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I wait for him to speak, but he simply stares at me, daring me to challenge him about his treatment of her. He didn’t hurt her, not physically at least, and I don’t give a fuck what he says to her. But I can’t have him hurting her, not when I need her looking fresh and pretty for my clients.
“You good now?” I ask him again.
His only response is to glare at me, then he turns and stalks down the hallway toward the garage. When he reaches the end of the hall, he turns and says, “You can’t protect her every second of the day. Eventually, I’ll get her alone, and all I need is one second…”
A minute passes, and I hear the roar of his motorcycle before I see him peel away on it, still shirtless, still angry by the set of his shoulders as he leaves.
With him gone, I relax and stare at the door. My brother took her slip with him, leaving her with nothing to wear. Not that I mind looking at all her creamy skin, but I don’t want my men’s eyes on her.
In fact, I think I like her better like this. Naked and weak. A so-called innocent princess trapped in a cage. I consider my brother’s parting threat and her holding cell. Shit. I need to move her to a more secure location where, if necessary, I can hear her screams. I don’t doubt if my brother approached her again, she would need me to come to her rescue.
I shove the door open, and my gaze immediately falls on her. She’s slumped in the corner of the mattress, her face and neck pink from crying. Her dark hair hangs down around her cheeks like she’s made no effort at all to recover from her meltdown.
“He’s gone,” I tell her.
She glares at me, and I return the look with a smile. Then I unbutton my dress shirt. Her eyes grow wider the further down I go. I can’t imagine what she is thinking right now. Actually, I can. She thinks the worst of me, but she has no idea how much worse this is going to get.
When I jerk the shirttails from my pants, she flinches, and excitement rushes through my veins. The way her fear turns me on is sickening, but I came to terms with my tainted mind a long time ago, so there is no shame.
I drag it off my arms, cross the room, and hold it out to her.
She doesn’t move from her huddled position, and I huff with annoyance.
“If you don’t take it, I’m going to change my mind. Then you’ll stay naked until your new owner decides what to put you in.”
Her gaze shifts from my hand to my eyes, waiting for a trick, no doubt. I toss the shirt beside her on the mattress and watch as she quickly grabs it and drags it around her body, her fingers slipping as she buttons it up in the front. Of course, the material is comically large on her small body, but I can still see the rosy tips of her nipples underneath.
For some reason, it satisfies me, seeing her in my clothing. Her hair is still tucked under the collar, and the ends of my shirt skim her thighs.
“Why is he like that?” she whispers.
I stare down at her, any warmth in my tone dissipating. “It’s none of your goddamned business. If you see him again, don’t engage. Don’t speak to him, don’t look at him, don’t enrage him. Pretend as if you don’t exist, and you might make it out of this alive.”
“He wants to kill me. Because of something my father has done to him?” It’s both a question and statement.
“Yes.” That’s the short version.
“Do you want to kill me?”
I crouch down, putting myself at eye level with her. “I thought I made myself clear. I don’t want to kill you, not when leaving you alive will be so much sweeter.” I keep her gaze locked with mine and continue, “But don’t think I won’t put a bullet in your brain if necessary. I’m not a nice man. This isn’t a fairy tale. No one is coming to save you. The sooner you realize that the easier things will be for you.”
Her lips wobble once… twice… then she nods slowly.
“Good girl.” I grab her by the arm and drag her to her feet. She shivers in my hold and closes her eyes like she is trying to escape me.
“None of that.” I shake her to force her focus back to my eyes. “I’m taking you to another room as a precaution for now. Don’t get too comfortable. The second you step out of line, you’ll be back down here, naked and alone. Are we clear?”
She nods frantically, no longer trying to dislodge my grip on her bicep.
