Page 5 of Survival

I made a small noise of approval. “I’m gladthey enjoyed the show.”

“But that’s when the price for you reallyspiked, you know. They desperately wanted a piece of your fury,” hesaid, smiling. “Would you like to know how much you cost me?”

“Sure,” I said. I really was curious.

“Three million,” he replied.

Damn.

“Why bother paying for me at all? It’s yourbusiness. You can obviously do whatever you want with yourmerchandise,” I said bitterly.

“Yes, you’re right, I can. And I chose tolegitimately pay for you because you don’t fully own somethingwithout purchasing it first, now do you? Plus, I didn’t want myloyal clients to think I was abusing my power.”

I scoffed at his response. “But you abuseyour power every day.”

“There’s a difference between abusing one’spower and simply taking advantage of a profitable situation,” hedejected.

“Oh, is that what you do? Take advantage ofthe vast and growing market for sex slaves? Make a killing foryourself by preying on the vulnerability of the lessfortunate?”

I felt a sharp tug on my hair as he roughlytwisted my head to the side. “You’d do well to keep your littlemisconceptions to yourself from now on. I couldn’t give a fuck lessaboutwhat you think of me or mybusiness dealings, so don’t waste your breath. Just do as you’retold and you might turn out to be the best investment I’ve evermade.”

“And just what kind of investment am Isupposed to be?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Ya know, I don’t see the point of taking onsuch a risky investment. You realize I’m just going to kill you oneday, right? And I won’t stop until I do.” That was bold threateninghim like that and giving away my intentions, but I needed to knowwhat else was going on in his thick skull.

I felt the grip on my hair tighten even moreas he slowly leaned down, his warm breath tickling my ear andsending goosebumps down my spine.

“You must have me confused with someone whosees you as a threat,” he said smoothly. “Don’t make that mistakebecause you’ll just end up getting hurt.”

“And I wouldn’t make the mistake of thinkingI’m not. All I need is a pen and I’ll have you bleeding out allover the goddamn floor,” I spat menacingly.

He quickly jerked my head awkwardly to theside, sendingsharp littlepainsdown my neck. I felt his lips on my ear as his nose inhaled againstmy skin.

“And all I need to killyouis onefucking hand,” he seethed as his other hand quickly shot to mythroat and squeezed. Both my hands instantly went for hisforearm, attempting to pull himaway to no avail with my wrists still locked. My oxygen wasn’t cutoff completely, but it wasn’t exactly the most comfortable feeling.“You see? Even now, with your struggling, it makes no difference. Ican do whatever I want to you simply because I’m bigger andstronger than you are. And whatever training you think you’ve hadwon’t mean shitagainstme. I’llalways win, Jaden, always.”

I wanted to strangle him, but he was kind ofbeating me to the punch. I was shaking with so much rage, I thoughtI might actually combust from it.

“But let’s just entertain the idea that bysome incredible miracle you do manage to kill me. If my entireempire doesn’t find you first, my brothers certainly will. Andafter they’re done executing your entire family in front of you,they’ll make sure you spend the rest of your days as a drugaddicted whore with a dependency for cock before they finally grantyou some mercy in the form of a bullet to your head.”

I suddenly felt cold, like someone had justbathed me in liquid nitrogen and I was about to shatter all overthe floor of the limo. I didn’t even realize the tears that felldown my face after visualizing that threat, my absolute worstnightmare. “Now, is that what you want?” he asked me with ajerk.

I wasn’t even sure I could make myself speakafter that, but I somehow found the one word I needed.

“No.”

It barely came out as a whisper.

“I didn’t think so.”

He then released me with a jerk and sat backagainst his seat. I immediately sucked inairall the while coughing it back up as the tearscontinued to roll down my face. When I finally regained mycomposure, I sat backagainstthebottom of the seat and attempted to calm myself between my newowner’s legs once more.

“Get it through your head, Jaden,” he saidnoticing my calm. “You’re mine now, and there’s no escapingit.”

Not if I can help it.

Chapter Two