Page 45 of Preying Heart
“Now you’re talking. I took Photoshop, fashion design, and did graphics for websites. That’s why I need a computer.”
“I might be able to help you mint NFTs.” His eyes light up like he’s struck gold.
I have no idea what he’s talking about. “What the heck is an NFT?”
“Non-fungible token. They’re digital art sold on a blockchain. They’re really hot right now. There’s a guy named Beeple who sells his digital art for millions.”
“Millions of dollars? For a digital image? I’m all in. Where do I sign up?”
“You’ll have to go through me,” he says. “You create the artwork, and I’ll sell them online for you and deposit the crypto in your wallet.”
“That easy?” I flash him a rewarding smile. “You’re my hero. You’d do that for me?”
It works because he relaxes and puffs himself up. “I want nothing but the best for you. Didn’t I tell you I’d take care of you?”
“Sounds like a deal. Is it really that easy to make money?”
“It depends on the community you get into. As with anything, you have to develop a reputation. Some of the digital art has sold for millions. Others? Not so much. Some celebrities can draw anXand sell their NFT in an auction for hundreds of thousands, but since you’ll be an unknown, you’ll have to work at it. I’ll stake some crypto to let you start.”
I lean in toward him and stroke his upper arm. “How can I pay you back?”
“Don’t worry about it.” He guides me to the pool table. “You can play pool with me, or do you prefer backgammon?”
“Uh, I’m more of a solitaire player, but I can learn.”
“Ah, so you like playing with yourself.”
“Yeah, and I usually strip for myself, too.” I lick my lips and give him a come-hither glance. “Although I bet I can beat you at strip pool.”
“You’re tempting me again,” he warns.
“Isn’t that why you brought me to the playroom?” I brush up against him and head for the stairs. “On second thought, I’m not playing with you until you show me the news. Until then, I refuse to believe Stan Greasley is dead or Lucy’s clinic was robbed or you have a million-dollar sugar daddy wanting to adopt my baby.”
“Looks like you prefer the lockdown on my bed, because I’d rather keep you in the dark. It’s for your own good.” He follows me up the stairs and locks the basement door but allows me to go to the guest room without interference.
Lying in bed by myself, I take stock of my situation. I’m not sure I can chalk up another win today. Sure, I stood up for myself and my baby, but the two of them could be gaslighting me.
What if Heath is the one who hired the gray suit guys to scare me into going with him? What if he is the one Slade told me about—the friend who owes him and is paying him back by protecting me? Or imprisoning me so I can’t get rid of the baby.
Slade. Slade. Where are you? I so need to talk to you. But like always, you pulled the disappearing act.
Am I the means for him to pay back another gambling debt? Or does he mean to traffic me? What if Heath is my new owner and he’s already paid Slade—or Gavin? But if he is, why hasn’t he bedded me yet? Why the long foreplay?
All I know is my head hurts from all this paranoia. I can’t afford to lose this game we’re playing. He knows I’m trying to seduce him to weaken him, and I’m deluding myself if I think I can escape with my heart intact.
I want to know what made Heath the way he is. Why he is in the rescue business, if that’s what he really does. He tells me he’s a good guy and he helps women.
I wonder what he’s hiding.
Heath
Lucy returns while Remi is sulking in her room.
“I came to check on my patient,” she says when I open the door.
“Your patient is fine. She’s in her room.”
“You seem out of sorts.” She gives me that superior look of hers whenever she reads my mind. “What happened? She won’t give it up?”
