Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Soo nods, the first glimmer of interest at our conversation in his eyes. “It won’t be an email. As far as I can tell, he doesn’t even own a laptop. His wife does, so I’ve hacked his network, but it doesn’t help if he doesn’t use it. He’s also living twenty years in the past with a flip phone, so I doubt he called anyone or sent a text. My bet would be on a letter, likely a fancy invitation meant to show the others he’s still just as powerful without his daughters. He needs to re-cement his alliances, show the others he’s powerful, despite the two women in his family not falling in line.”
I nod. “Some of the children of his original allies are taking over their family seats. He’s worried he won’t be able to maintain power much longer. It makes him more dangerous, harder to pin down as he’ll be suspicious at every turn.”
I can see the calculation in Soo’s eyes. There’s nothing he loves more than a puzzle with a prize at the end. And once we dismantle the five families, we’ll own every inch of this city.
As if waking from a dream, Soo shakes himself and meets my eyes over the desk again. “Did you make a plan for whoever buys the girl?”
I smile. I’ve spent a lot of time on a plan to ensure her cooperation. Every touch, every nudge of her body and mind pushes her further under my control. I’m not worried about her cooperation. The hard part will be ensuring her and the buyer’s safety while I flaunt my spectacle in front of her father and all the families. The moment they see not a single one of them is safe, will be the moment I can sweep in and take everything.
“I’ve given it a lot of thought, actually. The girl is easy enough to control. Last night was a fluke and was remedied. Once she’s purchased, and we have the confirmation of sale, I’ll have the helicopter on standby to take them out of the city to the buyer’s chosen destination. After that, their safety will be the buyer’s responsibility. Even if the buyer fails to keep her safe, it will only help our narrative. No matter what, I took something from the five families. Celia will be sold, and it doesn’t matter if she dies right after.”
As I say the words out loud, my chest tightens uncomfortably. To my plan, it doesn’t matter what happens to her afterward. It shouldn’t to me either, but thinking of her death has my stomach souring.
“If you say so.” Soo shakes his head at me and leaves the room.
I exit shortly after, my legs carrying me to her room without thinking. She was furious when I tied her to the bed. I wonder if she has calmed herself. Probably not. Maybe I can smooth things over for now. And if I can’t, well, she won’t be my problem in a few days, anyway.
I shove the door open and stalk into her room. She is sprawled out on the bed just as I left her. Completely naked and on top of the covers, her wrists are tied to the headboard and her ankles to the foot of the bed.
“Enjoying your stay, princess?”
“Sarah came in here earlier. Do you know how embarrassing that was? She saw me… like this.” She tips her head down, looking at her body.
I drag my gaze up and down her naked form, lingering at the junction of her spread out legs. “That’s the whole point of this punishment. Be thankful I didn’t send any of my men in here. Thinking of… I could still make that happen.” I wouldn’t, but the sharp intake of air lets me know she believes I would.
When her eyes meet mine, they are red-rimmed and glacial. “You already control me and use me. Do you have to degrade me as well?”
I study her for a moment. Let her glare all she likes. “Yes, all the above and more. That hasn’t changed since the very first night you arrived. What makes you think it did?”
She only gives me a sniffle this time, nothing else, even dragging her eyes to stare off out the window. Her dismissal grates on my nerves.
Leaning over the bed, I capture her chin in my fingers and drag her gaze to mine. “You thought because I kissed you and fucked you with my fingers that you somehow became something else… something more than a rich man’s toy to me?”
A new fire ignites in her brown eyes, and then she does something I never expected, spits in my face. It only takes a heartbeat for her to realize her mistake. She tries to scramble away from my grasp, but the rope is holding her in place, making that impossible.