Chapter 7
"The money is ready for you. Are you sure you can handle this, Cris?” Matias’ voice was filled with concern.
“Yes. This is the only way we can dismantle this motherfucker’s enterprise.”
“And you need to buy her to do that?”
Cristian pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. He understood his brother's concern, but leaving this woman behind was not an option. He would get her out of this place first, then destroy Darby and everyone who worked with him.
“I’ll call you once it’s done.”
Cristian disconnected the call and straightened his tie.
He needed to look the part, so he was dressed to the nines.
He slipped from the car and stood. This place was a shit hole.
It was a warehouse out in the middle of the jungle.
It was well hidden, and out of sight from any prying eyes.
Not that the government in Ecuador would care to get involved.
They were just as corrupt as the next guy.
He moved through the doors, pausing for the guard to scan him.
Not having a gun left him feeling naked, but he knew his guys were outside waiting.
As long as he played his role correctly, no one would suspect him.
He was here under the guise of a different name.
Nothing would link him to being a Silva.
The room smelled like sweat and stale cigars.
A stage had been set up at the far wall with chairs lining the rest of the space.
Cristian opted to stand at the back, where he could watch everyone in front of him.
The rage burned in his blood as he watched woman after woman paraded across the stage like a prized bull.
Even more disheartening was the number of men bidding.
So far, the highest bid had been around one hundred and seventy-five thousand, far less than he was prepared to spend on the reason he was here.
Several times he nearly bid. Each woman looked drugged and worn out.
It was clear from the bruises on their skin; they had already been sampled.
The mere thought of someone touching one twenty-seven made his blood simmer.
Darby cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, I’ve saved the best for last.”
Cristian’s hackles raised. This was it—he had to be bringing her out. She was his prized female and would cost him a pretty penny to get.
“This specimen has never been touched. Her body is flawless, and she is ripe for the picking. Let’s start the opening bid for her at one hundred thousand.”
Cristian watched as she was dragged out onto the stage.
Her hand was shielding her eyes from the bright lights, preventing him from seeing her.
But he didn’t need to. Darby spun her around, showing off her body for the bidders.
Cristian let out a growl when he saw her tattered knees and bare feet.
She had been hurt, and it was recently based on the dried blood covering her kneecaps.
“One twenty-five.” A man called out near the front of the room.
Cristian narrowed his eyes, ready to snap the man's neck, but he held his temper in check.
“One seventy-five,” another man yelled.
The two of them went back and forth, upping the price of his girl. He waited, watching her being tossed around like meat on the stage.
“I have two fifty. Two fifty going once.”
“One million,” Cristian barked out, stepping into the light. The two men who had been going to war over her stared at him in disbelief.
“I’m sorry? What did you say?” Darby questioned, unsure if he heard Cristian correctly.
“I said… one million.”
“We have fresh blood, gentlemen. One million is the bid. Do I have anyone higher?” No one spoke. The room was still in disbelief and all eyes were on Cristian. “Alright then. Sold to the bidder with one million.”
Cristian watched as the girl's eyes widened in terror. She scanned the room, looking for the man who bought her. When her eyes met his, an electric charge struck him in the chest. Her blue eyes held him hostage as he stepped closer to the stage.
“Sir, you can collect her as soon as the money clears.”
“I will wait with her.” He followed Darby and the woman towards the back.
“That’s not how this works, Pal. Wait out front.”
“I would think for a man that just paid one million dollars; you would make an exception.”
Darby paused and shook his head. “You’re right. You can wait here.” He showed Cristian into a backroom and shoved the girl inside with him. “This door will be locked. You understand why?”
“Of course. I am not playing around. Your people have my holding account information. Please start the transfer post haste. The sooner I can leave with my purchase, the happier I will be.”
Darby nodded and closed them inside. The sound of metal scraping against metal confirmed the latch had been locked. He turned in time to see the woman hobbling toward a single cot against the wall. If Cristian didn’t know any better, this warehouse had doubled as a prison at some point.
“Here.” He reached out and grabbed her hand. “Let me help you.” Cristian eased her onto the lumpy mattress. “What’s your name?”
“Does it matter?”
He looked up at her and held her gaze. The amount of pain he saw in her eyes kicked him hard in the gut. “It does to me.”
Everly sucked in a breath. No one had asked her what her actual name was the entire time she had been here. To the men who had taken her, she was just a number. Even after she was given to Darby, he had never referred to her by her given name.
“Everly.” She winced as he rubbed his thumb over her knee.
“Who did this to you?”
“No one. I fell when they dragged me out of the truck.”
Cristian reached up and wiped a tear trickling down her cheek. Everly tensed beneath his touch. “You needn’t fear me.”
“Shouldn’t I? You just spent an ungodly amount of money on me like I’m property. Men who do that aren’t good.”
“I’m not like those men out there.” Cristian stood and removed his tie. “Do you not have shoes?” He glanced down at her dirty feet, which were also cut up and bruised.
“No. This is the first time I’ve even had on decent clothes. Until yesterday, I hadn’t showered in months. Where are you taking me?”
“To my home.”
The door opened, and Darby appeared. “Your money has successfully transferred. You are free to leave.”
“Great.” Cristian walked to the bed and hoisted Everly over his shoulder. “I don’t imagine we will see each other again. I can’t have this getting out.”
“No, Sir. Just as I told you in the email. This is a onetime event. No repeat customers.”
“Perfect.”
“Put me down.” Everly began kicking and fighting against him. “You can’t do this. I’m a fucking person.”
Cristian pulled her down and slammed her against the wall.
He pressed her hands above her head against the metal.
His knee wedged between her legs as he leaned into her body.
“Stop fighting me, Everly. You won’t like me when I’m angry.
I’m going to carry you out because you aren’t wearing shoes. Do you understand me?”
Everly closed her eyes and blew out a breath.
She didn’t want to go with him, but staying here meant death.
“Fine.” Her body couldn’t fight him anymore, even if she wanted to.
Months of being kept prisoner had finally caught up to her.
She could barely keep her eyes open to watch where she was being taken.
Cristian cradled her against his chest this time as he carried her outside.
Everly squinted against the light as it shined across her body.
She could feel his heart thundering against his chest as he held her.
Giving into the exhaustion, she laid her head against him and closed her eyes.
She barely registered being loaded into a car in the backseat beside him.
“Marco. Get us to the plane. The sooner we are out of here, the sooner we can start unraveling this motherfucker.”
“Sure thing, Boss. Is she okay?”
“I don’t know. Benji, call Katya. I’m going to need her help. She hasn’t been touched, but—” Cristian swallowed down bile. “they haven’t treated her well. Those other women suffered. I can’t believe they didn’t do something to Everly.”
“Everly?” Benji questioned.
“Yeah.” Everly felt him brush her hair from her face. “Everly.”
Cristian held her against him the entire ride to the private runway.
Months of looking for her and she was here, in his arms. Cristian eased her out of the car and carried her into the plane.
Fortunately for him, the plane had a small bedroom in the back.
He nodded to Marco and Benji as he headed inside with her.
“I’ll be in here with her. If you need me, knock.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Cristian laid her onto the bed and stared at her slender frame.
The hem of the dress was ripped and dirty, most likely from her fall.
The dank and dim lighting inside the warehouse probably kept her from seeing the blood along the edge of the fabric.
Disgusted with what the dress stood for, Cristian rolled her over and unzipped it.
He opened a small drawer he and his brothers kept filled with extra clothing and pulled out a T-shirt.
Carefully easing the material over her head, Cristian tucked her under the blankets and crawled in beside her.
With his back propped against the wall, Cristian watched Everly sleep.
It was taking every ounce of willpower to not move behind her and cradle her body against his.
That would come in due time. Everly was now his. And he wasn’t letting her go.