Strolling ahead of them, the leader of the pack stands apart. He isn’t dressed to impress. His suit trousers have a dark-blue shirt tucked into them that’s rolled up to his elbows, showing a flashy gold watch.
“These are Assets 768 and 777?” His voice is cold and firm.
“Yes, Luis,” Diego answers him.
Unfriendly brown eyes sear beneath his black locks, the strands curling and hanging over his forehead. Tall and lanky, he’s slimmer than the men surrounding him but walks with obvious authority.
Luis.
He’s the boss.
“Gentlemen.” Luis halts in front of the stage. “These assets are a sample of our newer products. And 777 is unspoiled and available at an enhanced rate.”
Memories of the assessment we endured, one by one, to gain the information he’s rolling out in a marketing pitch push to the surface. I’ve refused to acknowledge them since enduring that traumatic experience.
“This one...” A heavy-set, older man wearing charcoal-grey looks at me. “She is a natural blonde?”
“No. We don’t believe so.”
Nodding thoughtfully, his beady eyes search over me. “Good. I deplore blondes.”
His focus causes my skin to crawl in visceral revulsion. He’s good looking for an older guy. Self-assured. Commanding. But that isn’t what provokes my unease.
Something incredibly sinister glistens in his gaze. The devil soul shines through his handsome looks. The way his lip curls in pleasure at seeing me, beaten and bloodied, is a screaming alarm bell.
“I will take a closer look.”
Luis gestures, causing the gold signet ring wrapped around his pinkie to twinkle. “By all means.”
The walking predator stalks towards me, leaving the other men to continue looking and quietly discussing. My muscles lock up as he climbs onto the platform to approach.
Evil drips from his gait, an invisible smog clinging to each silk-covered muscle. He must be in his late fifties, but his light, honeydew eyes are razor-sharp and full of calculating threat.
“Buenos días, señorita.”
Striding around me in a circle, he examines every inch of skin on display in the skimpy lingerie. Revulsion bubbles in my throat until it feels like I’m going to choke.
“They could’ve cleaned you up a little, hm?” he croons from behind me. “Sloppy.”
Moving in front of me, the sick fuck stares at me like I’m a shiny new piece of jewellery he wants to purchase and display.
“Luis.” He snaps his fingers. “Here.”
The boss purses his lips but doesn’t refuse the summoning. This yellow-eyed man holds even more power than I thought.
Luis climbs the stage to join us, gesturing for Diego and his two men to stay with the other customers. They’ve all moved over to the other side of the stage to take a closer look at Gracie.
“Yes, Mr Gael?”
“You know I do not purchase without a trial run. Especially at these prices.”
“Your last… ahem,trial rundidn’t end so well for our product. We had to scrap the asset.”
I think my eyeballs might bulge out of their sockets.
“Nevertheless,” Mr Gael smoothly replies.
“But—”
