Page 35 of Pursued-

“Frank is putting Rachel up for sale.”

“What?” Zoe hisses.

Trick dips a tortilla chip into the guac bowl and eats it. “As the creator of Rachel’s Palermo Princess brand, and as the creator of Rachel, he feels entitled to compensation.”

For the fifth time in twenty-four hours I regret not choking the life out of Frank when I had the chance.

“The fucking nerve,” Zoe snaps.

“Am I expensive, Trick?” Rachel asks, mock casual. “Or have I been discounted because of my low class bastard daughter beginnings and the taint of my recent abduction?” Her casual sarcasm mimics Trick’s deadpan delivery.

Trick’s gaze cuts to me, which is smart, because I’m smoking mad.

After a beat of my silence, he says, “Expensive. I’ve never bought a girl for more than a weekend, but working out the math, yeah, if there were an auction, we’re talking Sotheby’s.”

“God damn it, Trick,” Zoe says, slapping his arm and laughing. “It’s not funny. Frank’s such a dick.”

“Is it an offer he’s made just to C Crue?” C asks.

“What’s the difference?” Zoe asks.

“I want to know if he’s asking us to buy Rachel’s brand and her freedom. Or if he’s trying to traffic her to the highest bidder,” C says.

Trick frowns. “Fuck that distinction.”

“Trick,” C says patiently. “Walk it to the end.”

“C’s saying that if we buy the brand and your freedom, Rachel, Frank will back off,” Trick says. “That’ll leave Leone, who may just decamp once the deal has been made. But if Frank sells you to Leone, then Frank will have to work with Leone to get you away from us so that he can get paid for delivering you,” Trick says. “And for the record, I knew what you meant as soon as you said it, C. I still vote to fuck the distinction.”

“It’s all crazy. You should not be fighting two syndicates, period. Let me talk to Alberto. I’m sure I can convince him to go home,” she says. “Frank probably told him that I’m being held against my will here. Once he knows I’m not, he’ll leave.”

“I see no problem with her having a supervised conversation with Leone,” Trick says.

“Not in person,” C says.

“Of course not,” Trick says. “By cell.”

“You’ve been quiet, Anvil. What do you say?” C asks.

What I want to say is screw Alberto Leone and screw Frank Palermo, too. They can wait and wonder what I’m doing to Rachel while she’s in our compound. They should’ve watched her more closely. They should’ve treated her better, so she didn’t take off, wandering around without protection. Anyone could’ve snatched her up.

“I don’t care if she talks to him,” I say.

“I should do it face to face. He’s not a threat to me, and I?—”

“No,” I say.

“Sasha—”

“No.”

She scowls at me. Again with the attitude.

My arm snakes out and catches her around the waist. I haul her up against me and stand, so her feet leave the floor.

Both she and Zoe gasp. C and Trick move aside, clearing a path. I take her into a guest room and set her on her feet.

“You can’t do that,” she says in a low voice, full of warning.