Every Woman Had a Price

Back when I worked part-time as an international student advisor in Averon, I met plenty of mistresses and sugar babies looking to get a fancy degree overseas. Quite a few younger girls also came to Averon, where sex work was legal in certain parts of the country. They weren't interested in ordinary jobs; they wanted wealthy clients willing to pay well just to spend time with them. I was no saint as I also made a decent cut from making those arrangements happen. That was until one day, when a sweet, innocent-looking girl stumbled into my office. "Uhm... Are you Cruz Jackson? Could you help me find a college that isn't too expensive?" she asked, nervously fidgeting with her fingers. After a moment of hesitation, she added, "And... you must know quite a few rich guys, right? Do you think you could... introduce me to one?" Her voice grew quieter with each word, and her face was flushed crimson by the time she managed to finish her request. I took a drag on my cigarette and shook my head. "Trust me, sweetheart. You're not cut out for that life. Just focus on your studies." Before I could say another word, she suddenly fell to her knees and pleaded, "Please, Cruz! If I can't find a rich guy to support me, there's no way I'll have enough money to finish college!" I believed her like a complete idiot. I even gave her a credit card tied to my account and told her to use it for tuition and living expenses. … After she left, my buddy Kai Pearson came back to the office. When I told him what had happened, he let out a low whistle. "Hold on. I know that girl," he said, raising an eyebrow. "That's the Ashford Angel. Half the guys in Averon are crazy about her." Then, he leaned in and lowered his voice. "From what I've heard, she's still a virgin. A girl that gorgeous walks right into your office, and you didn't even make a move?" He shot me a knowing look before pointing upstairs. "Just give it two weeks. If you don't make a move, those rich bastards sure as hell will. And you know better than I do that they'll eat her alive." Chapter 1 A Dangerous Rescue Kai had spoken too soon. Less than three days passed before someone set his sights on that girl, Susie Baldwin. I was out on a yacht off the coast of Averon when I spotted her among a group of women swimming around the boat. We liked to call these outings fishing trips. However, everyone was well aware that we weren't out here fishing for fish. We were fishing for women. The rules were simple. Throw enough money around, and someone would take the bait sooner or later. Most of the women knew the game and the stakes. They laughed, flirted, and did whatever they could to catch the attention of the wealthy men on board. Well, all of them except Susie. The others were enjoying themselves, while she struggled just to stay afloat. Her arms flailed desperately as she fought to keep her head above water. "Help! Somebody help me! I can't swim!" A heavyset man standing beside me burst out laughing. "Now, that's my kind of girl! Hang on, sweetheart! I'm coming!" He stripped down to his swim trunks and jumped overboard without a second thought. Still, it became very clear that rescuing her wasn't his priority the moment he got to her. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close instead of helping her back onto the yacht. When his hands moved toward her swimsuit, Susie panicked and desperately tried to push him away. "Let go of me! Please!" He only laughed and tightened his grip as she struggled, ignoring her cries for help. I watched them for a moment before calmly reeling in my fishing line, put out my cigarette, and jumped into the water. I reached Susie and pulled her away from him before things could spiral out of control. She immediately threw her arms around me and clung to me for dear life. Her whole body was trembling, her hair was a mess, and her face had gone pale with fear. She was a complete mess, but even I had to admit that she was a hot mess. I thought, 'Damn. This girl is going to be trouble.' "Cruz Jackson! You son of a bitch!" the fat man roared. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Trying to steal my girl?" I laughed. "Sorry, pal. The boss has already taken an interest in this one. And you know better than to mess with someone the boss has his eye on." That shut him right up. He wasn't afraid of me. To him, I was nothing more than a hired hand. But my boss? That was a different story. Regardless, he clearly wasn't about to let the matter go so easily. He raised his arms, showing me the scratches Susie had left while trying to fight him off. "Then, what the hell am I supposed to do about these?" I didn't answer right away. Instead, I helped Susie back onto the yacht and set her down on the deck. Then, I turned to him. "Three minutes," I said casually. "Settle your grudge if you want, but don't go too far." The color drained from Susie's face. She scrambled backward, shaking her head frantically. "No... please. Don't." I slapped her across the face. "Enough." She froze, tears spilling down her cheeks. The man climbed back onto the yacht and approached her with a cruel smile. I turned away. I stood by the railing for the next three minutes, smoked another cigarette, and occasionally checked my watch. Behind me, the man vented his anger on Susie, shouting at her and demanding an apology. She kept begging him to stop, her voice breaking with sobs. I didn't bother turning around. The man only walked away when the full three minutes were up, looking rather pleased with himself. Susie was still sitting on the deck, trembling and crying quietly. … By then, I'd lost all interest in the party. I stubbed out my cigarette and turned to leave. Alas, something or someone caught my ankle before I could take another step. I looked down. It was Susie. I raised an eyebrow, half expecting her to curse me. Hell, I wouldn't blame her for spitting in my face after what had happened. To my surprise, she didn't. Instead, she lifted her tear-streaked face and looked me straight in the eye. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice still shaking. For a moment, I just stared at her. Then, I laughed. 'Well, well. She's a clever one, isn't she? She knows exactly how to play her cards. Now, that's a rare find indeed.' Chapter 2 The Price of Trust I stopped keeping tabs on Susie after that. Unfortunately, she wasn't quite done with me. "Cruz, do you know any jobs that pay really well? Something where I can make money fast?" I didn't even look up from my phone as I drawled, "What? Is the money I gave you not enough to cover your tuition fees?" Susie shook her head, biting her lower lip. "Please, Cruz. Just help me one more time. I promise I'll make it up to you someday." I finally put down my phone and looked at her. "How far are you willing to go?" Her expression changed immediately as she understood what I meant. "I'm not doing anything like that," she said firmly. I let out a cold laugh and tossed three photographs onto the desk. "Private parties, yacht entertainment, or working as a personal hostess. Take your pick." Susie barely hesitated before choosing the yacht job. I made a few calls and found her a client that very afternoon. I talked her up as if she were the greatest thing ever to walk into Averon. Meanwhile, she stood quietly beside me, her eyes stubbornly fixed on her shoes. Eventually, I booked her a job that paid more than most people made in a month. I was just about to leave when she suddenly grabbed my hand. "Cruz..." I turned around to find her looking up at me, her eyes already filled with tears. "Could you stay with me? Please? Just this once?" For some strange reason, I actually agreed. I couldn't explain it even after all this time. Maybe it was because her eyes reminded me so much of my little sister's. Sometimes, the resemblance between the two was so strong that I couldn't help worrying that Susie might suffer the same terrible fate. That was likely why I accompanied her when the yacht set sail. Our client, John Bennett, wasn't exactly thrilled about a tag-along. I had to damn near go down on my knees before he finally agreed to let me stay. Even then, he had one condition: Susie had to wear a bunny costume to the party. I was waiting outside the changing room when she called out to me. "Cruz? Could you come in for a second?" I sighed and pushed the door open. "What is it?" She stood in front of the mirror, struggling to zip up the back of her costume. It was a skimpy little outfit, complete with black stockings and bunny ears. She kept tugging at the fabric, looking so uncomfortable that I almost felt sorry for her. Unlike the other women on the yacht, who knew exactly what they'd signed up for, she still looked like an innocent college girl who'd accidentally wandered into the wrong party. I couldn't help staring at her, and something about her made me lose my head for a moment. Before I knew it, I'd stepped closer and pinned her against the wall. Susie froze, her eyes widening in fear. That look she gave me was enough to snap me right back to my senses. 'Damn it. What the hell was I doing?' So, I quickly reached behind her, zipped up her costume, and stepped away as if nothing had happened. "There. All done." I turned toward the door. "Come on. Let's not keep Mr. Bennett waiting." She gave me a shy smile. "Thanks, Cruz." I watched her disappear down the hallway before slapping myself across the cheek. 'What the hell was I thinking? Get a grip, man.' When that didn't help, I went out onto the deck and jumped straight into the ocean. I figured a dip in the cold water would knock some sense into me. And for a while, it seemed to work. Alas, that didn't last for very long, as I overheard two crew members gossiping about someone who'd just arrived as soon as I climbed back aboard. It was the boss' son. I stopped dead in my tracks. His name was Damien Vale, and just hearing his name made me tense. As my boss' only son, Damien was an arrogant, vicious bastard who treated people like they were nothing. His father practically ruled Averon's underworld, and Damien seemed to think that gave him the right to do whatever he pleased. The worst part was that he usually got away with it. Heck, even I knew better than to cross him. Just then, a terrible thought struck me. 'Fuck! Susie is still on this boat!' My stomach dropped, and I took off running. The place was a complete wreck by the time I rushed to the private lounge. Broken bottles littered the floor, a table lay overturned, and expensive liquor had soaked into the carpet. And there, in the middle of it all, was Susie. She was sitting on the floor, trembling. Her clothes were torn, bruises covered her arms, and blood from a deep cut on her leg had stained the fabric around it. One look at her was enough to tell me she'd been badly hurt. She slowly lifted her head when she heard me enter. "Cruz..." Susie's voice was barely a whisper, and something tightened in my chest. "Well, look who finally decided to show up." I turned toward the voice and found Damien lounging on the couch, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He looked perfectly relaxed, as though nothing had happened. "Cruz, you sly bastard." He glanced at Susie and laughed. "You find a girl like this and keep her all to yourself? That's not very generous of you." Usually, I'd be able to handle him. I'd known him long enough to know exactly how to handle him. A little flattery, a few apologies, and Damien would be as happy as a clam. That was what one had to do just to survive around someone like him. However, I couldn't get the words out this time around, not with Susie looking at me like that. She still trusted me even after everything she'd been through. She really believed I'd save her. Damien must've noticed something was wrong because his smile slowly faded. "What's the matter, Cruz? Cat got your tongue?" Before I could answer, he grabbed me by the hair and slammed my head against the floor. Pain shot through my skull, but I barely had time to react before he did it again. "Someone's getting a little too comfortable around here, huh?" I gritted my teeth and tried not to make a sound. Then, Susie suddenly rushed forward and threw her arms around me. "Stop! Please, don't hurt him! Please!" She was sobbing so hard she could barely get the words out. He stared at us for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Oh, this is priceless." He grabbed me by my hair again and yanked me up to face him. "Don't tell me you've suddenly grown a conscience." Damien's smile faded, and his voice turned cold. "Remember who pays your bills, Cruz. Remember who gave you everything you have right now." I kept my mouth shut, knowing that anything I said would only make things worse. He leaned closer, a nasty grin spreading across his face. "And your sister... Have you forgotten? You're the one who brought her to me." Susie went completely still upon hearing those words. She slowly turned toward me, and I watched the shock on her face turn to disbelief before settling on disgust. She was looking at me like she didn't know me anymore. Maybe she'd genuinely thought I was a decent guy deep down. Maybe she'd truly believed that I still had some good in me despite all the shady things I'd done. Well, now she knew better. I could almost hear her wondering what kind of man would betray his own sister—and the worst part was, I had no answer. She was right about me. I was a bastard, a selfish coward who'd done terrible things just to survive. There was no point pretending otherwise. So, I shoved her away and dropped to my knees in front of Damien, forcing a smile. "Of course not, Mr. Vale. You've got it all wrong. I knew she'd be exactly your type. That's why I arranged for her to be here." Damien raised an eyebrow. I kept smiling, pretending I didn't notice the look on Susie's face. "She's new to all this. She doesn't really know how things work yet." Then, I lowered my head, making myself look as obedient as possible. "But don't worry, sir. I'll make sure she understands the rules." Chapter 3 Blood for Her Freedom Susie finally stopped struggling and stayed on her knees, her head lowered in silence. Damien burst out laughing and patted my head. "That's what I like about you, Cruz. You always did know your place." He smirked. "Then again, I trained you myself, didn't I?" My smile stiffened, but I didn't dare look up. He stretched and stood. "Bring her to me in three days, and make sure you deliver her yourself." "Yes, sir," I replied, keeping my head down. Then, she followed me off the yacht without a word. … We walked in silence until I finally stopped and asked a staff member to bring me a first-aid kit. I found her a place to sit and began tending to her injuries. As I carefully bandaged the cut on her leg, a warm tear landed on the back of my hand. "Thank you," she whispered. I stared at her, and something inside me snapped. "Thank you? Have you lost your goddamn mind?" I glared at her. "I just handed you over to Damien Vale! Do you even understand what that means?" My voice grew louder as I ranted, "That bastard could kill you at a whim, and you're sitting here thanking me? What the hell is wrong with you?" She didn't argue. She just sat there quietly, looking at me with those same trusting eyes. Somehow, that only made me angrier. I pulled out my phone and opened the airline booking app. "That's it. I'm buying you a ticket home. Go back to wherever you came from, get the hell out of Averon, and stay out of my life!" However, Susie snatched my phone from me before I could finish searching for a flight. She managed a faint smile, though her lips were still trembling. "I'm not leaving." I held out my hand. "Give me my phone back." She shook her head. "If I leave, Damien will kill you." For once, I had nothing to say. I'd spent years convincing myself that caring about people was a waste of time, that getting attached only made life harder. After all, I'd learned that lesson the hard way. As my eyes fell on her, I finally understood why I was so furious. The realization scared the hell out of me—I was falling for her. And in my world, feelings like that could get a man killed. I didn't argue with her anymore. Instead, I scooped her up into my arms and took her home. I paced around my living room that night, smoking one cigarette after another. There were dozens of cigarette butts littered across the floor come morning, but I'd finally come up with a plan. It wasn't a good one, but it was the only thing I got. "Damien has this sick obsession with purity," I told her. "He only goes after women who've never been with anyone." Susie sat quietly on the couch, listening attentively. "There's a chance he might lose interest in you if he finds out you're not what he thinks you are…" I hesitated, knowing how awful my next suggestion would sound. "Maybe you could find someone else first, someone willing to pay you enough to start a new life." I forced myself to meet her eyes. "And if you manage to get away from Damien, take the money and leave Averon. Go somewhere far away and never look back." I'd barely finished speaking when Susie got up and walked toward me. Before I could ask what she was doing, she leaned in and kissed me. I froze. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she was so nervous she barely knew what to do. Yet, her awkward kiss only made it harder for me to hold back. I kissed her back desperately, pulling her close until we ended up on the bed. I drew back just enough to look into her eyes and asked, "Are you sure?" She gently touched my cheek instead of answering right away. "In three days, I might be dead." My chest tightened. "And if that happens, there's something I want you to know." She gave me a sad little smile. "You're the only man who's ever made me feel like my life actually mattered." I didn't know what to say. All I knew was that I couldn't keep pretending I didn't have feelings for her. We fell into bed together that very night. … The next morning, I woke to find her sleeping beside me, her cheeks still marked with dried tears. As I watched her, I knew I couldn't hand her over to Damien. I had to get her out of Averon no matter what. I quietly got myself dressed and went straight to see Vincent Vale, Damien's father. He controlled half of Averon's underground businesses and held my life in his hands. Vincent was sitting in his private study when I arrived, calmly sipping coffee. I walked up to him, dropped to my knees, and begged him to let Susie go. His hand paused halfway to his cup before he slowly set it down. "Cruz." His voice was calm, almost too calm. "Are you seriously asking me to take a woman away from my own son? Do you have any idea what we call that?" I kept my head down and said nothing. "Betrayal." He leaned back in his chair and studied me for a long moment. To my shock, he nodded. "Fine, but you know the rules." My stomach sank. "You have to pay in blood." He turned to the bodyguard standing beside him. "If you survive this, I'll let the girl go. I'll even arrange to have her leave the country. But if you die… Well, that's the end of it." The room fell silent. I glanced at the knife in the bodyguard's hand. My heart was pounding, but I knew there was no turning back. I gritted my teeth. "Do it." The bodyguard stepped forward, and a sharp pain ripped through me before I could brace myself. Then came another, and another. I tried to keep count, but the pain soon made it impossible for me to think straight. All I could do was clench my jaw and endure it, refusing to make a sound. I could barely stay on my knees by the time it was all over. My legs finally gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor. Every breath I dragged inside my lungs hurt, and the room spun whenever I tried to move. I could feel myself growing weaker, but I couldn't pass out just yet. I still needed to hear his answer, so I used what little strength I had left and dragged myself across the floor toward him. "Sir..." My voice came out barely louder than a whisper. "Please..." I struggled to lift my head. "Let her... go." Vincent looked down at me, his face bereft of the tinge of amusement he had when I first entered his office. My vision blurred, and I could barely keep my eyes open. Yet, I still fought to stay conscious, waiting for him to speak. Finally, he broke the silence. "Cruz, you've got more guts than I gave you credit for." He paused before nodding slightly. "Fine. You have my word. The girl goes free." Relief washed over me. That was all I needed to hear. I felt all my strength drain out of my body. As my eyes slowly fell shut, one last thought crossed my mind. 'Good. At least this time... I managed to save her.' Chapter 4 Betrayal for His Sake When I woke up in the hospital, I had no idea how long I'd been unconscious. Still, I was certain of one thing: Vincent kept his word. If he'd promised to let Susie go, she'd be safe—or so I thought. I'd barely reached for the pitcher of water beside my bed when someone hurried over. "Here, let me help you." I froze when I recognized the voice. It was Susie. She'd apparently fallen asleep in the chair beside my bed. Now, she was pouring me a glass of water, concern in her eyes. "Cruz, does it still hurt? Are you feeling any better?" The moment I saw her, all the anger I'd been holding back surged out. I snatched the glass from her hand and hurled it across the room. "Who the hell told you to come back?" Susie flinched, but I was too furious to care. "I took those goddamn stab wounds to get you out of here, and you just came crawling back?" I pointed toward the door. "Are you trying to get me killed? Is that what you want?" Susie's eyes filled with tears. "I've changed my mind." I stared at her. "What?" She bit her lip before answering, "I don't want to leave anymore. I want to stay with Damien." For a moment, I thought I'd misheard her. Before I could say anything, she continued, "I heard the women who spend time with him get paid a fortune." She hesitated before lowering her voice. "Could you... lend me some money for a procedure? I want him to believe I'm still innocent." I stared at her in disbelief. After everything I'd done for her and everything she'd been through, I couldn't believe money was still all she cared about. I should've known better. I really should've. I'd seen enough of the world to know that people would sell just about anything or anyone when the price was right—even themselves. I sank back against my pillow and let out a bitter laugh. "You want Damien? Fine, but you have no idea what you're getting yourself into." I started listing what I knew about his parties. "He's into all kinds of sick games. Twisted sexual games, degrading positions, and things most people wouldn't even dream of doing. And once you're in, you don't get to decide when you've had enough." She listened to my tirade without saying a word. I leaned forward and looked her straight in the eye. "If you think you can handle all that, then go ahead. Stay with Damien." She looked at me for a moment before bobbing her head. "Okay." That one word was enough to send me over the edge. I grabbed her chin and forced her to look at me. "Are you even listening to yourself?" I spat at her feet in disgust, but she didn't move. She simply closed her eyes, her lips trembling. "Cruz..." Her voice was barely a whisper. "Some people are just going to drag you down, no matter how much you try to help them." My grip on her chin loosened. She opened her eyes and looked at me again. "I came to Averon because I wanted to find a rich man to support me. That's what I wanted from the start." Susie managed a faint smile. "Nothing's changed. So, please... stop worrying about me." Then, she gently pushed my hand away. I stared at her, disgusted by what I'd just heard. 'Fine. You want to throw your life away? Be my guest.' I'd already risked my life for her once, and I wasn't about to do it again. I arranged the procedure she'd asked for that same day. I didn't even give her enough time to recover, stuffing her in my car as soon as she was discharged and driving straight to Damien's mansion. I drove recklessly, still seething over her words. She sat quietly in the passenger seat, her face pale with pain. I could see how uncomfortable she was, but I was too angry to care, too pissed to slow down. When we finally arrived, I got out and headed straight for the entrance. I was almost at the door when someone tugged at my sleeve. "Cruz..." she whispered. I stopped and turned around. She was looking up at me with those same trusting eyes I'd seen the day we first met. She asked, "Could you stay with me?" I didn't bother answering. I pulled my arm free and pushed the door open. The party was already in full swing. Loud music filled the mansion, while laughter echoed through the enormous living room. At the center of it all stood a giant spinning wheel with a young woman strapped to it, unable to move. Several wealthy men were taking turns throwing darts at targets around her. The room would erupt in cheers every single time a dart landed dangerously close to her body. The poor woman looked terrified, but the men were having the time of their lives. I felt Susie stiffen beside me. I thought, 'Well, now you've got a taste of just what Damien considers entertainment.' However, I wasn't about to give her another chance to change her mind. Instead, I grabbed her wrist and dragged her across the room. Damien was lounging on a leather couch, looking bored out of his mind. The moment I spotted him, I put on my most flattering smile. "Mr. Vale! There you are!" He glanced up, and I quickly pushed Susie forward. "I owe you an apology, sir. I wasn't thinking straight back then." I bowed my head. "But I've brought her back, just like you wanted. She's all yours." Damien studied me for a moment before a lazy smile spread across his face. "Is that right?" He picked up a glass from the table and held it out to me. "Good. Then, drink this." I reached for it without hesitation. To my dismay, he spat into it just as my fingers touched the glass. A few people nearby burst out in raucous jeers, but I didn't even flinch. I'd swallowed my pride more times than I could count in front of this man. What was one more humiliation? I raised the glass to my lips, but Susie suddenly snatched it from my hand and drank every last drop before I could take a sip. The room fell silent. Damien actually looked interested for the first time that evening. "Well, would you look at that?" He leaned forward, studying us with an amused smile. "Cruz, you really are something else." I lowered my head without saying a word. Damien chuckled. "Two years ago, you brought me your own sister." My smile stiffened. "And now you're handing over a woman who's clearly crazy about you." He shook his head, laughing to himself. "Man, that's cold. Even for you." I gave him my most obedient grin. "Come on, Mr. Vale. You know me. Anything that makes you happy is yours to take." Then, I glanced at Susie dismissively. "Besides, girls like her only care about money. You really think she gives a damn about me?" Damien burst out laughing. "That's what I like about you, Cruz!" He leaned back against the couch, clearly pleased with my answer. Then, he pointed toward a group of guests playing another one of his twisted sex games. "Susie, right?" She nodded stiffly. "Good. Go join them." All color drained from Susie's face. Damien, who was clearly amused by her reaction, reached for the pack of cigarettes on the table, pulled one out, and offered it to her. "Here. You smoke, sweetheart?" When she hesitated, he tilted his head and held the cigarette a little closer. "Go on. Have one." Chapter 5 Breaking Point I stepped in front of Susie almost instinctively. "Mr. Vale, she doesn't smoke." Damien slowly got to his feet and held the cigarette out to me instead. "Then, you'll smoke it." I forced myself to stay calm as I took it from him. My hands were trembling, but I managed to light the cigarette and take a drag. Suddenly, Damien burst out laughing. "Holy shit, Cruz! You actually thought I put something in it?" He laughed even harder. "Look at you! Scared shitless over a damn cigarette!" I forced myself to laugh along, pretending I found it just as funny. I dug the nails of my other hand into my thigh just as he turned his attention back to Susie. "Get her ready. Put her on the pool table." A cruel smile spread across his face. "I'm gonna have some fun with her tonight. Right here, in front of everyone." There were at least a hundred people in this mansion, but not one dared to say a word against him. Neither did I. I turned to her and reluctantly began to unzip her dress, unsure of what he had planned. Still, I knew enough that my hands shook so badly that I could barely manage my job. … When she noticed, she gently caught my fingers. "It's okay, Cruz." She quietly took off her dress before looking up at me with a faint smile. "Thank you." I clenched my jaw. She'd thanked me a third time, and I felt worse each time I heard it. 'She came here of her own accord. I didn't force her, and whatever happens next has nothing to do with me.' I kept repeating those words like a mantra in my head, desperately trying to convince myself they were true. Susie climbed onto the cold pool table and lay down, trembling despite her best efforts to stay calm. Damien picked up a cue, walked casually around the table before turning back to me with a strange smile. "Hey, Cruz. Ever heard of human golf?" My stomach dropped. "Oh, that's right. I almost forgot." He chuckled. "Your little sister still holds the record around here." My entire body stiffened. "17 golf balls. Can you believe it?" Damien shook his head, looking almost impressed. "No one has managed to beat her record thus far." Rage surged through me. For a moment, all I wanted was to snatch the cue from his hands and smash it across his face. Sadly, I knew I couldn't, not if I wanted to stay alive. So, I stood there, clenching my fists until my knuckles turned pale, while Damien lined up his first shot. The cue struck the ball with a sharp crack, sending it racing across the table. It struck Susie between the legs, making her cry out in pain and instinctively curl away from the impact. Damien frowned. "Hey! You guys, hold her still!" Several men immediately stepped forward to restrain her. Once she was held in place, Damien took another shot, and then another. Susie's cries echoed through the room each time he made a move, only to be drowned out by the guests' laughter and cheers. The sick bastard was savoring every second of it. After a while, he glanced in my direction and waved dismissively. "Well, you brought her here. Your job's done." He flashed me a grin. "Get lost. I'm planning to go for a new record tonight." I stood there for a moment before slowly turning toward the door. My legs felt impossibly heavy, and every step took more effort than the last. Behind me, Susie's cries continued to echo through the room. I kept walking, telling myself to leave, that I'd done my part and that whatever happened next was no longer my problem. Yet, I couldn't shut out her voice no matter how hard I tried. Finally, I stopped. I slapped myself hard across the face before doing it again. "Fuck!" I spun around and bolted back into the room. Before Damien could react, I dropped to my knees in front of him and slammed my forehead into the floor. "Mr. Vale! Please! Let her go!" I bowed again, pressing my forehead against the cold floor. "I'm begging you!" Damien looked down at me, clearly amused. "But Cruz..." He smiled. "I was planning to finish her off tonight." My blood ran cold. I crawled closer, abandoning whatever little pride I had left. "Mr. Vale, you can do whatever you want to me!" My voice cracked. "Beat me, torture me… Hell, you could kill me if you want!" I groveled again. "She doesn't know any better! Just let me take her home. I'll make sure she never causes you trouble again!" I saw Susie out of the corner of my eye. Her tears streamed down her face as she looked straight at me, while I could barely stand to see her like that. He crouched in front of me and gave my cheek a patronizing pat. "See, Cruz? I knew you wouldn't be able to walk away." Damien's smile widened. "Tell you what. I'll give you a choice." He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Do you want to know where your sister's body is buried? Or would you rather save this girl?" My breath hitched. I thought, 'My sister... He knows where she is?' I'd searched for her for two long years. I'd wondered what had happened to her and where they'd taken her for countless nights. And now, the bastard was dangling the one thing I wanted most right in front of me. Still, Damien obviously wasn't about to give me time to think as he grabbed Susie and roughly dragged her toward him. "No!" she cried, desperately trying to pull away. He shoved her against the table, ignoring her pleas. Then, he struck her and forced himself on her without warning. The sound echoed through the room. She cried out in pain, but nobody moved to help her. That was it. Something inside me finally snapped. "You son of a bitch!" I lunged toward him. "I'll fucking kill you!" One of his bodyguards struck me across the back of the head with a metal baton before I could reach him. Pain shot through my skull, and my legs gave way, sending me careening to the floor. My vision blurred, but I could still vaguely make out Susie struggling to get away. Her movements grew weaker, and her cries grew quieter. I desperately tried to get back on my feet, but my body refused to cooperate no matter how hard I pushed myself. As the darkness closed in, I knew I was running out of time. So, I blurted out the one secret I'd sworn I'd take to my grave with my last bit of strength.