Zane looked at the trembling woman before him. His men shouldn’t have hurt her, they definitely shouldn’t have made the deal with her uncle. And they would pay for that. Zane didn’t believe in keeping his men at a short leech or babying them. But he had four rules everyone in the organisation had to live by. His word was law. They didn’t hurt women and children. They didn’t deal with human trafficking. No one was to sell drugs to children. The four rules were enforced with ruthless strictness. What his men had done to Ava was a violation of rule number two and a clear attempt at breaking rule number three. But this angel in front of him didn’t know that. Zane’s need to possess her had only grown. Her innocence was like a light in the night, and he was the moth. He needed to possess her, to corrupt her. He smiled his wicked smile and saw her tense up. She may be innocent, but her instincts were strong.
“We need to get our money back and that is one way,” he shrugged.
“How much does he owe?” she asked. Zane took out his phone and looked it up.
“Close to three million dollars,” he said. “Two-million eight-hundred fifty-five thousand two-hundred two dollars and fifty cents, to be precise.”
“Two-million eight-hundred fifty-five thousand two-hundred two dollars?” Ava asked in an unsteady voice, she was visibly shaking.
“And fifty cents,” he added. She nodded and he could see the cogs turning in her mind.
“We could sell the house, it won’t cover the entire debt, but as a down payment. Then we could pay off the rest monthly,” she suggested.
“I didn’t know Cobler owned a house,” Zane said.
“He doesn’t its mine. My parents left it to me, it’s worth about eight hundred thousand,” she told him. Zane could clearly see the pain it caused her to suggest this. Deep down he despised her uncle for putting her in this position. He wondered what the man had done to earn such loyalty. A good man would have wanted to protect her from the pain, but Zane wasn’t a good man. He saw it as another pressure point to get what he wanted; her.
“Angel, that’s not even a third of the debt. With the interest adding up, you will be paying off the debt for the rest of your life. And to be frank, I’m not interested in waiting that long for my money,” he told her. She looked down and nodded.
“Maybe I could get a loan at the bank,” Ava thought out loud, biting her lower lip. Zane watched her teeth tugging at the plump lip and had an urge to replace them with his own teeth.
“Do you think any bank will give you a two million loan without any collateral?” he asked.
“No,” she almost whispered. Zane smiled, he had her right where he wanted her, left without any options but his.
“I have an offer for you,” he said in a calm voice. She looked up at him.
“You want me to sell my body.” It wasn’t a question, but Zane shook his head.
“No, I have a different proposition for you,” he said as he got up to fill his glass with another round of whiskey.
“You are willing to help me?” she asked in a hopeful voice. How could anyone be this naive? Zane thought.
“I am,” he nodded as he turned around and looked at her.
“Thank you, you are a good man Mr Velky,” Ava said, giving him a weak smile.
“No, angel, I’m not,” he told her as he walked back to her, taking his seat on the table. “I killed my first man before the age of fifteen and I haven’t stopped since. I’m possessive, cruel and have a hot temper,” he honestly told her. He could see her hands clenching the water bottle between them. Zane knew who he was and he didn’t hide it. And if his plan was to work, Ava needed to know who he was.
“B-but you said you would help me,” Ava said.
“I have a proposition that would keep you out of the brothels, but don’t fool yourself to think I’m doing it out of kindness. I do this because you have something I want.”
“What do I have?” she asked.
“Your body,” he got straight to the point and could hear her gasp.
“Y-you said I wouldn’t have to…” she started saying.
“I’m not talking about selling your body, miss Cobler. I’m a busy man, but I’m also a man with needs and certain inclinations. Because of this, I find it useful to have someone close by that can help me with these… urges when they arise. Someone who won’t involve feelings or become needy,” he explained. “A pet for my sexual desires to put it bluntly.” She stared at him with big, terrified eyes.
“Pet?” she asked. He gave her a cocky smile and put down his glass next to him on the table.
“It’s not as bad as it sounds, I promise. I may be possessive and rough, but I never let a woman leave my bed unsatisfied,” he said as he let his eyes wander over her body, not feeling the need to hide it from her. She shifted uneasily in her chair.
“How, how would it work?” she asked. Zane stood up and leaned over her, placing his hands on the armrest of the armchair she was sitting on. He enclosed her as he leaned in to her, taking in the details of her face. He could feel her scent, clean, simple and without any perfume. Like newly washed linens that had been hung out to dry in the summer sun.
“You can’t be as innocent as to not know how a man pleasures a woman. Or do you want me to describe it to you?” he whispered in her ear. He heard her breath hitching.
“I-I know how sex works, thank you. I was referring to the pet part,” she stuttered, making him smile.
“Of course you do,” he said, sitting down on the table and picking up his drink. “We would write a contract, stating that for three years, a year per million, you would be my pet. The contract would outline your duties and my responsibilities and by the end of the contract your family’s debt would be considered paid in full,” he told her. Zane didn’t expect Ava to take him up on his offer. But he enjoyed playing with her, the way she reacted to his presence gave him a kick and he desperately wanted to know what she looked like under those baggy clothes, how she tasted.
“And any debt that my uncle incurs during the three years?” she asked. Zane gave her an appreciative look, she wasn’t stupid.
“I can agree that all future debts are not to be associated with you. They will solely be on your uncle and aunt. If that is agreeable to you?” he suggested.
“Yes,” she nodded. That surprised him. Not only that she was treating this as an actual option, but she was ready to let her uncle face the consequences on his own. She seemed like the person that was foolish enough to help no matter what. He guessed everyone had a limit. “And if you get bored of me?”
“Bored of you?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. The thought was so foreign to him, it worried him. It also bothered him how easy she accepted the possibility.
“Three years is a long time, Mr Velky. I know your reputation, three weeks with the same woman is a long stretch for you,” she told him with a slight blush to her cheeks. Zane couldn’t help but chuckle. She wasn’t wrong. He didn’t have the patience for a serious relationship or a long-term lover for that. Women always seemed to want more of him.
“As long as you don’t start to feel possessive over me, angel, it won’t be an issue. But we can add a clause to the effect that if I choose to end the contract before the three years are up, your part will be considered fulfilled,” he smiled.
“And if I want to end it?”
“We’ll reduce your debt by eighty-four thousand per finished month,” he told her. She slowly nodded. Zane started to think she was seriously considering this. The thought of having this woman at his back and call made his dick hard and his mouth water. The things he would do to her once he got her underneath him. “Let’s get one thing straight before we go any further miss Cobler. This is not me suggesting we have a relationship. You will have no claim to me, you are there to satisfy me. If I get satisfied by fucking another woman, that will be none of your business. If I choose to have a fucking orgy, you have no say in it.” Ava nodded at his words.
“I won’t force you to do anything against your will or out of your comfort zone. But you will be mine, I don’t share. You will have no men besides me. You will have no male friends sniffing around. The only other men you are allowed near are my men. And if they get too handsy you will tell me, understood?” he said in a cold voice. He knew it wasn’t fair. But he wasn’t a fair man. He expected her to nod again, but she frowned ad looked at him.“What if the man isn’t interested in me?” she asked. He smirked, her innocent was adorable.
Ava felt her gut clench for the hundredth time since this conversation started. Was she really considering this?“Angel, any man that hangs around you will be interested in getting you in his bed unless he is insane. I don’t want you around crazy people,” Zane told her with a smirk.“And if he isn’t interested in women, if he is gay?” she asked. Zane looked at her with surprise. “I’m guessing you have a particular man in mind?” he said. “My best friend,” she nodded. “And you are sure he is gay?” Ava couldn’t help herself but smile.“I’m sure,” she nodded.“I could allow it if you agreed to let my men or me be present when you met, at least at first.” Ava nodded. She didn’t like the idea, but it was betting than losing Gabriel all together. If she would have to give hm up, it would have been a deal breaker.“I do have to treat male patients,” she told him.“What do you work with?” he asked.“I’m an E.R nurse,” she said, she was proud of herself for her work.“It won’t be an issue si
“Boss,” the mountain greeted Zane as Ava got into the vehicle. There was a second man in the driver’s seat. “Tom,” Zane greeted the mountain before getting in and taking his seat next to Ava. “Boss,” the man in front said.“Ryder,” Zane nodded. “Everything good?” the man called Ryder asked.“We should have no issues,” Zane said as he placed an arm around Ava. She jumped at the touch. Zane shot her a disapproving look. Ava took a moment to regret the fact she had never learnt to swear. She felt like this situation could have used a couple of good swear words. But she couldn’t really seem to use them even in her own mind. As the car started and she once again found herself in a black SUV with gangsters, without knowing her destination, she forced herself to relax her body. Fudge, fudge, fudge, she repeated in her head. Ava focused on the city passing by outside her window. She wondered if her aunt and uncle had got free from their restraints. She shouldn’t care. After all, it was her
Zane’s lips were as soft as his kiss was rough. The contrast did interesting things to Ava’s mind. She felt him drag his tongue along the seam of her lips and she couldn’t help but let out a small moan. Zane took the opportunity to invade her mouth. His grip around her neck getting more forceful. Just as Ava lost herself completely in the kiss he ended it and took a step back. She almost stumbled at the suddenly empty space where he had been. “Better than a handshake. Now, angel, I show you your bedroom,” he told her in a dark voice. There was a promise in the voice that terrified Ava. She was his now, he could do what he wanted with her. He led her to the door he had pointed out as hers. He pushed her up against the closed door and kissed her until her mind went blank again and all she could think about was his lips against hers. Zane felt his desire grow as he pressed Ava against the door. She tasted of lemons, and her soft lips moved in perfect sync with his. As he used his teeth
Ava was awakened by a light knock on the door. She was confused for a moment; she didn’t recognise the sheets, or the bed, or the room. Last night came back to her as a freight train mercilessly ploughing through her sleepy mind. There was a second knock on the door. Ava sat up and called for them to enter, making sure the cover was up around her waist. She had been sleeping in her tank top and panties since she didn’t have any of her nightclothes. The older woman from the night before walked into the room with a smile on her face.“Good morning, miss Ava,” she said.“Good morning, Anna,” Ava replied. At least she thought that was the woman’s name. The smile she got back had her thinking she had been right.“I have some new clothes with me and some make-up,” Anna told her and put the bundle she had in her arm on the dresser. “Thank you,” Ava said.“Not at all. Let me have a look,” Anna said, walking up to Ava and turning her head to look at Ava’s cheek. Anna made a tutting noise. “Ba
Zane looked up at her.“Say whatever you want,” he told Ava. “Obviously I can’t say I’m your girlfriend. How about I tell them you hired me as a private nurse?” she pondered.“Why is it fucking obvious you can’t be my girlfriend?” he asked. She thought he sounded angry, which confused her. Were her questions irritating him?“Because you told me yesterday it wasn’t what this was. I can’t go around telling people you are my boyfriend and then pretend to turn a blind eye when you pick up other women. Anyone that knows me know that isn’t what I would do,” Ava explained. “Right,” he said. But he didn’t sound happy. Maybe he just wasn’t a morning person, Ava thought. They sat in silence for a while longer. They had both finished eating when the two men Ava vaguely remembered had driven them from the club last night entered the dining room. “Ava, this is Tom and Ryder. They will take you shopping and anything else you need. Just let them know where you need to go and they will make sure y
“Since this morning, apparently,” Ava said, hooking her arm into Gabriel’s. “And I might need your help to pick out more than a dress,” she added.“Ava,” Gabriel whined. “I told you, just because I’m gay, it doesn’t mean I like shopping,” he objected.“Please, pretty please? You are the only one I can trust. I know you will tell me the truth about what fits and what doesn’t. And I will spill the tea, and it is a really, really excellent tea to spill,” she begged. “Damn you and your knowledge of my weaknesses. It better be the best tea I have ever heard,” he groaned. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said. They headed into the first shop to start their hunt. Ava felt bad she had to lie to her friend, but she couldn’t tell him the truth. She didn’t think she would survive if Gabriel cut her out of his life. He was a good man, but Ava knew when she more or less voluntary signed a sex contract, she had become a glorified sex worker, a pet. She didn’t think anyone would like someone
After lunch, Ava and Gabriel headed back and found the salon. They were greeted by a small woman that had energy rolling off her. She was happy and sparkly, and Ava found it contagious. She introduced herself as Tammy, Jill’s friend.“I love your hair colour. The honey blond is so right for you. We will make it into your signature look. We’ll just have to work a little on the style. When was the last time you went to the hairdresser?” Tammy asked Ava as Ava sat down in her chair.“Oh, let me see. Five years ago?” Ava said hesitantly.“No, I dragged you to one when Joan got married. That is like three years ago,” Gabriel corrected her. “That’s true.” Ava nodded.“Oh my. Well, that explains it.” Tammy said.“Is it that bad?” Ava asked.“No, not at all. It just has no shape. I would love to just put in some layers and freshen it up a little. Would that be okay?”“You’re the professional. I trust you,” Ava said. Ava spent a couple of hours being pampered, getting her hair and nails done
Zane stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked at his watch, five minutes to six and still no Ava. He felt his irritation grow. If she thought she could get away with defying him, she had another thing coming. He wouldn’t hesitate to go up there and drag her down. The rhythmic sound of heels hitting the stairs made him look up. Ava was walking down the stairs. At least Zane thought it was Ava. This creature looked like an angel if God had added sexy temptress to the list of angel requirements. Gone were the dull clothes and messy hair. Zane had always suspected Ava’s clothes were hiding her true form. But looking at her now, he realised he had underestimated her natural sensuality. She was wearing a soft pink dress with silver sequins strewn all over it, making the light bounce off it. It created the illusion that she was sparkling. The left arm had a full sleeve, and the other arm was bare. There was no cleavage to speak of. But the waist was cinched and made her full breast and