“My father has evidence linking all of them together, including you,” James said.
“You were sloppy back in the day. Dominic and Eugene have both been taken out of the equation as they’re both dead.”
The muscle in Lloyd’s cheek tensed.
“Do you know, I heard a little tale that Henry has a new girl on the market,” Lloyd said. “Her hair is dyed black with red underneath, and she has an interlocking black rose tattoo across the base of her back.”
James tensed at Prudence’s description.
“A wild cat and a woman only a hard man can tame.”
The more he spoke, the harder it was for James to control his anger.
“The man that gets between her thighs will be crying out in bliss.”
“Shut your f**king mouth!” James yelled the words and slammed his fist on the table. Lloyd chuckled.
“Don’t do this, James. He’s winning if you let him get to you. He’ll be a dead man either way.”
“What’s that?” Lloyd asked.
Lucas winked at James before they both turned back to him.
“The Feds have everything they need to put Henry and Daren away. All we’ve come to ask for is information on the girl,” Lucas said, taking control of the conversation.
James wanted to help, but the images Lloyd had put there made him take a step back. The danger Prudence was in cut him to the core. How was she ever going to forgive him for leaving her alone at Ravage?
“You tell us what you’ve heard, and I’ll make sure neither man makes it to this prison because if they do, I can guarantee your life will get a whole lot harder.” Lucas warned the older man.
If Lucas had his way, Henry and Daren wouldn’t see the inside of a prison cell.
In the face of Lucas’s warning, Lloyd slumped in his chair.
“I’ve heard bits of rumours and gossip. I don’t know how much of it is true.” The angry, older man was gone.
“Then tell us what you know,” Lucas said.
They were running out of time. James glanced at the window to see the sun high in the sky. It was Wednesday morning, and she’d been gone well over a week. The past week had felt like hell. All he wanted to do was wake up as if it was some kind of awful dream. Instead, he was forced to admit the truth that he’d failed her.
Lloyd let out a long sigh before he started talking. “Friday night is when they sell a great deal of girls. Most of the time it’s in an abandoned warehouse if it’s not much profit.”
James turned to Lucas.
“He means if the girls are not that pretty or there’s something wrong with them.”
Turning back to Lloyd, James wanted to kill the man. Prudence was perfect.
“Your girl is high quality. She’s not broken or lost, and there isn’t an issue with her body unless you count her fuller curves. A few years back a woman of her size would be at the warehouse, but her curves have become a bonus. I don’t know why. I hate them f**king fat.” Lloyd looked old. “She’ll probably be kept in a high exclusive hotel, either owned by Henry or by a foreigner. There will be no activity. The place will have guards around it, and you’ll struggle to get inside.”
James stared at the older man. “Why did you do it?” he asked. “You were once a wealthy man with a flourishing business. Why did you turn to this?”
“I made bad decisions, and the money was gone. This business, as seedy and as crap as it is, means money, and it’s always flowing the cash for anyone who wants a piece.”
“We’re done here,” Lucas said, standing.
James followed the other man.
“If you want to get in without much trouble you’ve got to go in as a buyer,” Lloyd said.
James turned back, glaring at the man.
There was nothing more to say. James followed behind Lucas as they made their way out of the prison. Their car was parked in the crowded parking lot. James looked back and shook his head.
“What’s the matter?” Lucas asked.
“Nothing. There was a time when my parents loved that man. I’ve never liked him, and I hated his son even more. I can’t believe lack of money is what drove him to do what he did,” James said, leaning against the car. He felt drained.
Prudence was in England, and he didn’t know if he’d ever be able to find her. He was putting his faith in a man he hated. Lloyd Black couldn’t be trusted.
“I’ve lived without money. I’ve done some crazy shit to put food on the table for my mother and sister. I get why he did what he did, but I don’t accept it. There is a huge difference in understanding why and accepting it, James.”
Lucas opened the car, and James climbed in.
“I guess we’re going to England to get my girl,” James said. “Do you need my card?”
“No, we’ll pay for them by cash. If we leave everything to the last minute the Feds can’t sweep in and stop us.”
James nodded, putting his card away. He didn’t care how they did everything as long as they got his woman back before it was too late.
Chapter Nine
Friday, the day of the auction
Prue stared out of the window. The bars hindered her view. The sun was high in the sky, but she knew what day of the week it was. She’d be a fool not to know what was about to happen. Her stomach was in knots, and she gazed down her body to see the effects of what was about to happen to her. During the last two days, Henry had seen to her transformation. He’d removed the dye from her hair, which bothered her. She wished he’d taken the length off. The first thing she did when she got out of here was cutting it. The memory of its current length was now spoiled by Henry and Daren. It might seem petty of her, but there it was. The strands were now a plain brown. Her nails were well looked after, and every inch of her body had been waxed. She was bare between the thighs. The only thing she could be thankful for was Cindy. The small woman had been the one to wax her. Nearly every part of her had been cleaned by Cindy.
She didn’t hate Cindy. The woman was doing her job preparing Prue for her sale. Henry came to her every night to gloat over her potential sale or earning. Each time he spoke she thought about landing her fist in his face. No matter what she thought or felt, Henry was stronger than she. She’d raised her fist once at him, but he caught her fist before she was even able to land the first blow to his skull.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror no longer helped to calm her thoughts. The sound of the door opening and closing distracted her. She turned to see Cindy holding a dress in her hands.