I looked at the schematic of the new model I’d created. The design of the exterior was just as important as all the gadgets under the hood and inside the vehicle. From the special formation of the leather seats, to the impressive technology with the touch screen, people wanted the kind of car that both impressed and pissed off others at the same time.

I was sitting at my desk in my office, in my home situated just outside of Milan. I was in between the city and Verona, having a few acres to myself and a home surrounded by fortifications to keep the people I didn’t want to see off my property.

I lived under the radar, not because I had anything to hide; I just didn’t like people.

Anyone, really.

I like cars, sex, and booze. That was my well-rounded life.

And I liked it.

Conway had settled down and taken a wife. With a baby on the way, he’d turned into a family man. I’d seen him fuck three women at once. I’d seen him live in the shadows as well as I did, belonging there without question. But now he’d completely flipped, washing his hands of his past and taking on a new identity.

At least he was happy.

A domesticated life like that would never make me happy. I lived my life just the way I was behind the wheel, always going at full speed. Instead of slowing down and avoiding my obstacles, I liked to swerve out of the way and hope for the best.

I’d never take a wife.

Shit, I wouldn’t even take a girlfriend.

My parents never gave me shit about it. Carmen was a beautiful woman, and she would definitely give them grandkids. She was my saving grace, taking that kind of attention from my parents so they would ignore me.

I didn’t think Conway made a mistake. Sapphire was exquisite, and since she had a special quality that obsessed him, she seemed to be a good match. And she didn’t seem to care about his billions either.

But I still couldn’t believe it happened.

I was a bigger asshole than my cousin, rough around the edges in a way he never was. I didn’t think before I spoke, and as a result, I pissed off a lot of people. But that was fine with me. I preferred to be transparent, so people would know exactly what they were getting from me. They didn’t have unrealistic expectations.

Carter Barsetti was cold, ruthless, and a bit of an asshole.

My phone rang on the desk, and I paused with my schematic to check the number. It was a number I didn’t recognize, from a country code somewhere near Russia. Just because I didn’t recognize a number didn’t mean it wasn’t important. I took the call. “Carter.” I kept looking at my drawing of the new model, only giving half my attention to the phone call.

“Egor Sokolov. Nice to meet you, Carter Barsetti.” A heavy Russian accent came over the line, naturally formidable.

That name didn’t mean anything to me. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m glad you asked. My younger sister was taken by the Skull Kings. I’ve been told you’re the only person who can recover women in this circumstance.” For a man who’d lost his sister, he didn’t seem choked up about it. He spoke with a pragmatic tone, like we were discussing what kind of paint job a car should have. Most of my clients were either panicked or somewhat emotional. I’d heard grown men cry over the phone as they begged me to save their daughter.

“I used to be in that business. I’m not anymore.”

Heavy silence fell, the kind that was full of explosive disappointment. “I’m sure you can make an exception.”

I made a promise to my father, and I was the kind of man that kept promises. “I’ve been out of the game for a while. Too much liability. I’m sorry about your sister but—”

“Name your price.”

I’d never heard a man make that kind of offer. “I’m really not—”

“Any price.”

I sat back in my leather chair, my eyes narrowing on nothing in particular. I squeezed the pen in my hand, my nostrils flaring with hostility. “Interrupt me one more time, and see what happens. I’ll fly over there to the wasteland you live in and shove a pistol up your ass and pull the trigger.” No one came to me and asked for a favor then turned around and interrupted me. That shit wasn’t going to fly.

Egor turned quiet, his annoyance simmering. After a while, he spoke. “My apologies.” His voice was restrained, like he was forcing himself to say the words even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. “My sister is very important to me, Carter. I understand you aren’t in the business anymore, but perhaps this could be your last job. I’m willing to pay you anything to make it happen.”

The highest amount I’d ever been paid was fifty million dollars, and that was a fluke. But that wasn’t enough to get me to change my mind. “I’m sorry, Egor. But it’s not going to happen. The Skull Kings are the kind of psychopaths you don’t want to cross.”

“You’ve been crossing them for years.”

“Yes. And I got out before it became a problem.”

“Then one more time won’t hurt.”

I chuckled. “Persistent, huh?”

“Carter, how does a hundred million sound?”

That was double the highest amount I’d been paid. Most people offered between ten and fifteen million. This was definitely the most lucrative offer I’d ever received. It was enough to get my attention.

“We have a deal?”

The money was enticing, especially since the payday was so easy. All I had to do was bid on her then hand her over. It was a simple transaction. But then my father’s words haunted me. I was close with my father, and I didn’t want to disappoint him. “I made a promise to someone that I would stay out of the game.”

“It’s only one time. No one will know.”

He was probably right, but was it worth the risk?

“One-fifty.”

A hundred and fifty million? “Your sister must be one hell of a woman.”

His smile was audible. “Yes. She is.”

Now, I was seriously tempted. I would get in, get out, and never show my face again. I wasn’t Conway Barsetti, but everyone in our circles knew how close we were. The Skull Kings would allow me inside, especially if I told them I was working on my cousin’s behalf. I could do it one time, and no one would ever know.

It would be the easiest fortune I’d ever made.

Egor’s voice burned through the phone. “So, you in?”

I still didn’t give my answer.

“Come on, Carter. It’s the easiest one-fifty you’ve ever made.”

I should turn him down and move on with my life. It wasn’t like I was pressed for cash. I had more money than I needed. Having more wouldn’t change my life that much. But turning down that much cash for only a day of work sounded stupid.

Even my father would understand that.

“Alright,” I said. “I’m in.”

“Good,” he said. “I knew you would come around. Before we finalize anything, there’s something else I need you to do.”

“I’m listening.”

“I need you to hold on to my sister for a while before you give her back to me.”

“That’s fine. That’s how it has to be anyway.” If I gave her back too soon, the Skull Kings would be on to me.

“Good. I’ll be in Saudi Arabia for business for a while. And I don’t trust my men with her.”

His men? Why would his sister be with his men?

“And I’m sure I don’t need to warn you to stay away from my sister, right?” The threat was obvious.

I never slept with the women I rescued from the Underground. “Rape isn’t my style, not when I already have more pussy than I can handle.”

“Just the answer I wanted to hear. As a thank you, I’ll wire the fee to your account up front.”

That would make babysitting his sister a lot more bearable. I wasn’t looking forward to sharing my space with some woman, to sacrificing my privacy. I would have to talk to her, make sure she had what she needed, and keep her hidden from the public eye. “Very kind of you.”

“Let me know when you have her.”

“Sure thing.”

He didn’t say goodbye before hanging up.

I tossed the phone on the surface and pondered the decision I’d just made. It was risky and stupid, but when I thought of the pile of money being dropped into my bank account at that very moment, I didn’t care about my stupidity.

It would go the way it always went, smooth and simple. The most difficult part would be keeping the woman entertained in my home. After everything she’d been through with the Skull Kings, she would probably be timid and quiet. She would want nothing to do with me, too afraid that I might do something to her too. Most of the time, Conway took the girls and circulated them through his model roster so I didn’t have to deal with this shit, but I could handle it one more time.

How hard could it be?

I got into the Underground without trouble, stepping in as Conway’s replacement. They all knew me there, recognized my face easily enough, and while they raised their eyebrows before they let me in, they didn’t ask any questions.

I took my seat, ordered a drink, and waited.

I was alone at my table, as were the other men in the room. Each sat at a dark table with a lone candle, sipping their drinks as they waited for the auctions to begin. Most men didn’t socialize even if they knew each other. They wanted to pretend that the evening wasn’t happening, that they weren’t there at all.

It was Italy’s most open secret.

The auction finally began, and the girls were forced onto the stage, buck naked and handcuffed. Heels were on their feet, but that was the only item of clothing they were given. Black stilettos, the shoes were tall with a pointed toe.

There were six of them that evening, some more beautiful than others. But their allure wasn’t always in their beauty, but instead their connection to whichever family had been targeted. A man could still get off with an ugly woman if she was the daughter of a prince he disliked. Sometimes sex wasn’t about physical attraction, but power.

But there was one woman in particular who exuded pure beauty. With dark strands of hair that framed her face, full lips outlined in bright red lipstick, and lightly colored brown eyes, she was stunning. A few freckles sprinkled across her cheeks, but that added to her allure. She was of average height, probably a head shorter than me. While the other women could barely make eye contact because they were shaking so much, she seemed to be the only one unafraid. She looked into the sea of faces in the crowd like she was fearless.

It was just an act, but I still respected her for it.

These men like terrified women. They liked women who trembled in the presence of power. They liked helpless girls who begged for freedom they would never get. But this woman wasn’t like the others.

The other men noticed her too, judging by the way they watched her closely and ignored the others.

The bid would probably run high.

Egor had texted me a picture of his sister, an image I’d barely glanced at last night. I pulled my phone from my pocket and checked the screen to confirm her identity. The woman was sitting under an apple tree on a sunny day. She was smiling at the camera, her hair blowing in the wind.

It was the beautiful one.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and refused to celebrate my excitement. It didn’t matter if I was hard in my jeans from seeing that naked woman on the stage. When I took her home, I couldn’t enjoy her. She was nothing but inventory. This was a job—a job I’d already been paid for.

My eyes moved up her body, taking in her lean legs all the way to her hips. She had an hourglass shape, a sexy waist with even sexier tits. I’d been with seductive women before, but she definitely stood out from the rest. With slender shoulders and beautiful skin, she was absolutely luscious.

I could practically hear all the men drooling.

Her eyes scanned the room, searching the sea of faces like she was looking for something in particular. It didn’t make any sense for her to be so fearless when all the other girls were terrified. Some were even crying, sobbing their hearts out.

But she wasn’t afraid at all.

It was like she wanted to be there.

I dismissed the thought because that couldn’t be possible. She was taken from her home, taken from her family to be a sex slave. In her bleak mind, she had no idea her brother had paid a fortune to save her. The remainder of her life would be spent in horrifying ways.

The auction was intense.

All the men wanted her.

Even if I had to spend a fortune to buy her, I would still be left with an immense profit. So I kept sticking my paddle in the air, battling the other demons in the underworld for her. She was the first woman on the roster, probably because the Skull Kings knew the men wouldn’t care about the rest of the girls until their best girl was out of the running.

We were already at thirty million and going strong.

Losing wasn’t an option, so I kept bidding on her, making the price skyrocket higher and higher.

The woman stood tall on the stage, her beautiful tits perky and round. Her eyes were on me, watching me bid on her like an antique painting at an art show. Again, there wasn’t fear in the look.

Back and forth we went, and eventually, I won the auction.

“And Carter Barsetti wins at fifty million.” The Skull King clanked the mallet against the podium. “Enjoy your prize.”

Her handcuffs were removed from her wrists, and she was directed off the stage to the floor. She glanced at her arms and massaged her wrists, soothing the marks and scars along her skin where the metal had been too tight. She slowly made her way to me, her head held high even though she was still naked, stripped of the privilege of clothes.

I watched her move toward me, my eyes taking in her curves and her looks. She wasn’t given anything to wear, not even a thong, so I could clearly see the small amount of hair between her legs, along with her nub.

I shouldn’t look when I couldn’t touch, but I didn’t have a lot of self-control. I pulled out the chair beside me and snapped my fingers.

Her eyes widened noticeably, offended that I’d addressed her like a dog instead of a person.

I had to exude power and dominance when I was around my fellow demons, so I snapped my fingers again, this time giving her a terrifying look that she would be stupid to defy. “Sit. Now.”

She hesitated before she sat down, her bare ass hitting the cushion of the chair. She immediately crossed her legs, hiding her intimate place from view, and then she adjusted her hair in front of her shoulders, making the strands conceal her nipples.

Maybe she was a little afraid.

The auction continued, and I bid on another girl. I couldn’t just show my interest in one woman and leave. That would be too obvious. So I raised my paddle into the air, pretending I was seriously interested in one woman when I had no intention of taking her home.

My slave looked at me, her arms crossed over her chest so she could hide her tits from me. She gave me a special look, a look of disgust. “You really need two women?”

I raised my paddle and looked at her at the same time, floored that she cared enough to even ask. Every slave I’d dealt with stayed utterly silent and never asked any questions. They did their best to disappear from my sight, to go unnoticed. This woman didn’t seem to care. “I thought you could use the company.”

“Because you can’t keep me company enough?” Her deep and sensual voice trailed all the way down my spine, digging into the muscles of my back. As if she’d sprinkled a spell over my mind, I forgot about my current situation and failed to raise my paddle to continue the bid. I didn’t want the girl anyway, so it didn’t matter, but I didn’t appreciate the fact that I’d allowed some woman to distract me.

“I’m not the kind of company you want, sweetheart.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart.”

“How about slave?” I snapped. “Do you prefer that?”

Her eyes shifted back and forth as she looked into mine, clearly appalled by the term.

“Sweetheart, it is.” I raised my paddle again and started the next bid.

She finally turned away, her attitude still palpable even though I’d subdued the argument. Her fierce brown eyes surveyed the room around her, as if she were searching for all the possible escape routes.

She wouldn’t find any.

I played my part and walked out with the woman I’d paid for. I was in a full suit and tie, so I pulled off my jacket and draped it around her shoulders, hiding her nakedness so she wouldn’t have to try to cover herself with her slender arms and long hair.

The second she felt the material against her skin, she yanked it tighter around her body, wrapping herself up so all of her important features were hidden away. The bottom of my jacket hit her knees, so even her ass was covered. She held tight to the material with clenched fingers, clinging to it like a life raft in the middle of the frigid ocean.

The other girls weren’t so lucky. Their handcuffs were changed for shackles before they were shoved into the backs of limos. They weren’t given clothes. In fact, their heels were ripped off and forced to remain behind. And they were greeted with a backhand from their master.

This woman had no idea how lucky she was.

If my sister were ever in the same circumstance, there was no amount of money I wouldn’t pay for her. Barsettis were ruthlessly loyal to one another, taking the definition of family to a new level. If that weren’t true, Vanessa wouldn’t have ended things with Bones. We were loyal to each other—and no one else.

This woman was lucky her brother cared about her so deeply. Or maybe she was just lucky he was so rich, rich enough that he could drop that kind of cash without thinking twice about it.

I opened the car door for her, one of the cars I’d designed. Worth a million euros, it was the most expensive car in the world. It had the kind of engine that provided the car with enough velocity to send it to the moon.

She peered into the dark car, hesitant before taking the final step inside.

“Get. In.” I didn’t have the patience for this, not when she was out of danger.

She didn’t look at me before she got into the car. She never put on her safety belt, but I didn’t care if she did or not.

I got behind the wheel and took off, driving through the dark and quiet streets of Milan. There was no one else on the road because it was three in the morning. The only people out right now were those who operated under the law—or against it.

The cars that were at the Underground quickly scattered, retreating to their hideaways in different sectors of the city. I sped through the streets, ran the red lights, and made it out of the city within minutes.

The woman kept looking at her surroundings, as if she was trying to determine exactly where she was. She glanced at the speedometer a few times, checking our speed. Thankfully, she didn’t ask me a million questions.

I wasn’t much of a talker. “We’re in Milan.”

She turned to me, her lustrous hair falling around her shoulders as she turned her head. With big and bright eyes, her features were fundamentally expressive. It was not difficult to see her emotions because they always danced on the surface of her eyes. Her mouth was just as easy to read, from the way she pressed her lips tightly together to the way she chewed on the corner of her mouth. She faced forward again, dismissing what I’d said. “I’m not a cop, but I think you’re supposed to stop at the red lights.”

Again, she ran her mouth when she had no right to. She was a prisoner of the Skull Kings, and now she was a prisoner again—to me. Was she stupid? Talking back to me was the quickest way for her to get killed. “I just bought a woman like a piece of livestock. You think I give a shit about the law?” I kept my eyes on her and slammed my foot against the pedal, making the engine roar as the car picked up speed.

She didn’t look at me, her eyes glued out the passenger window. We’d just left the city, and now we were on a small road toward the countryside. Vineyards and farms were the only things separating Milan and Verona. My home was somewhere in between. “You just bought me for fifty million euros. You don’t need to impress me with the speed of your car.”

I laughed because it was ridiculous. “I don’t give a damn about impressing you, sweetheart.”

“Well, if you don’t want me to throw up in your fancy car, I suggest you slow down. I get car sick.”

“You just stood buck naked on a stage as you were sold off, vomit-free. But a fast car is your breaking point?”

“Fine.” She crossed her arms over her chest as she kicked off her heels. “I’ll just throw up in your car, then. Makes no difference to me.”

I could buy another car at the drop of a hat, but this was the first vehicle assembled of the new model. I always kept the first ones manufactured, collecting them like trophies. So this car did have some significance to me. I didn’t want her vomit to destroy the Italian leather. And I didn’t want it to smell like barf forever.

I took my foot off the gas.

The car finally slowed down, reaching the speed limit.

She kept her gaze out the window.

“You’re welcome.”

“No, you’re welcome,” she hissed. “Now your precious car won’t be ruined.”

I kept one hand on the wheel and glanced at her, shocked that this woman was so brazen in her stupidity. Even if I really was some sick pervert who wanted to buy her for my own amusement, she was playing a risky game. She reminded me of Vanessa in that regard—but that wasn’t a compliment. “You want to die tonight, sweetheart? Because you’re acting like you have a death wish.” I glanced at the road again, seeing two headlights coming toward me.

She faced forward, her eyes reflecting the brightness from the approaching car.

“Cut the attitude. You might live a little longer.”

She finally shut her mouth, sitting in silence instead of releasing a smartass comment.

“Good. That’s better—”

Just as the oncoming car passed, she opened the passenger door and rolled out.

She jumped out of my fucking car.

In nothing but a jacket.

It took me three seconds to process what had happened, to slam my foot on the brakes and force my beloved tires to scrape against the pavement. Smoke rose into the air and my nose as the rubber burned, and my eyes started to smart with the smell and the rage.

That woman just ditched my car.

Jesus Christ.

I flung my seat belt off and pressed my thumb into the panel on the dashboard, making the center console unlock after it read my thumbprint. I pulled out the fully loaded pistol and jumped out of the car. “Get your ass back here.”

It was pitch black because we were away from the city. There weren’t even any streetlights along this road. The car that had just passed had bright red taillights. The driver probably didn’t notice the woman throw herself from my car since it was dark and we were speeding past each other in different directions.

She’d timed her departure to catch the attention of the car, but she didn’t time it properly and missed her chance by a few seconds. Now she was out in the middle of nowhere.

I’d never chased down a fugitive like this, but it couldn’t be that hard. She couldn’t be that fast, not barefoot. She wouldn’t risk coming toward me, so she would head for Milan back the way she came.

I started to jog, my feet hitting the pavement as I scanned the grass beside the road. It was slightly untamed so it could hide her body somewhat, but it was too short to hide her completely. The fact that I couldn’t see her running told me she was crouched down, hoping I wouldn’t be able to spot her in the darkness.

I pulled the small flashlight from my pocket and clicked the button, illuminating the field in front of me.

There she was.

I aimed my gun. “Don’t you fucking—”

She took off at a dead sprint, moving at the speed of a bullet.

Shit, she was fast.

I pointed the gun past her shoulder and pulled the trigger, the sound of the gun echoing across the dark pastures. It was loud, so loud that it made her fumble to the ground.

I sprinted hard, catching up to her within a few seconds.

She got to her feet and started to run again, picking up speed remarkably fast.

But I was faster.

I grabbed her by the neck and put her in a choke hold, jerking her off the road and into the grass so I could force her to the ground.

She kicked her legs and threw her arms back, doing everything she possibly could to hit me. She was overwhelmed, but that didn’t stop her from fighting. She pushed against me with all her strength, refusing to give up even when the fight was lost.

I squeezed her neck tighter, having no choice but to knock her out. “You’ll pay for this later, sweetheart.” I cut off the air supply to her lungs and pressed her hard into the ground, overcoming her small frame with my size and strength. The jacket was coming loose and revealing her nakedness, but now I had no respect for her vanity. I’d underestimated this woman, and as a result, she caught me off guard.

I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

Her movements lessened as her brain slipped away from the lack of oxygen. Finally, she went still, her body limp in my arms.

I held her for a few more seconds, just to make sure this wasn’t another trick. Then I let her go, looking down at her in the grass. I shone my flashlight on her, staring at her slightly parted lips and the way her chest rose and fell with her breathing.

I wasn’t sure whether I admired this woman or despised her.

I should have told her I was saving her the second we got into the car. But judging by how paranoid she was, she probably wouldn’t have believed me anyway.

I gathered her into my arms and carried her back to the car, which was still on. I got her in the passenger seat before I sat down behind the wheel, keeping my gun in my hand this time. I pulled onto the road, grateful no one had witnessed the action that had just taken place.

When I glanced at her in the passenger seat, she was still dead asleep. Her head rested against the window, and she seemed harmless when she was unconscious. She was definitely a lot prettier when her mouth was shut.

I reflected back on my conversation with this mystery woman, this woman without a name. Every smartass comment that flew out of her mouth was in an American accent. It wasn’t Russian, like her brother Egor. There could be an explanation for that, but I found it strange all the same.

Something told me I was missing something here.

And I intended to figure it out.

I shackled her ankles and secured her to the frame of the bed. I left her hands free because there was nothing she could do without her legs. I’d give her the dignity to scratch her nose if it itched, even if she didn’t deserve it.

Just to be safe, I inserted a tracker into her ankle. That way, I could see exactly where she was if she managed to slip through my fingers again. The area started to bleed slightly, so I placed a small bandage over the site. This woman obviously wasn’t trained in self-defense, but she still had the grit to fight me. She thought I was a psychopath who would rape her and kill her, so of course, she fought as hard as she could. I would have told her I was actually her savior, but she was too busy running that mouth of hers.

I left her on the bed, my large jacket still covering her body. I threw an extra blanket over her, just to make her feel more comfortable. I left her there then went to my bedroom down the hallway. My hands were covered in dirt from forcing her to the ground, and there was a scratch on my watch from scraping it against a rock. I rinsed my hands, took a shower, and then called Egor.

“How’d it go?” he asked the second he picked up the phone.

Shitty. That’s how it went. “She’s asleep down the hall.”

“And it went smoothly?”

No, just shitty. “She didn’t go quietly, if that’s what you mean. I’ve got her ankles shackled to the bed frame since she’s a flight risk. When I drove her home, she jumped out of the car…out of a moving car.” I shook my head. “She’s crazy.”

He chuckled into the phone. “She keeps you on your toes. But that’s what I like about her. She’s got an ass that won’t quit and a mouth that won’t shut.”

Very strange way to describe your sister. “I would have told her I was rescuing her instead of keeping her, but she was insulting me left and right, and before I had a chance, I was chasing her into a field. But I’ll tell her when she wakes up.”

“About that…”

I stopped in the center of my bedroom, near the foot of my king-size bed. I had a big window that overlooked the countryside, and there was a large flat-screen TV over the fireplace.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t confide that information to her.”

Why the hell not?

“I’ll be out of the country for a while and I can’t retrieve her, so I want to teach her a lesson while she’s there.”

Teach her a lesson? She was just stripped naked in front of a group of demons and auctioned off like a piece of livestock. She didn’t seem afraid, but there was no way she wasn’t. I didn’t mention that to him, because if I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t want to think about my sister being treated that way. “I don’t follow, Egor.”

“It was her stupidity that got her captured in the first place. I tried to protect her. I tried to get her to listen to me, but she was too damn stubborn. Now look where she’s at. She’s lucky I had the power to get her out of that situation. If she knows she’s safe, there won’t be a lesson to learn. So keep her in the dark, Carter.”

“That wasn’t part of the deal.”

“I just paid you a fortune. It can be part of the deal if I want it to be.” He turned hostile quickly, his seething anger spilling over the line.

“How am I supposed to deal with her?”

“In whatever way you feel is necessary. Put her in a room, chain her to the wall, and threaten to kill her if she tries to leave. Pretty simple.”

I paced across the hardwood floor, my bare feet hitting the rug around my bed. “You want me to threaten your sister?” Now this wasn’t making any sense. How could he give me authorization to treat her that way?

“Yes.”

My right eyebrow slowly rose toward the ceiling.

“Do whatever you need to do to control her. We’ll make the exchange a month from now, and I know she’ll be so happy to see me. Do we have an understanding, Carter?”

He wanted me to pretend to be something I wasn’t, a slave owner. He wanted me to take this woman’s rights away, to keep her locked up like a prisoner. “It’s more complicated than that. What reason do I have to keep her? Why did I buy her if I’m just leaving her in a room for a month?” The only reason men spent a fortune on a beautiful woman was to fuck her. If I wasn’t doing that, what other purpose was there?

“Good point,” he said. “Then enjoy her, Carter. I think you’ve earned it.”

I halted in my tracks, considering what he’d just said with trepidation. This man gave me permission to rape his sister, to do whatever I wanted to her until she was in his possession again. I hadn’t reached this level of success by being a stupid man. I was observant and intuitive, and I knew all of this was bullshit. “She’s not your sister.”

Egor didn’t respond, but the silence was full of his amusement.

This man wasn’t related to her at all. I didn’t know that backstory or how she got stuck with the Skull Kings to begin with, but I knew I’d stepped into another shadow of the underworld. The smart thing to do was not ask any questions. Once I handed the woman over, my hands would no longer be dirty in this twisted narrative. I did this for the money and no other reason. The specifics were none of my concern.

Egor released a malevolent chuckle over the line. “Who I am doesn’t matter. Just keep her in line until I’m back. We’ll make the trade, and your job will be done, Carter. Easiest fortune you’ve ever made.”

I was up early the next morning, drinking coffee at the dining table when I heard my guest’s voice. It wasn’t sexy and husky like it had been the night before. Now it was explosive, even more combative than it was last night. “Asshole! Get your ass in here and let me go!”

I set the coffee mug down, the cup still steaming because I’d just poured it. I was shirtless and in my sweatpants, my hair still slightly damp from the shower I’d taken. Normally, I would be reading the paper right now, but my thoughts were focused on the handful I had upstairs. She would be my prisoner for a month until Egor came to collect her.

What the hell was I supposed to do with her?

She wasn’t quiet and timid like the others, which meant she would interfere with my personal life. How would I get laid if it seemed like I had a prisoner in the house? If she kept being this argumentative, I would have to move her down to the basement so no one would hear her.

Or I’d have to threaten her.

She had no idea who I was or what I was capable of, so if I gave her a serious scare, she might be more cooperative.

Shouldn’t be difficult for me to do.

“Hey, Bitch-hole!”

My eyebrows almost jumped off my face. “Bitch-hole?” I said to myself.

“Get up here now!”

She was in no position to make demands, but she did it anyway. It was amusing and impressive. I finally left my coffee behind and made my way upstairs to her bedroom. Her legs were up on the bed, but her upper body had tipped over the mattress so her torso was on the floor. The jacket had come loose, so one of her tits was popping out. She looked unbelievably uncomfortable, and it was clear she’d been trying to find a way to get out of the chains.

When I looked at the foot of the bed, I saw the wood had been chipped by her chains. She’s been yanking on it for hours, doing her best to break free, but then she pulled too hard and toppled over—getting stuck in this compromising position.

I leaned against the doorframe, my arms across my chest. I cocked my head as I stared at her, not being a gentleman any longer. I stared at her openly, looking at her tit without guilt. Her left boob was firm and round, and her nipple hardened under my stare. “Bitch-hole?”

She yanked the jacket over her body, covering her tits from view. “It’s bitch and asshole mixed together…”

She really did have a nice rack. She had a nice everything. “Since I’m a bitch-hole, maybe I should rip that jacket off?”

She continued to grip the jacket, prepared to fight me for it.

“And then I should put you on your stomach and fuck that sexy little asshole of yours?” The second I made the threat, the bumps erupted down my arms. As a man who got action on a regular basis, I wasn’t hard-pressed for sex, but seeing a vulnerable woman like this tempted me. I liked the chains, the helplessness, and I also liked the fight. I wanted to silence that mouth of hers and fuck her into submission. She was wild, but I wanted to tame her. I wanted to seize the power and make her tremble in fear.

I’d never wanted that before.

But I was better than that. I’d never been that kind of man. I wasn’t necessarily a good man, but I wasn’t evil either.

Or perhaps I’d misjudged myself.

I examined her with a harder stare, my eyes narrowing. “It’s nice when you don’t talk.”

Like the spitfire that she was, she immediately snapped back. “Fuck off.”

“You want me to help you or not?”

“Yes. I want you to take these damn chains off me so I can use the bathroom. Didn’t realize that was so much to ask.”

“It is.” I crossed the floor to the foot of the bed and unlocked the shackles from around her ankles.

The second she was free, she kicked me in the chest, bucking like a wild horse.

I smiled, anticipating the move. I grabbed her right foot and flipped her over instantly, the muscles of my arms and core exceeding her strength a million times over. I forced her onto her stomach, being as ruthless as possible. I might have underestimated her once, but she should never underestimate me.

I pushed her jacket up to reveal her ass, two curved and rounded cheeks, and then settled on top of her. This was just an empty threat, a way to terrify her, but I couldn’t help but get hard. I got off on her fight, on the sight of her beautiful body on the bedroom floor. She did her best to escape my hold, and feeling her weakness in comparison to my strength got me harder than a steel rod.

“Get off me!” She fought against me, doing her best to buck me off with her hips.

I was the weight of a horse, so her bucks were pointless. I pushed my sweatpants and boxers down, revealing my long and thick cock before I grabbed both of her wrists and pinned them against the hardwood floor.

Now, I wanted this even more.

I’d never wanted to fuck a woman like this.

The power was like a drug, and I was higher than a kite. I wanted to punish her for mouthing off to me. I wanted to teach her a lesson for fighting against me. I wanted to fuck her against the floor, using her however I wanted. The power was intoxicating.

“Don’t.”

I wasn’t sure what I was doing anymore. This started off as a stunt, but now that my pants were down and my big cock was pressed in between her soft cheeks, I didn’t know if it was just for show anymore. My cock throbbed for her pussy, throbbed for her fight. I wanted to slide into her slit, whether she was wet or not. I wanted to cross a line I’d never crossed before, to take advantage of my station above this woman.

“I said no.”

I pressed the tip of my cock against her entrance, feeling her soft flesh with my sensitive head. My mouth moved to her ear, my breaths coming out shaky from desire. Blood was pounding in my veins, mixed with arousal and adrenaline. “I don’t give a damn what you said. No means nothing, not in my house. I will fuck you just like this on the floor and stuff your pussy with my come. And I will enjoy every goddamn second of it.”

She heaved underneath me, finally dropped her no-bullshit attitude and showed the first signs of fear. She wasn’t the brave woman who jumped out of the moving car. Now she was just a woman trying to protect her dignity.

My cock was still hard, ready to slide into that tight slit and dump all my arousal inside her, but the second she abandoned her guarded ferocity and turned into a vulnerable woman, her words finally got through to me. Her plea for respect resonated with me, and I knew if I went through with it, even if I had every right to and no one would ever know, I wouldn’t like myself.

I wouldn’t be any different from the men I’d bought her from.

A real man shouldn’t have to force a woman for sex. A real man should get offers left and right. That was who I was, Carter Barsetti, one of the most eligible bachelors in Italy, a billionaire with more pussy than he knew what to do with.

But I finally had this woman where I wanted her—afraid.

I pressed my lips against her ear, putting more weight on her small frame. “Don’t fuck with me again.”

She breathed harder, her body tensing up even more.

“You understand, sweetheart?” My cock was still at her entrance, desperate to sink into that womanly flesh and disappear. I could feel her back rise against my chest when she breathed, feel her frantic pulse thud against my body. Both of her wrists were pounding with fear from her beating heart. I’d finally terrified her enough to make her think before she ran that smartass mouth.

“Yes…”

“I’m a very rich man. Paying fifty million for you was like buying a hot coffee at a bakery, pennies to me. If you keep being a pain in the ass, I’ll kill you like all the others—and buy another replacement.”

After I let her use the bathroom and wash her face, I chained her back up to the bed and left the room.

This time, she didn’t complain.

She didn’t even look at me.

I had no idea what I was going to do with her at this point. She was finally subdued, but based on her previous behavior, she would probably take another shot at escape. She probably wouldn’t refrain from killing me either, if she had the opportunity. I cleared the house of the guns I’d stored in random places, knowing she would search if she ever got the chance.

But I couldn’t keep her tied up like that forever. If I did, I’d have to babysit her night and day. I’d have to hire a crew to keep an eye on her when I left the house. And if I brought women back home, I’d have to make sure she didn’t make a peep. I couldn’t let my guests think I was a kidnapper, not with my somewhat famous profile.

So what was I going to do with her?

Tough question.

Making her my personal slave was tempting. Chaining her to my headboard and fucking her all I wanted made me hard just thinking about it. A strong woman was sexy, but a defiant one was even sexier.

No one would ever know.

My family would never know. Conway would never know. I’d give her to Egor once he was finished with his business, and I could wipe my hands clean. My reputation would be intact.

But the guilt counteracted it. Back and forth, my conscience swayed.

We were talking about rape here.

I’d never been that kind of guy.

Did I want to start now?

Even if I didn’t, I’d have to put her to use. If I didn’t do something with her, she would find it suspicious that I bought her. She was smart, so she would push the envelope more and more. When she realized I wouldn’t rape or kill her, she would understand what kind of power she had.

And then the chaos would erupt.

I could make her clean and cook, but I didn’t need to pay fifty million for those services. Even if she wore lingerie at all times, I still didn’t need to drop that kind of cash for that—and she would know it.

Fucking her seemed to be the only option.

But she would never want me. I would always have to use force.

Fuck.

I was sitting at my desk in my office when my phone started to ring.

Conway’s name was on the screen.

My cousin was the last person I wanted to speak to right now after the stunt I’d just pulled. I’d dropped his name to get into the Underground, and I did something I promised I would never do.

What if he knew?

It was a bit ironic that he was calling me right now, especially in the morning. At this time of day, he was usually busy with Sapphire or working. I cleared my throat before I took the call. “What’s up, Con?”

Silence. Heated silence.

That lack of response told me everything I needed to know.

Yep. He knew.

I didn’t say anything else, knowing it would be stupid to say more than I should.

“I just had an interesting conversation.” Anger spilled out over the phone, filling the air around me. It was hot and thick, humid like on a summer day.

“I hope you weren’t talking to yourself.”

“Carter,” he hissed.

Bad time to make a joke.

“You went to the Underground and bought some woman—using my name?” The ferocity erupted over the line. “One of the Skull Kings called to check up on me because I’ve never sent someone in my place. Asked if I’d gotten the girl yet.”

Maybe I should have given him a heads-up. “Look, I didn’t know they were going to call you—”

“You don’t know anything about the Underground. You don’t know anything about the process. How stupid are you? You really thought you could pull this off without telling me? Do you have any idea how psycho the Skull Kings are?”

“To the best of my knowledge, they’ve never called you before.”

“Because I’ve never sent you in my place, dumbass.”

“And what did you say?”

He sighed into the phone. “I went with it. If I let them believe I was out of the loop, they would have killed you.”

“Were you convincing?”

“Damn convincing, asshole. Now what the hell is going on, Carter? We promised we were out of the game. What could have possibly brought you back into it?”

“I didn’t think I’d ever get back into it either. It was a one-time thing.”

“And why was it a one-time thing?” He practically growled into the phone like a bear about to rip my face off. “What was so damn important that you would drag us back into this? I’ve got a wife now. And not just a wife—a pregnant wife. I can’t risk her safety or the safety of my kid.”

“I never wanted to drag you into it. I thought it would be simple—in and out.”

“Asshole, it’s never that simple. If you wanted this done right, you should have brought me into it.”

“You would have said no.”

“Damn right. And we wouldn’t be in this mess because of my wisdom.”

“Mess?” I asked. “What mess? They called and asked a few questions, and that was it. You’re being paranoid.”

“Am I?” he countered. “Because they’ve never called and asked questions before.”

“That was because I’ve never gone in your place. Now that it’s cleared up, we’re good to go.” The damage was done, and there was nothing we could do about it now anyway. “This is the last time, I swear.”

He calmed down slightly, but his anger still simmered. “What was so enticing that you couldn’t say no?”

The only thing I cared about. “Cash.”

“How much?”

“One-fifty.”

Conway was silent, clearly surprised.

“I’ll split it with you since you covered for me.”

“Carter, I don’t care about the money. I care about my family now. I want nothing to do with this anymore. Call me boring, but I want the quiet life that my father has always talked about. I want to wash my hands clean and start over.”

“You’re getting your wish. I only agreed because of the cash, but I won’t agree again.”

“You better not. And who offered you that kind of fortune?”

“Some Russian.” I didn’t want to tell Conway the specifics so he wouldn’t worry. “Asked me to get his sister out. I said no at first, but he kept offering more and more money. When he hit one-fifty, I couldn’t say no.”

“One-fifty is a lot of money, but it’s still not worth it. I want your promise that this is the last time.”

“You’ve got my word, Con.”

“And you can’t give this woman back right away. Skull Kings are paying attention. If they spot her somewhere, we’re done for.”

“The Russian guy asked me to hold on to her for a month anyway. He’s out of the country on business or something.”

“Perfect. Keep her in the house.”

Easier said than done. “She’s a bit of a handful…”

“Why?” he countered. “Tell her she’ll be rescued soon. Chill out and watch TV or something.”

“Yeah…” I didn’t tell him that Egor told me not to tell her he was coming for her. I knew I was in the middle of something I never should have gotten mixed up in. She definitely wasn’t his sister, and whatever claim he had over her was sinister. I was curious to know what their real relationship was, but if I asked, I could get my hands even dirtier. It was best to be quiet, finish the job, and then forget about it. “Anyway, what are you and the wife doing?”

“No, we aren’t gonna have a casual conversation like you didn’t just cross me, Carter. I’m still pissed at you.” Click. He hung up.

I set the phone on my desk and sighed, knowing I’d deserved that. Now that I had the woman in my house, understood that I was the middleman in a tense relationship, I wished I could go back and deny Egor’s offer. But something told me there would have been worse ramifications if I didn’t cooperate.

Maybe doing what he asked was the best way to keep me and the rest of my family safe.

This woman was in a bad situation, but there was nothing anyone could do about it—especially me. I wouldn’t bother asking her about her story. I wouldn’t bother getting to know her at all. I would stay as distant from her as possible to make sure I never sympathized with her.

They say you should never get attached to the farm animals before they’re slaughtered.

I’d follow that advice now.