Enslaved (Atlantic City's Most Wanted #3)

Chapter One

Truth be told, Heath actually enjoyed black tie events. He loved the gossip and there was a lot of that. Everyone talked about everyone else in hushed whispers. Heath learned all about who was screwing the pool boy and other people’s spouses. As the son of one of the largest oil stockholders in the U.S., Heath had spent his life rubbing elbows with the rich. He had learned to spot the difference between new money and old. His father had taught him how to tell by a man’s dress if he was on the edge of losing everything. If there was one thing the elite had to do above all else, it was keep up appearances. But that was expensive, and his father’s eye for failure was good. He had passed that to Heath.

That was exactly why it fascinated Heath that Wayne Kipper would have Court Langley hanging on his arm tonight. Court was an escort, and not a cheap one. Heath had never bothered to notice the guy before they recently had a very insulting exchange at a nightclub. But watching Court tonight was fascinating, considering what Heath had heard about his prices. Wayne was a man on the edge. His software company was deep in debt and one bad day away from going belly up. New money. They always got carried away with the excess.

Despite whom Wayne brought with him for the evening, Heath maneuvered his way through the crowd until he slid into the spot next to Wayne. Heath smelled gossip. He had to know more.

Wayne glanced over and smiled. His predatory gaze said he spotted a possible connection. “Heath. It’s a been awhile.”

Heath pretended to be surprised. “Wayne. It has been. I didn’t even know you were here tonight.”

A loud snort came from Wayne’s other side, drawing Wayne’s attention. “Oh.” He dragged Court into view. “Have you met my date, Court? Court, this is Heath Overton.”

Heath nodded.

Court did too.

Wayne smiled like the idiot he obviously was. “Court.” Wayne pulled a credit card from the inside pocket of his dress jacket. “Why don’t you go buy us some drinks?” He glanced Heath’s way. “Do you want anything?”

Heath fought a snicker. Court had already walked away. He loved that his presence got under Court’s skin. Heath shook the glass he already held. “I’m good.”

Wayne looked back to where Court had been. For a moment, he looked confused before focusing on Heath again. “Anyhow, have you heard any news lately?”

It was always the same question. People always expected Heath to drop hints on which companies they should invest in. A smidgeon of pity hit Heath when he noticed the frayed buttonholes around Wayne’s mismatched cufflinks. “Actually, yes. I have a good feeling about Treadlong tires. Their stocks dipped to an all-time low yesterday, making it dirt cheap. But rumor is, after signing a major face in football to a commercial deal, they landed a billion-dollar deal with a car company. My guess is they’re about to skyrocket. You know how it goes. Buy cheap and sell high. You might want to keep that to yourself, though. I’d hate for the price to start climbing before you even leave the building tonight.”

Excitement danced in Wayne’s eyes. “That’s great. Thank you. Of course, I won’t say a word.”

There. Good deed done for his lifetime. Heath shrugged. The tip really wasn’t that big of a deal. Wayne could make of it what he wanted. “It’s no problem. So, what about you? What’s the juicy gossip going around tonight?”

Wayne chuckled and leaned his way. “Everyone’s saying Prince Noir will bring the tattooed giant he married, but I say it’s doubtful. The guy’s only shown once with Noir. Not only did he look miserable the entire time, but he also scowled all night, scaring the hell out of everyone. I know he’s a millionaire, but I still can’t believe Noir married him.”

Heath listened and tried not to laugh. Noir and his brute of a husband, Lazarus, were his friends. That gave Heath some insight. Noir fully intended to bring Lazarus. “I disagree. I think Noir enjoys the shocked expressions of his peers. He’ll show.”

Wayne’s eyes lit with something dangerous. “Care to make a wager?”

The clouds parted and everything became clear. That was exactly how Wayne had tanked a lucrative business. Gambling addiction. He saw it now. The guy was always at the tables when Heath showed for a hand. Still, Heath wasn’t one to back down. “What’s the terms?”

It was more than obvious that was the moment Wayne remembered he had nothing to levy. His gaze moved across the room, as if buying time to search his mind. He froze and then met Heath’s stare again. “I bet my contract with Court.”

Heath’s first reaction was a resounding hell no, but then he spotted Court headed back their way. The same mixture of hatred and unwanted desire washed over him. The idea of Court having no choice but to cater to him was a lot more intriguing than he liked. “And if you win?”

Wayne made a dismissive gesture. “You can just match the hundred and fifty thousand dollars left on the last two months of Court’s contract. That way, the bet is even.” He said the words so easily, as if Court nor the money meant anything.

Truthfully, a hundred and fifty thousand was nothing to Heath. He was oddly impressed Court got paid seventy-five thousand a month, but it was still nothing. Nevertheless, he pretended to chew over it, as if he wasn’t that interested. Finally, he gave a sharp nod. “Deal.” They shook hands.

Court appeared at Wayne’s side with two glasses and the guy’s credit card. “What did I miss?”

“Prince Noir and Prince Consort Lazarus Antonsen.”

At the announcement of Noir’s arrival, an evil grin slowly spread across Heath’s face. Wayne let out a curse under his breath. Court looked between them, openly confused.

Heath focused on him, savoring the moment. He stared into dark blue eyes with a thrill he hadn’t felt in ages. “It seems you belong to me now.” It was every bit as satisfying as Heath had hoped.

If Court wasn’t such a consummate actor, he might have dropped his drink at Heath’s smug announcement. He looked Wayne’s way. The shame written in his every line said it all. These men believed their words to be true.

“I don’t know what you two are talking about, but it doesn’t work that way. We have a contract for a reason.” Normally, Court would never discuss the business side of things in public, but this was different. Any embarrassment Wayne felt, he had brought on himself.

Wayne nodded. He still didn’t look Court’s way. “We do, and I’m signing away the last two months of it to Heath.”

Anger roiled through Court. He despised Heath, but it wasn’t even that. Court wasn’t a whore, nor was he cattle. No one got to choose to sell him. He chose his clients. “And again, it doesn’t work like that. My contracts are a mutual agreement. I didn’t agree to this.” He made sure to focus on Heath, so the guy knew he wasn’t wanted.

Oddly, he didn’t look as arrogant as Court would have thought. “I’ll have my attorney take a look at things tomorrow, since I know nothing about the specifics of your contract. If everything is in order, and it turns out this deal is good, then we can negotiate you breaking it. If not.” He looked Wayne’s way. His tone didn’t change, but his gray eyes looked hard and unforgiving. Court wasn’t looking at the carefree daddy’s boy he knew Heath to be. “I’ll expect a deposit of one hundred fifty thousand dollars in my account by the end of day Monday.”

Court’s gaze bounced to Wayne.

Wayne didn’t look concerned. “The deal is good. I pulled myself up from nothing, Heath. I’ve never signed a contract in my life without reading every single word and understanding every loophole. This’ll stand.”

Court’s stomach sank a little lower by the second. How had this happened? Fuck this noise.

Court squared his shoulders and shoved his drink Wayne’s way, splashing it onto his clothes. “Since there seem to be a lot of different opinions here, I’ll just go. You two can duke it out.” He focused on Heath. The rage he felt bled into words. “And for the record, I’m not just some whore to be passed around. I am a legitimate and legal business. If that’s not clear enough for you, I don’t have sex for money. So you can wipe whatever smug thoughts are going through your head off your brain because I’m not the one.” Court walked away before things came to blows. He would be damned if his professional appearance was damaged by this absolute bullshit. Court had known better than to sign with Wayne for three months. That was much longer than he usually gave anyone exclusively. In fact, he had heard rumors of Wayne’s business going under. Court had half expected the guy’s check to bounce. Otherwise, he had seemed nice enough. The month they had spent together wasn’t so bad. Wayne either understood sex was off the table or had been biding his time, because he hadn’t once pushed. Court had been looking forward to a fairly quiet few months. Now he would have to pay a goddamn attorney to protect him from Heath. Heath. Fucking Heath Overton, of all people. Why did he even want Court?

Court collided with someone on his way out the door. Strong hands reached out to steady him. Court focused on a set of sweet and familiar light blue eyes.

“Court. Hey. Is everything okay?”

He almost cried at the sight of Portland. He was a longtime customer. Court also considered him a friend. He opened his mouth to say whatever it took to get out of there as quickly as possible. “No. Not really.” His mind cleared a hair. He didn’t have a way home. Since Wayne had driven, Court would have to find a cab. Fuck. He just wanted out.

Portland scanned the room, as if looking for someone before focusing on Court again. “Do you want to get out of here?”

Court nearly dropped to the floor in relief. “Please?”

With a nod, Portland had him by the arm and through the door in no time. He handed the valet his ticket before focusing on Court again. “We’ll probably be waiting a minute. Tell me what’s going on.”

Court scrubbed at his forehead. He had never felt more humiliated. That wasn’t true, but still. He hated this. Court just blurted it out. “Wayne sold me to Heath Overton.”

Portland’s eyebrows shot up. “He sold you?”

Court made a helpless gesture. “I walked away for like half a minute to grab a drink, and the next thing I know, boom. Wayne says I belong to Heath.”

“There’s no way that’s legal.”

The incredulous note to Portland’s voice eased Court’s shoulders a hair. He made a helpless gesture. “I don’t know. Obviously, this isn’t a situation I thought I’d ever find myself in, so who knows? I’m not a lawyer.”

Portland’s features cleared. He waved away Court’s concerns. “There’s nothing that can’t be undone. If push comes to shove, I’ll simply buy out the remainder of your contract.”

While the air lightened some, the guilt was heavy, though. “I can’t ask that of you. With Wayne, I intentionally set my price higher, hoping he would decline. It’s a lot.”

“How much is a lot?”

Court winced. “A hundred and fifty thousand for the remaining two months.”

Not a muscle in Portland’s face twitched. “That’s nothing. I’ve got you.”

Court wanted to cry. Only someone born to wealth would think that much money was nothing. While Portland worked hard to become the CEO of the largest bank on the east coast, it was an expensive education paid for by a disgustingly rich family that got him there. That made it twice as hard for Court’s pride to admit the truth.

“Please don’t. I can’t afford to pay you back.”

Portland closed the distance between them and set his hands on Court’s shoulders. He was older than Court and better in every way. His salt and pepper hair looked purposefully done. Money did that. “If it comes to me paying your way out of this, then you can just be with me for two months. We always have a good time, and I don’t care what people think.”

Court knew that. That was why he had stopped charging Portland a long time ago. If he was free for the night and Portland needed him, Court was there. “Thank you for this. You have no idea how badly I don’t want to be stuck with Heath.”

Portland laughed as his Phantom rolled to a stop beside them. “Now that, I don’t understand. He’s quite the catch, but I can see you’re serious.” He led Court to the passenger seat as the valet opened the door for him. Portland helped him inside. “And I fully expect you to tell me why you’re so against him as soon as we’re on the road.”

The valet closed the door, and Court fought a groan. He never wanted to talk about Heath and the night that obviously didn’t happen between them.