by Stormy Glenn
Juarez raised his hand. I braced for impact, but the man slowly lowered it.
“No, I don’t want to damage the merchandise.”
I didn’t want him to damage the merchandise either, but if it meant delaying being handed over to some sick pervert, I’d deal with it.
“What is it they all see in you?” The man sounded truly curious.
“It’s my button nose.”
God knew it wasn’t my scintillating company. I drove everyone insane, except Sal. He liked me just the way I was.
I couldn’t prevent the tears that welled up in my eyes as I thought about my handsome Italian. I really shouldn’t have lied to him. I suspected I was going to be regretting that for a long time to come.
“Thinking of your husband?” Juarez asked.
Duh.
He was my husband after all.
“Not to worry, Lany. I imagine with enough time, you will forget this life ever existed.”
A burst of laughter flew from my lips. “Yeah, I don’t think so.”
One did not forget Salvador Delvecchio.
Juarez’s phone dinged again. His eyebrows rose when he glanced down at it. “One point five million dollars.”
“You’re kidding.”
He had to be. Who paid one and a half million dollars for a person?
Juarez turned the phone around and showed me the screen.
“Damn.”
Juarez has spoken the truth.
“That’s insane.”
“That is impressive, Lany. I’ve been in this business for a very long time, and I have sold a lot of merchandise.”
I hated that word.
“No one has come even close to gaining the level of interest you have.”
“It’s good genes,” I said. “My mother always said good genes were the foundation for the world.” I raised an eyebrow as I looked the man up and down. He did look good in a suit. One might even call him handsome. Too bad he was such an ass. “I guess you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
Juarez’s eyes narrowed. “Do not test me, Lany. I do not mind taking a cut in my profits if you continue to defy me.”
It really wasn’t in me to keep my mouth shut.
“I’m just saying…”
“Well, don’t.” The man’s eyes narrowed even more. “In fact, maybe you shouldn’t say anything at all.” He turned and snapped his fingers. “Rolfe, bring me a ball gag for Lany.”
Oh hell, no!
The no-neck goon grinned as he turned and walked out of the room. Apparently, he enjoyed the knowledge that he was going to gag me.
Go figure.
When he walked back in a moment later, he was still grinning.
At least he had teeth.
I pressed my lips together and tucked them in when he handed the ball gag to Juarez. I had let a lot of things slide, but there was no way in hell I wasn’t going to fight tooth and nail to keep from being gagged.
Not even Sal got away with that crap.
When they came toward me, I grabbed the ropes binding my wrists and lifted my legs, kicking out as hard and as fast as they would move. Being barefoot, I didn’t make much of an impact, but I did get in a few lucky shots before they were able to still my movements.
I probably didn’t help my case any when I grinned.
I still struggled when they forced my mouth open and put in the ball gag. By the time it was snapped into place around the back of my head, some of the fight had gone out of me. I shot daggers at them with my eyes.
Didn’t do me much good, but it made me feel better.
Juarez stared at me as he wiped a trickle of blood off his fat lip with a white handkerchief. I would have smiled about that, but I had a ball gag in my mouth.
I’m pretty sure my amusement showed through in my eyes.
“I believe it is time to amend your ad, Lany,” Juarez said. “It is clear to me that you need intensive submissive training. You enjoy the whip, don’t you?”
My snort was loud and clear.
Juarez didn’t say anything more. He just walked away. He paused to whisper something to his goon, and then he was gone, disappearing through the doorway.
The no-neck goon turned and grinned at me.
Crap!
Salvador
By the time the bomb squad had done their thing and we were allowed back into the building, the sun was starting to come up. My sense of urgency was growing with each golden ray. My gut was telling me the window to find Lany was growing smaller by the second.
When we walked back into the penthouse, I paused at the doorway to Lany’s office and stared inside. The room was empty, but there was a feeling as if Lany had just walked out. I could almost hear his laughter as if he had thought of something funny.
A sheet of paper in the center of Lany’s desk caught my eye. I walked over and picked it up, my eyes tearing up as I read it.
I rubbed the middle of my chest, the ache from my heart spreading out until I could barely breath. This was wrong. Lany should be here making a mess of things, not kidnapped by some insane man who didn’t realize he was already dead.
“Sal, you have a phone call.”
I pulled my eyes away from the empty office and glanced toward the great room. Clarke stood there with my cell phone held out. I sighed as I pushed away from the doorway and walked toward the phone. No amount of anguish was going to bring Lany back. Only cold, hard facts, some good detective work, and a shitload of luck.
I took the phone and held it up to my ear. “Hello?”
“Salvador.”
I frowned at the familiar voice. “Vinnie?”
Why would a mob boss—an alleged mob boss—be calling me?
Granted, Vinnie had free leave to call whenever the need arose. Lany and I had adopted his biological twin girls after their mother had been killed protecting him. Vinnie had a standing invitation to visit whenever he wanted, but to call first so we could ensure certain people weren’t there. Supervisory Special Agent Miles Burke came readily to mind.
It was never good to have an alleged mob boss and an FBI agent in the same room together.
“Now isn’t a good time, Vinnie.” I rubbed the tense muscles at the back of my neck as I tried to grab onto any excuse to get off the phone. I wasn’t capable of idle chitchat. “Maybe we can arrange a visit for later this week.”
“I must insist on now, Salvador. I am downstairs in the limo.”
Merda.
I pushed my hand through my hair and tugged on the ends. It was better than throwing my phone across the room. “The girls aren’t here right now, Vinnie.”
“Even better,” Vinnie replied. “I’m here to see you, not the girls.”
I stiffened, every muscle locking into place. “You know about Lany.”
“Better than that,” Vinnie said. “I know where Lany is.”
Chapter Fifteen
Lany
My jaw ached. Considering I couldn’t close my mouth, that was no big surprise. I don’t know how those people into this stuff did it. I just didn’t have that kind of dedication, or desire. I didn’t mind playing with Sal, but it was clear that ball gags were going to be off our toy list.
I wasn’t real sure how long I had been hanging there, but my legs ached from standing so long. My shoulders hurt even worse. A person wasn’t meant to keep their arms stretched over their heads for such a long time.
I didn’t even want to think about what kind of condition my wrists were in. They ached just as much as the rest of me, maybe even a little more. Every time the rope moved, it rubbed against my raw flesh, which had turned bloody long ago.
I wondered how Juarez was going to explain that to my new “master.”
I seriously wanted to roll my eyes when that word passed through my brain, but I was just too damn tired. I wanted to sleep, but I couldn’t. I didn’t think my wrists would handle the added weight from me not standing.
First chance I got, I was kicking Juarez ri
ght in the shins.
I glanced up when the door opened, wondering what other kind of hell Juarez was going to visit on me. The smile on his face made me growl.
“Good morning, Lany.”
Was it morning?
I lifted a brow, because, duh, I couldn’t ask.
“It is early yet, but the sun has come up.” My gut clenched when Juarez’s smile widened. “The bidding has ended, and I must say, I am quite surprised by how much you went for. Makes me wish you were not an only child.”
I made a grunting noise, which was about all I was capable of.
“Two million dollars,” Juarez answered as if he understood my grunts. “The end was quite exciting, Lany. The bidding went right down to the last second.”
Gee, how wonderful. I was an overnight sensation.
I huffed as much as I was able to.
“Yes, yes, you are quite right. Rolfe, get Lany down. He needs to be cleaned up and dressed. His new master will be here soon to collect him.”
My new “master” was in for quite the surprise if he thought I’d go anywhere with him.
The relief I felt when I was untied was outweighed by the pain that flared through me when my arms were lowered. I dropped to my knees as I cradled my arms to my chest, breathing slowly through clenched teeth as I waited for the pain to pass or at least lesson.
BDSM play was definitely not on my list of fun things to do. I suddenly had a whole lot more sympathy for anyone put on the rack during the Inquisition.
“Get a move on, Rolfe. The buyer will be here any minute.”
I cried out when I was yanked to my feet. The pain in my arm where Rolfe gripped me was almost as bad as the pain in my shoulders.
“Careful with the merchandise, Rolfe,” Juarez said. “We do not want Lany damaged before he can be turned over to his new master. What his new master chooses to do with him it up to him.”
In a pig’s eye.
I sent Juarez an angry glare as I was dragged past him. I still had every intention of kicking him in the shins, but I’d wait until I was dressed and could run afterwards.
I wasn’t stupid.
Rolfe took me to a bathroom a couple of doors down from the room I had been in. This one didn’t have a window either, so that dashed any hope I had of escaping that way.
“Get cleaned up,” Rolfe said before shoving me into the room. “There’s a stack of clothes for you to change into on the counter.”
I waited for him to leave, but he just stood there. When he didn’t move, I made a shooing motion with my hand.
Rolfe raised an eyebrow at me.
I rolled my eyes as I reached up and unsnapped the ball gag. I swallowed tightly and licked my lips after pulling the round red ball out of my mouth.
I looked at Rolfe. “Go away.”
The man grinned as he shook his head. “Uh-uh.”
Jackass.
I might be dressed in only a golden thong, but I refused to take it off with Mr. No-Neck watching. Even I had standards.
I dropped the ball gag on the counter and then used a washcloth from a stack next to the sink to do a quick wash down. It actually felt kind of good to be able to wipe the sweat off my body. Hanging from the ceiling was hard work.
I glanced at the toilet with longing, wishing I could empty my bladder, but the jackass was still standing in the doorway. That golden thong wasn’t moving an inch off my body until I was alone.
Sal could be there.
I grimaced when I looked down at the red abrasions circling my wrists. “Do you have a first aid kit?”
“Under the sink.”
I rolled my eyes when I bent over to get the first aid kit, and the goon groaned. I was almost thankful I had been sold. I seriously doubted I would have escaped with my virtue intact otherwise.
Maybe I should shake my new master’s hand…right before I kicked him in the nuts for bidding on me in the first place.
Who did that?
I knew the sex trade was alive and well in just about every corner of the world, even in my city. It had just never seemed so real before. It was something you watched on the television or read in the paper. You did not participate.
Until now.
I knew Sal went on missions to bust up sex trafficking rings. I had done the paperwork. But again, it had just been something on paper and not real.
This was very real.
I glanced up from spreading salve on my wrists when the goon’s phone rang. He answered it and nodded several times before hanging up. He never said a word to the person on the phone.
“Time to go, pigeon. Your new master is here.”
At least he didn’t call me a cash cow.
I held up a roll of white gauze. “Can you wrap this around my wrists?”
The man rolled his eyes before stepping inside the bathroom. I gave serious thought to trying to overpower him, but I was pretty sure I’d just get my ass handed to me. The no-neck goon had muscles on top of muscles.
And a gun.
That was a huge deterrent.
I winced when the goon started wrapping my wrists. He was not being gentle. I suppose he didn’t think he had to now that I had been sold.
“Watch it,” I snapped out. “You don’t want to mar the merchandise.”
Rolfe paused and turned to look at me. I swear I thought I saw a sparkle of intelligence in his eyes for just a moment, but then it was gone.
“Why are you not afraid?” he asked.
I shrugged. “My husband will come for me.”
“He will never find you.”
I smirked because Rolfe obviously didn’t know my Sal. “He won’t stop looking until he finds me.”
“Assuming he does find you, he will no longer want you. You will be used goods.”
That thought had never even entered my mind.
“He loves me.”
That was the thought I held on to.
“And you think he will continue to love you after ten, twenty, a hundred men have had a go at your ass?”
“Yes,” I replied with complete conviction.
Rolfe’s head cocked to the side, a speculative look crossing his face. “You really believe that, don’t you?”
“Of course.”
I had no doubt whatsoever.
“Your husband must be an amazing man.” Rolfe’s tone said he thought Sal was an idiot.
“Lt. Salvador Delvecchio is one of the most amazing men you could ever hope to meet.”
Rolfe’s face paled. “Lieutenant?”
I grinned. “Caught that, did you?”
Rolfe grabbed my arms and shook me until my teeth rattled together. “Tell me!”
“My husband is the commander of the most elite SWAT unit in the city. My uncle is the police commissioner. My best friend is the son of Carlos Gambino. My father is Lancaster Harris II.” I raised an eyebrow when the man paled even more. “Shall I go on?”
“We’re all going to die,” Rolfe whispered.
“More than likely,” I was all too happy to reply. “And if Sal doesn’t get you, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Miles Burke will. He’s one of my husband’s best friends.”
“Who the hell are you?”
I knew my smile had grown wicked, but I couldn’t help it. I was proud to be me, especially as I watched the blood drain from Rolfe’s face. “Lany Delvecchio.”
Rolfe’s eyebrows shot to the top of his forehead. “You’re Lany Delvecchio?”
“Yep.”
“Holy shit!” Rolfe released me to pulled his hand down his face. “We’re dead, every single one of us. We’re never going to see the light of day again.”
“Probably not.” My words brought Rolfe’s eyes back to me. I took a step back when I saw the calculating glint in his eyes. “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t.”
“You can fix this,” Rolfe insisted. “You can tell Burke I had nothing to do with selling you. I was just the muscle.”
That’s who he was afraid of?
/> Miles Burke?
“Now, why would I want to do that?”
Yeah, it was mean, but come on. I was standing there in a golden thong, my jaw aching from hours spent with a red ball gag in my mouth.
I deserved a little payback.
“Please!” It was weird to see such a large man begging. “He’ll kill me.”
I frowned at the pure panic I could see on the man’s face. “Just how well do you know Burke?”
Rolfe took a nervous swallow before glancing behind him. When he turned back to me, he leaned in close and whispered something so low, I couldn’t hear more than mumbling.
“What?” I asked.
“I’m on the job,” he said a little louder, but not much.
“On the—oh.”
Well, damn.
“You got a phone?”
“Yeah, why?” Rolfe asked.
“Hand it over.” I held out my hand, waiting.
Rolfe stared at me for a moment before handing the phone over. As I dialed the number I knew by heart, Rolfe stepped inside the bathroom and shut the door, leaning back against it. I knew what he was doing. If anyone tried to get in, they’d have to go through him first.
“Who is this?” Sal snapped out.
“Is that anyway to answer the phone, Salvador Delvecchio?”
“Lany?” There was pure hope in that word.
“Yeah, it’s me, Sal.” Tears sprouted up in my eyes. “Can you come get me?”
“Porca troia, Lany. Where are you?”
I glanced around the windowless bathroom, my heart sinking. “I don’t know.”
“Where are you calling from?”
I met Rolfe’s eyes. “My new friend, Rolfe, lent me his phone.” I pressed my lips together for a moment when a giggle threatened to spring free. “He’s afraid Burke is going to kill him. Seems they know each other.”
“Through the agency?”
“I suspect so.”
“Is he undercover?”
“Yep.”
“Let me talk to him.”
I held out the phone. “Sal wants to talk to you.”
Rolfe’s eyes rounded. “Why?”
“Just do it.” I shoved the phone at the man before turning toward the stack of folded clothes on the counter. I tossed the two top items. There was no way in hell I was wearing see-through mesh unless I was locked in my bedroom with Sal.
