Page 46 of The Seller

“I don’t sell anyone anymore. I know you probably don’t believe me, but I’ve never lied to you, Siri, and I’m not going to start now.”

“You just… changed who you were, completely? Why?”

“Because of you, Siri. Because of what you did, and who you are.”

“And who do you think I am?”

“The most incredible woman in the world.”

I make a sound of disbelief. I’m not narcissistic enough to believe that. He’s playing games with me. He’s pretending to be the good guy so he can get something from me.

“You’re twice my age. I’m not even twenty yet. I can’t legally drink in the United States. And you’ve been using and selling women for decades, but suddenly you think I’m the most incredible woman in the world, and you changed your entire outlook on human trafficking because of me?” I shake my head. “Do you really think I’m stupid enough to believe that?”

He draws in a deep breath, and I can see something in his eyes. A weight, almost like sadness, but more profound.

“I’m sorry I’ve lived my life in such a way that you can’t trust me. I’m sorry you’ve been treated in a way that makes it impossible for you to, even if I wasn’t… me. If I have to spend the rest of my life proving myself to you, I will.”

He sounds heartfelt and real. He sounds deep and meaningful.

“What game are you playing, exactly?”

“No games,” he says.

“There’s always a game.”

“Okay,” he says. “Then I’m going to play this game. It’s a game where I look after you, and make sure you’re safe and happy and well, and if you decide you want to be with me, then we’ll have a long and happy life together, and if not, you’ll still have that, because it is what you deserve.”

I give him a long look, then snap my fingers and point at him. “I don’t believe you.”

Stavros

Of course she doesn’t believe me. Siri has never known real love. She doesn’t even comprehend unconditional care. Saving her from Don Corelli was the easy part. Saving her from a lifetime of programming telling her men are bastards who have to be lied to and used before they lie and use her is going to be much more difficult.

She is still young though, and that is in her favor. The skills I developed handling and training girls for market will work just as well on this broken little brat I intend to one day make my wife.

“You don’t have to believe me,” I smile. “You hungry? Want some breakfast?”

“Sure. Or maybe… no,” she says, cagey even about that.

“You don’t know if you’re hungry?”

“I don’t know how to be around you when you’re not… you,” she whines suddenly. “You’re The Seller. That’s who I know. I don’t know who Mr Do You Want A Beer For Breakfast Is.”

And that’s when it clicks for me. Siri might be free, but she’s so used to being controlled. She needs boundaries. Discipline. She needs me to be a healthy version of the man who caged her and then fucked her.

I can do that.

More than that, I want to.

She’s right that I can’t just leave my old self behind and turn into Mr Puppies and Kittens. I’m always going to be dominant. I’m always going to be possessive, and I’m always, no matter what, going to make sure she’s safe. I almost failed her. Some might say I did fail her. Her bastard father managed to get her down to aisle and into that old fucker’s bed. I only just preserved what might be called her virtue.

I have some making up to do. I have some putting back together as well. And it starts with making sure she eats.

Siri

“You’re having breakfast,” he says, turning to order room service.

I feel the anxiety that had been bubbling beneath my skin start to subside. I’m having breakfast. There’s order in the world. Good.

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