Chapter 6
West
“I was wrong to put her before the intruder. But yes, I think maybe I do.”
His head shook as he let out a loud exhale. “I never thought I’d see the fucking day. You know what’s here. This isn’t you, West. You’re not one of the men who belong in this world.”
“You know what I’ve done over the years. Same thing as you. Are you so sure about that? I’m telling you I want her. I want to buy her, Bram.
What does that tell you about me? Obviously, I’m no better than any of them.”
“But you are.”
Continuously, Bram shook his head as he paced. I could see he was deep in thought. When he glanced toward the bedroom door, he stopped.
Moments passed when suddenly he gave his head a hard shake.
“You can’t afford her.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. You can’t afford slave twenty-four-six-ninety. I know how much you’re worth. You don’t have the money.”
I cocked my head to the side as anger filled me. “I’ll find it.” “I said no.”
“No, you said I didn’t have the money. I’m telling you I do. Are you saying no? Is that what you’re doing?”
“You’re better than a used-up slave. Find a real woman, West. A wife.”
I laughed under my breath, but it was anything but happy. “I don’t want a wife; I want her. Besides, you owe me. I’ve covered for your ass for more shit over these years, asking nothing in return. I’m not saying don’t charge me for her. Just give me the option to buy if that’s my choice.”
Bram’s jaw clenched repeatedly as he stared at me. “Fine. You want your chance to bid, you got it. But don’t think you’ll win. There are men out there willing to pay hundreds of thousands for their chance to use her as they see fit. If you think you can find the sum to win her, have at it. I won’t stop you. Just know you’ll be bidding for nothing.”
Cautiously, slave twenty-four-six-ninety emerged from the entrance of the bedroom, wearing the same white robe she’d come in. Her stare lifted right to me and I didn’t turn away like I usually did. I met her gaze with everything I had. There was no point in hiding my want of her anymore.
She was free. To me, she was already mine.
“Let me have her now. Name your price, it’s yours. There’s no reason she has to go to Slave Row and endure what she’ll be put through. I can take care of her.”
Bram’s eyes flared with fury as his head jerked to me. “That is asking too much. You know that’s not how it works here. She will go to
Slave Row, and if you want her, you will bid. End of discussion.”
My lips pressed together with my need to argue. It was pointless. I had known Bram almost my entire life. When he was set against something, swaying him was impossible. He didn’t want me to have her. That was clear. But I had a chance to win. I would win.
“Slave.” I tore my gaze from Bram’s and headed for the dark-haired woman who’d captured my attention from the first moment I saw her on the monitor. “I make no promises, but rest assured when the day comes for you to be bought again, I will do my best to make you mine.” I paused as I took in her beaten face. “Would you like for me to own you?”
“You?” She looked to Bram, only to come back to me. “I … I would be honored, Mr. Harper. Master,” she rushed out.
“I’m not your Master yet,” I said, smiling, “but perhaps soon. Until then, Mr. Harper will do.”
She gave a nod, walking to Bram’s side as he impatiently signaled for her.
“We’ll talk when I return. This isn’t over, West.”
Bram may have thought it wasn’t, but the conversation was at an end. He was going to try to get me to change my mind. Little did he know, I’d come too far to go back now. Slave twenty-four-six-ninety was going to be mine. I had made sure of it.