Theirs To Take(12)

I was fuming. I was going to kill him. I was going to kill them both.

My nails bit into my palms and Lara whispered a quick “let it go” into my ear, earning herself a look from Syn.

I blew out a long breath. They held the power now. I would do what I had to do to survive this, and when I had the chance, I’d kill both of the smug, arrogant assholes. I shook my head at myself. What had I been thinking earlier taking comfort in Gabriel’s embrace? And after he’d whipped me? After he’d humiliated me like that?

Trust your gut.

My gut was off, obviously.

Gabriel kept his eyes on mine and shook his head once. I glared at him, but when he raised his eyebrows, I forced myself to look at a point beyond his left shoulder.

“You want to know what’s going to happen to you, but first let me tell you what would have happened to you had we allowed that cattle truck you were on to reach its destination and deliver its cargo. You would have been sold most likely to a whorehouse someplace where pretty, young American girls are highly sought after. You’d be a prisoner and at the mercy of whichever asshole ran the show over there for the rest of your lives, and I have a feeling they wouldn’t be long lives. You’d be on your back or on your knees servicing some prick with the cash to afford a quick fuck or maybe just a suck. This is how you would live and how you would die. Am I clear? Are there any questions so far?”

He looked at me when he asked the last part but any joking had vanished from both his tone and his face. I believed what he said. I believed every word of it.

“I won’t tell you that what’s going to happen to you now will be a piece of cake,” Syn continued.

I looked up to find both men watching me. I tried not to show my fear, tried not to show any emotion at all. I needed to harden myself. I couldn’t be weak, not if I wanted to survive.

“But I can promise you safety and a settlement of cash.”

“What?” someone asked quietly.

I glanced down the row of women, all the faces I saw confused.

“This here is my ledger,” Syn said, holding up the notebook. “I will write down each of your names and ages here. Beginning later today, men will come—”

A loud chorus of cries and protests arose from the gathered women, but Syn continued.

“You will sign a contract agreeing be sold for a period of three years.”

“No!” A few women called out.

“All of the men have been screened, and you will belong to them. During the three years, they will keep you safe, and, for the most part, very well cared for. These are wealthy, influential men. You will want for nothing.”

“Nothing but our freedom!” one of the women, a pretty blonde, called out.

Gabriel moved fast, approaching the woman who’d spoken out. She tried to duck away but he caught her easily, turned her so her back was to us while he held her to him, and spanked her hard three times until she cried out.

“What’s your name?” he asked, forcing her to look at him.

“Leslie,” she managed through tears.

“Leslie, get your ass back in line and keep your mouth shut while my brother is talking. Clear?”

“Perhaps Eva, you can show Leslie what happens…” Syn offered, gesturing for me to turn around.

“Not necessary, brother,” Gabriel said, his eyes on mine.

Leslie scrambled back to her spot.#p#分页标题#e#

“You’re no fun,” Syn said to Gabriel.

“Wrap it up, Syn.”

Syn shook his head but I could see there was no animosity between the brothers.

“At the end of your term with your Master, you will be given your freedom along with a healthy amount of cash that, if you’re smart, will allow you to live comfortably for the rest of your lives. So to wrap it up, as my brother so neatly said, you will be sold, and if you do what is expected of you, you will not be harmed. You will regain your freedom once the term of three years is up. Now, you have to admit that’s a better deal than what you had going in.”

Was he really trying to make light of this?

“Any questions?”

Lara raised her hand and waited until Syn nodded at her to proceed. “Can we say no, sir?”

He shook his head.

“I want to go home.”

It was my turn to comfort her now and I hugged her to me as she wept.

Neither brother commented but after a few moments, Syn spoke again, addressing Maria, the first girl in line.

“Let’s try this again. Maria. Step forward.”

The girl took a tentative step and Gabriel snapped a photo of her face.

“Strip off your clothes. You won’t be needing them anymore,” Syn said.