Her daughter was light on her feet as she crossed the room and swept open one of the panels, not seeming at all affected by whatever drugs had been in her system during the auction. Meredith could only hope those same drugs also made it easier for Darcy forget what took place.
The bright, gaudy lights of the Strip lit up against the night sky confirmed Darcy’s guess. Meredith nodded, and Darcy crept back to join her. She’d barely sat down when the bedroom door creaked open and someone peered in. The man, dark skinned and wiry, didn’t look familiar, and he didn’t stick around long enough for her to get a hard look at him, instead shutting the door behind him.
They knew she and Darcy were awake and conscious. That couldn’t be good.
Not when the two of them were alone in here and defenseless. They needed something to arm themselves with. “I’m going to check the bathroom for anything we can use as a weapon. You check all the drawers. The closets.”
Through sheer will and stubbornness, Meredith slid off the bed, sinking her feet into the carpet. She stood, her head spinning, but she wasn’t going to give in. She took some breaths until she was steady. Once she got started, it became easier, and she made it to the bathroom.
The counter had the usual toiletries. And other than towels, there was nothing that looked remotely useful. Not even a complimentary hair dryer. What kind of hotel didn’t at least have a hair dryer—and a cord that might have been of use?
“I’m not seeing anything, Mom,” Darcy said in a hushed voice from the other room. Meredith made it to the doorway and looked around. Even the closet was cleaned out of everything, including the hangers.
The mirrors? Maybe if they could break one, the shattered glass could be used as a weapon.
But the door opened, and the man in the suit from the club the other night, the man who’d looked at her like she was a piece of meat, or an object to only be used, was standing in the doorway. Two unsmiling men stood behind him.#p#分页标题#e#
“Good evening, ladies,” the man said, his voice smooth and with a distinct British accent. What had Travis said his name was? Ayman? The same man Peter had spoken to. Sold her to. “Just a brief conversation so you know what’s expected of you. First. Don’t try and scream or cause a scene. Not because anyone will hear you, but because all the men outside this door know you’re here, and to cause such a disturbance will likely only annoy them. And risk harm to yourself. Second, there’s to be no questions. No demands. You no longer possess the right to make any requests. You will do as you’re commanded or will find immediate consequences. Understand?”
Meredith’s first instinct was to stand tall and proud and tell the man what bridge he could jump off, but she knew the futility in that, with three men or more, all likely armed, to her and Darcy. And she wouldn’t risk harm to Darcy unless she had an actual plan.
She nodded, telling herself she was just biding her time until she could scratch the man’s eyes out.
“Ah. Don’t think I see that flash of anger hidden behind those amber eyes. So spirited. I will enjoy coming to know you. The girl, though…a little too young. Docile, for my taste. But I will admit the prospect of both of you, together, has some allure. I’m told she’s your stepdaughter.” Meredith looked at him without responding. He smiled, but his eyes were dark and cold like a snake. “But the sheikh, my brother, isn’t fond of sharing, especially one as tempting as your stepdaughter.”
One of the men leaned forward and spoke to their antagonist in a language Meredith wasn’t familiar with, the words fast and flowing. He nodded and waved his hand toward Darcy. “Come. The sheikh will be here in an hour, and you must be prepared.”
When Darcy hesitated, the two men entered the room as if to force her to accompany them.
They weren’t taking her daughter anywhere.
Meredith lunged forward, her fingers were ready to claw out the eyes of the man who reached Darcy first, when Ayman said in a deadly calm voice, “Enough.”
He held a gun leveled on her daughter. She froze, and in an instant, rough hands were pulling her arms painfully behind her. Holding her still as they waited for Ayman’s direction.
“I expect your cooperation. Anything less will result in harm to this lovely daughter of yours. Try that again if you don’t believe me. Now take her.” He nodded to the other guard, who grabbed Darcy’s arm and pulled her, struggling, to the door.
“Mom. Please, I’ll be okay. Don’t do anything to risk yourself. Please.” The plea in her daughter’s eyes helped Meredith steady herself. She was so going to kill this bastard.