amusement. My stomach clenches but I push back the bile. I can’t afford to lose it right here. I have to keep my head on straight and figure out a path for my survival.