Chapter 21

Adrian....

“Come with me.” I take my Slave's hand and lead her to the king sized bed. I instruct her to sit down and wait for me.

She doesn't say anything, just keeps sobbing softly.

I want to wipe her tears and tell her that I'm not going to hurt her anymore. She has had enough for one night. But that will only make her more fragile and vulnerable. I have no intentions of making her dependent, not right now.

Stepping away from my Dark Beauty, I go to the bathroom and search for a first-aid kit, just in case then wrap up some ice in a face towel. This will have to do till I've got her back to my base.

I take the kit and ice pack then carry them to the bed. “Here. Put this on your cheek, it'll help with the throbbing.”

Her big eyes widen as she stares at the melting make-do ice pack in my hand.

“Take it and tend to your cheek. You certainly don't have any idea but your cheek has turned blue.” I hold out the pack for her.

With trembling hands, she takes the ice from me, making a point not to touch my hand but I brush my fingers on the outside of her palm. Her breathing hitches before she pulls away her hand and places the ice on her cheek too quickly, hissing through her teeth because of the sudden change in sensation.

“I told you to tend yourself, not make it worse. I know that you will not let me take care of your cheek. That's why I handed you the pack. Do it properly or I will do it myself.”

She turns her beautiful eyes on me, gazing at me coolly. For some reason, her icy and accusing looks make me feel guilty. I know she wants to tell me off that it's all my fault but she won't. She doesn't want to have her other cheek bruised too.

Smart girl. A cold smile settles on my lips that probs something in her and she casts her eyes down immediately. Her hands maintain a light pressure on her cheek with the pack. Ice will only numb the pain. She needs a healing gel. Maybe my men have got some. I'll have to check with them.

“Is it working?” I ask, my voice soft but demanding.

She nodes her head, her eyes are still gazing down at my shoes.

I want her to look at me while I'm talking to her. She's lacking the skill of expression and it's proving to be hard for me to read her emotions, thoughts are still a far cry. But her eyes are profound and the only way into her mind and soul.

“Look at me.” I command her but she hesitates.

My fists tighten. I hate disobedience and more than that, uncertainty. If she thinks that I'll let it pass so easily, she's got another thing coming.

“Fucking look at me, Esclave.” Her head snaps up, allowing me to gaze directly in her disarming eyes. My impassive expression falters as I stare in her dark chocolate eyes but I temp down my physical reaction and focus on my goal. “I want you to look me in the eye while I'm talking to you or addressing you. Understood?”

She nodes.

That fucking nodding again!

“Have you lost your power of speech?”

“No.” Her eyebrows pull down.

“Then try to vocalise your responses and always address me as 'Master', understood?”

“Yes, Master.”

Woah…. That was easy.

I step forward, closing the space between us and pull her up on her feet. She blinks a few times, nervously. I take the ice pack from her small and delicate hand then raise it up to her bruised cheek, tending to the wound tenderly as I continue gazing in her depthless eyes. “What's your name?”

“You've just paid a billion pounds for me without knowing my name?” Her eyes hold mine in challenge. Her boldness catches me off guard but this time, instead of glowering to shut her up, I decide to play with her mind. Let's see what we have got here.

“I never bother to know the names of the girls who are going to live for my pleasure. You're no exception.”

Her eyes flare up with hurt and anger. “Then why did you bother to ask me my name?”

“To tell you to forget it.” I state simply and her mouth hangs open. “You're never going back to your old life. The sooner you accept the truth, the better it will be for you.”

“Has anyone ever asked you to forget about your identity? It's easy for you to say but it's not so easy for me to do. You can keep dreaming about me forgetting my family and friends, for YOUR pleasure, because I'm never going to do that.” She hisses through her teeth, stumbling away from me with a disgusted and distraught look on her face.

How dare she talk to me like that! She doesn't even know what I've been through and just how many times I had to change, not only my identity but myself as well.

I grab her hair and bring her small frame closer to my body, just a fraction away from touching me. “Just because I'm giving you a chance to do something, it doesn't mean that I can't make you do what I want. If I want you to forget about your past then you fucking forget it without any hesitation or question. Either I'll make you forget it, which would be painful for you, I guarantee you.”

And to make sure my point has got through her head, I tighten my fingers in her hair, making her meowl in pain as I tilt her head back. “We are leaving in an hour. I'll come for you exactly after 45 minutes and I want you waiting for me, here in this room, on your knees near the door.”

I give her hair a hard tug before finishing the conversation. “If I found you anywhere else other than where you're supposed to be then I'll show you just how bad the consequences could get.”

I let go of her and without another word, I turn on my heels and stalk out of the small room, leaving her lost, scared and confused to collect herself and do as I've demanded.

I know she's not going to defy me.

I had seen the pure terror coursing through her body, in her terrified eyes.

~~~~

I stroll inside the game room with my hands deep in my pockets. A casual glance around the room let's me know where my target is. Without paying any attention to my surroundings, I stride up to Carson and tap him on his shoulder.

He twists his head back to see who has dared to disturb him. I give him a slight nod when our eyes meet. I wait patiently as he excuses himself then gestures for me to follow him in a secluded corner.

“I'm leaving in half an hour. I've got some business to take care of in Europe before leave for my country and I need your help.” I speak before Carson can say anything.

I wait for him to glower at me or threaten my life but he does neither. Instead, he smiles indulgently. I refrain myself from frowning as uneasiness covers me, making me sweat. This is the second he has smiled at me, when he should have just slipped out his gun and put a bullet in my head.

“Do you know, young boy, how much I admire your audacity?” Carson speaks fondly, his melodious voice mixed with the accent sending chills running up my arms.

“I apologise for not attending your events before, Mr. Carson but I have already told the reason why. I hope you're not holding any grudges against me.”

“Of course not! You're the only one in the illegal Market who never accepts my invitation and I understand why. You've still got some innocence hidden underneath your cool and aloof demeanour.” Carson takes a seat on the chair of the corner table and looks at me, expectantly. “So, how can I help you?”

“I want some information on Balthazar de Lucas and his ex-wife Maria Waterfalls. If you could get me some details about their daughter, I will deeply appreciate it.”

“Why do you want information on that bastard?” Carson scowls or frowns, I don't know, but he's evidently confused.

“That's a long story.”

“I've got all the time in the world.”

“But I'm running out of time.”

“Alright.” He sighs then stands up. “You'll get your information within the next week.”

“Thank you.” My eyes flicker away for a moment before I let out a shaky breath and face him. “What do you want in return?”

His face lights up. “Now you're talking, kid. What can you offer me?”

“I've got a property here, in London with a house included. I was thinking about selling it in the coming auction but I can give it to you if you want it, as your gift.”

“Hmm…. Sounds tempting. I do need a new place for my soldiers.” Carson rubs his chin with his fingers, a thoughtful look on his face. “I would like to see the property first then I'll hand you the information.”

I think about taking him there right now but then I recall that Bert is still there only. Not today. I have to send Bert away before I bring Carson anywhere near the property.

“How about I give you a complete tour of the house? I am going to host a small gathering with some of the important members of the Illegal Market and I invite you personally to be a part of it. This way I can show you around properly.”

“Agreed.” We shake hands. “I'll let you know when I've got the information, kid. Till then, goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Mr. Carson.”

With a slight nod, Carson turns on his heels then strides away to join the group of African gangsters. I glance around the room and quickly get out of there before anyone can spot me. I go back to my reserved room where I'd left my esclave to wait for me.

It's time to get out of here and go back. I've got a lot of arrangements to make. Thankfully, Bert is still with me. But I have to send him away before the gathering.

Still deep in thought, I turn the last corner and reach my destination. I don't bother to knock and ask if she's ready, just slide in my keycard and push open the door.

“Ahh!”

The door knocks against something and I hear a pitched moan. Shocked, I pull the door back and glance down to find my esclave kneeling right there, her hands rubbing her forehead.

“What the hell are you doing there?” I ask, completely perplexed.

“You're asking me? You'd only told me to wait for you near the door, on my knees or you would hurt me.” She drops her hand then glares up at me in outrage.

Has she gone mad?

“I had told you to wait near the door, not in front of it.” Her expressions turn blank as she processes my words. This time I glare down at her when she gives me a sheepish look and her mouth forms a perfect letter O. This girl…. “Thank fuck that I didn't kick open the door.”

“I'm sorry.” She mumbles, grudgingly and my lips start twitching. Her eyes rise up to meet mine when I don't respond and she catches me smiling before I can control myself. She narrows her big and innocent eyes at me, her lips press into a hardline.

“Get up.” I command her, my voice sounding much more stable and relaxed than how I am feeling inside. “We are leaving. Now.”