“How long?”
“Until your debt is repaid.”
Tessa blinked several times, having difficulty understanding his words. “Luther talked to me about that debt. When I asked how much it was, he just laughed.”
Locke nodded. “It’s a steep price. He didn’t want to relinquish total ownership of you to me.”
Tessa struggled in his hold and cried out, ready to punch something or someone within reach. “Nobody owns me. Do you hear me!”
As cold as before, Locke looked grim. “In this case and for appearance sake, I own you for the time being. Until we find a way to get out of this situation and you don’t end up dead in a dumpster, or worse, knowing what Luther is capable of.”
The concept was so foreign for her, that trying to discuss it was arduous. “Why did you buy me?”
Locke relaxed a little. “You’re a good person, Doctor. I wasn’t going there for you. I was hoping to barter for Allison. Buy her.”
“Why?”
“That’s what we need to discuss. I’m not a good man, but there are lines I would never cross. I know that world better than you and it almost destroyed me. And I didn’t want a girl like Allison, or any of the girls that pass through Luther’s hands to end up as slaves for men paying the right price. And I suspect you don’t either. What I’ve done so far, what was and is necessary to do, rules are the only thing that matters. I told Luther I would lease you for a period of time. You must abide by that rule. And in the meantime, we’ll have to find a way to stop Luther and his slave ring, once and for all.”
