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“Do you have any requests? I can get you something, make you more comfortable.”
“Why?” I spit. “So I owe you something too? Want to pop by for a hand job later to make sure I live up to the expectations of your clients?”
His posture is rigid, but he doesn’t react to my statement. Not even a flinch. “I want nothing from you, Celia. Do you have any requests or not?”
Anger simmers in my veins. I’m tired of being here, trapped in this ivory castle with a man that will never be my hero.
“Sure, let me go. If you release me, I’ll leave and disappear. I won’t even go home, and then you guys can still pretend you sold me or killed me, whatever you want. I’ll never come back, I promise.”
The corner of his mouth ticks up the tiniest bit, but his eyes remain flat. “I can’t do that. Nic would kill both of us and stick our heads on spikes at the end of his driveway. Not the fate I have in mind for myself. Is there anything else?”
I sob and laugh at the same time. “All I can think about is a mocha frappuccino right now. And pants. If I can have anything, can I please have some damn pants?”
His eyes shoot to my bare legs again, which are stretched out in front of me. My toes are still perfectly painted a lilac purple, despite my barefoot ordeal outside last night.
“I’ll see what I can do. Don’t do anything stupid again. I don’t want to have to hunt you down. And in case you’re wondering, I’m very good at hunting.”
Without another word, he spins around and leaves. I turn my head to watch him walk out of the room and close the door behind him. What the hell kind of game is he playing? Is he truly being kind, or is he trying to get me into trouble with Nic?
I stare at the door for too long, thinking about the differences between Nic and Soo. Both are powerful, strong men. Nic is more authoritative and a little crazy, so people give him a wide berth. Soo seems like the type that will take you down from the shadows. He’s there and gone before anyone sees a thing.
Out of nowhere, an idea hits me, and I hate it the minute it blooms with life in my brain. Nic wants to sell me to the highest bidder, so sure that my virginity and status as a daughter of the five families will bring in some big cash. But what if I’m not a virgin when I walk up on that auction block? The idea is crazy, absolutely insane. Of course, it would be his word against mine. Until the buyer got me home, and my word proved true. Then he’d want his money back.
I tap my finger against my chin, thinking deeper on it. There are flaws in my logic. The only way a buyer could tell he lied would be to touch me.
A shiver runs down my spine, and bile rises up my throat at the simple thought.
Soo might be a good prospect. At least he’s pretty to look at, and he has an intensity about him that says he’d make it his mission to please a woman underneath him.
I’d already tried my stumble fuck version of seduction on Nicolo, and while I may tempt him, his control runs too deep. He will use my body in every other way, but he won’t fuck me. Even if I want him to, which I hate. I hate wanting him, even more so knowing that he won’t give in to temptation and give us both what we want.
The guards and male staff I’ve seen won’t even look at me. It’s like they know the second they do, Nicolo will come along with a handgun and a devilish smile.
The last choice is Lucas. He’s good-looking enough, but he’s broken. Jagged, shattered from the inside out. It’s not in the same way Nicolo is, but deeper, harsher, like nothing will make it right again. It makes him dangerous and unforgiving—two things I don’t want for my first time.
I slap the heel of my hand against my forehead. No. I can’t be thinking romantically about this. Losing my virginity is nothing more than a plan with very low chance of succeeding—both in the act and in the results.
With my only options being Lucas or Soo, I’d choose Soo in a second. But I need to be ready to accept anyone who comes my way.
With that grim thought bolstering me, I shove off the hardwood and head out into the hall. The pile of firewood is still there, and Nicolo’s office door is open.
The idea of running into him or seeing him right now… No, I can’t face him like this. Not without protection. I rush back to the room and find the fountain pen I’d tucked under my mattress. I carefully fold the sleeves of my shirt up so I can hide it inside the bunched-up fabric. It won’t do a lot of damage, and it won’t hold forever, but it makes me feel safer.
