Page 80 of Volatile Waters

Groan.

“We saw your tail lights in the driveway and knew where you were headed.”

I was about to tell him and Kirill to fuck off, but, through a crowd, I suddenly saw that red hair. I leaped to my feet. Abruptly, Adrian stood, grabbing my arms. “Security cameras.” He was right. Once she went missing, all video would be scanned and studied.

I inhaled… then exhaled…

There was no longer a cast on her leg. Only jeans were covering the skin I desired to see. She had a bag over her shoulder that dwarfed her, and ticket stubs in her hand. Her small appearance and evident youth—and her constantly asking, “Four Seasons’ shuttle?” was practically screaming “Abduct me, please! I’m an American idiot!” so I was staying close to her. We followed behind, staying a couple of people deep. When she asked, “Four Seasons’ shuttle?” again, I told a man—who was staring at her as if she was an American moron, “She is inquiring about shuttles.” The man nodded and politely pointed which direction for her to go.

Like a shark to its prey, I followed, eyes locked on a silver charm that I immediately recognized. It was the same symbol carved in Whitney’s boat dock. The same symbol that Crash had been touching the night I killed him. Even after death, he was still interfering.

After gathering her suitcase, Whitney loaded onto a shuttle. I told Adrian, “Get on that shuttle.” He opened his mouth to offer his unwanted opinion until I got in his face. “Now.” He nodded. “Then text me her hotel room number.”

After I was in her hotel room, having a delightful—maybe not to her—conversation, I drugged her.

Then, I stole her.

Now, she was truly all mine.

Or so I thought.

My father had been sent into a tirade of a fit when he saw me carrying his personal curse through his training hallways. Then he spotted the scars on her legs, and he went ballistic. “I can’t even sell her with those heathen marks, you fool!”

I was flanked by Kirill and Adrian. Kirill, probably due to Valerie, paid special attention to the argument, as I yelled, “I have no intentions on selling her!”

Father was appalled. “You will leash this creature?”

“Consider it already done!”

“What is happening to the sons in this family?”

I glanced at Kirill next to me. His eyes spoke volumes without one word. He was keeping Valerie and needed my father off his back over it. So, I told the irate man, “Maybe we are tired of being under your reign.”

Adrian had no family ties to me, but he stayed firm by my side as he and Kirill observed Father’s minions. I had made a strong statement. I would be taking over soon. It was ironic that this all came at a time I was no longer sure of what I wanted.

Still deeply affected by the drugs in Fire’s system, she had only stirred as my father screamed. I was surprised he hadn’t caught on to my plan sooner. After learning that Whit would be in my care soon, I immediately dispatched men that were already in the States. They were there to capture soon-to-be slaves, so I had a couple of them go to Harvard and inspect Reether Jones’ living conditions. I asked for videos of personal times, such as entering his dorm building, showering, and I even asked for a gun to be held to his head while he slept for good measure and threats. Fire was not going to become my slave without a fight. So, as human traffickers do, I searched for her weakness. Since I had already killed her brother and her lover, that left her best friend, Link, someone I had every intention of exploiting to get what I wanted.

The dance.

Crash gave his life to save Whitney’s. Now, I was going to ask Whitney to relinquish her freedom to save Link’s. These young adults were so easily manipulated through their loyalty and refusal to abandon each other. I guess that meant not only poor kids growing up in poverty are at risk when it comes to my profession. And, I guess that meant I was a heartless bastard who took advantage of them all.

Once I had her on her new cot, I stared at her sleeping—unconscious—form. I found it ironic it was in the same room that I had stored Crash’s pet, Sam. But this girl didn’t have long blonde hair. No, she had curly, unruly hair that was fitting as could be for her spirit. It laid all over the stained pillow under her head that I wanted to replace with a brand-new one, but I still had to stick to training. Dirty pillows were an excellent way of beginning the transformation from free human to slave.

Touching her soft red curls, I sighed, somewhat regretting the road I was about to force her to travel. “I will see you when you wake, Fire.”

In the hallway, I told Kirill, “When she wakes, let the fucking begin.”

Still dressed, he asked, “Can I give Wolf a go?” Not meaning to, I delivered a scrutinizing glare over my shoulder.His brows scrunched, but he didn’t ask more about my other special slave. “Filming?”

Walking toward the monitor room, I responded, “Want to get paid for it?”

“Do Russians like vodka?”

Telling myself I was strong again, I collected a food tray and unlocked Wolf’s door. Entering, I immediately recognized his soft scent. I inhaled, already becoming entranced.

“Where have you been?” He sat up in his bed as I entered.

As happy as I was to now have Fire in my care, I was still somehow relieved to see Wolf. He was that stunning to me. One glance at him, and I was undone all over again.