Chapter 6

Anya unpacked the suitcase that had been left for her with almost no interest. She appreciated the fact that someone had gone to the trouble of learning—or doing a good job of guessing—her sizes and tried to pick things that would please her, but clothes were the last thing on her mind. Her movements were almost automatic as she put way her things and Gus' in the heavy oak dresser and the big walk-in closet. Gus was in the living room with John Randolph, the agent who'd met them at the landing field and driven them here to this nice quiet neighborhood.

John had walked them through the house, showing them all the security precautions—the sensors around the outside of the house, the cameras both on the roof and in the trees that fed into a computer in the den, the trip wires around the doors and windows. Now the two men were working out their on-duty schedule. She hoped John took the nights so she could feel Gus' warm body next to hers at night. Otherwise she wasn't sure she could sleep.

He'll find me, no matter what they do. He never gives up. No one ever goes against him.

Why had she thought she could be the exception?

A scene flashed across her mind, the second night she'd been at Virgil's big house. She'd heard noises coming from downstairs, arguing and then crying. Cautiously she'd opened the door to the room he'd stuck her in. The man who always stood guard in the upstairs hall heard her door creak open and was at her in a flash.

"Shut the damn door, bitch." He loomed over her, an ugly mountain of a man. "You've been told not to leave the room. That means keeping the door closed."

Anya had closed it but left it open enough to see and hear. The weeping continued, a lost, hopeless sound.

"Damn you, Virgil." A man's strident voice. "You were supposed to soften her up for me. What the hell happened?"

Anya knew all about the "softening up". Virgil had explained to her in great deal how she would be prepared for the men with extremely large cocks. How his men would take turns with her until she learned to please them and developed the proper attitude for his clients. Clients of course being a euphemism for the very wealthy men who purchased the girls from him like so much merchandise.

Sometimes at night, while she waited in fear to see if he would send someone to her, she heard the screams of others being brutalized and she'd pull the pillow over head, trying to blot out the sound.

But that day she knew a very wealthy Asian man had come to make a selection. Virgil had visited them each in turn and informed them.

"Not you, sweet thing," he told Anya, holding her chin in a brutal grip. "I haven't gotten you properly prepared yet."

She'd waited, terrified, to see if he really meant to or if she would be put up for selection with the others. Then she heard the weeping and shouting, a hard crack! like a slap followed by a scream that froze Anya's blood.

"Idiot!" the Asian man had shouted. "I don't want them if you cut them to pieces."

"No problem," Virgil had said in that smooth voice of his. "I got plenty more where she came from."

That's when Anya had known she had to escape at any cost. Being dead was better than what Virgil had in store for her.

And why she'd believed him that day in court when he'd said he'd kill her. Not even Gus or all the other FBUI agents were going to stop him. The cold knowledge had settled inside her, sucking the life from her.

Depressed, she sat down on the bed, still holding a sweater in her hands, and buried her face in the soft fabric.

"Hey, hey, hey! What's this?"

She hadn't heard Gus come into the room but suddenly he was there, taking the sweater out of her hands, lifting her up and then seating himself with her in his lap.

"What is it, darlin'?" One warm hand caressed up and down her spine. "You've got a bad look on your face."

Anya buried her face in her chest. She didn't like to talk about these things with Gus, although she'd told him every gruesome, painful detail the night he rescued her. Then she'd had to repeat everything for her formal deposition and again in court. But just the thought of what might have happened to her—what had happened to others—made her feel dirty. She didn't want it to touch what she had with Gus, not when she'd come so far in their relationship.

"He's never going to let me go." Her voice was muffled against his shirt.

Gus slid his warm hand under her hair and cradled the nape of her neck, tilting her head back to look at him.

"Yes, he will."

He said it with such finality she could almost believe him.

"Listen to me, darlin'." He kissed her forehead. "I give you my word you are going to be safe. That Branson will be caught and locked up in prison again. That this time there won't be any slipups once we get our hands on him again. And you can take that to the bank with you."

Anya clutched his shirt in her fists and burrowed against the hard wall of his chest.

"You just don't know how evil he is. Oh, Gus, I'm so scared."

"We'll get through this." He pressed light kisses to her forehead and cheeks, cradling her against his body. "It took a lot of guts for you to tell me what happened and then get past it. And even more for you to stand up in court and repeat everything with Virgil Branson sitting right there. But you did it. And we'll get through this together, too."

His hands were roaming her body, caresses meant to soothe and reassure. But despite the precariousness of their situation, the caresses soon turned to something else. Anya felt his cock harden beneath her lap, the sensation drawing moisture from her cunt and hardening her nipples. Gus' mouth moved to her lips, his tongue tracing the shape of them. One hand moved around to cup a breast through the soft material of her t-shirt, his thumb rasping nipple. His shaft flexed against her buttocks.

Anya gave a soft little moan and pressed into his touch, her mouth opening to accept his tongue. Then without warning he tore his mouth away, stood up and set her back down on the bed.

"Give me one minute. I need to make sure John is squared away and I'll tell him we're going to catch a little more sleep before the sun comes up."