“Malik’s attorney sent over a four-page legal document that must be executed.” My father tossed the document to Ling, who glanced down at it. “Check it out for me. Read between the lines. Notify me of any red flags. If he’s out to screw us, I want to know. He’s not getting his money back, so if he decides to back out of the deal, that’s his loss. I can always find another gang who will buy Nishi and align with us. She is rare and priceless. An untouched woman her age is unheard of today. There are plenty of others who will pay for her.”
Ling took the document with him as he left my father’s office, passing by me where I stood just outside of the doorway.
I can always find another gang who will buy Nishi and align with us.
There are plenty of others who will pay for her.
That’s how much I meant to my father. But those words didn’t hurt me. I had long grown used to my father’s coldness and lack of affection for me. His words only confirmed my belief that I was nothing more than a commodity to him. Something to be used, something to be sold at the highest price.
My father waved me closer. “Come in, Nishi. We have much to discuss.” During Katsu’s beating over the past twelve hours, I hadn’t spilled my guts. I hadn’t told them anything about Logan. And I never would. They could all go to hell. My father, especially. I hated him.
I hesitated on the threshold, my body throbbing from multiple bruises inflicted by Katsu. He’d left my face untouched so that Malik would still be pleased on our wedding day. I could only pray that once Malik got a good look at all the bruises below my neck, he wouldn’t want me anymore. That he would be repulsed and not force himself on me.
My father sighed impatiently. “Come in, girl. No more stalling.”
I cautiously stepped into the room. Rarely was I summoned into my father’s office. In fact, I could count on one hand the number of times I’d been in here. Most of the time, my father ignored me. Most of the time he gave me duties like preparing his meals and cleaning his room. I was nothing more than a slave here.
My father had begun taking over the campus of Brenau University in south Augusta not long after the gang wars had erupted in the city. Now his gang occupied and controlled the entire campus, including the surrounding areas. Colleges and universities made great areas for gangs to take over, since they provided living quarters for large numbers of people, and the numerous buildings helped provide cover and places to hide in the event of a battle between the gangs. Most people stayed far away from Brenau. To venture close meant certain death. My father’s men patrolled the area on a regular basis. Nothing slipped past them. No one got inside without detection.
My father had actually gotten the idea to take over a barren campus from Enrique Vasquez, the leader of the Mexican gang the Sureños. I’d overheard my father telling Ling that Vasquez was brilliant to use the empty campus at Paine College, and shortly afterward, we’d all moved onto Brenau, the Black Dragons taking over and ruling from there.
Vasquez had recently (and secretly) moved his gang and all his women prisoners away from Paine College and onto another university across town. His exact location was currently in dispute among the other gangs. Some believed he was using Augusta University to house his men and his women prisoners, while others said they’d spotted him at Troy University. I didn’t know and didn’t care where Vasquez ruled from. I had a much bigger worry.
In less than two days, my father was marrying me off to Malik.
Rare and priceless. Was that what I was? I preferred to think of myself as an oddity, for I certainly wouldn’t be a virgin right now if my father hadn’t kept me locked up so tightly for the past eight years. I preferred to believe I would have discovered the pleasures of the flesh long ago, that I would be a modern woman of the world, knowledgeable and in control of my life and everything I did.
Not forced into marriage with a complete stranger. A monster.
“Katsu tells me you don’t know anything more than what you already told us.” My father eyed me from behind his desk, his gaze cold and hard like always. Not once had my father ever looked at me with affection. I don’t think he was capable of tender feelings. He certainly had never shown me any kindness or love. “You withstood the torture without changing your story. That tells me you know nothing more about the dreg who helped you. But I can’t stop this wedding, Nishi. Malik already paid for you. You’re his now. You will marry Malik.”
I stopped in front of his desk and remained silent. My father’s “office” was one of the old dean’s offices. It was far in the back of the administration building and highly guarded. No one got close enough to my father to harm him.
Not even me.
As I stood before his desk right now, we weren’t alone. Two guards stood at the back of the room. And two more stood in the hallway just outside of the room. So even if I wanted to try to kill my father, I couldn’t.
But right now, I really wanted to kill him. Him and Katsu and Ling and all my father’s minions. Every last one of them.
If my father knew of my disloyal thoughts, what would he do?
Last night I could have pointed out the direction Logan had taken me, and my father could have easily found where Logan lived. And he might have ordered Katsu not to beat me. But I had kept Logan’s secret. I had endured the beating to protect him. And I would do it again.
Because I trusted him more than I trusted my father. Logan had treated me more kindly than my own father ever had. So can you blame me for turning traitor to the Black Dragons? For wanting to protect one of my father’s enemies?
Logan had admitted to being an enemy of the Black Dragons. And now I understood why.
Because he was a dreg.
My time was running out. Now that I was free from Katsu’s torture room, I had to figure out a way to escape again.
While undergoing Katsu’s beating, I had let my mind go, I had thought about things that didn’t hurt. I had thought about Logan. I had imagined his handsome face in my mind, his beautiful smile. I imagined threading my fingers through his thick, wavy hair and pressing my lips to his.
And I repeated his phone number in my head, over and over and over again…
“Nishi!”
I startled, realizing my father was talking to me. How long had I tuned him out? I looked into his eyes. “Yes, Father?”
He let out a snort of disgust. “I said do I have your word that you will behave for the next two days until the wedding? If you do, then I will allow you some freedom.”
“Yes.” I would agree to anything to be given a little bit of freedom, to get my father to let his guard down, to not have to be watched so closely by his guards. “Yes, Father. I will behave. I will be the dutiful daughter and do what you wish.”
His gaze narrowed, scrutinizing. “I hope Katsu wasn’t too harsh in his punishment. But you understand that you had to be punished for escaping.”
I nodded, trying to act meek, though I was seething inside. I was twenty-four-fucking-years old! An adult. Yet I was a prisoner here. A slave. Did I mention that I hated my father?
Someday I would be free of him. Free to live my life as I chose.
“Go now.” My father waved me from the room. “Isamu and Cho will take you back to your quarters. You can take a bath and relax for the rest of the evening. Dinner will be brought to you in an hour. You will not be required to complete any chores tonight.”
“Thank you, Father.” I bowed, then left the room, flanked by Isamu and Cho. Isamu was in his late thirties and took his job seriously, always trying to please my father. He urged me forward down the hallway, a serious expression on his face. Cho was younger, mid-twenties, and less serious. He pulled out his cellphone and snickered as he read something on the screen. Isamu smacked him on the arm as we headed across campus toward the dorms.
“Put your phone up, you idiot. Katashi will punish you harshly if you’re caught playing around on your phone instead of doing your job.”
Cho grumbled, then stuffed the p
hone in the back pocket of his jeans.
At last we reached the dorms. My room was on the top floor, away from everyone else.
“You take her back,” Isamu ordered. “I’ll wait here.”
Up the stairs we went. At last we reached the top floor. Cho ushered me to my room. He shoved the door open and I went in. As Cho turned away, I eyed his phone sticking out of his back pocket.
If I could steal it somehow, I could text Logan.
Logan was a dreg. A powerful warrior. A dangerous man.
If anyone could get me out of this place, it would be him.
But would he do that? Would he risk his life for me?
I “accidentally” tripped into Cho as he was closing the door, and we both tumbled to the floor in a tangle of limbs. While pretending to extricate myself from him, I slipped his phone free from his pocket and stuffed it into my jacket pocket.
“What the hell?” he grumbled. “You forget how to walk?”
“Sorry,” I mumbled, pushing to my feet. “I’m still sore from Katsu’s beating.”
A hint of sympathy entered Cho’s gaze. He rose, then urged me back into my room. “Do what Katashi ordered and take a bath, okay? It will help soothe your sore muscles. Dinner will arrive soon.”
I grabbed his hand. Cho was one of the nicer guards. I had already discovered I couldn’t seduce him. He was completely loyal to my father. He wouldn’t help me escape. But he wasn’t as heartless as some of the others. “Thank you, Cho.”
He blushed and lowered his gaze, quickly turning away.
The moment the door closed behind him, I yanked the phone out. It took me a moment to figure out how to send a text. Then I typed Logan’s number in and selected the “message” option. And typed as fast as I could.
Hey, Logan. This is Nishi. My father’s men found me. Now I’m back at the Black Dragons’ compound. Friday night my father is forcing me to marry Malik of the Rapsters to seal an alliance between the two gangs. If you can find a way to help me avoid this wedding, I will forever be in your debt. The wedding will be held at midnight at Brenau University. Security will be tight, so it will be difficult to get in.
I hesitated, reading over the text. Was it too long? Should I explain better?
Then I added two more sentences.
I stole this phone from one of the guards, so don’t text me back or they’ll know. I hope I get to see you again soon.
I hesitated once more.
Then hit “send.”
I reread the text, then quickly deleted it, erasing all evidence from Cho’s phone.
Then I got greedy and decided to send another one.
Please, be careful, Logan. My father knows you are a dreg. He’s hunting you. He has a file on you and all the other dregs. They quizzed me about you, but I promise I told them nothing.
I wanted to be honest with Logan. I wanted him to know I wasn’t deceiving him in any way. So I told him the truth.
I sent the second text, then deleted it as well.
At any moment now, I expected Cho to realize his phone was gone. He would easily put two and two together and figure out I’d stolen it.
But I wasn’t done talking to Logan. Just one more text...
I enjoyed our time together the other night. I meant what I said. You are special. I miss you. Please don’t leave me here. Please come for me.
The door burst open.
I quickly hit “send”, then tap, tap, I deleted the message as Cho and Isamu both stalked toward me.
Cho held his hand out, his eyes hard. He was pissed that I’d fooled him.
I reluctantly slapped the phone into his palm.
“Sorry,” I murmured. “I’ve never had a phone before. I just wanted to see what it could do.”
“Katashi will hear of this,” Isamu warned, glaring at me.
I lowered my gaze. I had expected as much. Of course, they would tell my father what I had done. But I didn’t care. Since I’d deleted the texts, they might not figure out I had sent Logan any texts.
They left, slamming the door behind them.
I had no idea if Logan would come for me.
But I prayed he would.
Or my worst nightmare would come true.
I would be forced to marry Malik of the Rapsters.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Logan
Sleep eluded me that night. I tossed and turned for hours, my mind filled with thoughts of the Black Dragons torturing Nishi. Guilt nagged at me, a steady torment. I should have kept her safe. Instead, I’d put her in danger. If they hurt her, it would be my fault.
Finally giving up on sleep, I went to see if Noah had uncovered any information on the Dragons.
I found him in his apartment, just finishing up with breakfast preparations. Noah liked to cook. If any of us wanted a nice meal, we went to him.
“Here.” He handed me a platter full of pancakes. “Help me set the table.”
I did, and moments later, we sat and filled our plates with food.
“We’ll talk after we eat,” he promised. He knew I was anxious about Nishi and anxious to find out what he’d discovered about the Black Dragons.
Ryan and Luke strolled in, not looking any worse for wear after their night of catting around.
Ryan helped himself to a slice of bacon and slid into an empty chair at the table, while Luke perched against the edge of the counter behind him.
“The man-whores have returned,” I muttered. “How was your night? Did you hook up?” I stuffed a forkful of pancakes soaked in syrup into my mouth.
“It was awesome, as usual,” Ryan informed with a grin. “Picked up some hot chicks. Had a foursome. Lots of orgies. It was a great night. You two should join us sometime.”
Noah shook his head in disgust. “Never. No way. Not gonna happen. I never want to see another guy’s junk. At the rate you two get around, I’m surprised you haven’t knocked some girl up yet.” He paused, his gaze narrowing. “You didn’t, did you? Knock some girl up?”
Ryan choked on the bacon, gasping, coughing, then swallowing hard. I shoved my glass of milk toward him. Ryan snatched it up, gulping down several swallows.
“Where the hell did that come from?” Ryan coughed. “Fuck no, I didn’t knock some girl up. Why would you think that? I never go bareback. That would be pure stupidity.”
Luke snickered. “Give us some credit. We’re not idiots. We always use love gloves.”
Noah and I exchanged a glance. “Love gloves” was the term Luke and Ryan used for condoms. I shook my head. These two were unbelievable. I would never understand how they could go out and have sex with so many different women all the time. Didn’t they get tired of that? It was so cold and unfeeling. Didn’t they want to someday fall in love?
Noah set his fork aside, rolling his eyes. “Love glove? The only love you two are likely to find with your endless sexual exploits is your unhealthy love of yourselves. I’m waiting for you two to announce you’re gay and have been secret lovers for years.”
Ryan shot him a glare. “I take offense to that. We are not fucking gay, and I’m not in love with myself. Not even.”
Luke snorted and leaned over Ryan’s shoulder to snag a pancake. “You’re full of yourself, Ryan, and you know it. You spend more time primping than most women do.”
Ryan let out a huff. Luke was a smartass, an instigator, always trying to rile people up. Ryan knew him well enough to know better than to take his comment seriously. Luke was every bit as much of a player, and just as full of himself as Ryan was. That was one of the reasons why they got along so well.
“Ryan was only kidding, you morons.” Luke let out a snort of disgust. “He was just trying to shock you. We didn’t have a foursome. I have never seen his junk, nor do I ever want to.”
Ryan nodded. “I was only fucking with you guys, since you already think the worst of us. Last night we both bombed out. There were no hot chicks at the bar, but we spied a couple of Black Dragons lurking around, so we came back earl
y.”
Black Dragons lurking around…
My thoughts returned to Nishi. Was she all right? Had the Black Dragons hurt her?
Be brave, little one. I will come for you as soon as I can.
Everyone ate in silence for several moments, then Luke glanced at Noah and announced, “Love doesn’t exist, you know. Unless you count the love of sex, which I gladly admit to.” He bit into another pancake, tearing off a huge chunk. “And I am not attracted to Ryan in any way. I’m totally straight, dude.” The look he sent Noah dared him to argue.
Noah simply shrugged and took a swallow of his coffee.
I shook my head, a lock of shaggy hair falling into my eyes. It was probably time for a trim, but I’d let my hair grow a little long on purpose. It helped hide my missing ear. Luke might not believe in love, but I did. Even after all I’d gone through, I believed love not only existed, but was possible for anyone who was willing to open themselves up to it.
I glanced at Luke. “I believe in love, and I feel sorry for you that you don’t. You’re going to die a lonely old man.”
Luke didn’t respond to that. He snagged the jug of orange juice and poured himself a glass, before gulping it down. Was he offended by my comment? With Luke, you could never tell. He hid his emotions better than the rest of us. Sometimes I wondered if he even had emotions.
Ryan snickered. “Luke might die alone, but at least he will be able to say he had lots of sex before he went, unlike you. You’re probably still a virgin. Poor sucker. You don’t know what you’re missing, Logan.”
His words conjured up thoughts of Nishi again. Right now, she was what I was missing. I wanted to see her again. I wanted to hear her soft voice.
“I’m not a virgin,” I corrected. “I just prefer to have feelings for a woman before I take her into my bed. I’m not cold and heartless like you two.”
“Ooh, ouch!” Luke thumped his chest. “You just broke my heart, man.”
Ryan sniggered. “We’re not cold-hearted. We just like to have fun, is all. Lighten up, man.” He smacked my arm.
I truly believed that someday Ryan and Luke would each get knocked off their feet by a woman, and that when they did, they would realize love did indeed exist. I was actually looking forward to seeing it happen to them. But enough about those two man-whores. I pushed my chair back and rose from the table, carrying my plate to the sink. I quickly washed my dirty dishes and set them in Noah’s dish strainer to dry.
The Trainer (military romantic suspense) (The Dregs Book 5) Page 7