Page 17 of Taken
His eyes dropped to the documents in front of the Wolf—a report that had been brought in about a particular medical shipment the Moon had ordered. The memory drugs they’d been using on the Wolf’s victims upon their return to the Moon had been changed. Again. The Wolf had gotten too close to countering it last time. Unfortunately, Slave had been a waste of time because of the changes. She would be returned to the Moon to become another mindless drone.
Personally, Jordan thought it a waste to even try to cause a rebellion on the Moon. Better to just blow them all from the sky.
But if he’d had his way years ago, they might have blown the colony there while Trish was still on the Moon. He scowled, and then his face smoothed out because the Wolf had said ‘no.’ The Wolf had believed there would still be some worth saving.
The list of people Jordan cared anything about was very short.
Trish’s name now headed that list.
7
When Trish woke up, she was alone. Thank fuck.
A few more tears fell, and then she saw the glass of water sitting at the bedside table and reached out to grab it. Her throat was so dry it felt like the great African desert. She drained the glass and looked around the room.
There was nothing for her to do. Trish fell back and lay there, staring up at the ceiling. She didn’t know how long she had lain there before the door opened, but, when it did, she jumped so high it felt like she was levitating for a moment. Jordan came in and stopped as the door slid shut behind him, then stared at her with a glint in his icy-blue eyes.
Trish curled up into a ball, tucking her legs under the skirt of her dress.
“Good, you’re awake.” He studied her, and she stared back at him, unsure whether he required an answer. “We’re going to go back to the Wolf’s room.”
Horror, humiliation, shame, fear… All of it slid through her in under a second. “Are… am I… is it going to be likethatagain?”
“No. Not for you,” he said, his voice matter-of-fact and conversational.
Trish blinked.
“Not for me?” She wasn’t sure she understood.
“Not for you,” he said firmly. “You’re mine. Pet and Toy are his.”
From this astounding statement, Trish gleaned several pieces of knowledge: Jordan didn’t personally care about Alex or Bella. Hedidcare about Trish. And, for some reason, he’d decided to put an end to the public displays involving her.
The sudden urge to jump up and throw her arms around his neck in gratitude was somewhat understandable but still horrifying. After all, he’d been the reason she’d been put in that position in the first place.
On the other hand…
Trish remembered what Jordan had said when he’d realized he’d taken her virginity. He’d indicated he wouldn’t have done that in public—which left open quite a few other things. Today, he’d been aroused by being part of the audience, and then byhavingan audience. He was both a voyeur and an exhibitionist. One who had decided to forgo the latter because it upset her.
Unless he would indulge in exhibitionism with someone else? Bella maybe?
Trish’s reaction to that was even more upsetting because, instead of feeling pure relief, she felt a little disgruntled. Almost… jealous. A feeling she immediately wanted to deny, but couldn’t. And that was horrifying in and of itself.
Maybe she was becoming numb to horrifying things. Since every other thing that happened to her was horrifying—maybe it was her new standard and therefore less remarkable.
Another horrifying thought.
Ugh.Trish needed another word to describe things but couldn’t think of anything else that so well encompassed what she was feeling.
She looked up at Jordan, lips pursed. He’d been standing there, waiting for her to work through her thoughts, a blank expression on his face. Seeing her focus on him, he held out his hand.
“Come on, babygirl.”
Babygirl. Such a different name from Pet or Toy.
She didn’t have a choice. Trish got up and took his hand. Tried not to feel comfort from the warm, strong grip and the knowledge he’d decided to protect her from the worst of the Wolf’s depredations. Jordan looked her over and frowned.
“Let’s change your clothes.”
