His eyes widen as he stutters, “I-I-I can explain. P-please, you have to believe me. The woman means n-n-nothing to me. I promise I’ll get your money back. I just need m-m-more time.”
“I’ve given you time and time again, Derek. My patience is wearing thin. In fact, I think it’s time I pulled you into my ranks. You can work off the money you owe me, and if this woman truly means nothing to you, you’ll bring her to me. My organizationhas experienced some setbacks, and I could use the extra flesh in my trades.”
“Your trades?” he asks.
I’ve had my men digging to figure out why Derek hasn’t been making his payments lately. He stupidly confided in my men that he’s pining over a woman that doesn’t even want him. Pitiful.
“Yes, mytrades. My clients, let’s just say, enjoy the prettier things in life that can give pleasure whenever they demand it. But back to my point, Derek. You owe me over a hundred grand and recently you’ve stopped making payments. Can you see why that might be a problem?” I pause, turning around and sitting back in my chair, letting the suspense build. “I can be a very forgiving man, Derek, but even I have my limits.”
In all honesty, the amount Derek owes me is pennies in the bucket, but everyone knows that when you borrow from me, you pay it back—or else.
His eyes widen. He didn’t know anything before today about our human trafficking side of things, but it’s perfect regardless. He’s going to be given an ultimatum—one he would be stupid to refuse.
“So, Derek. You have a decision to make. Given this knowledge, you now have two options. I end your pitiful existence, slowly.Or… You pledge yourself and you work forme, bringing me women for my trades. Each woman you bring me will reduce your debt by ten grand. The woman you’re so obsessed with? Bring her to me and she’ll wipe out thirty grand of your debt. Bring me women,and eventually you’ll have paid your debt and you’ll be free to go.”
He won’t actually be free to go, but he doesn’t need to know that. The only way my men leave my service is with a bullet between their eyes.
“But… how do I get these women?”
“I guess you’ll have to figure that out, won’t you? Get creative, Derek. It’s your choice. Refuse, and you leave this place in a body bag. Or do this and you’ll be free.”
“Truly?” he asks. “I do this, and I’ll be free to go?”
“I swear it,” I say with a smirk. I turn my head slightly at a gentle touch on my shoulder. Vivian, my first ever purchase and the woman that trains my purchases, leans down and whispers in my ear. “Sir, we just got word. Another group has disappeared.”
My hands grip the seat of my chair, rage pulsing through my body. Someone has been taking down groups within the trade rings and we’re no closer to figuring out who it is. But with each group they take down, the closer to me they get. Recently I’ve been sending my own men into these other groups, hoping to get some information, but just like everyone else, they continue to disappear. My eyes lock on Derek, narrowing as I think about all the ways I could let out my anger.
Derek must sense the change in my mood. “OK, I’ll do it. I swear. You can have her.”
I stand from my chair and stride over to him, patting him on the cheek. “That’s what I like to hear, Derek. When you get her, I want a picture of her that I can use to list her for sale. The women are not to be harmed, is that understood? Oh, and before you leave, you’ll be given my mark as a reminder of who you serve.”
“Like a tattoo?” he asks, fear shining in his eyes.
“Something like that.”
I turn toward Vivian. “Tell them it’s time.”
She obediently nods her head, leaving the room, her hips swaying and her heels clacking as she goes.
I return to my seat as my men push Derek to the floor and turn him over, one man straddling his torso while the other holds his hands above his head.
“W-w-what are you doing?!” he screams.
Vivian returns, Nikolai following with a red-hot steel rod with my brand at the end.
Derek screams grow louder. “N-no! Please! I’ll do whatever you want. NO!”
“Of course you will. I didn’t doubt that for a second.”
Nikolai walks over quickly and pushes the brand into his left chest, the sizzle of the burn and his screams a sweet symphony to my ears.
Soon, this mystery woman will be mine to fuck and mark as I see fit. Hell, I’ll even let Derek watch.
Fourteen
Dani
Present day
