Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 130048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Victor grinned. “And now, you definitely have me intrigued.” Sipping his drink, he added, “In my Jewelry Box, I have all manner of skilled jewels. I believe we welcomed a Michelin star chef two months ago, and last year, we were joined by an Olympic equestrian. I pride myself on offering all kinds of priceless experiences to my guests, and you, my sweetling, have just ensured I will be your personal teacher.” His gaze hardened as it flashed to Roland. “Your request to be her second is denied.”
Leaning across the aisle, Victor stroked a finger up Ily’s bare leg then circled her kneecap. “Henri can still have first taste as I don’t go back on my promises, but once he’s had his fill?
…
You’re mine.”
Chapter Eight
………………………….
Ily
YOU’RE MINE.
You’re mine.
Victor’s words echoed over and over again. I couldn’t look at the older man. Couldn’t allow his greying blond hair, lean frame, and merciless blue gaze to haunt me any more than he already did.
Unlike Henri, who’d entranced me from the first moment I saw him, Victor petrified me. Henri might wear his tall height and broad shoulders with animalistic power, but the Master Jeweler? He wore charming to hide the viciousness within.
An hour passed, then two.
By hour three, I couldn’t do it anymore.
Claustrophobia slashed at my veins, and hysteria bubbled in my belly.
All I wanted to do was let go of the tightly tangled emotions and scream, scream, scream!
I needed to shout, fight, punch, kick, and kill.
But the memory of the guard’s gun against my temple made me swallow all those fizzing urges.
I sat in aching silence.
Henri sighed heavily beside me, and any spark I’d felt toward him—any idiotic awareness or stupid, stupid connection—was nothing more than cinders on the airplane floor.
I’d never been so affected by someone’s appearance before, and what had it gotten me?
Pain.
Despair.
Imprisonment.
Fuck him.
Fuck all of them.
Leave, Ily. Just for a little while.
I closed my eyes and did my best to sink into a meditation.
I’d been raised in a household that was as diligent about meditation as some were about prayers before dinner. Each morning before school, Krish and I would sit on matching yoga mats and Dad would guide us through a visualization. I’d stopped when I moved in with Sam because he snickered at me each time I tried to sit in silence.
I’d grown self-conscious.
I’d let him take away one of the most magical parts of my day.
I missed it.
God, I missed it.
I missed the peace, the serenity, and the bone-deep knowledge I was more.
I supposed it made sense why I turned to it now. Why desperation drove me into any attempt at freedom—real or imaginary.
Focusing on my breathing, I did my best to sink out of this world.
I focused on a grounding cord of light. I spun the wheels of my chakras.
And nothing.
My mind didn’t explode with rainbows and calm.
It remained black and miserable, firmly trapping me in the airplane with three bastards.
A sob wrapped itself around my throat.
Everything that’d happened—the breakup with Sam, the near-rape with Henri, and the kidnapping by Victor—chose that moment to suffocate.
I hadn’t just lost my freedom; I’d lost myself. I’d lost a sliver of myself every day I let Sam mock my passions, and now…I had nothing.
God, Ily…you’ve really messed up.
I gagged on fears of what would happen.
How would I survive?
How would I get free?
Because I would never stop trying. I would never accept this. Never let these men think they ruled me.
No one ruled me.
I’ll escape.
Somehow…
Tears ran down my cheeks as I squeezed my eyes tighter.
My lies didn’t help soothe me; if anything, they made me hate myself even more. I couldn’t believe I’d let this happen. What did that say about me? Just how dumb was I?
I should’ve slapped Henri the moment he propositioned me.
I should’ve kept screaming.
I should’ve gone with that nightclub bouncer.
God…why didn’t I go?
Why didn’t I see the evil inside him?
Another awful thought crashed into me.
Krish.
A keening noise pierced my chest, making Henri shift beside me.
I didn’t open my eyes.
I couldn’t.
All I could picture was Krish with his big black stare and wonderfully pure soul. If the French police told my parents I’d gone missing….
If I was never found again…God, Krish—
I flinched and shoved that thought away.
I couldn’t think how devastated he would be.
How much it would affect him, possibly even destroy him.
I’d been adopted because of him. I became his sister all because he’d taken one look at me when he was six years old and vowed he couldn’t live without me. I’d been given a home almost like a service animal was adopted to aid the life of someone suffering.
Krish had suffered, but the moment we met…I was his security blanket and salvation. It didn’t matter twenty-two years had passed since he found me…I was still his, and without me?
Don’t.
I gritted my teeth.
You’ll get back to him.