Chapter 32

West

I wasn’t sure who was hurting more, me or Everleigh. I groaned, rolling to sit up from where I apparently passed out on Bram’s floor. I could barely remember anything from last night. Everleigh’s eyes were swollen with sleep, but she was holding her head, wincing in what looked to be pain. The humming and banging from the kitchen had me wanting to throw something at Bram.

“You both look like shit. Coffee?”

I pushed to stand, swaying from the effects of the alcohol still in my system. I didn’t speak, but instead walked over and threw back another shot of scotch. The burn and taste had me forcing down the fiery liquid. Another groan left me and I mirrored Everleigh as I reached for my head.

“I wasn’t dreaming? I’m free?”

Bram glanced over, pouring a cup. “I wouldn’t say free. You’re a

Mistress as of this moment, but you’re far from free.”

“Not having a master is being free. The location makes no difference.”

If she only knew how wrong she was. She’d been away from the outside world for so long, she had no idea.

Bram walked over, handing her the coffee and sitting next to her with his own. I headed for the kitchen, making me one as I stole glances toward them.

“I’ve already emailed your old master’s attorney. I should be hearing back from him soon. Until I do, you’re under me and West’s care. I have seen no proof that you have inherited any money, and I think if you did, I would have been the first to know. If I find out that this is some rumor and bears no truth …” he trailed off and my pulse quickened as I headed for the living room.

“I won’t go back to Slave Row, will I? Tell me you won’t auction me again.”

He glanced over to me and I pulled the chair to sit closer.

“No. You will go to the master of my choosing. No auction, just placement.”

A rugged breath left her and she frowned as she stared into the cup.

“And if I did inherit this money? What then?”

“You are your own Mistress. You will move to the apartment between mine and West’s and we will watch over you. You can do as you wish down here, but that’s the extent of it. You will not have the freedom to leave. Ever.”

Silence filled the room while she sipped her coffee. When her head rose, she turned to look at me.

“I never got to tell you thank you for what you did for me last night. You protected me against those masters.” She swallowed hard, wiping away tears before they fell. “Thank you. That meant more to me than you know.

They were …”

“Monsters,” I supplied for her. “They were out of control and you didn’t deserve to have to go through that. I only did what I felt was right.”

“Thank you. You didn’t have to.” She glanced over to Bram. “And you, for stepping in as well. I’ve seen them do worse at the auctions, although … that was pretty bad from what I can remember.”

“One of the worst, actually. And don’t thank me. You don’t mean it, you’re just saying what is ingrained in you. I saw the way you looked at me, last night. You were ready to get on that stage and attack me for what I was forcing on you.”

Her eyes tore from him as she stared down at her cup. “You do what you must. You didn’t ask for this. I remember your father.” She glanced over at him. “But you’re not him. The differences you’ve made since becoming Master are more noticeable than you know.”

I saw Bram tense, but he stayed silent as he seemed to go into his thoughts.

“Mistress Davenport,” I smiled. “I hope you don’t mind if I call you that. Or would you prefer, Everleigh?”

“Oh.” Her eyes flickered and within seconds her face lost some of the stress it harbored. “I don’t know. Everleigh is nice.”

“Okay, Everleigh. I think you’re in need of a new wardrobe. What do you say to going shopping this morning?”

Her head quickly shook. “I don’t have any money.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Allow me to treat you, anyway. If this inheritance doesn’t exist, I would still like to have you as my slave. Nothing has changed there.” I glanced between her and Bram and I could so clearly see the tension between them. “You may choose Bram, but he has made it more than obvious to me that he will not have you. I, on the other hand, would be more than honored. I could make you happy, Everleigh.”

She stared at her coffee, only looking up as Bram pushed from the sofa and stomped back to the kitchen. The confliction she held as she watched him didn’t feed the anger like I thought it would. I didn’t see longing; I saw something else. I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was.

If she still wanted him, she was doing a hell of a job hiding it.

“If this inheritance is real, then I will pay you back. If not, and I have to choose a master …” Her jaw tightened while she came to stare at the floor. “I will choose you, Mr. Harper. I believe you have my best interest at heart and that is what’s important. You will make a great master and I would be lucky to have you.”

Bram’s hand froze from pouring his coffee and I held in my smile as I focused on Everleigh. “You’ve made the right choice, but let’s not think about that right now. Why don’t you take a shower and I’ll go home and do the same? I can come back to take you shopping when you’re ready.”

“That sounds like fun.”

The apprehension was etched in her smile. I headed for the kitchen, placing the cup on the counter next to my friend. Bram turned and I knew when he was angry, but he stayed silent as he walked passed me.

“I’ll have clothes brought over for you to wear. Go ahead and go shower.”

He nodded his head to his room and she stood, heading toward me to place her cup down. She stayed quiet and obedient at his order as she disappeared. I didn’t head back to the living room until I heard the bathroom door close. The moment it did, Bram’s face drew in with rage.

“You may be set on having her and she may agree, but the decision is still mine. I will place Everleigh with who I feel is the best choice for her. Me, not you. Whitlock belongs to me. I run this fucking place. No one else.”

“Of course. I didn’t mean to overstep my position, but from what I remember, I do recall you saying you didn’t want her. That makes me the obvious best choice. You have to know that. No one is going to treat her better.”

“That might be so, but I will be the one giving the word if the time comes.”

Bram glared for only a second more before he headed for his desk and picked up the phone. I didn’t excuse myself. I was done being the nice guy for now. Let him think what he wanted. If the decision was made to where she needed a master, it would be me.

****

“That looks lovely on you. Fit for Mistress, indeed.”

Everleigh’s smile couldn’t be contained as she looked into the fulllength mirrors. The black, long length dress was fitted at the top, baring her shoulders, but covering her arms. It was loose at the waist but molded to her curvy hips and thighs. Her back was completely exposed and the smile slipped as she turned to look at it.

“I don’t know. I love it, but it’s not safe.”

“Sure it is.” I came closer to the mirrors, reaching to the side chairs where she’d placed down her pale pink scarf. I picked up the silk, waving it as my head shook. “This is of the past. Mistress or slave, you will not hide a moment longer. No one is going to hurt you anymore. You don’t have to cover yourself. The more you cower behind material, the more you become a target. Hold your head high. Don’t let them think you’re scared of what they can do. You have authority now in their eyes. They’d be fools to try anything. Especially with me by your side,” I said, smiling. “You’re a new person. Prove it to them.”

Everleigh pressed her lips together, nodding. “You’re right.”

“Of course I am. You’ll get the dress, and the other clothes you liked. The matching shoes, too.”

“That is too much,” she rushed out, turning around. “Mr. Harper, I know you mean well. But—”

“West,” I corrected. “And I mean better than well. We can still be friends if you hold the title of Mistress. We can be more. We can be whatever you wish. All we have is time.”

Silence filled the room as she stepped down and came toward me. “You know about me and Bram? About …”

My hand rose, not allowing her to continue. Hate bubbled deep within, but I kept the soft look on my face. “I know enough, and I don’t care. Bram, he’s content in his ways. He will never take a slave. What he does here is his duty, and his duty is his love. He may have felt feelings toward you, and maybe he still does, but he won’t make you happy. If anything, given what he’s told me, he wants nothing more than to hurt you.

Maybe even badly. Don’t you think you’ve been through enough pain?

Don’t you want happiness? Freedom, in a sense?”

“Yes,” she breathed out. “But—”

“But, nothing. Stick with me. I know how to treat a woman, and I know what happiness is. It’s right around the corner of this shop.”

Confusion masked her face, turning into a grin as she took my arm and followed me out. As I paid at the counter, she looked around, nervously. The caress and push of my finger under her chin had her smiling and standing straighter.

Bags littered my free hand as I held out my other. She took it again without hesitation and the pride I felt at having her on my arm was incomparable. I may have been attracted to her because of the lure she had on Bram, but I had it toward her, too. Her beauty made it easy for me to forget about anything but her.

I headed us around the shop, weaving through the crowd that was already thickening in City Center. Looks were cast our way and I didn’t miss the way the regular masters who hung out down here damn near gawked at Everleigh’s new appearance.

“Pick your flavor, Mistress. But not vanilla, because that would be boring.”

Everleigh laughed, leaning over the glass window of the ice cream cart to view the flavors.

“Is that one good?”

Her finger pointed and I squinted as I took in blue drizzled throughout vanilla. “The birthday cake flavor? You’ve never tried it?”

“My old master didn’t allow me to have sweets. His diet was very strict.”

“Then you’re going to have to get some. Two of the birthday cake,”

I said, turning back to her. “Speaking of birthdays, when is yours?”

“Oh.” Her tone wavered and her voice dropped. The moment her head went down, I knew she was upset. “November. But I don’t celebrate it.

I refuse. That’s when I was taken. On my tenth birthday. My parents were throwing me a party. It was at this big amusement park. I … I didn’t even make it to the part where I got to eat cake or open presents. We were running from ride to ride at the time. Then, I saw it. This beautiful pony. I broke away from my friends thinking that maybe it was my gift. I had asked for one, and even though my father said no, I held onto hope that it was my surprise. It was the most beautiful white pony I ever saw. Like it was out of some story my nana would read me.” She blinked hard, shaking her head. “A man took me, then. I don’t like birthdays. I don’t even know why I chose this ice cream.”

I took the cones, frowning. “I’m sorry for what happened to you. I truly am. But this,” I said, lifting the cone. “This doesn’t have to be about that horrible day. This right here is the best tasting ice cream you will probably ever eat. Aside from hot fudge, because I’ll be honest, nothing really beats that.”

She smiled, taking the cone. I didn’t even have to lift my arm for her to wrapped her hand around my bicep. My heart swelled and it only grew as she moaned at the first lick. Her eyes shot to me and her smile was radiant.

“To happiness, West.”

“To happiness.”