Peyton’s Price: A Singular Obsession Novel

by Leroux, Lucy

  Perhaps Matthias had threatened him. This cut-rate Norse god had more money than anyone she’d ever met—and that was saying something. As a Caislean insider, Peyton had rubbed elbows with some of the richest people in the world. But that was how she knew there was a dark side to all that shiny money. Wealth of that kind made people think they were above the law.

  Thor-lite was looking less and less like the hero and more like a villain.

  But would Liam have turned to him for help if that were the case? And not just once. Her rescue made two times.

  No, no! Liam wouldn’t do that. He was a principled man. Or at least, she’d always believed he was…

  More waiters entered as her thoughts churned. She stared at the plate they set in front of her like it was radioactive. The conversation hadn’t done anything to dampen Matthias’ appetite. He picked up his fork and knife, cutting up a large medallion of filet mignon as he spoke.

  “I definitely wouldn’t go as far as to call what Liam and I shared friendship, but, yes, we do have a history. And because of that history, he knew I might be able to help you.”

  The idea the man she’d loved for so long kept close ties with a slaveowner didn’t sit well with her, but she knew better than to say so.

  Live to fight another day. A new motto to live by. “Are you going to let me go home?”

  Matthias stopped eating, pausing to study her. “Do you really want to go back to Boston?”

  Peyton shook her head. “Boston isn’t my home anymore. I live in California now…although I suppose I’ll have to find a new roommate after this. The last one didn’t work out.”

  “That may be the understatement of the year.”

  She stilled, her hand halfway to her water glass. “You know what Dylan did? Does Liam?”

  “That’s how he learned what happened to you.” He leaned back in his chair. Again, she cursed the fact he was so handsome. “Tell me honestly, did you believe he’d let you go off to the other side of the country without interference?”

  “I assumed he would,” she said with a shrug. “I was never a very big part of his life.”

  Matthias laughed aloud. One look at her confused expression made him subside. “Oh. You were serious.”

  She didn’t understand his reaction. “I am close to the Tyler family—well, Maggie and Patrick, anyway. I watched them build their business together.”

  “As I understand it, you were a key part of their success,” he said. “You were there at the very start with that charming little B&B their parents founded. You changed beds, booked reservations, cleaned…”

  This conversation had veered off into the surreal. Hearing him speak about her and the Tylers as if he knew them was unnerving.

  She eyed him up and down. “Liam wouldn’t have told you that.”

  Had Matthias hired private investigators? She knew from experience that kind of thing was second nature to certain members of the elite. Was he obsessed with the Tylers or something?

  Matthias seemed lost in thought for a long time. She thought he wasn’t going to answer when he finally spoke.

  “Except he did. Admittedly, getting that much out of him wasn’t easy. Liam is what my mother liked to call a tough nut to crack—as you’re well aware, I’m sure. But don’t downplay your role in the Caislean’s success. Liam was quite upset to lose you to Silicon Valley…”

  He waited for a reaction that didn’t come, which made her wonder. Why did it seem like he was trying to tell her something without actually saying it?

  She shrugged defensively. “I helped a little. But my role wasn’t that significant.”

  A tide of self-pity rose up as she pictured Liam’s face in her mind. Even now, he was riding to her rescue, fixing all her problems and leaving her more broken than ever because of it.

  “I wasn’t a big part of Liam’s life,” she repeated tonelessly.

  Those icy-blue eyes gleamed in the dim light. “Well, for someone so insignificant, he certainly spent a lot of time talking about you.”

  Peyton sucked in a steadying breath. “Are you still in touch?”

  “On and off. Mostly off. I thought I’d heard the last of him after our last conversation. But then he called me about you.” He leaned forward with something like a smirk on his face. “I bet Caroline loved that.”

  “You know her, too?” Peyton was unsurprised when he inclined his head. Caroline Wentworth being friendly with a slaveowner made a lot more sense than Liam knowing him.

  “Caroline is the one who introduced us. She’d been courting me as an investor in her father’s hotel chain, and she brought Liam along to an event in the hopes of impressing me with her connections. I’m sure she regretted that later. I never did invest in the Wentworth chain.”

  She’d been listening without expression, but a sudden thought made her eyes almost bug out of her head. “You didn’t invest in the Caislean, did you?”

  Oh, God. Please don’t let it be true. Don’t let the hotel I’ve poured my sweat and tears into have been helped by this man’s blood money. It would destroy Maggie, and even Patrick, if they ever found out.

  “No. Liam never asked, and I never offered.”

  She hung her head, too emotionally wrung out to hide her relief. When she recovered enough to look at him, he was obviously trying not to laugh.

  “Peyton, I’m starting to think you don’t like me.”

  She bit her lip to keep from speaking the cutting remark she was dying to make.

  Wiping all traces of mirth off his face, he set down his knife. “All right, it’s time for the serious conversation. Integrating into society after this kind of trauma won’t be easy. In cases like yours, when you’ve been in a high-price auction, it’s even harder. Sometimes, the slaver keeps track of the merchandise with the buyer, particularly when they think they can make another sale to him or her down the line. Staying out of sight when you’re back in Boston will be critical.”

  The sudden no-nonsense twist in the conversation gave her confused mind whiplash.

  “I’m sure Liam will have a plan in place,” he continued after a pause. “You may not like hearing this, but it’ll be simpler to let him have his way. At least then, I don’t have to worry about you getting snatched up a second time. Liam would burn down the hotel before he let that happen. Just make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid like marry you too soon. That would be sure to make the papers. You don’t need that kind of attention.”

  “What?” Was Matthias having a stroke? She wasn’t following him at all now. Why would he think Liam would want to marry her?

  His fork tapped the table. “I know there’s quite a bit I’m leaving out. You’ll have to excuse me. I’ve never met one of my acquisitions before. Priya usually took care of them, explaining how everything works. Between you and me, she enjoys it. It gave her a purpose…a sort of higher calling.”

  Matthias frowned. “No doubt Priya has a checklist of recommendations and guidelines. I should have asked her,” he said, trailing off as if he were thinking about calling for the woman.

  “You don’t meet the people you buy?” Peyton seized that detail like a lifeline.

  “Bought. Past tense. I don’t do it anymore. And no, it wasn’t necessary to meet them. You’re an exception. However, you didn’t come to my attention in the usual way.”

  “What’s the usual way?”

  “Priya,” he answered. “When I still indulged in the practice, she took care of all the details. She chose who would be bought, took care of their purchase, and facilitated their eventual departure or secured them a position somewhere. There’s never been a reason for me to meet them.”

  Peyton tried not to gape. She shook her head to clear the muddied thoughts. “Never? But then you…then you didn’t have sex with the woman you bought?”

  “It would be pretty hard to have sex with someone you never met,” he pointed out.

  Peyton forced her hand flat against the pristine white tablecloth. “Then what di
d you do with them? Are they a part of your staff?”

  She scanned the room for the servants, seeing their presence in a new light.

  “Some of them are, I think. I prefer not to know. A few were able to go home, but that wasn’t always possible. But anyone who works for me does it by choice. And they would have to be skilled. I’m very selective. I can afford to pay anything I want, and I only hire the best.”

  “Through Priya?” she asked, her chin lowering as she searched his face.

  He inclined his head. “She is terrifying in her efficiency. I like to let her handle all staff issues for that reason. Anyway, if she’d chosen you, she would have explained why it’s not always possible to go home. It would be better to start a new life somewhere else, but, in your case, you have powerful friends. It gives you options the others never had.”

  Once Peyton was sure she wasn’t going to hit him, she raised her hands and rubbed her face. “You rescue women and secure their freedom. Why did you let me think you were some sort of monster who bought and raped them?”

  By the time she finished her question, she was screaming at him with tears in her eyes.

  Matthias winced. “I’m sorry, Peyton. It wasn’t a joke at your expense. More like Liam’s in a perverse way. I didn’t mean to mess with you. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  He scratched his head, inadvertently calling attention to the mark she’d left by hitting him with the drawer.

  “You should have explained who you are and what you do from the start,” she said, trying to get a hold of her emotions. Her voice still shook.

  “I know.” His face was drawn and tight. She waited for him to say she hadn’t given him a chance before she’d hit him with a drawer. But he didn’t make any excuses or try to justify drawing out his explanation. Instead, he poured her more wine.

  Drained, she settled deeper into the low booth and clutched the wine in her hand.

  She was so exhausted she could barely hold the glass up, but nothing could have made her give up alcohol at this moment. “What did you mean it was a joke at Liam’s expense?”

  “I…I suppose I enjoyed the thought of him being knocked down in your eyes. For what it’s worth, I don’t think Liam was ever okay with my former hobby. He said rescuing a few people here and there did no good when all the money I spent propped up the system. I told him I had a plan to make a bigger impact, but he didn’t care. He was convinced it would blow up in my face. Turns out he was right…”

  His icy eyes went flat. Darkness crept into his expression, but it wasn’t frightening or threatening. More like desolate…

  “What happened?” she whispered.

  He didn’t answer.

  “Well, for what it’s worth, thank you,” she murmured. The words were inadequate, but they were all she could offer.

  Matthias inclined his head, but then laughed. “It’s ironic. Liam was dead set against me trying to take down the traffickers, but it didn’t stop him from using my contacts when it benefited him. Although looking at you now, I can’t blame him,” he said with another appraising glance.

  An unwelcome flush crept up her chest, but she ignored the sensation.

  “You could tell the authorities about the traffickers,” she suggested. “I’m sure they could take out the organization with everything you know.”

  “No.” His tone was cold, implacable.

  “Why not? They have the resources and expertise. It might take a while, but it would be worth it.”

  He looked as if he were sorry he’d started the conversation. She waited, and he finally sighed. “You would think so. But you would be wrong.”

  Oh. “You already tried that, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.” Matthias averted his gaze, his face set.

  “And?”

  He downed the rest of his wine, then put down the glass with a thump. “And everyone died.”

  Chapter 15

  Peyton grasped the rail tightly, trying to recall the details of her dream last night. She had woken up in the morning afraid and ready to run, but she couldn’t remember what it was she was supposed to be running from.

  Well, I can guess, and maybe some things are better left forgotten.

  Below her, the black ocean churned as the massive yacht cut through the water. It was a mistake that made her head swim. Hastily, she turned away, focusing on the horizon instead.

  That’s better.

  It was a vast understatement. The night sky was full of stars. Entranced by the view, Peyton lingered outside after sunset to see them. However, now that night had settled, the temperature had dropped too much for the evening gown she was wearing.

  Peyton had protested the extravagance when Matthias presented her with several gowns over breakfast, but the deed had been done. Besides, the only other clothing she had were those the jogging suits, which she later learned Matthias provided for the staff to wear in their downtime. So it was either wear the gown or grab one of the yacht uniforms. She’d go naked before she wore the white dress from the auction ever again.

  Of course, Matthias might enjoy it if she did.

  Peyton wasn’t a stranger to masculine appreciation. Although her job had been in the background at the Caislean, she’d had enough run-ins with male guests and men at clubs to know she was reasonably attractive. But since the man she wanted most had never looked at her as a woman, she’d always felt inadequate in that respect.

  Matthias looked at her as if he wanted to eat her. Or at least strip her naked.

  Flushing, Peyton focused on the ship’s movement. It felt as if they were flying across the ocean, but her host had explained the trip to Boston would take several days, almost a week. The Ormen Lange was one of the most luxurious mega-yachts in the ocean, but it could only go so fast. A boat would never beat a plane in a race.

  Truthfully, she didn’t mind the delay. She would have never admitted it to Matthias, but she was in no hurry to see Liam and the others.

  And that must make me the most ungrateful person in the world, she thought, pulling away from the railing. Liam had arranged for her rescue from a terrible fate. The least she could do was thank him. If only she could do that without seeing him again.

  “It’s cold out here.”

  She spun around to find Matthias. Eyes warm, he watched her. He was wearing a black suit that set off his blond hair and blue eyes. In his hand was a length of dark material. He shook it out to reveal a cape.

  “Hi,” she said, jerking her head toward him.

  After their rocky start, Matthias had gone out of his way to be a wonderful host. He’d eaten every meal with her and had taken her on a personal tour of the ship, including the engine room and the bridge. Matthias had even taught her how to steer the massive craft, much to the surprise of the crew.

  The only thing he hadn’t done was elaborate on the slavers’ sting that had gone wrong. All he’d said was that Interpol had carried it out and almost a dozen girls had died. That had been enough to get her to stop asking questions.

  “Is that for me?” She moved to him, then caressed the rich fabric of the cape before he slipped it over her shoulders

  “It goes with the dress,” he said, tightening the ties at the neck. The cape was lined with more velvet the same color as her gown. It was also deliciously warm as if someone had been holding it over a heater.

  “This is wonderful,” she said, stroking the cape, unable to help herself. “But it’s too fancy for me. I’m a jeans-and-a-sweater kind of girl.”

  He laughed. “Peyton, you look lovely in sweatpants. You could be wearing sackcloth, and you’d still shine like a pearl.”

  She blushed furiously despite her best intention not to. “You better be careful. With compliments like that, I’ll get a big head and become insufferable.”

  “Sure you would,” he said in a wryly skeptical tone. He stepped closer, his large hands gripping the railing as he faced the horizon.

  “The stars are so much brighter here,” she said, t
urning her face up to the sky.

  “I know. They never look as bright from land. Even in the desert, far from any city lights, it’s not the same.” Matthias pointed to a cluster of stars. “That is the constellation Cassiopeia. When I was little, my father taught me how to navigate by the stars on a small sailboat—a dinghy really. There was no motor, no amenities of any kind.”

  “And no GPS?” she guessed.

  He shook his head with a grin. “Just some charts and a sextant. He wanted to make sure I never grew dependent on technology, or even on other people. Which was why he sent me off in that boat for a week-long trip along the coast of Norway near Arendal when I was fourteen.”

  “Alone?”

  “Yes, alone. No video games, no music players, and no comics. Just me and an old copy of Hunger by Hamsun. It’s a Norwegian classic. It wasn’t the first time he sent me off either. The year before, I had to spend a week alone in the wilderness in Hardangervidda National Park in the dead of winter. However, I was allowed a few essentials that time—a tinder box, waterproof shoes, and a coat.”

  “Wow,” she murmured, impressed despite herself. Peyton had been working at the hotel at fourteen, but she had been surrounded by her friends among the staff. Going off for a week on a small boat or into the woods alone would have been beyond her at that age.

  He shifted and took her hand, placing it on the crook of his arm. “I hope you’re hungry,” he said. “My chef is doing a Cantonese duck tonight.”

  “Not even a little.” She laughed as they walked toward the dining room. “After that lunch, I’m surprised you can even think about food.”

  The meal had been a light mix of Mediterranean goodies, but they had spent so much time talking, nearly two hours had passed before she knew it.

  “I worked up an appetite in the pool,” he said, continuing on with an easy gait.

  “I may have to try that.” Otherwise, she’d gain twenty pounds before the Ormen Lange docked.

  Ahead of them, a uniformed man came toward them in the hallway. He lit up at the sight of his employer, but he grew a little stiff when he spotted her. Red-faced, he nodded quickly and ducked his head.