Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91560 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Mr. Black is more than willing to offer a substantial amount of money for you to spend the night in his club, entertaining one of his customers.”
I want to laugh at the way Dad phrased it, like there’s anything admirable or civilized about what he’s describing. Basically prostituting his only child because he needs money. It’s maybe the lowest thing a parent can do, or close to it, and he has the nerve to sound loving.
“Entertaining?” I ask, turning my gaze on Lucian, holding it, noting the way his lips twitch like he’s trying to keep a smile from taking hold. “What would that mean, exactly? What would I do?”
“It’s pretty simple. In my club, there is heaven, purgatory, and hell.” He exchanges a look with Dad, who nods slightly. “In your case, you’ll be going to hell.”
Wow. Could he have possibly found a worse way to say that?
I’m still trying to follow along when he continues. “Elsewhere in the club, we use safe words that can bring a stop to any and all activities if things go too far. In hell, however, no such safeguards exist. In hell, there is an understanding that your body belongs to whoever bought you. They can do whatever they want. They only stop when they’re satisfied. Of course, they pay a lot for that sort of freedom, and a portion of that goes to you.”
“To me,” Dad is quick to correct. The briefest frown passes over Lucian’s face before he composes himself and inclines his head in agreement.
Leaving me gaping at them, ready to throw up what little I managed to eat. So he still hasn’t gotten rid of that idea. “How much?” I ask, since out of all the questions clanging around inside my skull, that’s the one ringing out the loudest.
“That’s my business,” Dad assures me. I can tell he wants to snap at me, he wants to be nasty, he wants to threaten. What he doesn’t want, though, is to do that in front of a man like Lucian. He has to maintain at least some of his complete bullshit image. Wouldn’t want anyone knowing what an absolute monster he really is.
“I was only curious,” I murmur, looking down at my plate, the wheels turning as I process all of this. He is still determined to sell me.
When Dad’s hand closes over mine, I have to fight against the impulse to cringe and pull away. “It’s either this, or we revert to the plan we discussed after your birthday dinner.” In other words, either I let him sell me to the highest bidder at Lucian’s club, or I marry Clark. I can be stuck with him for a lifetime, or I can suffer through a single night. There’s no telling whether Clark would treat me well, no matter how nice of a guy Dad tries to make him out to be.
At the same time, there’s plenty that could happen over the course of a night that would echo through the rest of my life. I could be permanently injured and carry the scars for all eternity.
Then again, I’m already scarred, and my memories haven’t killed me yet.
“What’s it going to be?” he prods, his fingers tightening briefly, almost brutally, before he lets me go. Reminding me of the power he has over me.
It’s Lucian I turn to. Lucian whose eyes I look into. “If I do this,” I murmur, careful to avoid Dad’s penetrating stare. “I want half the money for myself. Dad can get the other half.” I’m trembling now that the words are out of my mouth. I can’t believe I stood up for myself.
Neither can Dad, who chokes on his laughter before shaking his head.
Lucian’s not laughing, nor is he shaking his head. “That’s a lot of money,” he allows. “You must need it if that’s your stipulation.”
“It is. Do we have an agreement?”
“Hang on a second,” Dad murmurs like he just picked up on the fact this is for real. “The terms are the terms.”
“If those are your terms, I’m not doing it.” Turning to him, I see the rage in his eyes, but I also see the desperation. “I want something for me if I’m going to put myself through this. I think it’s only fair.”
This way, I can get away from him forever. One night in exchange for freedom. When I think about it that way, it only makes sense.
“That sounds fine by me,” Lucian agrees, returning to his beef.
Leaving Dad staring daggers at me. I can’t bring myself to care much. I’m a little more concerned with psyching myself up for what I’m about to go through.
It will be worth it. I have to believe it will be worth it.
19
TUCKER
Ican’t imagine anybody looking forward to a Monday, but I flat-out dreaded this morning coming up all weekend long. Every hour that passed made it worse. The closer I got, the harder it was to focus on anything but arriving on campus, until I paced my bedroom like a caged tiger last night—and that was after a brutal workout that left my arms so tired, I could barely raise them to wash up in the shower afterward.