Dollars (Dollar #2)

by Pepper Winters

  “Yes.” I closed my laptop. “His Royal Highness has been called away to a diplomatic meeting. He would like the original blueprints delivered in A5 before he leaves.”

  So much for never meeting him again.

  I doubted I’d ever be comfortable now he knew my true identity.

  “I can drop them off.” Selix straightened his black blazer. “It’s no hardship.”

  I shook my head. “I promised I’d do it personally. I’d planned on heading into the city again before we departed anyway.” Standing, I moved to the cabinet where the copies of the current yachts under construction rested in tight scrolls. Selecting the right one, I tapped it against my palm. “Tell Pim to meet me by the ramp. Yesterday, she did well—despite a few mishaps. Today, I’ll reward her.”

  Selix smiled tightly. “Fine. See you on the dock in five.”

  * * * * *

  “These plans don’t have the amendments we discussed but the minute they’re completed, I’ll email.” I passed Simo the silky pages of his soon-to-be-waterproof creation.

  Like yesterday, he wore a three-piece suit with a crisp white turban on his head. Unlike yesterday, his wife and children weren’t present.

  He glanced around the park where we’d arranged to meet—half-way for me from the Phantom and half-way for him from his house before heading to the airport. Even for a sea lover like me, the park was perfect in its natural simplicity.

  Simo sighed. “It’s times like this I don’t want to leave my home country.”

  I focused on the quaint quietness around us. Bird song and the occasional squeal of children playing tag in the rose bushes. It did have a sense of peace, but it was too still beneath my feet, too quiet without the dull roar of engines and ocean squalls.

  But I smiled and agreed. “Your home is beautiful. I understand why.”

  Simo grinned. “And your home? Do you miss it?”

  I stiffened; very aware he could bring up my true identity and blab to Pim who stood beside me.

  She watched silently but not stupidly. Her gaze stole every twitch and motion, storing for future reference. She never stopped judging, trying to slip beneath my walls and loot my secrets. Her silence was deadly in that respect. How had Alrik never sensed the sleeping assassin inside her? The power hidden beneath survival just waiting to put everything she’d gleaned into practice?

  “I have a home.” My hands clenched by my sides. “And soon, you will have one too and see how much better it is to float wherever the tide takes you rather than be locked to one continent.”

  Simo grinned. “An adventure every day.”

  I chuckled, indulging him. “Exactly. Your children will have a childhood every kid would kill for, and your wife will be able to travel with you on your engagements.”

  Simo’s body softened at the mention of his family.

  What would it be like to have such strong emotions? To hand over your entire heart, never fearing it would be rejected? I’d known what that was like once upon a time. It’d been such a long time ago, I’d forgotten. Shared affection was as mythical to me now as breathing beneath the waves like a fish.

  “Speaking of engagements, I really must be going.” Simo tapped his temple with the blueprint scroll. “Once again, thank you for meeting me here. I’ll look forward to catching up soon.” He held out his hand.

  I shook his. “Safe travels, Your Highness.” Stepping back, Pim moved with me, her dainty feet aligning with mine to avoid the four bodyguards shadowing Simo.

  Her soft scent enticed my nose. My senses once again intensified as my lower belly tightened with desire.

  The more she pissed me off and defied me, the more I wanted her.

  The more I pulled away and tried to guard myself, the more I wanted to trade her truth for mine.

  Our connection made no sense. We’d never talked. We’d shared a single kiss and a string of profound relapses in judgment.

  She blistered my mind with a new curse—taking my previous obsession for perfection and twisting it, so every breath and heartbeat increased this stupid crush to delusional proportions.

  I knew I was being ridiculous.

  I just didn’t have the cure to stop it.

  I’m Pim-sick and it’s not a good illness to have.

  We didn’t move as Simo crossed the park and slid into a black limousine. His driver pulled away in a thunder of expensive horsepower.

  Selix asked, “Are you ready to return?”

  I glanced around the park—at the dappled sunshine on the short dry grass and the rustling thirsty trees. I could stay a while in a place like this, but Pim was jumpy, and I meant what I said about giving her a reward.

  I’d caused her jumpiness.

  I could erase it if I ignored my own dilemma and focused on her.

  Unable to glance at Pim, in case I backed her against a tree and gave the world a big fuck you by molesting her in public, I muttered, “Not yet. Lunch is in order.”

  Pim shifted beside me, no doubt wondering if I had another business meeting.

  Gritting my teeth, I turned to her, focusing on how skinny she was and how it was my job to feed her. Lunch was about nutrition, that was all. It wasn’t a date or had any romantic connotations. The moment she’d eaten, I’d escort her back to the yacht and take my medicine, so I could ignore my one-tracked brain.

  Her eyes kissed mine, content to let me rule for once with no competition.

  Maybe today she would finally talk.

  If she’s forgiven me, of course.

  She hadn’t been impressed with my pickpocketing skills yesterday. My lips curled at how easy stealing that wallet had been. It had taken no thought at all. If I was honest, I missed the rush, the power. What would she say if she knew all of this—my life, my wealth, my company—came down to a single robbery that’d changed my world forever?

  Would she understand why I kept what I stole? Or would she hate me for being so fucking selfish?

  Not that it mattered. Whatever she’d felt for me when we’d almost kissed was drowned out by her strong barometer of right and wrong.

  “I heard of a good restaurant half an hour from here,” Selix said. “If that sounds of interest, I’ll look up directions.”

  “By foot or car?”

  Selix frowned. “Car, of course.” His lips curled a little as if walking was for paupers, not businessmen.

  Pim shuffled, the smoky grey dress hanging off her with no sexuality, which somehow only amplified hers. Her pretty face half-hidden by a sash of dark brown hair.

  “I’m in the mood to walk again.” I pushed off, not looking back to see if Pim followed. “Leave the car. We’ll send a crew member to collect it. You’ll come with us.”

  It went without saying after the Chinese tour group incident and potential fight over the returned wallet, it was prudent to have Selix close by in case I did anything else idiotic.

  “Of course.” Selix fell into step with me. “Do you wish to dine alone? I can return the girl and escort you once she’s safe?”

  She’s not going anywhere without me. Pim would eat with me whether she wanted to or not. But just like yesterday, I would give her the illusion of choice and see how she fared.

  “If she wants to join me, let her.” I turned to face her with a deliberate cold smile. “After all, it’s her life and decision.”

  She scowled as the grey dress licked around her legs. Her skin already pink from the sun.

  It seemed she’d already made her choice as she stepped forward with her chin high and gold sandals glinting in preparation for a hike. Michaels had warned me last night that making her do too much exercise could ruin her current healing.

  I shouldn’t have brought her. I did the opposite of the right thing.

  But I wouldn’t send her away.

  Not today.

  I gave her a curt nod, and we all moved forward in uniform—a perfect triangle of travel. Me at the apex with Selix on my left and Pim on my right a few steps behind. Talkin
g wasn’t on my agenda and neither was it on Pim’s. I’d thrown on a linen shirt this morning with black slacks, and already sweat stuck the material to my skin. I pitied Selix in his black suit walking in this intense heat, but that was why his salary was so damn good.

  I paid for his discomfort and pain to keep me safe.

  Leaving the park and entering the busy streets of Morocco, Pim’s tiny feet barely made a sound on the gravelled walkway. This time, we were on the other side of town where undisciplined children and the occasional squawking chicken congested the roads. Despite the lack of resident wealth, high-fashion glass-fronted stores glittered for tourists—two worlds so far apart but sandwiched together so tightly.

  Like Pim and me?

  I didn’t know the answer because I didn’t know if Pim came from money or poverty.

  Yet another question to add to the pyramid of all the others.

  Selix kept his distance, dropping back a little more as Pim drew up to my side. We walked that way for a while, falling into a rhythm.

  Half-way to the yacht, I still hadn’t seen a restaurant that didn’t look either unsanitary or too crowded. Every few hundred metres, I slowed enough for Pim to catch up. Whatever aches she suffered slowed her considerably more than yesterday.

  I hated that I’d been the cause of some of her sprains and pain. But her presence didn’t relax me, so it was only fair we were both uncomfortable.

  Even the manic world of Morocco couldn’t distract me from being all too aware of her soft breathing and sweat-gleaming skin. If the sun caught her shoulders just right, it painted her in a golden glow, hiding the remnants of bruises, making her seem ready for harsher manipulation to talk.

  Her time is running out—

  “Hey, Prest!”

  Shit.

  I pulled to a stop, looking through the crowds for whoever had recognised me. Pim stiffened, drawing to a halt.

  A man I vaguely recognised appeared in a rumpled maroon suit and black shirt. Glossy gel lacquered his dark blond hair, making him seem sleazy despite the expensive tailoring.

  His hand speared out as he grinned. “Been wondering if I’d ever bump into you again.” He pumped my palm as if I was his long lost brother.

  Who the fuck is this?

  “Do I know you?”

  The guy wrinkled his nose. His unkempt beard caught the light as his gaze flicked from me to Pim and back again. “Hong Kong, four years ago? We were at the same dinner party.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Remember?”

  My brain kicked into gear, sorting through memories I no longer had any urge to recall. And there, sulking at the very bottom covered in shame and guilt, was the dinner party in question.

  I clenched my jaw. “Ah yes, Darren?”

  “Dafford.” The guy grinned. “Dafford Cartwright.” His attention slipped back to Pim.

  Livid acrimony and disgust filled me. A growl built from nowhere. I knew why he watched her—why he looked at her with carnivorous eyes and not that of a normal man.

  That dinner party hadn’t just been a dinner. It had been a meal, yes. But on the tears and fears of women. Strippers had been hired to entertain, but they hadn’t signed up for the bonus activities the men decided were in order.

  Force had been used.

  I hadn’t done what they had, but I hadn’t tried to stop it either. I was there to step into the underworld. What was the point in showing my hand to the devils I was trying to play with by stopping their fun?

  “New tricks, huh?” Dafford grinned. “How much did you spend?”

  My back snapped straight. “How much?”

  “Oh, come on.” He lowered his voice, stepping closer. “I know a possession when I see one.” He slapped me on the back. “Good pickings. Pretty enough.”

  I struggled not to tear his motherfucking arm off.

  My jaw locked, preventing me from tearing his ears a new asshole and rendering him deaf.

  “Had one of my own for a few years until…well.” He shrugged. “Things happen, I guess.”

  Pim sucked in a tattered gasp, understanding his vague insinuation of abusing a life and then fucking shrugging when that life was snuffed out. Brimstone boiled in her blood, tainting the air between us as if any second she’d launch at him, regardless she was still weak.

  If she did, we’d have a full on brawl, most likely ending in death.

  His death.

  I took a subtle step toward her, pressing my side against hers. I assured myself it was for her benefit, when in reality…it was probably for mine.

  She trembled. Her heat scorching through my shirt, my skin, past my tattoo and right into my bloody heart.

  Her face lost all kindness or inquisitive awareness of the city. She stood taller, tighter, slamming doors to each partition that I’d finally cracked open, throwing locks home and shutting down into ice.

  She glowered at Dafford as if he were Alrik reincarnated from the dead.

  Dafford grinned at her silence, misreading her for meekness rather than trembling with vehemence. “Where did you buy her from?”

  I swallowed hard against my ever-growing hate. “I didn’t.”

  “You didn’t?” His eyes glittered. “Hand-me-down?” He raked his attention over her.

  I wanted to fucking stab out his eyeballs. I buffed my nails on my shirt, doing my best to remain above his cheap filth. “I suggest you shut the fuck up.”

  How dare he look at her? I never wanted another fucking bastard looking at her that way again.

  His eye twitched. “Aww, I get it. Sensitive subject in public.” He lowered his voice. “She’s well trained, though, judging by her condition. But you could work on her making eye contact. That’s a bit rude.”

  I ignored most of his sentence, temper hissing through my nose.

  Well trained? What fucking condition? “You’re basing your conclusion on her behaviour by her bruises, am I correct?”

  He laughed. “Yeah, they’re the signature of good control. Don’t you think?”

  My hands clenched until my knuckles popped.

  Selix crept up behind me. His solid power was comforting even if I didn’t need his help to kill a turd like this. He shifted slightly, moving to shadow Pim, placing himself unasked to protect the girl I’d stolen—the woman he couldn’t understand why I was fascinated with but wouldn’t say a word because he knew I didn’t need logic to do things.

  Just as I didn’t need any more encouragement to hurt this prick.

  Pim trembled against me as Dafford leered at her. “Pick her up from Morocco? That’s why I’m here actually. Heard there’s a travelling company called the QMB that finds locals and prepares them in an auction. Heading there in two days.” He sighed dramatically. “Pity I don’t already have a replacement. We could’ve shared for the night.”

  Cunt.

  “I don’t share.”

  Pim’s feet scuffed the pavement. I didn’t know if she was preparing to attack or sprint far away. Either way, I was done listening to such garbage.

  Already, our little tête-à-tête had garnered attention from locals. We were a novelty. With such attention, I didn’t want to cause a scene. Then again, I knew a thousand different ways to kill—seen and unseen.

  Selix cleared his throat, a code for us to move or act but not to dally any longer.

  I wanted to flat out murder Dafford.

  But I had enough self-restraint to suck in a breath and convince myself he wasn’t fucking worth it.

  Straightening my back, I growled. “Well, as entertaining as this chat has been, we’ve got to go.” I gave Dafford a tight smile, keeping my temper and every other demon I battled locked tight.

  I gave him a lifeline even though he didn’t bloody deserve it.

  He didn’t take it.

  Reaching out, he had the motherfucking audacity to touch Pimlico’s shoulder. She flinched, whiteness coating her face as she bared her teeth.

  He gripped her hard in reproach. “No way to respond to a master
touching you, girl.”

  And yep, I’d known this would happen.

  I’d known the minute I stole her that Pim would be the cause of my unravelling, my undoing, my self-control.

  Yanking her forward, he snarled, “Tell you what, Prest. If she’s a hand-me-down, you’re not doing a good job keeping up her training. I’ll buy her off you, right here, right now. Name your price.”

  Pim’s eyes doubled in size but instead of looking to me for help, she twisted and fought on her own. Always on her own. Never leaning, never seeking.

  I’d been waiting for this opportunity. To offload her. To make her someone else’s problem. I didn’t have the willpower or the strength to live with her and not hurt her.

  But to sell her knowing her fate?

  Sell her after getting to know her in the small silent snippets she’d given.

  Fuck no.

  Dafford laughed, still holding what was mine. “Come on, man, I hate this place. If I can leave sooner, I will. Tell you what, I’ll buy this one and you take my ticket to the auction and pick up a newer model.” His face romped with evil. “I’ve always liked the unbroken ones. More fun that way.”

  It didn’t take a thought. Nothing did when I reached such a dangerous calm. My arm shot out, my hand wrapped around his throat, and I squeezed.

  Pimlico stood there, frozen as I squeezed and motherfucking squeezed.

  Selix moved to the side, blocking my violence from those gawking as best he could.

  It would be so easy to kill him.

  To stop him hurting others and repair a little of my damaged karma, but this was too public, and I wouldn’t go to jail for him.

  Letting Dafford go, he slammed to his knees, gasping for breath, holding his bruised neck. “You fucking—”

  I stepped closer, crowding him. “Finish that sentence, and I finish you. Get out of town. If I hear you went to the auction, I’ll find you and kill you. No more girls. Do you understand?”

  He sneered. “Always did think you were a pussy. Bet she’s not even yours.” He glared at Pim. “Bet you haven’t even fucked her.”

  I couldn’t stop my leg as it shot forward and connected solid and true on his chest.

  He wheezed, doubling over.

  “She is mine. And she’s not for sale. If we cross paths again, asshole, you know what will happen.”