“Bastard. Sniff around any of them again and I’ll cut your balls off.”
Ivar laughed. “As long as I’m here there is potential retail business. Check my secure FTP site for details. You’re going to need more mules. This clan has some enterprising poppy potential. Philadelphia is very close and New York City not many kilometers away from that.”
With that, he hung up the phone. Gregor would go to his FTP site and see the money to be made, and happily offer up perhaps more than one daughter as a reward. Meanwhile, Ivar would need to finish what he started last night without inciting a clan war–at least not yet.
Chapter 10
Zoe rummaged through her small knapsack of clothes and let out a frustrated breath. Her anxiety was through the roof. Jack had invited his entire family over for a backyard barbeque, and after pressing him for how many people that included, she was appalled to find out that it wasn’t just his immediate family, but aunts, uncles, and even distant cousins.
She could hear the caterers setting up below her window. Closing her eyes tightly, she sat down on the edge of the bed and tried to come up with an escape plan.
Why had she agreed to this?
She tossed the old knapsack on the floor and fell back on the bed, burying her face in a pillow. It was bad when evensheknew that worn-out jeans and an oversized t-shirt were inappropriate.
Desperate, she called Olivia.
“Is Jack treating you okay?” In the background, the cash register clanged and a small child let out a wail of protest.
“Actually, I haven’t seen much of him. I’ve been with Kathy and the baby and now I’m invited to a barbecue.”
“And?”
“Can I borrow something to wear?” Zoe laughed nervously and paced across the floor of the small bedroom.
“Of course. What’re you doing with your hair and makeup?”
Zoe breathed a deep sigh. “Honestly, I haven’t even thought about it.”
“Say no more. I’m coming right over.”
Zoe stood, tilted the old-fashioned mirror on the center hinge, and did an honest assessment of her style, or rather lack of it. She didn’t even own a hair dryer, let alone a pile of makeup. She still had on the jeans and oversized t-shirt she’d donned in haste this morning. Her long dark hair had escaped from the bun she’d held in place with a rubber band and pencil.
She stuck her tongue out.Seriously?Whatever. Looking too good only attracted trouble, like stalkers, or rapists or…molesters. Damn it. The reality of why she hid behind baggy shirts and thick-rimmed glasses hit her like a slap across the face. Yet another unnatural behavior based on her fucked-up childhood. Time to let that one go.
Zoe looked out the window just in time to see Jack, bare-chested and gleaming with sweat, saunter past the cottage steps towards the beach for an after-run swim. Lust flared, and for a second, Zoe swore he stole her breath. She wanted him so badly it made her stomach twist in knots.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t had boyfriends before. There had been plenty of guys who had been interested, but when it came to sex, she’d always felt like a cold fish. She’d thought something was permanently broken inside of her, had even started to accept it, but now…
Now there was Jack.
* * *
A couple hours later, Zoe hardly recognized the woman in the mirror. Her dark hair was pulled into an up-do with a few layers curling around her face. Enormously long lashes framed brown, smoky eyes, and instead of blotchy patches, her skin exuded radiance, health, and shine. Her lips were stained and plumped red, matching the nails on both feet and hands.
She was almost teary when she turned to Olivia.
“Don’t cry, damn it, your mascara will run.” Liv laughed, and gave Zoe a small hug.
“I’m nervous,” Zoe said, studying her reflection. The low cut jeans and tight t-shirt left her feeling exposed.
“You should be.” Olivia tapped her on the cheek, forcing Zoe’s focus away from the mirror. “Jack wants to mate with you, and in his twisted warrior mind, that’s even more binding than love and marriage.”
“He’s just doing this so he doesn’t lose his position in his clan…he needs me.”
“You think that’s all there is?” Olivia frowned and placed her hands on her hips. “Then what?”
Zoe shrugged. “Then, whatever happens, happens.”
