“Is she naked?” A guard grunted, smiling sickly. “Willing to share, Sinclair?”

Sully vibrated with loathing. “My brother is in Euphoria. I suggest you go find him.”

“Oh, we know where he is. We watched him fucking that wet little minx for a while.” They chuckled as one. “We also shoved aside four corpses...and decided to come find the culprit.”

“Leave,” Sully hissed. “Drake got what he wanted. He can have everything for all I care.”

“See...that’s where I think you’re wrong,” the one with a scar on his cheek muttered. He pointed the gun over Sully’s shoulder, aiming for me, making my inner muscles clench with sick sensual need. “I think he wanted her.” He grinned. “And it looks like she wants something herself.”

My knees buckled as my core clenched.

Sully held me up, his fingers biting into me.

His touch felt strict, severe...sexy.

My mind was petrified. But my body? It was impatient, thirsty, irritable.

I moaned as an indecent wave of lust lashed around my belly.

Sully struggled to hold my weight as I crumpled against his back.

I battled with the need to orgasm and the self-preservation not to show how unhinged I was.

This was dangerous.

This wasn’t a fantasy or illusion.

These men were real.

They were real, and their guns were real, and their threat toward Sully and me was horrifyingly real.

It’s real!

My lenses, fingerprint sensors, and oil had all washed off in the sea. I hadn’t been programmed into Euphoria. I didn’t have the immunity of falsehoods.

This is real, Ellie!

Get it together.

Before it’s too late!

I bit my lip as my clit throbbed, angry that I continued to ignore its demand for more.

My heart seemed to stop with a horrifying pause before kicking back into its irregular swerving sprint.

If I gave in, I’d unleash a nightmare.

If I slid to the floor and fingered myself, they’d probably shoot Sully, then rape me.

Three men.

One of me.

I swallowed my groan as diabolical need poured indecent gasoline on my delirious heart. Three men to pleasure me. Three men to make me come.

No!

Stop it.

Enough!

I grabbed my hair, bashing my forehead into Sully’s shoulder blades, crying quietly.

He grunted at my torment, his violence lashing around us, on its leash for now but straining to get free. “You’re right. She does want something.” Sully’s growl sent goosebumps over me, making it almost impossible to behave. “Just like, I’m sure...you want something too.”

The tension in the room reached a new danger, thick with war and tight with suspicion.

My heart skipped a few fluttery beats, coughing with confusion on how to thrum.

“Gonna let us fuck her?” The taller dark-haired one raised an eyebrow.

“She’s not on offer.” Sully stiffened, struggling to hold me while my arms did their best to fondle my breasts.

“Too bad ’cause we’re just gonna take her...with or without your permission.”

“I have something better.” Sully’s voice was arctic, coating my skin with snowflakes, helping ward off the salacious heat I couldn’t ignore.

“Better than fucking a girl who’s dripping for it?” The copper-haired one lowered his gun. “Go on, I fancy a laugh. Tell us what we want more than that whore hiding behind your back.”

“Money,” he snapped. “Lots and lots of fucking money.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I HAD NOTHING ELSE to play.

No way to stop what could be potentially become a mass fucking orgy.

The one saving grace was if I failed to protect Eleanor, at least elixir would keep her cushioned from her sins. She’d enjoy it. Her lust would provide a buffer between reality and myth.

She would survive being taken by them.

But me?

Fuck.

I would die.

I would die a million crucifixions if I had to watch one man lay a hand upon her.

Just the thought drove me mad.

Watching it?

Yeah, I can’t.

I would sign over every penny and deliver any demand before I let that happen.

She writhed against my back, doing what I asked and fighting. I was so fucking proud of her for that—so grateful for her attempts—but I was also realistic. She couldn’t keep battling. Her tenacity would fail soon, and the torment would begin anew.

For now, I kept her imprisoned behind me and worked against a rapidly ticking clock. I spread my legs for balance while my depleted system begged to sit and rest, and acted as if I wore my suit and Hawk diamonds, ready to interrogate three new guests onto my shores.

I stared past their hazel, brown, and blue eyes.

I rifled through their secrets and picked apart their transgressions.

Each one was lacking.

Each one wasn’t worthy being afraid of.

They were just men. Men hired by my brother. Men who’d proven they could be bought, and luckily for me, I had untapped wealth just begging to be spent. Jinx had become the most important person in the world to me. Therefore, there was no amount I wouldn’t offer.

“Name your price.” I narrowed my hazy, hurting eyes. “Tell me what you want to walk away.”

The tall dark one snickered. “Her. Give us her.”

“She’s mine, and I don’t share.”

Eleanor flinched behind me, a soft puff of need hitting between my shoulder blades. She still fought, but soon, she’d resort to begging. In a few minutes, she’d be on her knees again, scratching at my control, pleading with me to fill her.

These men couldn’t fucking be here when that happened.

“How much?”

“Think we’ll just take what we want.” The copper-haired one waved his gun. “After all, you’re not the one making the rules here. Your brother is, and he’s paid us well. I’d rather have some pussy, thanks.”

I bared my teeth, doing my best not to launch at him and leave Eleanor unchaperoned. “I’ll pay you more than he ever could. I’ll make you rich, then you can afford to buy plenty of pussy. This one is used. I’ve already fucked her. Don’t you want your own?”

The filth falling from my mouth made them pause. I sensed a weakness and used it to my full advantage. “One million to walk out that door and leave. Get on a boat and never come back. You won’t die. I won’t come after you and extract retribution for what you’ve done. I give you my word that I’ll forget about you. I’ll even clean up your mess by killing my brother. Leave him in Euphoria, and I’ll dispose of him.”

“You’ll dispose of him?” the shorter dark-haired guy snickered. “Yeah, right. Look at the mess you’re in.”

“I’ve been in worse where my brother’s concerned and won.”

“You’re not exactly winning right now.”

“I’m stubborn.” I smiled savagely. “I have a knack for coming back from the dead.”

The men shared a look, their guns wavering. “Why should we believe you? You could be a penniless little fucker—”

“I’m worth a thousand times more than my brother in assets. If I give you my word that I’ll pay, I’ll pay.”