by Measha Stone
Heat drained from Melinda’s face. Her hands dropped to her sides, and she blinked. Her grandfather had died a year before her high school graduation. He’d never mentioned…never talked about his gambling. He’d promised he’d stopped.
“No.” She shook her head. “You can’t sell people!”
Grams gripped her coat harder. “He did, and I didn’t know. Maybe he thought he could get the money before the man came to get you. But he never told me, Melinda. I swear, he never told me.”
Melinda sank onto the couch. “Gramps has been gone for years,” she whispered.
“The terms of the sale were to allow you to finish school. College wasn’t discussed, but there was a delay due to some restructuring,” he began.
“Shut up.” Melinda rubbed her temples.
“Excuse me?”
“Melinda.” Grams sat beside her. “Don’t—”
“I said shut up. Stop talking. Give me a minute to process this insanity.” Melinda didn’t look at him. She recalled the way her insides melted during their encounter at Into the Woods; seeing his possessive glare now would send her into a full fit.
Into the Woods.
He’d stopped for coffee on the way to collect her.
Like some bag of coins?
“So, Gramps got in huge debt, and he sold me…to you?” She pointed at Erik.
“No. Not me, my uncle, but like I said, there’s been some restructuring.”
She closed her eyes and took a cleansing breath before reopening them to face the mess at hand. “Okay, so your uncle. And you’re here now to collect me?”
“Yes.” Erik’s eyebrows rose a fraction. His impatience for her confusion showed.
“Okay.” She leaned back and unzipped her coat. Stripping it off, she tossed it over the arm of the couch. “No.”
“No?” Erik’s brow wrinkled.
“No. You can’t buy people.”
The same joyless grin twisted up his lips. “There’s a lot about the world you don’t know.”
Raw fear shone through Grams’ tears. “I can’t stop him.”
“I’m not going.”
Erik gestured, and two men stepped out of the shadows.
“If you don’t come with us like a good girl, Nico and Ian will escort you to the car. Though, I’ll warn you—and I rarely give warnings—if they have to escort you to the car, you won’t be riding in the back seat.”
She huffed a laugh. “What? Are you going to throw me into the trunk?”
Erik’s lips twisted into a wide grin. “They won’t throw you, but yes.”
The empty humor fell from her voice. “Grams, there has to be something we can do.”
“Yes, you can get up, put your coat on, and walk out with me now.” Erik made a grand gesture of checking his watch. “I have more business to do this evening, and we have to get to the other side of town.”
“Why, Grams, what a deep voice you have. I hope you aren’t getting ill,” Melinda snapped as panic and fear brought out her temper.
“The better to command naughty little girls with. Now, get your coat.”
“I’m talking—”
“You’re stalling.”
The other two men shuffled their feet while keeping their glances between them in a sort of silent communication. Was her abduction boring them?
“You can’t just buy people!” How could something like this be happening? How could her grandfather have done something so horrifying?
“You said that already.” Erik turned his attention to Grams. “The house will be paid off, along with any other lingering debts you may have. It was part of the deal. Upon collecting, the rest of the money would be paid out.”
“I don’t want your money,” Grams said, shoving up from the couch. “I want my granddaughter.”
“Regrettable. She’s the one thing you can’t have. Say your goodbyes.” Erik turned to his men. “Give them two minutes. If Melinda refuses to walk on her own, then do what you have to.”
He breezed out of the family room and through the kitchen, boots tapping against the hardwood flooring along the hallway until he got to the front door. The creak of the hinges and the echo of the door slamming woke her from her stupor.
Melinda eyed the hired help. She wouldn’t be able to fight them off, and Grams could get hurt in any attempt.
“Grams. I will figure out something, okay? Don’t worry.” Melinda snatched her coat and shoved her arms into the sleeves.
“Don’t fight him. He’s not the sort of man to take to your temper.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll get this straightened out, okay?” She zipped her coat. This could be the last time she saw her grandmother.
Melinda hugged her tightly, memorizing the moment—just in case.
“I’m so sorry, Melinda.”
“No worries.” Melinda pushed her lips into a wide grin. “It’s going to be fine.”
“Let’s go.” The darker-haired lackey gestured for her to get moving.
She wouldn’t allow her grandmother to witness her being dragged off and stuffed into a trunk. No. She would walk on her own feet into the fire, and, with any luck, come running right back out.
Once she had a plan.
RED is out now and FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Hope to see you in Ever After again soon!
Also by MEASHA STONE
EVER AFTER
Beast
Tower
Red
GIRLS OF THE ANNEX
Daddy Ever After
BLAIRE’S WORLD
Kristoff
OWNED AND PROTECTED
Protecting His Pet
Protecting His Runaway
His Captive Pet
His Captive Kitten
Becoming His Pet
BLACK LIGHT SERIES
Black Light Valentine Roulette
Black Light Cuffed
Black Light Roulette Redux
Black Light Suspicion
Black Light Celebrity Roulette
UNTIL SERIES
Until You a novella
Until Daddy
WINDY CITY
Hidden Heart
Secured Heart
Indebted Heart
Liberated Heart
