“Everly.” She winced as he rubbed his thumb over her knee.
“Who did this to you?”
“No one. I fell when they dragged me out of the truck.”
Cristian reached up and wiped a tear trickling down her cheek. Everly tensed beneath his touch. “You needn’t fear me.”
“Shouldn’t I? You just spent an ungodly amount of money on me like I’m property. Men who do that aren’t good.”
“I’m not like those men out there.” Cristian stood and removed his tie. “Do you not have shoes?” He glanced down at her dirty feet, which were also cut up and bruised.
“No. This is the first time I’ve even had on decent clothes. Until yesterday, I hadn’t showered in months. Where are you taking me?”
“To my home.”
The door opened, and Darby appeared. “Your money has successfully transferred. You are free to leave.”
“Great.” Cristian walked to the bed and hoisted Everly over his shoulder. “I don’t imagine we will see each other again. I can’t have this getting out.”
“No, Sir. Just as I told you in the email. This is a onetime event. No repeat customers.”
“Perfect.”
“Put me down.” Everly began kicking and fighting against him. “You can’t do this. I’m a fucking person.”
Cristian pulled her down and slammed her against the wall. He pressed her hands above her head against the metal. His knee wedged between her legs as he leaned into her body. “Stop fighting me, Everly. You won’t like me when I’m angry. I’m going to carry you out because you aren’t wearing shoes. Do you understand me?”
Everly closed her eyes and blew out a breath. She didn’t want to go with him, but staying here meant death. “Fine.” Her body couldn’t fight him anymore, even if she wanted to. Months of being kept prisoner had finally caught up to her. She could barely keep her eyes open to watch where she was being taken.
Cristian cradled her against his chest this time as he carried her outside. Everly squinted against the light as it shined across her body. She could feel his heart thundering against his chest as he held her. Giving into the exhaustion, she laid her head against him and closed her eyes. She barely registered being loaded into a car in the backseat beside him.
“Marco. Get us to the plane. The sooner we are out of here, the sooner we can start unraveling this motherfucker.”
“Sure thing, Boss. Is she okay?”
“I don’t know. Benji, call Katya. I’m going to need her help. She hasn’t been touched, but—” Cristian swallowed down bile. “they haven’t treated her well. Those other women suffered. I can’t believe they didn’t do something to Everly.”
“Everly?” Benji questioned.
“Yeah.” Everly felt him brush her hair from her face. “Everly.”
Cristian held her against him the entire ride to the private runway. Months of looking for her and she was here, in his arms. Cristian eased her out of the car and carried her into the plane. Fortunately for him, the plane had a small bedroom in the back. He nodded to Marco and Benji as he headed inside with her.
“I’ll be in here with her. If you need me, knock.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Cristian laid her onto the bed and stared at her slender frame. The hem of the dress was ripped and dirty, most likely from her fall. The dank and dim lighting inside the warehouse probably kept her from seeing the blood along the edge of the fabric. Disgusted with what the dress stood for, Cristian rolled her over and unzipped it. He opened a small drawer he and his brothers kept filled with extra clothing and pulled out a T-shirt. Carefully easing the material over her head, Cristian tucked her under the blankets and crawled in beside her. With his back propped against the wall, Cristian watched Everly sleep. It was taking every ounce of willpower to not move behind her and cradle her body against his.
That would come in due time. Everly was now his. And he wasn’t letting her go.
Everlywaswarm,andnot just a little. Her body was pressed against something hard. Rolling over, she came face to face with the most beautifully sculpted chest she had ever seen. For a moment she forgot where she was. Then reality hit her square in the chest. She was in bed with the man that bought her. Everly rolled off the bed and wedged herself against the wall.
“What are you doing?” Cristian cracked open his eyes and his piercing brown gaze held her frozen in place.
“Where am I?”
“My house.” Cristian kicked the sheet off, exposing his nearly naked body. Everly watched as he stood and flexed his back. Every muscle rippled in the morning light like a stream flowing from the mountain.
