Chapter 20

West

“What do you mean I can’t have her?”

I looked at Bram incredulously despite that I was trying to hide the shock. I’d been back for three days and twice we had talked. But it hadn’t been for long, and it hadn’t been over anything but work. He kept himself locked in his apartment, barely speaking to anyone at all.

“She’s not stable. She won’t be a good match for you.”

“I beg your pardon? She’s a great match for me. We got along perfectly when I last spoke to her. You don’t think I can control her?”

He gave a quick shake of his head, throwing back another scotch. “She’s changed since then. She grows rebellious. She refuses to obey another master. I believe her.”

My lids narrowed as I came closer. “She’s mistaken. Anyone can be put in their place. I can do that to her. I can make her my slave.”

The skepticism on his face left me reeling, but I didn’t fall into the temptation to argue. Instead, I took the other route. “Let me see her. Let me assess her, myself. If you’re right, I won’t argue. I’ll take another slave.”

Bram’s brow creased. “Alright. You can see her, but don’t get your hopes up. She’s not going to bend to you. She challenges the guards. She looks down her nose at them. It’s taking everything I have to convince them not to beat her. I don’t want her black and blue before the auction. Dammit.” He cursed under his breath, pouring more alcohol into the glass. “Damn, slave. If I didn’t … if I didn’t feel something for what she’s been through, I’d be done with her. But she has been through a lot. She’s just going through something. She’ll come around when her new master gets ahold of her.”

I knew he was more talking to himself than me.

“You’re right. Give me some time. I’m going to see what I can do.

I’ll return shortly.”

I didn’t look back as I left. My feet carried me through the halls like a man on a mission. And I was. I wasn’t going to let Everleigh screw this up for me. I was too close to having her. Too close to having the one woman Bram loved.

My nod to the guard was returned and more of the white walls blurred by. By the time I was coming into Slave Row, I heard her voice all the way down the hall. My fists clenched and I picked up the pace. Her door was open and a guard stood a foot inside, his face deep red as he glared at her. Food was splattered across his chest and I almost couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

Everleigh’s short hair was a mess and her white dress was wrinkled and stained with what I assumed was old food. But it was the look in her eyes—the hate—that had me coming to a stop.

“What the hell is going on here?”

“Twenty-four-sex-ninety refuses to eat. Again. Mr. Whitlock told us to make sure she doesn’t miss another meal. She has barely eaten in two days. This,” he said, gesturing to his chest, “was her response when I told her to eat.”

I turned to her, letting my eyebrow raise at my disapproval.

“Did you do that?”

“I did.”

“Why?”

She grew quiet, losing some of her stiffness as she looked down.

“Why did you do that, slave?”

The anger returned as her stare shot up to mine.

“I am no slave. I am Everleigh Davenport. My father had more money than you did. My status in the outside would have made me famous. More famous than any of the so-called masters who have to buy women down here. Sick fucks. All of you. I hate you. I hate all of you!”

I was on her so fast, I could hardly remember moving. I spun her, locking my arm around her neck and flexing my bicep to cut off the majority of her breathing. Everleigh went wild, thrashing and clawing into my suit jacket. The more she fought, the tighter I held. A good few minutes went by before she began to calm. I leaned in closer, inhaling the rich, exotic scent of her skin. It drew me in, intoxicating me.

“I don’t doubt what you say, but that isn’t who you are. You are owned. You are a slave. That life doesn’t exist anymore. Only this,” I said, spinning us to show her the small cell. “Your days here can be a nightmare, or you can swallow your pride and get happiness out of your upcoming match. I want to be your master,” I hissed in her ear. “Don’t be a fool and damn yourself to possible years of torture. I will take care of you. I will treat you better than any slave in this fortress. I will love you,” I whispered, keeping my voice down. “Let me love you, Everleigh. I know who you are.

Only I can give you the kind of love you deserve.”

A whimper echoed in the room and a sob quickly followed. Weight pulled at my arms as her legs gave out and cries left her. My grip ease and I spun her to face me. Before I could prepare, her arms latched around my neck and she pulled me close, crushing her lips into mine. And me … I kissed her with every ounce of lust I had harbored inside.

Blindly, my hand waved out the guard as I continued. My fingers dug into her lower back and the moment the door shut, she broke away, peering up at me with bloodshot eyes.

“Do you promise?”

She didn’t elaborate, but she didn’t have too. I knew she wanted my word that I would love her. That I would treat her well.

“I promise. When I’m your master, I’ll give you the outside world, right here. I’ll show you things you could have never imagined. I’ll make you happy. All you have to do is what I ask. If you can obey my wishes, there will never be a better match than me and you.”

Seconds stretched out while she stared at me.

“I know I’m not supposed to have demands, but I have one request.” My head tilted, but I nodded.

“You are to never leave me alone with, or give my body to Mr.

Whitlock. If I never have to see him again, I would be even happier.”

I paused. I had no doubts Bram was listening to every word we spoke. I restrained from smiling, ignoring why’d she’d request that to begin with.

“Bram is my best friend. You will see him, and probably a lot. But if makes you feel safer as my slave, I promise not to leave you alone with him. You damn well have my word that I will not share you with him or anyone else. That’s not my style. When something belongs to me, it’s mine.

Only mine.”

“Thank you. Then I accept you as my master if you should win the auction.”

A grin tugged at my lips and I made a path with my fingers down her cheek.

“I hate to see you this way. You’re better than this. I want you showered and fed. You will not refuse this time. Do you understand me?”

I kept my tone gentle. It was enough to have her nodding in agreement.

“Good girl. Give me a minute. I’ll have everything set up and I’ll return when you’re finished. There’s something I have to take care of, but I will return. We need to talk.” I looked at the door. “Guard!” The door swung open and I led Everleigh forward. “Have her showered and bring her the meal I ordered for myself.”

“Yes, Mr. Harper.”

Everleigh stayed quiet and walked out of the door. The man followed and I glanced toward where I knew the camera was located. Let Bram see I had won. Let him see my happiness over it. He wouldn’t deny me Everleigh. I knew him too well for that. He loved her. It was me or something worse. He wouldn’t damn her when she clearly wanted me, too.

Whistling left me and continued on my walk back to Bram’s. The minute I opened his door, I wasn’t faced with the brokenhearted man I thought I would be. He was nowhere to be seen. Did he even witness what happened?

Anger sparked while I headed toward his bedroom. Bram stood with his back to me. His shoulders were hunched and he was looking down at something on his dresser.

“Any luck?”

A curse threatened to come and maybe would have if I hadn’t suddenly noticed how deep his breathing was. And his fingers, they were pushed into the wood as if he were trying to control himself. The kiss. That had to have been what set him off the most. “Yes. She’s agreed to be my slave. She seemed to take to the idea once I calmed her down. I have them showering and feeding her now.”

Bram nodded, still not turning around. “It’s settled, then. Twentyfour-six-ninety will be yours if things work out. I’m moving up the auction for tomorrow night. Let everyone know.”

I smiled, already stepping back. “I’ll make the announcement right away.”

Before I could turn to leave, Bram’s voice continued.

“The tour starts tonight. There’s …” He turned sweeping passed me as he went to the computer. I followed, knowing he was in work mode, now. There was a ritual and with Bram, everything had to be perfect.

He began pushing buttons. Before the address could load, a red blinking light flashed in the corner of the screen and alarms sounded in the room. He growled while his fingers worked faster. Screens began to flash and one moved to the front. It was a camera and the screen was black.

“Which is it?” I asked, lowly. My stomach was suddenly in knots as he pushed from his chair and flung open his drawer. The large knife he pulled out was one I’d seen him use more times than I could count.

“Shower room.”