Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
“I just needed a minute...” I start to explain, but Julian doesn’t really seem interested in my answer. He grabs my wrist and starts to pull me away from the bathroom. It’s by fate alone that I don’t trip over my own feet.
“Moretti,” a familiar voice calls, the sound making my chest hurt, and my stomach churn. Julian stops in his tracks, making me yet again bump into him. His hold on my hand becomes tighter, almost as if he expects me to run away.
“What do you want, Romero?” Julian snaps.
“Did you have to bring her here? Wearing this of all things? She’s not a whore.” My father’s voice cuts through the air like a knife dipped in acid. I want to look up at him so badly, assure him that I’m okay, but I remember Julian’s words. Disobey, and Marie will pay.
“She isn’t any of your concern anymore. Ten million says so. In fact, I’ll strip her naked, walk her up on stage and throat fuck her in front of everyone if I want to, and there isn’t a fucking thing you can do about it.”
“Jesus Christ, Moretti, what’s fucking wrong with you?”
Julian answers with a chuckle. “Nothing more or less than any other man in this place, including you. Do you know how many offers I got on sharing your daughter tonight? Maybe I’ll take some of them. Pass her around. If you’re lucky, I’ll send you a video.” Julian’s tone isn’t just cold but mocking, and his grip on my hand becomes tighter and tighter until it’s hurting.
“I want to buy her back. I’ve got the money.”
“No.”
“No? I’m saying I’m giving you back your ten million. You had your fun, now I want my daughter back.”
“So you can sell her to someone else?” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Julian shake his head. “Where did you come up with that kind of money anyway? You were pretty broke last time I checked.”
“Does it matter where I got it from? I’ve got it, that’s all that matters. Let’s go, Elena, we’re going home.”
My father extends his hand out to me, and my fingers twitch, yearning to grab hold of his, but I force myself to stay still, to keep my gaze trained on the ground.
“What have you done to her?” My father’s accusing tone is aimed right at Julian.
“Trained her. She will not speak to you, or anyone because she knows what happens if she does. And your offer means shit to me. She is mine. You knew the type of man you were selling her to when you accepted my offer.”
“I will not let you hurt her. She is pure and innocent–”
“Not anymore,” Julian interrupts, making my father shake in anger.
“She is not made for this world. Give her back to me.”
Julian takes a threatening step forward, tugging me right along with him, and my knees shake. Waves of uncertainty run through me while my captor, and my father, the man who sold me, stand toe to toe.
“She is mine, so if I want to hurt her, I will. If I want to use every hole in her body for my pleasure, I will. Fuck off, and a word of advice. If you try to infiltrate my home again or make any effort to take her from me again, I won’t hesitate to come after you. A deal is a deal, Romero. You know how it works. Stand by it, or I’ll be forced to draw blood.”
Julian doesn’t even give my father the opportunity to respond.
Brushing past him, he drags me right alongside him, and my heart feels like it’s being dragged through the mud behind me. My father was right within reach, and I couldn’t so much as look at him. Tears prick my eyes, and I blink rapidly to stop myself from crying.
When we reach the bar, Julian releases my hand and ushers me back into the stool I was sitting on before. I rub at my wrist, the blood finally circulating back into my hand. The bartender is cleaning a glass, waiting as if he knew we would be returning shortly.
“I need another whiskey and a glass of red wine,” Julian says cooly as if he wasn’t just arguing with someone.
The bartender gets our drinks, and I grab the glass of wine as soon as it’s placed in front of me, taking a small sip, hoping it will calm my chaotic nerves.
“Gentlemen, can I have your attention, please. Momentarily our auction will begin. Tonight, we only have four girls for sale, but believe me, it’s quality over quantity tonight. Enjoy, and may the highest bidder win.”
Did he just say, girls? I couldn’t possibly have heard that correctly. Curiosity gets the best of me, and I look in the direction the voice came from. Horror fills me when I see that there is a huge stage, with four pedestals on it.