Obsession (A Bad Boy's Secret Baby)(89)

Tully was right. I was foolish.

I hadn't answered him so far. He didn't act like he expected that to change. Swallowing, I said, “Yes. I'm alone.”

Alone, alone, alone.

I wanted to take the photo from my pocket and burn it.

Curling his fingers affectionately in Claudine's hair, Tully opened his mouth. The sound of a phone ringing cut him off. Scowling, he yanked a cellphone from his jacket, crushing it to his ear. “What is it?” His face screwed up as he listened. “Don't act like I'm the one running on lost time,” he muttered. “It's your damn fault the girls got here so late. I'm gathering them up now, Lucky. They'll be at the ship before it leaves. Next time you call, watch your fucking tone, brother.”

Lucky? Had I heard right? Tully and Lucky—the man who'd bartered against Ronin for me—were brothers?

Slowly, I squinted back at Tully. The man looked nothing like a biker, he had the air of a lazy rich man who always got his way. Who wore a white jacket, except someone who thought he wouldn't get dirty?

Hiding his phone, Tully nodded at the men holding me. “We need to get ready. Prepare the fanboats in the back, then get the girls loaded. The ship is leaving in an hour.” Turning towards me, he shared an awful grin. “I don't know what I'll do with you yet. Maybe I'll let you stay here, with your sister. We'll have such a happy family.” Chuckling, he kissed Claudine on the cheek, fondling one of her breasts while never breaking eye contact with me.

Gritting my teeth, I thought I heard one of them cracking. As upset as I was, watching him fondle her was retched. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

“For now,” Tully said, “Search her, then tie her up and stick her in the corner.” Hesitating, he pointed at my sister. “Claudine, introduce her to something that will calm her down. She seems... tense.”

The stacks of drugs in the room telegraphed clearly what Tully thought was good for 'calming' me. The man holding my arms turned me towards another biker, his thick hands digging through my jacket and khakis.

Blinking, he lifted the photograph into view. “Check this out,” he said, handing it over to Tully.

The fat man took one look at it, before slapping his thigh as he laughed. Those piggy eyes sparkled from me to Claudine. “You really are sisters, aren't you?” He dangled the picture.

Claudine flinched. I wanted her to feel shame, I really did. I still hated how smug Tully looked.

Sliding the photo into his jacket, Tully headed for the door. He kept chuckling under his breath until he was out of earshot. One of the men followed after, his gun no longer brandished. The threat was over with, if they even considered me a threat.

“Come on,” the last biker holding me grunted. “This way.” He didn't take me far, just to the back end of the room where a few other girls were strewn about. One of them stumbled when he shoved her, giving up her chair.

I didn't have the heart to struggle. My body was heavy, weakened by the pain of my betrayal. Sitting there, I looked at my lap while my arms were bound behind me. He left my legs alone; they obviously weren't worried about me doing anything heroic.

I knew the man was gone when I heard the door shut. Even with the other women around me, I felt entirely alone. Wasn't I, essentially? Who here gave a single ounce of care for me?

Claudine's voice was tenuous. “Flora...”

“How could you,” I asked flatly. I glared at her through the canopy of my eyelashes. “How the fuck could you do this to me. I risked my life to save you, Claudine! You don't even know what I went through to get here! You don't...” I inhaled, nostrils flaring. I wouldn't cry over this.

She didn't deserve my tears.

Not anymore.

Sitting beside me, she hung her head. “He was going to kill you.”

“I could have gotten him.”

“You could have gotten one of them.” Her hand came around, seeking mine behind the chair. I couldn't fight off her fingers, they squeezed mine.

Hearing her rationalize her betrayal, it only cut me deeper. “Guess you're really happy here,” I mumbled. Red hot fury blurred my vision. “Letting that piece of shit touch you, just so you can get as high as you want, whenever you want. Sure sounds nice.”

“It's not like that,” she insisted. “Tully... he took a liking to me when I was dropped here, weeks ago. What was I supposed to do? Shrug him off so I could be sold in another country, like the others? Why would I risk that, Flora?”

Snorting, I shook my head. “I don't know. Guess you're smarter than me. I was willing to let them kidnap me, use me, as long as it got me here.” Closing my eyes, I made a face like I'd eaten a leaking battery. “I'd have risked anything to save you.”