Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 138334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 692(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 692(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
“Tell me about this girl and your relationship with her,” Gedeon commanded.
“That was how I first met Etienne. Cosette could be considered one of those poor little rich girls. Her parents loved her, but they didn’t spend any time with her. Etienne was always working and her mother, Manon, had too many society events to attend to really bother noticing what her daughter was up to. Cosette craved attention, so she tended to seek it in negative ways. She would do all sorts of outrageous things to get herself kicked out of school. She’d attend parties that she had no business going to. Eventually, Manon left. She ran off with another man and she didn’t want anything to do with Cosette because the new man didn’t. That just made things worse.”
Meiling sat up, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms tight around them. “Cosette spent a great deal of time online and eventually met someone she shouldn’t have. You know how that story goes. She snuck off one night to meet him. Etienne called me when she didn’t come home. He didn’t think anything of it other than she was being outrageous again, looking for attention.”
Gedeon sat up as well, reaching for Meiling. He wasn’t going to allow her to ride this one out alone. He lifted her easily and settled her onto his lap. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her in tight against his chest. “You didn’t believe that was the case.”
She shook her head. “I read her diary. I went through her computer. She was only fifteen, and I found myself furious at her father. He had this beautiful daughter who wanted to be a part of his life and he was too busy to give her the time of day. If I was right about my suspicions, he might never be able to give her attention again. I found myself invading his office and giving him a piece of my mind.
“He told me she had tried to talk to him about some friend she met online, but he didn’t let her into his office. He was on a conference call. He didn’t remember what she’d said. I told him he’d be damned lucky if he ever got to talk to his daughter again, and I hoped the money he made was worth his daughter’s life. Then I stormed out.”
Gedeon felt her heart beating beneath his palm. He had Meiling wrapped up as tight as he dared without hurting her. All the while he rocked her gently, subtly, offering her comfort. She’d gotten the girl back from a very bad situation. Meiling had tracked her, finding the much older man from his online profile. He had taken Etienne’s innocent fifteen-year-old daughter to a house out in the country to share with his four friends. She was kept nude, chained and available to the five men, who did whatever they wanted to her any time of the day or night.
Meiling brought her home and stayed in her room with her to make certain the nightmares didn’t consume her. She stayed even when Cosette began counseling, because the girl clung to her. Meiling refused the money Etienne offered, but she wasn’t opposed to accepting favors in return. Eventually, Cosette was able to allow Meiling out of her sight for longer and longer periods of time, but they still talked three times a week. Evidently, Cosette had confided that little piece of news to her cousins, Jules and Louis, not realizing they despised Meiling.
“You know even if you tried to exchange yourself for Cosette, they would either kill her in front of you or traffic her. They won’t keep their word and release her.” Gedeon was compelled to tell her the truth. He didn’t want to. He felt as if she’d been struck by one body blow after another.
“I’m well aware, Gedeon.” She turned her head, her eyes glowing with green and gold flecks, indicating Whisper was close. “I’m counting on you. On Slayer and Whisper. We’ll do this. We just have to stick to the plan.”
Gedeon bent his head to her shoulder and pressed a kiss to her bare skin. “Exactly. It’s a good plan. They expect you to come for her, Meiling. But they expect you to bring an army with you. Soldiers you’ve acquired over time. It won’t occur to them that you would ever dare penetrate their lair with just your partner.”
“My mate,” she corrected.
His heart nearly seized in his chest. “Say again?” His throat had constricted to the point he could barely get the words out. They sounded hoarse.
“My mate,” she repeated. “You’re my partner, but going into their fortress, you’re my mate. My man.”
“I am,” he agreed. “That’s exactly who I am.”
19
THE fence surrounding the front of the fortress was very high, a good twenty-five feet of twisted metal, with each anchor ending in a sharp spear. The anchors were close together; some pointed straight up toward the sky, while others on either side of them pointed outward or inward. This was clearly to keep leopards from scaling the fence and getting in.