Page 26 of Coal Hearts

“Five hundred...?” Her eyes rounded. “What on earth for?”

Your life.

Your soul.

“You’re right. That’s not enough. A million. I’ll give you a million euros.”

“A million...” She laughed under her breath. “Yeah sure, alright. A million. As if.” Her laughter faded away. “Wait. Do you...do you have a million euros?”

Finally, a crack. A sliver of submission.

It did things to me I could never outrun.

It didn’t matter that I didn’t have that sort of money.

My half-brother did.

The bank account he’d opened in my name in order to fake my way into this lifestyle did.

On paper, I was rich.

And he’d fucking gut me if he knew I bribed and coerced this girl with money he used to free slaves, not enslave them. But...he’d thrown me to the wolves. He’d willingly tossed me into hell and had to have known I wouldn’t have the strength to climb back out.

“I have the money.” I cupped her chin and ran my thumb over her bottom lip, wishing like hell I could let her go. “I’ll give you a million euros.”

She blinked as if shocked at my sudden tenderness. “W-What would I have to do?”

This was the part where I told her the truth.

That she’d have to become a sacrifice. A non-negotiable offering to the devil.

Instead, I just focused on right now. One horrible step at a time. “Just...stop arguing with me and we’ll see where the night takes us.”

The bouncer appeared beside Ily, his face aggressive and eyes narrowed into suspicious slits. Tapping her arm, he barked in a heavy French accent, “Everything okay?”

Every muscle in my body shut down.

My heart didn’t dare beat.

Ily blinked again, searching my stare for any trace of falsehoods.

I gritted my teeth and tried to hide the truth.

I was buying her for a trafficker.

I was stealing her future.

I was all that stood between her surviving and dying.

Merde, what the fuck am I doing?

My entire body wracked with trembles. I almost retched with horror. Wrenching my hands off her, I backed away. “You know what? This was a mistake. A terrible fucking mistake. Go,” I grunted. “Get out of here. Now.”

Before it’s too late.

Ily narrowed her eyes, questions and utter confusion battling over her face. “But—”

“Leave,” I snarled.