I wrapped my arms around myself and shook, but I didn’t cry. For the first time, in far too long, my eyes remained dry. Those words had been spoken to X under a different set of circumstances. My options had been limited, but I had meant them…at the time. A corner of my mind finally whispered to me and granted permission to embrace the firestorm between us. With what I knew now, did that change? Or was I finally ready to burn?
Once again, the boomerang took flight. Accepting X, acknowledging his power, and granting him authority over me, would change everything. I would no longer be able pretend I was a victim. I would no longer be able to feed my anger over my abduction and subsequent enslavement. Choosing to continue meant I became an active participant in my fate. I had no idea which way to jump.
“Turn around,” he ordered.
I scooted on my knees and took in my surroundings. Similar to the room where that wretched business meeting had occurred, this one was kitted out with similar implements, a cross, a padded bench, and other pieces of furniture I couldn’t quite figure out form or function. X stood behind me and dangled the dolphin pendant in front of me.
“This gives you access to many parts of the estate. This room is one of them. You have a series of punishments waiting for you. Using my name rather than calling me master, raising your voice to me, and let’s not forget what Forest found. I’m going to give this back to you, then you and I are going to the library. I’ll answer all your questions. After that, the choice is yours.”
Choice? What choice?
“When you enter this room, a signal will be sent to me. The door will lock behind you, sealing you in. There will be no exit, no reprieve, except what is granted by me. When you enter this room, that is the choice you’re making. There’s no turning back. All or nothing. That’s what I demand, and you know I’ll take everything from you.”
“Xavier…” The word came out a breathy whisper. I struggled to process his words, and I knew it was wrong not to call him master, but this moment demanded a more personal touch.
“We won’t speak of this further. This is what I want, for you and for me. We’re two halves of a whole. I’ve been looking for you my entire life. When I took you, I didn’t understand the tremendous chance I’d been given. I’ve been nothing but honest about my desires or intentions. What you’ve seen is what you’ll get with me, unwavering domination and uncompromising rule. Don’t run from what terrifies you. It’s my hope you’ll run toward your fears rather than away. When you do, I’ll be waiting for you. I’ll give you everything you need. You’ll want for nothing, but you will choose. I can’t do it for you.”
X turned and the door opened behind me, letting in more light into the dimly lit room. A future of pain waited for me here, and maybe something much more profound. This would be the crucible in which I would break and be reformed. I took to my feet and followed X out of the room. We said nothing as he guided me to the library. My only question was whether I would ever return to this room.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
When we arrived in the library, Forest was seated in one of the leather chairs. He held a book open and had it propped on his knee. X walked over to the chair facing Forest, sat down, then pointed to the floor by his feet. His command required no interpretation.
Forest glanced up, gave me an indecipherable expression, and turned his attention back to his book. “I didn’t think you would be here so soon,” Forest said with a chuckle. “I settled in to wait.”
“Raven hasn’t made her choice, yet.”
I moved to where X indicated and took to my knees. The position wasn’t the most comfortable. Not interested in incurring additional punishments, I obeyed without complaint. My choice? How did my abduction become a choice?
“So, you’re going to tell her, lover boy?” Forest snickered.
“Don’t use that tone with me, unless you’re feeling a need to howl. I can certainly use a workout with the whip.”
Forest put his book down. “We’ve moved past that, Xavier.”
“Have we?”
“Fine,” Forest said with a huff. “I won’t say that word again.”
“Good.” X snapped.
“Doesn’t mean it ain’t true,” Forest mumbled.
“Forest!”
“Oh relax.” Forest gave another chuckle, then turned his attention to me. “Raven, Xavier is a complex man, kinky as fuck, and uncompromising in his beliefs. Never forget it, because I have a feeling you’ll be on the receiving end of much of his attention.”
“Forest, you’re crossing a line.” X reached down and put his hand on my head. He ran his fingers through my hair, massaging my scalp. The tenderness behind his touch surprised me.
“We only have a few minutes before the conference call,” Forest said, “if you’re going to bring her in, we should probably do it sooner rather than later.”
X glanced down at me, then stood. He bent down, crouching before me, and placed his forehead to mine. He placed his hands on my arms, rubbing them gently. “Listen first. Questions only after I’m done. Do you understand?”
“Yes Master.”
He kissed my cheek with more tenderness than I was prepared to handle. With my head spinning, he lifted me up and put me in his chair. X raked his fingers through his hair and stared down at me. For the first time since I’d met him, he appeared uncertain, but he gave a sharp jerk of his head, as if coming to a decision, and his confidence returned.
“We’ll begin with your inheritance,” he said.
“I don’t have an inheritance.”
“Do not interrupt. That’s the last time I’ll say it.”
I swallowed against the lump in my throat and glanced at Forest.
“You’re going to want to hear this. That’s only one of many things your father has kept from you.” He set aside the book.
With my head on a swivel, I glanced between the two men. While hundreds of questions flooded my mind, I kept silent.
“Let’s begin with your mother,” X said.
I’d never known my mother. She’d died giving birth to me. Z never spoke of her. There were no pictures of her growing up. Everything I knew about her had been gleaned from what little the nannies told me. I’d only recently discovered she had been nothing but a slave.
“I know your father went to great lengths to hide who she was, and I also know he told you she was a slave.”
I gave a nod. This was true.
“That is and isn’t the entire truth. Your mother came from a prominent family, old money. She was not forced into slavery, but rather chose to enslave herself to your father. They met in college and married shortly thereafter. It’s my belief your father introduced her to the M/s lifestyle. Unfortunately, she didn’t know the monster she gave her submission to, or the depths of his depravity. Zane Carson is a businessman, well off, but not wealthy like your mother, and he has certain dark tastes. He took advantage of her, used her to climb social circles, and was in the process of gaining access to her trust to fund his side business, the one you’ve seen in action. Unfortunately for him, your mother became pregnant before he could withdraw anything from the family trust. This forced him to take out certain loans which he wasn’t able to pay.”
My eyes widened. “What?” Then I remembered my orders. “I’m sorry, Master. I won’t interrupt.”
X gave a slight nod, then continued. “According to the terms of the trust, individuals marrying into the family are specifically excluded from accessing it. Zane Carson attempted to pull out assets, and secure them for himself. With your mother as the sole heir, he could do so only with your mother’s consent, at least until she became pregnant with you.”
I stared at X, not understanding. The urge to interrupt overcame me, but with a sharp shake of his head, I pushed my questions to the background, trusting he would reveal everything if I only gave him time. Forest sat across from me, the weight of his gaze heavy upon me as he measured my every response. I ignored him, at least as much as a pers
on could ignore the giant of a man.
“Your birth wouldn’t have been a problem. Your mother, as your guardian, had the power to transfer assets out of the trust, which I believe was the plan. Unfortunately, she died giving birth to you, making you the sole heir to your family’s fortune. This put a stop to Zane’s plans. The trust took care of the family home and what was needed to raise you, but his debts piled up. He couldn’t access the trust until you came of legal age. With no way to access your family’s money, he concocted a new plan. That would come with your twenty-first birthday.”
I rubbed my palms over the fabric of my dress, smoothing out wrinkles which didn’t exist. I glanced to Forest and he nodded, supporting the revelations X bestowed upon me.
“Selling you into slavery gave your father two things. As you’ve already seen, enslavement effectively removed you from the world. You would disappear, and could be forced to comply with whatever your master demanded.”
I knew this to be true. X had full control over my life. His wealth allowed him to control me, isolate me, and erase me from the world.
“Your father put a reserve price of five million and announced your auction to the highest bidder. Through his associate, John Snowden, they arranged several potential buyers. Trust me when I tell you, that fate would have been worse than death.”
I didn’t know whether to be horrified or impressed. Horror filled me knowing what my father planned, but five million? Who would pay such an extravagant price? I wasn’t that pretty, or special.
“I sense your confusion, which is where the second benefit comes in. Your father’s debts were well over five million. Proceeds from your auction wouldn’t be enough to settle what he owed, but with your sale came a way to gain access to your trust. Once you turned twenty-one, you gain control over the trust. With that comes the ability to dissolve it. This is what your father intended, and he offered a kickback to whomever bought you. Once they obtained your signature, they would receive two and a half million of your purchase price back. Your father, obviously, would get the rest.”
“Why would he do that?” I couldn’t keep silent any longer.
“Honey,” Forest said, his voice deep and rumbly, “the amount of money we’re talking about is not insignificant.”
“Who would agree to such a thing?” I couldn’t help the questions. They spilled out of me. “And I never would’ve signed—”
“Raven,” X interrupted, “what you’ve experienced with me is nothing to what you would’ve been subjected to with another. You have no idea what you would’ve done to survive. Trust me in this. You don’t understand what these men are capable of.”
“But you…” I glanced to Forest, who continued to watch me. “You didn’t buy me. A debt paid…”
“When Forest became aware of what your father intended, he approached me. Knowing who I am, the life I lead, and how I’ve positioned myself in certain aspects of the slave trade, I offered to settle your father’s debts in exchange for you.”
“You could have told me.”
“We couldn’t risk it,” X said. “Not with what’s at stake, besides it wouldn’t have worked. There’s no way you could’ve pretended to be my slave. Your father would’ve picked up on it. Your reactions needed to be real, because your father and I are involved in certain business transactions.”
Yes, I couldn’t forget X traded in slaves. He wasn’t an innocent here, and despite everything was still involved in ruining lives.
“Why did you do this to me?”
“Because,” Forest interjected, “we’re after a true devil. As bad as your father is, and we will deal with him, Snowden is the true monster, but we couldn’t get to him directly. We need your father to get to Snowden, and as it turns out you offer an exceptional opportunity.”
My head spun with these revelations. I didn’t know what to process first. My mother? A secret family trust? My father’s auction plans? X stepping in?
“If my father was going to auction me to the highest bidder, why not just grab me at auction?”
“Because, I couldn’t risk being out bid, and I’d already decided I needed to have you.”
With the amount of money invested in X’s estate, I had a fair idea of the money he had access to. Maybe I wasn’t worth five million? It’s insane that thought went through my head. I shouldn’t have a price attached to me at all.
“What do you mean you needed to have me? You didn’t know me. How much did my father owe?”
“Twenty million, give or take a million,” Forest answered. “As for the other half of your question, that is something you and X will need to discuss later.” He glanced at his watch. “We only have five minutes. Xavier…” Forest stood. “I’m going to use the restroom, wrap this up.” With that, Forest left us alone.
I stared at his retreating backside, unable to turn my attention to the man who I called master.
X took the seat Forest vacated and leaned forward, placing elbows to knees. He looked at me and I shrank back. I couldn’t help it. When X turned the ferocity of his gaze on me, I reacted instinctually.
“I need to know if you’re willing to work with us.”
“How can I answer that?”
“Like Forest said, we don’t have much time. Do you remember what I said to you earlier?”
“Yes.”
“What did I say?”
He’d said many things, but I knew what he was after.
“You said what we discuss in the library changes nothing between us.” My insides quivered with the understanding of what that meant. X intended for me to remain his slave, and everything which came with that.
“You gave me your consent,” he reminded me, repeating some of what he’d said earlier. “I said you’d be tested. This is your test.”
“But…”
“Let me finish.”
I gave a nod.
“Forest is exceedingly wealthy, brilliant, and committed to taking Snowden down. And he’s methodical. He’s been planning this for a very long time, putting pieces into play. When I say he’s brilliant, I need you to understand what that means. Forest operates on another plane than the rest of us.”
I didn’t understand.
“Ten years ago, Forest came to me with one and only one goal in mind, but it would take years of preparation. A piece of that was positioning me and establishing me in the slave trade. I’ve been buying slaves for years…”
“And selling them.” I couldn’t help my anger. This was the one piece I couldn’t reconcile.
“Yes and no.”
“What do you mean no?”
“Slaves move through my operation. It’s necessary to maintain my cover. These are not people who have families or lives to get back to. They’re those who have been discarded, orphans without families, forgotten people.”
“But they’re still people.”
“Let me finish,” X chided me. “They come through my operation and are offered a choice. Some choose to stay, to work with me to bring down slave rings across the globe. Others choose to work for Forest, in any number of different jobs, but all aimed at one thing. One common goal. Forest has been building an army, but there is one person who has escaped his grasp.”
“John Snowden,” I said, suddenly realizing something important. This was personal to Forest, but how? What connection did Forest have to this man?
“Yes,” X said, confirming my guess. “We only recently tied your father to Snowden, but had no way to insert ourselves into his operation. Then Forest uncovered what your father planned to do to you. This provided an unprecedented opportunity. Because of you, your father owes me.”
“I thought he paid off his debt?” With me. Wasn’t that what they had said. I was payment of debts owed.
“I erased his debt in exchange for you, but he still owes me. Now that we’re in business together it’s eating him up. You saw some of that earlier. I need to know, are you with us? Will you help Forest and I bring John Snowden down?”
<
br /> Forest returned. “Well? What’s the answer?”
I looked between Forest and X, knowing another issue remained to be resolved, but I didn’t hesitate. I moved from the chair and came to my knees in front of X. He and I would have a conversation later, but for now I took his hands in mine and kissed the backs of his knuckles.
“If it means bringing my father down, I’m in.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
My answer seemed to satisfy X. He gave me one appraising look, then smirked. An easiness flowed between them, a sort of settling and acceptance. Bastard looked pleased with himself. As for me? My pulse roared past my ears because I knew exactly what I’d done. Or what I would do. Whether I was ready for it or not remained a question.
I didn’t follow much of what happened next. Forest dialed in a video conference. As if given a silent signal, my bodyguards arrived.
“Raven is with us,” X pronounced to the men.
Chad gave me a huge smile. Bay grinned. Mel gave a nod of respect.
Ben came over to me. “Are you okay?”
“It’s a lot to take in,” I admitted.
“It is. I hope you can look back on the past month through a different lens. Perhaps someday, you’ll find it in your heart to forgive us.”
The funny thing was that I’d already forgiven my guards. I think I forgave them weeks ago. They were simply following orders. I understood that now.
Chad plopped down in the chair facing me. “I’m glad you decided to stay.”
Stay? Was leaving an option? I glanced at X, knowing full well he would never let me go.
Forest waved Ben over, and then turned his attention to the laptop screen. “Detective Summers, I want you to meet Ben Chambers, our FBI lead.”
My attention snapped to Ben. FBI?
“It’s nice to meet you Detective Summers, is your asset in place?” Ben asked.
She’s Mine: A Captive Romance Page 20