“What do you want?” Prue asked. She wasn’t happy any longer. The seriousness of her situation scared her. Tears constantly filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
“I’m here to get you dressed.” Cindy paused, placing the dress on the nearest chair. “You would prefer me to get you ready rather than Henry or one of his men to do it.”
Prue had tried to escape, but the men posted outside her door forbid it.
“Does it matter either way anymore? I’m tired of all of this. I’m tired of fighting and having to deal with this shit. It’s not fair.”
“I’m sorry, Prudence.” Cindy reached out, touching her shoulder.
Nodding her head, she turned away from the window. In her heart she continued to pray for James to find her. She hated being alone. Cindy helped her to remove the garment she’d been wearing and then replace it with a sheer gown that covered nothing. Cindy removed her panties and bra.
“I’ll be back nearer the time to do your makeup.”
Cindy left her alone. Sitting in the chair, Prudence pulled her knees tightly against her chest and stared ahead of her. She couldn’t believe this is where her life had taken her. At twenty-five years old she’d found love and was now about to be sold as a sex slave. When they left her alone like this Prue allowed herself to break down. Tears poured down her cheeks onto the sheer gown she wore. She felt the droplets soak into her skin, but they offered no reprieve. Every part of her hurt; her head, heart, and body were in constant pain. She was starting to lose focus of who she was. The bruises on her face were slowly fading, but anyone who looked at her tonight would see the damage of the last few days.
The door opened and then closed. She saw Daren staring at her. Her energy was so zapped that she remained seated in her chair. He took the seat opposite her. The tears kept falling even though she tried to force them away.
“Why are you here?” she asked after some time had passed.
“I came to see that you were fine.”
Prue burst out laughing. She wiped her eyes and stood. The laughter took her by surprise. She cradled her stomach as she tried to contain her giggles. “You came to see if I was fine?”
Daren stood. His height and presence stopped her laughter.
“Why the f**k should you care? You were the one who brought me here in the first place. It was all your fault for me f**king being here.” She charged at him slamming her fists against his chest.
For the first few blows Daren let her hit him. None of it made any sense to her anymore.
He caught her fists and held them by her side. “Now that you’ve got your energy out of the way.” Daren pricked her skin with a needle.
It was a trap. Daren coming to see if she was all right was a trap.
“This will knock her out for long enough. Make her face presentable. I need to carry her down to the car. Her selling price needs to be improved for where she’s going,” Daren said. He caught her in his arms.
The room started to spin as he carried her to the bed. He held her steady as Cindy came into view. “I’m sorry.”
Her body felt heavy. She didn’t know how she’d be able to hold herself up.
“You’re going to need to give her less if she’s going to be able to move on her own,” Cindy said.
“Don’t talk to me, bitch. Do your f**king job and make her pretty.”
James, I want James.
She saw his handsome face as she closed her eyes. This was a nightmare that she’d wake up from, she was certain of it.
James.
I can’t believe I fell for Daren’s trap.
Stare in the mirror and repeat your words.
I’m Prudence Star. I’m twenty-five years old … James …help me.
****
James hated flying as being in the air made him vulnerable. Lucas stayed by his side during the whole flight. His nerves were getting the better of him as he thought about Prudence constantly. By the time they made it onto the ground, James had been thankful. Nothing was worse than being at the mercy of his fear. It was Friday, and the auction was apparently scheduled for that night. Lucas was in touch with Sean, and both men were trying to figure out the best place where Prudence would be. James now stood in London, admiring and hating the place.
He’d never wanted to visit London, and at that moment, it was the worst place in the world.
Lucas was on the cell phone as James looked at his watch.
“What? What do you mean?” Lucas asked, staring at him.
“What’s the matter?”
“Josiah and Hubert are nowhere to be seen. Sean, you’re breaking up. What do you mean?” Lucas smacked his phone placing the device against his ear. “Shit, Sean’s gone. He thinks the Feds are here.”
“You’ve been here before, Lucas. Where is the best place Henry would keep his women for sale?” The words were bitter on his tongue. James hated speaking them. Prudence was not some slave to be bought and traded like meat. She was his woman, and when he got her back, he was never letting her out of his sight.
His cell phone rang, and James saw it was a direct line to Dane. James picked it up waiting for the other man to answer.
“I know where they’ll be.”
James listened to the directions that Dane gave him. The location was in a very remote part of London where not a lot of police or people were milling around. When the call ended he told Lucas the location and then moved toward the area.
“We’re going to need to stop off and get some clothes,” Lucas said.
“Why?”
“I think the best chance of us getting in is by looking the part.” Lucas moved around the city centre and then walked into one of the most expensive branded shops. Immediately, several women approached them in order to fill their needs.
When they were alone again James took the opportunity to speak with Lucas. “You’re going to have to be the one who is the boss. I’ll be your second-in-command.”
Lucas looked at him as if he’d gone mad.
“You’ve got the hardened look. They’ll take one look at me and laugh,” James said. He’d thought a great deal about how best to get inside. They couldn’t raise any suspicion, and the only way to achieve that would be to go in as if they were one of the men hoping to buy. His hands fisted at his sides. The thought of men getting hard over Prudence made his blood boil.
She was his woman, and no matter what happened, he was going to stay by her. They were handed several suits to try on.
Together they moved toward the dressing room. James didn’t look at his reflection. He didn’t ever want to remember how he looked when faced with losing Prudence.