Page 43 of The Caged Girl

“Here’s a catalogue for you, and Demi, if you’d like one as well, to help provide your expert insight on Mrs. Rothschild’s purchase.”

I took the catalogue and walked over to the small bistro-style seating with Sage. There were sparkling pink drinks waiting on the table and peonies neatly displayed in a vase.

Sage was happily looking through the catalogue and circling items. I couldn’t see what was in it since she had it propped upward. Sitting down slowly, I winced in pain.

“Are you alright?” Mrs. Rothschild asked with genuine concern.

Pursing my lips, I gritted my teeth together. “Yes.” But I wasn’t. I slammed my knees together and wanted to cry from the brutal pain from the stitches Dr. Davenport put inside me.

“Definitely light only. I don’t want brown.” She smacked her lips together.

I brushed my hand against the white cover with small gold letters. “Bambino in Gabbia,” I whispered.

Opening the first page, I skimmed the words.

It’s an honor at La Gabbia to provide couples control and opportunities to grow their families. Alister Ivory, founder and owner of La Gabbia, knew that an all-inclusive resort meant just that. All-inclusive to provide both husband and wife with the worldly things that fulfill our hearts and feed our souls. Desire and pleasure fuel men to be better husbands and fathers; rest and rejuvenation fuel women to be the best wives and mothers. Mr. Ivory grew up in an unsettling environment and knew the value a healthy set of parents could provide a child. Therefore, we welcome you to the Life Center and hope you find the prized possession you’re looking for. If you’ve put a deposit down on a specific model, please let guest services know.

What is this? Baby furniture?I thought to myself.

“No, I just told Declan we should have put a deposit down on that light-skinned one I loved. These aren’t the right ones. I mean, a made-to-order brown one wouldn’t be so bad. I suppose the genetic component is even better than some of these light ones. Especially since the mother is in-house, and we know more.” Sage tapped her nails against the marble table.

“I don’t understand.” Flipping the page, I sank back into my chair. “Oh no.”

The items listed in the catalogue were babies.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

“What do you think, Demi?”I was flipping through, page after page. The ages of the child were next to them. Two weeks old, four months old, six months old, and then I flipped towards the end…

“Discounted items.” I gasped and saw babies around a year old with a red number next to it.

Customizable options were available, but a special request must be placed two years in advance.

“Demi?”

My head was spinning as I looked through each page, and finally, there it was. A page that made the stomach acid crawl up my throat.

“Breeders,” I mumbled and looked at images of women. They were the nightingales and doves, all divided up. Their stats were displayed next to their photos: weight, height, eye color, skin color, genetic, and medical history.

“Honestly, I might just tell Declan I want to place a special order with the mother known as Raven. She’s got the best medical history, and I think with a white male’s sperm and her beauty, we might just have ourselves a brilliant, beautiful little one. Hopefully, the skin will be lighter, but that’s a risk we might just have to take.”

“That’s my sister.” I saw the image of Raven on the page that Sage was fawning over. “That’s Layla.”

Sage’s forehead crinkled as she looked at the image, and then back to me. “Oh, my goodness, what wonderful news. I knew she looked familiar… Apparently, she’s able to be bred the fastest.”

Closing my eyes, I could see it all over again—Bradley in bed with Layla. Is this why? Were they…

“I think you…we…should request a special visit with her to make sure she’s the woman you’d want to carry your child, Sage,” I said as my heart pounded rapidly.

Sage paused for a moment and then looked back at me. “This is why I wanted you to come with me; I just knew it’d be useful to have some extra help. But I do like the sound of that. Besides, for two million dollars, we should have a bit more say.” Sage snapped her fingers in the air until the girl from the front desk came over.

They chatted as I stared down at the image of my sister. It was like looking at a reflection of myself. She hadn’t changed much, beyond her once beautiful brown eyes growing more and more lifeless.

“I think it’s really nice that you and your sister have taken to working at the same establishment.”

My eyes filled with tears as I looked through the photos. Where were these babies coming from.

“Demi?”

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