24690 (16 page)

“I do. I heard you were at The Cradle while you were away from me.” Manipulation had my heart racing and my adrenaline soaring. “Did you like the kids there? I could give you one of them. You could be a wife and a mother. I can make dreams you never imagined possible come true. Would you like that?”

A ragged breath left her as she glanced over at Eli, only to come back to me.

“I … I …” Still, the broken up breaths left her.

“This is too big for you to grasp right now. I forget sometimes how sheltered you’ve been. You could have never imagined this possible. Take the two days and think over it. I will buy you a ring and you can see how things will be when we’re married. For me, my role as husband starts now.”

I brought up our joined hands, kissing her knuckles. She was still thinking. I could see it in her eyes as she went back to looking at her lap. Time passed while Eli flipped on the television. The movie that began to play had the hair on my arms standing. The title displayed and Everleigh’s face shot to mine.

“Coincidence,” I mumbled. “Nothing more.”

But that damn duck movie left me uneasy as it played out. What were the odds of that one film playing over any other DVD?

Fascination left Everleigh moving to the front of the sofa. I settled for watching her reactions to the movie, over the screen. Flashes of Bram’s face plagued me. The memories I had of us groaning through the show kept repeating. Our smiles. Our laughs.
The day I had him stabbed.

“ETA: Five minutes.”

The pilot’s voice echoed through and I couldn’t have been more relieved.

“Remember, you’re not Everleigh anymore. Just Lee. Lee Harper.”

Dark hair bounced around her chin as she nodded.

“Lee Harper. It sounds good.”

“It could be real.
Everleigh Harper
. I think it sounds perfect.” I leaned forward, brushing my lips over hers, trying my best to push away suspicions over Bram. I saw the damage that he’d undergone. I knew he was dead. Soon enough, I’d see it for myself.

Chapter 26

24690

I was going to be sick.

Diamonds sparkled as I rotated my hand back and forth over the glass display case. This wasn’t happening. I had meant to play the role as submissive slave long enough for me to see Bram. After all, West didn’t have to bring me, but he had. During our time here, I meant to be compliant so he wouldn’t have any reason to send me back or keep me away. Now, I was in over my head. What happened if I said no? What he was offering was any slave’s dream. My dream. But not with him. Any hope of happiness for me was gone now. I was mourning—aching for someone I would never see alive again. This wasn’t happening. I still couldn’t believe it was true.

West grabbed my hand, smiling down. “What do you think? Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful. Beyond beautiful. I don’t know what to say. It’s too much,” I whispered, leaning in.

“Too much for you?” He turned the mirror on the case to reflect us. “Do you see yourself? Nothing is too much for you. Especially if you marry me.” He turned me to face him. “You don’t trust me. You might even hate me. I don’t blame you after my behavior. I’m just asking you to try to forget about that person you saw. He won’t exist if you decide to be mine. Just this West right here.”

I looked back at the ring, wanting to cry. I didn’t want to marry him. I didn’t want to be in the same location as him. I wanted Bram. I wanted this nightmare to end.

“We’ll take it.”

West’s voice had me looking up. He grabbed the matching band, sliding it on. Within moments, the jeweler came back, handing him a piece of paper to sign. It was as simple as that. I still didn’t understand how things worked. We’d taken a car to get here. It was worse than the helicopter. The fast movement of the surrounding vehicles, the blurring colors that raced by, had me closing my eyes more than half the ride. I was a nervous wreck and all I wanted to do was get back to the penthouse we’d landed at. How was I going to pretend, if I couldn’t even think straight?

“Eli.”

At West’s gesture, the guard disappeared out of the front doors. When the long car was driving up, we headed out.

“Ride in the front of the limo. Watch
everything
.”

Nervousness drew in West’s features as our door was opened and he helped me in. I could tell immediately that something was off.

“What’s wrong?”

He turned from looking out of the back window, pegging me with a nervous stare. “I’m sure it’s nothing. You can never be too cautious. This place isn’t safe, Everleigh. That’s why it’s so important to stay by my side. Believe nothing anyone tells you up here. You probably don’t remember much from your youth, but things have changed since then. People live to lie. They’ll do everything in their power to trap you for their own means. You look rich and you have money. Trust no one.”

My head turned to look behind us and my heart was racing at what he was implying. Was it so unsafe here? Surely it couldn’t be worse than Whitlock. But what if it was?

“I won’t talk to anyone.”

“No one. Especially if they try to get you alone. If they so much as imply anything like that, you tell me. Even if it is a guard or someone you think you know. I’m the only one you trust.”

“I’ll tell you.”

West pushed his fingers in my hair, gently leading me to his lips. I could have pulled back. My soul screamed to. But I couldn’t ruin this yet. Not if I wanted to see Bram. Until we got back to Whitlock, I had to try my best to play by his rules.

“You look beautiful. The bruising isn’t too bad on your cheek, and your lip is already healing. The make-up hides it well. No one will even notice.” At my slight withdraw, West pushed his lips back into mine. “You never have to worry about me doing that to you again. I won’t. You have my word.”

“But you enjoyed it.” I did pull back then, not able to control the words as the car jerked to slow. My heart was racing as I tried to adjust to the motions of the vehicle.

“I won’t lie. I did like it. But maybe not as you think.”

“What do you mean?”

He twisted his mouth, grabbing my hips to set me on his lap.

“It wasn’t the hitting I enjoy, wife. It was the fight. The struggle of you trying to break free. I wouldn’t have raped you, although I did like you to believe that I was going to. It’s what builds me up. I am generally a nice man. You see the way I act now. You’ve known me for years before you saw that side of me. A man has to have a certain darkness in him to feel … validated. Unless you’re a man, you won’t understand this. Growing up at Whitlock as I did, I guess it just sort of rubbed off on me. You have to at least understand that as a child I was molded to this place. It wasn’t easy witnessing the things I did. Or doing the things I was forced to do.”

“You were forced to do things?”

He nodded. “Bram and I, both. Did you know that we were made to torture and kill disobedient slaves before we were thirteen? Bram’s father wanted us … prepared for what we’d have to face someday. We were beaten very badly, on many occasions. The things we were made to do I will never tell you about. I don’t believe you could handle it. Just know, what we became was not something we were born to be. We coped the best we could. Now, all I want is to do what I was groomed to, have a pretty little wife, and maybe down the road, a kid or two. Is that so bad for me to want happiness after the hell I’ve had to live? You know hell. You know torture and pain. Why is it so wrong to try to erase the past and start over?”

“There’s nothing wrong with wanting that.”
If it were the truth.
I didn’t trust anything West said. What did bother me was the insight into these mens’ lives. Into Bram’s. It explained so much. It made my heart bleed in my chest even more. “I’m sorry for what happened to both of you. We were on opposite sides, trapped in the world of Whitlock. We both experienced horrors that will never leave us. At least now you can make a difference. You can make it better than ever.”

West frowned as he turned to look out of the window. I knew he didn’t want to make it better. He wanted the old ways back. He’d said so himself. That only told me one thing: he was more evil than good. There was no hope for him, or a marriage for us, or for me to even be able to survive long if matched to him. It would only take one mental snap and he could kill me if he wanted. Or worse … I would kill him. I had to figure something out. Every path I had before me held a chance of it backfiring. I was running out of time.

Minutes passed while I tried to calm the anxieties of the sights around us. When the car pulled into the circle drive of a large building, West placed me on the seat next to him.

“Time to eat, Lee. Remember, stay close. Keep your head up, but your eyes off of anyone’s face. Do exactly what I tell you. Don’t do anything to upset me.”

“I won’t.”

He nodded just as the door was being swung open. I let him help me out, sliding my fingers through his as he initiated the hold. The guard stayed behind us, constantly taking in the surroundings as we strolled through the entrance. The large room had me gasping at the grandeur. The ceiling looked like a picture I’d seen in a book of a cathedral. There was gold and glass aligning the walls. Everything was sparkling. My head tilted back at the large chandelier and the tug on my hand left me righting myself.

We turned left, heading into an even larger room filled with just as much splendor. I barely noticed the woman behind the podium as we came to a stop.

“Reservation for West Harper.”

“We’ve been expecting you, Mr. Harper. Right this way.”

As we weaved through the tables, I kept my gaze ahead. I didn’t dare look at anyone at the tables. I didn’t even want to be here. For as long as I could remember, all I wanted to do was escape Whitlock. Now that I was here, I didn’t know what to expect. I kept waiting for someone to attack us. I’d been on guard for so long, it was hard to relax.

“Sit.”

West pulled out a chair while I obeyed and let him push me in. When he sat across from me, Eli took his position against the wall not a foot behind. His hand grasped his wrist at his waist and still he stood and scanned the surroundings. It only added to my apprehension of this outside world. What was happening if our guard was so cautious? Who was going to hurt us?

“Can I start you out with a drink?”

West scanned over the menu, placing it down after a brief glimpse. “A bottle of your best red.”

The waiter nodded, rushing away.

“Red?”

“Wine, wife.”

“Oh.” I picked up the menu, looking over the selection. I didn’t recognize a single thing. I felt so out of place. Sweat was beginning to cover my chest and it was getting hard to breathe. My body swayed and I grabbed to the table to try to stop the unbalance.

“This is too much for you. You’re terrified right now. Look at your hands, you’re trembling. Eli, bring her chair over here.”

My palms pressed against the white table cloth as I stood. As much as I hated West, he was all I knew. There was a comfort in that for the slave who needed familiarity. There was also anger that I needed him at all.

Ringing filled the space as I sat and West reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. “Hello?” He paused, his brow creasing at whoever was on the other end. “I see. We’re getting lunch now. We’ll meet you there in an hour.” He hung up the phone, peering over at me as he placed it back in his suit’s jacket. “That was the high leader. They’ve moved up the viewing.”

“Viewing?”

“Yes. There was meant to be a viewing tonight for his closest friends and family members. Seems the time has been moved up and they’re having it sooner than expected.”

Nausea hit hard, leaving me trying to slow my breaths. I thought I would have two days to prepare myself to see Bram’s dead body. Now it was only an hour away. Could I do this? I knew I had to, but if my heart was aching now, how worse was it going to become when I was faced with the reality that the man I loved was never coming back?

Chapter 27

West

Where Everleigh couldn’t eat, I had consumed the best meal of my life. I took one last drink of wine, placing down the empty glass as I leaned back. Life was great. More than great. Soon I’d see Bram dead for, myself, and I could get back to Whitlock. To what was mine.

I grabbed Everleigh’s hand as I stood and basked in the ease at which she let me lead her. Maybe she was a little intoxicated as well? Hell, she’d had two glasses of wine, to my five. For someone that never indulged, she had to be feeling
something
. Was she leaning into me? I smiled at the realization that she was. She was probably having trouble walking. My day just kept getting better.

“Mr. Harper?”

I slowed at my name, not quite placing the voice who called it. I scanned the room with a fuzzy mind. It took a moment to place Mr. Barber, who was now waving at me. He was a former associate, and not one I really cared for.

“Mr. Barber.” I walked us over, reaching out to shake his hand as he stayed seated. The sad expression on his face was one I would have loved to knock off.

“I heard about Mr. Whitlock’s passing. My condolences. He was a great man. Very charitable in his works, just like his mother was.”

Was he? I forced a similar look of grief, nodding. “Yes, his passing was most unfortunate. I’m not sure what I’m going to do without him.” I trailed off, appearing probably a lot more lost than I felt. Which was technically more drunk by the minute.

“I’m so sorry. The two of you were inseparable. I don’t think there was a time that I didn’t see both of you together. It’s been a while … three, four years. But I remember. You two …” He trailed off, his grief evident as he swallowed and cleared his throat. Bram liked Mr. Barber. I never understood why. They were closer than the associate and I was.

“Will you be at the funeral on Saturday morning?”

“I will. I definitely will.”

“I’m sorry.” My head shook as I took Everleigh’s buried form out from hiding at my side. Her body had been stuck to mine, and she was trembling so badly that I wasn’t sure how the hell she was standing. “This is my wife, Lee. Lee, this is Mr. Barber.” I leaned in by her ear. “Shake his hand and tell him hello.”

Everleigh’s hand came out, trembling even worse than her body. Mr. Barber didn’t seem to notice as he reached forward to grasp her fingers.

“I wasn’t aware you’d gotten married. Congratulations to the both of you.”

“Thank you,” I said, smiling and pulling her in close again. My arm wrapped around her shoulders, hugging her body to mine. “You’ll have to excuse my wife. She’s taking Bram’s death extremely hard. They were very close. He actually introduced us.”

Mr. Barber looked toward her, his face once again turning sad. “I understand. I’m
so
sorry for your loss, Mrs. Harper. Please know that I’m here if either of you needs anything. Anything at all. Bram was loved by so many. He was one of the kindest men I knew.”

Confusion once again seeped in. I knew Bram had donated to some charities. It had been part of his duties, but had he been so
kind
? Sure, people loved him. He knew how to play the part of happy socialite, but had it made all the difference? He was an asshole. A coldhearted bastard the majority of the time. He ran an underground fortress full of slaves, rape, and murder. No one knew Bram. Not like I did.

Fingers dug into my suit jacket, bringing me back. “Yes. Well, if you’ll excuse us. We have to be going. It was a pleasure seeing you here, Mr. Barber.”

I reached out, shaking the man’s hand. By the time I got Everleigh into the car, I damn near had to pry her off of me.

“What is the matter with you?”

A sob exploded from her mouth as her eyes scanned the cars and busy sidewalks. She was panting, trying to leave my arms to crawl to the floorboard. Eli paused in shutting the door, instead, crawling in to sit further down.

“Everleigh,” I growled. “Sit up.”

“Yelling won’t help. She’s having a panic attack. Like … PTSD or something. It’s too much for her. She’s …” Eli tilted his head, watching while she buried her face in her hands. “Pop her something. Did you bring anything?”

“Yeah,” I snapped. “I carry a fucking pharmacy around in my pocket. Of course I didn’t bring anything.”

“I just,” she tried to catch her breath. “I need air. Quiet. Alone. All … be okay.”

“We’re in the car in the middle of traffic. Quiet and alone isn’t coming for a while so you better get yourself together. We have to go to the viewing, remember? We only have a short window. They’re not doing this again. It’s now or never.”

Everleigh wrestled out of my arms, crawling to the side seat to lie down. Her arm came up and she buried her face in the crook of her elbow. The deep breaths still left her, but she seemed to do better away from me.

“I kept waiting,” she said, shakily. “I thought he would try to h-hurt us. I don’t like this place.”

I smirked at Eli. I’d wanted her to fear being on the outside and I had succeeded.

“We’re lucky he didn’t. He was closer to Bram than he was with me. I have no idea what kind of man he is. But that’s why we have Eli. He’ll protect us, won’t you Eli?”

He rolled his eyes, pursing his lips as he continued to stare at her. “Yeah. Definitely.” He paused. “Mistress, may I ask you a question?”

My lip slightly pulled back at his address, but I stayed quiet as I studied my guard. Everleigh’s arm lifted and she wiped away the tears as she sat.

“Of course. What it is?”

“Are the stories true? About you and The Cradle?”

Dark hair swayed as she shook her head. “I’m not sure I understand. What stories?”

He glanced at me. I could still see his anger toward something and I didn’t like it.

“Is it true you brought all of the children into one room and slept with them there? So you could protect them?”

Her cheeks reddened and she peeked over at me. “Some were afraid. I fear they have valid reason. I wanted to make sure every single one of them were safe.”

“You would have died to protect them, wouldn’t you have?”

“Without hesitation. They don’t deserve this life. They’re innocent. I know no more have been brought in since Bram took over from his father a few years ago. The ones there are from before. But if we could help them. If we could do
something
. The youngest is not nearly five. She’s been here since she was only weeks old. The oldest, only twelve. They don’t have to know this life. It’s not too late to set them free.”

“
Free
?” My head shook. “We can’t set them free. They were taken. Kidnapped. You’re asking me to release a good twenty kids into the world? Do you not think the law here isn’t going to wonder why so many have suddenly reappeared? It’s too risky.”

“There’s fourteen. And it doesn’t have to be all at one time. We can set free two or three at a time, spanning the release of all in a period of a year or so. You can put them anywhere. Far from their home, but in the hands of someone who can help them and get them back to where they belong.
The parents need their children
. Have they all not suffered enough?”

Still, my head shook at her. We needed them for foundation. For the first auction I planned to host a few weeks from now. It would be an introduction back into the old ways. I couldn’t lose the one thing I had that would make a statement.

“We could do it,” Eli said, quietly. “We could set them free. I could be in charge of it. I’d personally make sure they were delivered into the right hands.”

“You, too? Have we not talked about this?”

His jaw tightened as he clasped his hands at his knees. “And I told you I didn’t like the idea of it. I am capable of anything.
Anything
. But I don’t do kids—not the selling, not the sick shit that happens to them. I don’t support it and you know that.”

“And I told you that you wouldn’t have to be a part it.”

Eli kept his head down, staying quiet as he stared at the ground. I knew he was thinking, and I hated that Everleigh had one up on me concerning the damn kids.

“We’ll talk more about it later. There may be something we can do with the younger ones, but the older ones, I won’t budge on those. They know too much. They’re not going anywhere.”