Page 87 of Hell to Pay

“You and me both,” Nolan said.

The conferencing screen went dark as Pythe disconnected the call and I stood and stretched. “Well, the IDs are sorted at least. That’s big.”

Lilah looked relieved and I knew it was because she’d worried there would be a problem and Rafe would pull the plug.

“We need to talk about the showcase,” Jude said.

We’d been avoiding the discussion since Ghost’s source told him about that part of the event: some kink room where the girls had to have sex with the man who brought them in front of the rest of the party. Once the girls performed, they would officially be put up for sale.

Mr. IT only knew about it because of the security cameras that were connected to the network. It made me sick thinking about it, which is why I’d been trying not to think about it.

“It’s too dangerous,” Rafe said. “I’m not putting Lilah through that.”

None of wanted to put her through it. It was a sick twist of fate that put Lilah — the girl whose life we’d ruined by leaking her nudes — in the position of potentially getting naked for a bunch of rich assholes.

“The goal is to get what we need and get out of there before we get to that part,” Jude said.

What we needed was evidence: proof that Imperium Fratrum was trafficking women and the identities of the people behind the organization.

“Obviously,” Rafe said. “But we have no idea how things will go down. If we don’t get out of there in time, Lilah will end up in the showcase.”

“And if she does, we’ll be right there with her,” Jude said.

Rafe shook his head. “I don’t like it. What if she goes up for bid after the showcase? What if we can’t get her out before that?”

“Then we’ll bid,” Jude said. “Because this is what Lilah wants to do.”

Rafe’s expression hardened. “Fuck that.”

“It’s okay.” Lilah took a deep breath. “I’ve had a couple days to get my head around it. I’ll be okay as long as it’s with you.”

“You better fucking believe it will be with us,” Rafe growled.

What Rafe hadn’t told Pythe was that we’d loaded a lot more than a million into our crypto wallets. Because there wasn’t a chance in hell we were letting anyone else put their hands on Lilah.

We’d tear the place apart before we’d let that happen.

56

LILAH

The safe housewas more like a small mansion, an old two-story building set back from the road on a sprawling private property. I didn’t ask where Rafe had found it on such short notice or how he knew it was safe — I was learning not to get involved in the details — but getting ready for the party, it felt safe, something that was probably less about the house and more about the three men who’d be going with me to the Imperium Fratrum party.

It was after ten p.m., the sky dark, and Rafe was downstairs with Nolan and Jude setting up the drone and preparing to fly it over the estate where the party would be held. There hadn’t been a start time on the hard drive that had mentioned the event, and Ghost hadn’t known either, but we guessed it was probably late since kinky sex parties didn’t seem like they’d be very sexy in the daylight.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror, taking in the green dress the Bastards had bought for me to wear to the party. I’d never owned anything like it, the neckline plunging so far I couldn’t wear a bra, the back dipping almost to my ass. The skirt was drapey and sensuous, yards of emerald silk, and the whole thing was held up by straps so delicate I’d half expected them to snap when I’d slipped the dress over my head and let it fall around my body.

It was almost erotic, the silk brushing against my tits, my nipples, my ass, bare thanks to my new black thong underwear I’d chosen to wear under the dress.

I’d pulled my hair up for once. I hated the brand on the back of my neck — had avoided looking at it in the weeks since we’d come home from Greece, had gotten used to the small bandage that covered it — but it made sense that it should be on display if I was basically the Bastards’ ticket to the party.

I picked up my Mini Osborne, looked down at the dress, and realized there wasn’t a single place I could hide it. For all I knew I was going to end up stark naked in the showcase with the Bastards.

The knife was a bad idea.

I set it down reluctantly and picked up the feathered mask Rafe had given me. I had no idea where he’d found it on such short notice, but it was gorgeous, long green-and-black feathers extending from the upturned eyes of the mask, which was beaded with green and gold sequins.

I held it to my face and marveled at my reflection in the mirror. I’d applied my makeup heavier than usual, wanting my eyes to stand out under the mask, and I’d chosen red lipstick, a shade I’d never worn, because it seemed bold, and I kind of needed bold right now.

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