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He met my gaze and settled down. “You be good, you hear?” He glanced over at the man who owned me. “Mr. Vitale is bound to get bored with you soon, and then you can come back home.”
Back home.My stomach pitched down to the pits of hell where my future lay. I nodded and kept my smile even as something wet dripped down my chin.
“What’s keeping me from killing him?” Mr. Vitale asked. He placed a heavy hand on my shoulder and pulled me taut against his side. “I own him now. Far as I’m concerned, you will never see him again.”
I didn’t know if I was devastated or elated by that statement. Emotions warred inside of me, and I decided to ignore them. Neither would help me. Happiness was nothing but an illusion, and sadness did nothing but burrow deep and claw at my soul.
“Don’t have me hunt you down again, Roger.”
One foot hooked over the other as I was abruptly turned around. My arms were still cuffed behind me, and the floor was fast approaching my face. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable.
Seconds ticked by, and I forced an eye open to see what the hell the holdup was. I was lifted back up and placed on my feet.
“Can’t you walk?”
I nodded. I could, just hadn’t expected him to move so quickly. For him to be so big, he moved a lot faster than I would have predicted.
“Ugh, this ain’t going to work.” He snatched the cloth out of my mouth.
My tongue felt raw, and it was hard to open and close my mouth. The corners burned. Swallowing was a bitch, but there was nothing but relief at having the gag removed. I cleared my throat, and it felt like I’d swallowed a cup of nails. A metallic tang graced my tastebuds. I held back, frowning from the taste of my blood.
Mr. Vitale tsked, grabbed my chin and turned my face from side to side. His lips dipped in a frown as his brows furrowed.
Fear trickled through my veins and slowed my brain down. There were too many unknowns; I didn’t know how to behave.
“Something wrong, sir?” a woman asked.
I remembered her from when my father first brought me in. She helped run the auction house. She twisted and pulled her fingers. There was a light tremble to her voice. Her eyes continued to dart to the left every few seconds.
She’s afraid.
I tried to think of who the man was. My father called him Mr. Vitale, and I was certain I’d heard the name somewhere. My brain was nothing more than a fog of chaos.
“Is this any way to take care of products?”
“No, sir. I’m so sorry I wi—”
“Get these cuffs off him now.”
The woman turned, and Mr. Vitale called her back.
“If I have to continue to tell you how to do your job, you will be out of one.”
“Sorry, sir.” She rushed away and came back with a key just as quickly.
Mr. Vitale took the key and uncuffed me. “You okay?”
I froze on the spot. Was he talking to me? Couldn’t be. My heart hammered in my ribcage as I dragged my gaze up his body. He had to be easily a few inches over six feet. He dwarfed my five-six stature.
“Huh?”
“You deaf?”
I shook my head. I just hadn’t been sure. “I’m okay.” I forced a smile.
He stared at me for a long while, and I was certain he could see past the facade. “Come on. I’m done with work here.”
Mr. Vitale headed toward the exit, and I was only a few steps behind him. People moved out of his way without prompt. No one questioned him or even stopped him to talk. I didn’t blame them; the man exuded death and danger.
