“Always about Grayson.” His eyes harden, and his voice comes out on a growl. “Tell me something, sweetheart. If Marco didn’t break into your office to get my father’s records, do you think he would have even known about you or given two shits about you?”
My anger gets the best of me. “Yes! I do! I think he’s working on a plan to get us out of here right now. I think he loves me, and I love him, too.” He laughs, dark and sinister. I realize my slip up a moment too late. I reach out for him, but he pulls away as I grasp at the air.
“So much for us being together. You’re so full of shit, Crimson. I changed my mind. I can’t wait to sell you tonight.”
He turns the water off, wraps a towel around his waist, and yanks me out of the tub. I stumble as I try to gain my balance. He doesn’t even give me a chance to grab my own towel as he drags me out of the room into another one. I’m dripping water all over the floor, shivering as the cold air glides over my naked form. As soon as he slams the door open, I see Grayson tied to a chair, staring daggers at Chris. I try walking to him, but Chris keeps me planted by his side.
“She thinks you’re working on a plan to get the two of you out of this littlepredicamentyou’re in. So, Grayson, what’s your masterful plan? I’d love to hear it.”
“Let her go, Chris.”
“No, please, enlighten us. How do you plan on getting out of here?”
My eyes are wide and pleading. Silently, I’m begging him to look at me, reassure me. Make me believe this is all going to work out and we will both get out unscathed. He won’t even look my way.
Without breaking eye contact with Chris, he says, “I’m sorry, Finley.”
My face falls as a gasping sob wrenches free from my throat. My fingers fly to my mouth as I try to conceal the noise. I squeeze my eyes shut as tears steam down my cheeks.He doesn’t have a plan.I take a deep breath and try to steady my shaking form. Winston has one. I still have hope of getting out of this.
Chris tugs on my arm, and I fight him. I slap and kick at him, trying to pull free of his iron grasp. I have no idea where I would run to, but I need to get away from him. I can’t be here any longer. Fight or flight, right? Well, my adrenaline has finally gotten its ass in gear, and it’s time to fight. He wraps his arms around my petite form with ease, and I struggle against his hold.
“No! Let go of me!”
He picks me up with ease and throws me over his shoulder. I continue to kick my legs and punch his back as his hand comes down hard on my right butt cheek. I inhale a sharp breath and stop fighting momentarily. His hand comes down over the left cheek, and I yelp in pain.
“Stop!” I yell out, the heat radiating through my skin. He does it again, harder this time, and the tears fall down my cheeks.
“Get this through your head, little girl. If I wanted to kill you—or him—it would be easy for me to do so. I know a lot of powerful people, and there’s no trace of me. I can get away with whatever the fuck I want. Keep testing me.” He puts me on my feet and wraps his hand around my hair. I have to bend at a weird angle as he drags me out of the room, slamming the door shut behind us.
We stop in front of the dresser, and he hands me a pair of red high heels and several strands of pearls, varying in length.
“Put these on.”
I drop the items and glare up at him. “No.”
His jaw ticks, and I see a vein bulge in his forehead, his skin flushed with anger. “Did my words mean nothing to you?”
“I don’t think the threat is real. You won’t do anything to either of us.”
“Oh, no?” He pulls a gun out of the top drawer and strides toward the door. I run after him, and he pushes me back, hard. I land on my ass as he exits the room.
I get up and run after him, but the door is already locked. I hear the faint sound of a gunshot exploding in the room next to me, and I crumple to the floor.
Grayson
I watch through the mirror as Finley drops the necklaces and heels. Chris grabs a gun out of the door, and I tense, thinking he’s going to turn it on her. But when he leaves the room, I know he’s coming for me. He walks into the room, a smug look on his face, and he pulls the trigger toward the ceiling above my head. Pieces of the vinyl tile and dust fall on and around me. I close my eyes and put my head down to avoid it getting in my eyes.
“Why not do it for real?”
“You’re worth way more to me alive than dead. I need her to cooperate tonight, and if she thinks you’re dead, she won’t have any fight left in her. This way, I get the submissive girl I need for a sale.”
I glance into Finley’s room and see she’s curled up on the floor by the door, shaking and crying.He’s made her think it, all right.
Marco walks into the room and looks between the two of us. “What the hell was that?”
“Grayson’s dead. Or Crimson thinks so. Rough him up. I have to get her ready for tonight.”
Chris walks out, leaving Marco and me alone. I watch as he struts back into the room and grabs Finley’s hair. She wraps her hands around his wrist and contorts her face in pain as he pulls her to her feet.
