“Contract?” Adam said as he slid into the chair opposite Luis’sdesk.
“Yes, it’s standard. Stipulations to ensure the secrecy of all of our members, we have certain protocols.” Luis slid a piece of paper across the desk to Adam and then leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers, his black eyes trained on hispurchaser.
Adam studied the paper quietly for a moment and then lifted one dark brow. “Follow-upvisits?”
“Yes, this is standard for any first-time buyer. I always want to ensure your satisfaction and make sure your new slave is being…properlymaintained.”
“For the amount I agreed to pay you, I expect to do with my new property as I wish,” Adam said, raising hisbrows.
“Of course, señor, after tonight she belongs to you. However, I would like to ensure she’s being used as intended. We can’t have our slaves out running around unsupervised. And since I don’t know anything about you, I’m not willing to take undue risks. If you want to complete the transaction, the contract will be upheld.” Luis didn’t so much as twitch. His semi-pleasant expression stayed firmly fixed in place, as did his preternatural air ofcunning.
“This is a first-time buyer requirement only? I’m sure you can understand that I don’t like anyone looking over my shoulder.” Adam placed the contract back on thetable.
“Yes, and the first follow-up visit is all that is required, unless we see something suspicious that may endanger my privacy or that of my otherclients.”
“I admire your level of dedication, and I can see the reasoning behind it.” Adam scrawled his signature across the bottom of the page and nudged it back toward Luis. “Now, I’m assuming you would like yourmoney?”
Luis’s composure slipped, but he recovered quickly. “Yes.” He lifted a finger and gestured for one of the guards. The man crossed the room and produced a small laptop, which he opened and placed on the desk in front of Luis. “Once the funds are confirmed transferred, you’re free toleave.”
After typing in something on the keyboard, Luis turned the computer to Adam. Without hesitation, Adam entered the bank account numbers provided by Cole’s brothers. Luis turned the computer back to him. “You made the Frenchmen very upset. He was quite excited abouther.”
Adam snorted. “I’m sure you’ll have other stock available to meet hisneeds.”
“Yes, I will,” Luis said with a thread of dark finality. “Congratulations, Mr. Devine, your transaction has been completed. Sanchez, please prepare the slave fortransportation.”
The other bodyguard in the room took two steps, covering the distance between him and Tomi. Cole watched as the man swiftly withdrew a needle from his pocket and, before anyone in the room could react, injected Tomi in the neck. She slumped forward unconscious, the guard catching her in his otherarm.
“Just a mild sedative. The effects should wear off within the next three hours. I’ll have my men carry her to your vehicle.” Luis stood, rounded the desk, and extended a hand toAdam.
“My bodyguard can carry her. Thank you, it’s been a pleasure doing business.” Adam shook the man’s hand and then nodded toCole.
Cole fought the urge to send a punch crashing through the guard’s skull. Instead, he crouched and lifted Tomi into his arms, carrying her in front of his chest. “We need a blanket. Her face will be exposed once we exit themansion.”
And he had no intention of allowing any other man to stare at her nearly naked body everagain.
“I assure you we have the highest security protocols even past the parameters of the property,” the guard closest to himgrowled.
“I don’t take risks when it comes to my employer’s identity and I don’t give a shit if it’s a blanket or a damn trash bag. I’m not stepping outside with her until her identity is completelyhidden.”
Luis chuckled. “Sanchez, fetch him a blanket. You can’t blame the man for beingcautious.”
Cole stared at Sanchez until he left to do Luis’sbidding.
“Mr. Devine, have a drink with me. A toast to what I hope is a long-lasting relationship.” Luis crossed to a small, wooden table its scarred surface covered with crystal decanters. He retrieved two glasses from a silver tray and poured equal amounts of an amber liquid into each. “I know you prefer scotch, but the single malt whiskey is one of my personalfavorites.”
Adam took Luis’s outstretched hand and held the glass to his nose. “If you like it, I’m sure I willtoo.”
Adam tossed it back and then carefully replaced the glass on thesideboard.
Luis sipped his. “We will be intouch.”
Sanchez reentered the room carrying a gray wool blanket. Cole allowed the man to drape it over Tomi’s form and then stepped away. He didn’t want the guard’s hands anywhere nearher.
Adam and Cole followed Sanchez from the room, down a hidden hallway that led around the party room. Instead of heading to the front, however, Sanchez made a U-turn toward the back of the house. “Your driver has brought your car around back and parked beneath the awning for extraprotection.”
As Sanchez led them outside, Cole caught a glimpse of a few closed doors but nothing that would be of use to them. Cole’s brother, Clint, stood waiting with the back-door open. He didn’t break his role as the limo driver, no matter how much he likely wanted to give Cole a what the hell? Look. Cole didn’t pay him any mind either—he just ducked inside the back and laid Tomi carefully on one of the benchseats.
“Stay with her,” Adam said, “make sure she doesn’t fall. I intend to be the only reason she has bruises on herbody.”
