Page 88 of Finn

My breathing became panicked. I looked around, desperate to find a way out.

“You don’t like me now, but once your training is done and you’re returned to me, I’ll be your world.” He tilted his head, studying me. “My perfect slave. I will own every inch of you. Your body. Your voice. You will serve me. Sing for me.” He flashed his teeth. “Forever.”

He began to walk away, glancing over his shoulder. “And there is nothing your precious Finn can do to stop it.”

He went around the same corner Brian had, and I heard the clang of a metal door.

I was left alone with Juan, who stared at me.

“I don’t see his obsession,” he said. “But then, I like blondes. Uncle got me one of those.”

“Got you one?” I said, finding my anger. “Women aren’t things you pick up at the store. We’re not for sale.”

He laughed, the sound echoing in the damp, dark space. “Oh, for those of us who can afford it, you are.” He crossed his arms. “My uncle saw you weeks ago. Someone had videoed you singing at the hotel. He became obsessed. Your voice. Your red hair. He’s always had a thing for red hair. Then he found out you were connected to O’Reilly, and his obsession reached a new level. He hates him,” he stated calmly, bending to brush some dirt off his sneaker. They were red with a tiger face stitched into the front, the eyes glittering even in the low light. They were hideous, and I recognized them. He was the one I had seen the day I was out with Finn that I’d told him about.

“Why?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know what drives my uncle, aside from money and power. Some slight, some offense, and he takes it personally. Some deal he was involved in that O’Reilly somehow killed. It cost him a lot of money. He’s been waiting. Not how I’d run things, but my time will come.” He lifted his arms in a bored yawn. “So, he decided to take you, and here you are.”

I stared at him. He was so casual. As if it was no big deal and he did it all the time. A frightening realization hit me. He did.

“I have to admit, it’s been fun. Befriending your brother. Making sure to stoke the flames of anger he felt toward O’Reilly.” He smirked. “The money, the drugs, stringing him along, and getting him hooked. He has quite the ego on him, doesn’t he? As if Uncle would give him his own territory to run. All part of the plan to get to you. Plus, rattling the Irishman’s cage was an added bonus. Disrupting his world and costing him money.”

He stroked his chin. “Once he knew Finn was as obsessed with you as he is, there was no stopping Uncle.”

“Is he Lopez?” I whispered, trying to process everything he was saying. He certainly liked to talk. Brag.

He shrugged again. “To the world, yes. To me, Uncle. To you—” he smiled wide and evil “—master.”

I began to thrash, pull on the chain holding me. “I will never!” I shouted. “I will fight you every step of the way. I’ll⁠—”

He cut me off, stepping forward and jabbing a needle into my arm. “You’re all the same. So tiresome. I prefer it when you return without a personality or the will to even speak.”

The room began to spin, and my tongue felt thick. He walked away, stopping and turning around. “There is no escape and no rescue. Finn can’t find you, and law enforcement can’t help. You won’t even be in this country soon. And everyone—even your precious Irishman—will forget about you. You’ll forget who you were. All you will know will be pain and servitude.” He looked around with a smirk. “Enjoy the accommodations while you can. You’re not going to like where you’re going.”

And darkness descended again.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

UNA

I woke, this time suddenly and alert. I was on the damp ground, but I wasn’t alone. I blinked up at the woman sitting beside me in the dim light. She had my head on her lap, and she offered me a wobbly smile.

“Hi.”

I sat up, everything spinning. “Careful,” she warned. “The drugs they pump into us linger.”

I pushed my hair off my face. “Who are you?”

“Annabelle Lewis.”

“What are you doing here?”

Her bottom lip quivered. “Same as you. They took me.”

“From where?”

“I had just arrived at the bus station. I was heading to the hotel, and they grabbed me and dragged me into an alley. I woke up here.” She paused. “Two weeks ago. Or maybe more. I can’t keep track.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “It’s always dark here.”