“He paid me a handsome sum.”
“What is that money going to do for you dead?”
The man’s eyes lost their focus as he realized the money would be no use to him. He had sold himself out for nothing.
“He won’t stop until he gets her back now. Her pussy is gold to him, and he wants her for himself.”
“She belongs to me.”
“He knows you tricked him. You’re as good as dead and then he will come for her.”
Cristian gripped the man’s face, his fingers digging into his flesh. “He can come, but he won’t touch her ever again.”
“As long as she is a virgin—Darby will stop at nothing. She is too valuable to him. Why didn’t you just pay him?”
His nails dug in deeper, breaking the tender skin pinched beneath his grasp. Every word made his anger palpable in the room, like a thick fog rolling in across the ocean. He watched in fascination as the man’s eyes bulged with the reality of what was happening. Cristian twisted his neck, forcing it into an awkwardposition. The snap resounded through the room, echoing off the metal framed building. He released the man and watched as his body crumpled to the floor.
“Damn, Cristian.” Bastian snickered. “You didn’t waste any time, did you?”
“He was useless. Marco!” Cristian called out for one of his men, nodding when he arrived toward the dead man. “Take his body and dump it on Juarez’s property. I want the others to know their fate if they continue to betray us.”
Marco immediately got to work, dragging the body from the room.
“We need to come up with a plan. Darby will be here in a week—and if that moron was telling the truth, the only thing that will stop him from wanting her is—”
“Don’t.” Cristian cut Matias off. “She deserves to be free of him without a price.”
“Fine, Brother.” Matias moved toward the door. “Let’s go back to your place and discuss this. We need to figure it out.”
Cristian followed his brothers out and climbed into the awaiting car. He wouldn’t force Everly to do anything to gain her freedom. There had to be another way to stop Darby. He’d spill blood to keep her safe, even if it meant starting a war with a man whose reach was larger than theirs.
He found his brothers waiting for him in the living room of his house. They both looked at him with somber looks. Looks that made his skin crawl. Darby wanted Everly because she was a virgin. And the man he had just killed made it clear her virginity was the only reason he was coming after him. He had known from the start it was a risk playing a game with the money. But he never expected Darby to find out his real identity.
“I know you don’t want to hear this, Cristian.” Matias paced the room. “But we cannot afford a war with this man.” He spoke in Spanish as a precaution. With Everly in the house, Matias was worried she would hear and try to make a run for it.
“I don’t care. I won’t force Everly to do anything against her will. There has to be another way.”
“You can’t be that stupid.” Bastian shook his head. “You would really risk the family for a woman?”
“Matias did. Why should I be any different?”
“Perhaps it’s because Matias and Katya were an actual couple—kind of. Your girl has no interest in you in that way. So, I’ll say it again.” Bastian held Cristian’s gaze as he spoke. “As long as that woman is a virgin, she’s a liability. Either we pay him the actual money—which we won’t. Or you eliminate the only thing making her desirable to him. He won’t want her if she isn’t worth gold anymore.”
“No one is to touch her. I won’t force her, and neither will anyone else in this house. Darby won’t lay a hand on her—virgin or not.”
Matias’ eyes widened as he stared over Cristian’s shoulder. He didn’t need to turn around to know Everly was standing behind him. His body tingled from her presence anytime she was near.
“Don’t I get a say?”
Afterpullingontheleggings she found on the dresser and what had to have been one of his shirts, Everly slowly stepped out of the room. A part of her was worried someone would grab her and force her back inside the room, but when no one did, she relaxed slightly.
The house was beautiful, unlike the shit holes she had been held in over the last few months. She was curious to know about Cristian, the man who had brought her here. Each room was just as stylish as the last, but the one she found herself in now—there were no words to describe it. It must have been his master room, because it was double the size of the last two. A massive bed took up a majority of the room. It was covered in red satin sheets and a dark grey comforter. Everly ran her hand across the smooth fabric. The space smelled like cedar and sandalwood. A scent she had smelled on Cristian. She desperately wanted to crawl in and wrap herself up inside like a cocoon, but her curiosity was more demanding.
After inspecting the entire area, Everly found herself outside a massive wooden door. She could hear men speaking in Spanish on the other side. Everly pressed her ear to the wood and held her breath. They were talking about her. With her breath held, she eased the door open a crack and slipped inside. The men were in a heated conversation about Darby, the man who had sold her. They were so wrapped up in arguing, no one had noticed her presence. The two men with Cristian had to be his brothers. The resemblance was uncanny.
She listened as one of his brothers insisted someone take her virginity—as it was the only reason Darby was demanding her return. Cristian was livid. Refusing to force her into something like that and threatening anyone in the house that tried to touch her. She could see the conflict in his brothers. They didn’t want to start a war with Darby, but they didn’t want to anger Cristian.
She closed her eyes and let the air fill her lungs. If her virginity was the thing preventing her freedom, she didn’t need it. It wasn’t like she had been holding onto it for religious reasons, she just hadn’t found anyone she wanted to give herself too. She heard Cristian’s brother repeat himself. The urgency in his voice struck a chord with her, making her heart flutter as she opened her mouth and spoke.
