She worked to keep her voice even. “And now you know differently. You don’t have to do this. You could have two million dollars now if you just let us go.”
“I already explained this. I’m a businessman, and you don’t go jerking the chains of your clients. You say a girl is part of the lineup, she stays part of the lineup. Otherwise I lose their trust.”
“But I can pay you. Right now. What’s the difference between my money and theirs?”
“The difference is there’s a system. All clients are registered and follow with some interest who bids on each item, who goes home with merchandise. You’re not in the system. How are they to know that I didn’t lie about this girl’s availability? You’re not in the system, they can’t see you bid. The bid won’t be legitimate in their eyes. Like I said, I’m willing to lose whatever you can pay me to keep their goodwill.”
“But all these girls, you’re taking away their freedom. Do you give them any choice in this life you’ve set up for them? Or from what I can tell by their doped expressions, you drug them so they can’t fight you. They can’t say no.”
“The drugs just take the edge off. Makes things much easier for everyone involved. They may even come to enjoy it. The majority of these girls, if they play their cards right and don’t screw things up, will have an easy life. They’ll live in style, with nothing to worry about.”
“At least until they’re no longer wanted.”
He shrugged. “Like I said, if they play their hands right, they’ll possibly be given something for their time. Something to help them get started.”#p#分页标题#e#
Peter’s cell phone rang, and he looked at her with amusement. “Shall I answer it, or you?”
“Take the goddamn call.”
He brought the cell phone to his ear. “All set? Thanks. No. Let me worry about that. Tell the driver to be ready to go.” She pushed the blade against his neck again and watched as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “My guest, the woman, will be joining her shortly.”
Darcy was in the car. She was safe. Waiting. Now Meredith just had to get the hell out of here and fast. Then she could get to the nearest phone and call the police. Save the rest of them before it was too late.
Peter hung up and stared at her.
“Now we’re going to stand and ease our way to the door.” The door creaked open under her hand, and she stayed close to Peter, making sure he didn’t try anything as they stepped outside the office.
If she hadn’t been so focused on Peter, she might have noticed the figure waiting behind her in the shadows before the crushing pain in her skull sent her reeling forward. She saw blackness but fought against it.
She blinked against the pain, willing herself to focus on Peter’s face.
She was gripped tightly and lifted, but the force of the hit had her still trying to clear the fog for her to put up much of a fight. Intense nausea hit her as she was brought back in the room, caused by either the reek of cigar smoke, the pain in her head, or both.
She took large gulps of air to try and clear her mind. The leather couch was underneath her again, and she cringed away from the light of the lamp.
“And finally, we have the last item for the auction,” that hated voice continued, as if they were selling paintings at Sotheby’s, not human girls. “Item number nine. Many of you may have probably already caught a glimpse of the merchandise from recent media footage, so you know that there’s some interest that, as a matter of common disclosure, will necessitate extra precautions. An eighteen-year-old certified pure. English as a first with some French.”
Meredith’s eyes zeroed back on the screen, her body tense as fear again took hold. The young girl tried to keep her balance, tottering around on heels that she had never worn before, her footing unsure.
A girl who usually wore baggy T-shirts over her one-piece swimsuit, still unaware just how stunning she’d become, now unaware of her lack of modesty or the number of eyes watching her with a calculated and salacious edge.
Meredith’s tongue felt thick in her mouth as she tried to speak. “You lied. You never took her from the lineup.”
“Of course not. Like I told you, I never back down on a promise to my clients. Which is precisely why Nick knew something was up when I called him. This is a business, and you don’t jerk the customers around.” He nodded to the other man, who she presumed was Nick, who went to the desk and returned with something in his hand.
He handed Peter a syringe.
Fear hit her, and despite her grogginess, she struggled again, but Nick was already bracing her, holding her still. Peter grabbed her arm, and she tried to kick him, but the man swung his own leg out and countered it. Dizzy and light-headed, her head fell back as something tight wrapped around her arm.