“Nice.” Both girls froze at my voice and I prayed they’d play along. This was the only sticky part of the plan. “You ain’t got nothing else?”
“Nein. Only these two.”
“Too bad. Well, I’ll take them. Let’s see. Hundred for the smaller one and one fifty for the fighter?”
Kasparian pretended to think it over, but it was a fair offer and we both knew it. And neither of us were the type to haggle over a few grand. He agreed and asked how I wanted to pay. I dangled the black velvet bag in front of him.
“Diamonds? My favorite! They’regutones?”
“Of course. You know me. And my new boss ain’t the kind to cheat someone he wants to do business with in the future.” I wanted the act to be convincing in case I ever had to do this again.
After I passed over the ice, he asked if I needed to buy restraints.
“Got my own.” I shook my head. “Came prepared as usual.”
I took out the stack of slave bracelets and removed two from the twist tie before putting it back in my pocket. Leaning down, I slid one on Gigi’s wrist and activated it, then turned to Boots. The duct tape around her wrists was so tight, her fingers were purple.
This is gonna hurt.
I manifested a pocket knife and cut away the duct tape and rope. She groaned in pain, but started to get to her feet. Quickly, I dropped the knife, took one cold, swollen hand, and forced it through the second bracelet. I powered it up, took off her hood, and grimaced a little at her black eye and bruised cheek.
Yeah, Boots is a fighter, all right.
I turned to Gigi, saw Kasparian had already released her, and gave him a nod of thanks.
“Get up,” I commanded the girls and they jumped up instantly. “Follow me, stay silent, and do nothing else without my permission.”
They were standard orders for thralls, but the words sickened me. Then I noticed Mira was walking funny and seemed to have trouble breathing.
“Hey, something’s wrong with this one. I thought you said they were in good condition.”
“One of theJungehad to take her down when she tried to escape, which is okay, but then he lost his temper.”
Oh, no. How hurt is she?
“What did he do?” I demanded.
“He wouldn’t stop kicking her once she was down.”
So she laid there, hog-tied with ribs that are probably busted, for the hour it took us to catch up.
If Chance hadn’t hit me up with calm, I woulda put Kas through the wall. He musta sensed I wasn’t happy because he held up his hands and shuffled back a few steps.
“It’s only broken ribs, Harker. Stop upstairs and get a healing on her and she’ll be fine.”
Be cool. The old Kerry Harker wouldn’t care.
“Aw, I got another thrall who can fix that. When I come back, though, you remember I was willing to take this one.”
“I’ll give you a discount next time.”
“Thanks. You know what’s fair. But I want the name of the one who kept kicking her.”
“Ah, Harker. Don’t kill him. I need him!”
“I’m just gonna remind him not to damage the goods like that.”
“I already did. He’s nursing his own ribs right now. He’sglücklichI didn’t do worse. Robideaux and his filthy temper!” Kas spat over his shoulder.
