Page 15 of The Sinner's Bargain

The urgency in his voice had a fresh wave of cold soaking into my skin. It filled my core with a pit of snakes.

Hungry.

Slimy.

Writhing.

Malcolm was always such a cool, calm person. To watch him rip open the bag and rifle frantically inside had my stomach whimpering. But I swallowed my questions because he told me to.

The car started forward. The jolt startled me.

“I have everything you need in this bag.”

I tried to process all the familiar words he was speaking that I couldn’t recognize. My attention dropped to the black cavern he held open for my scrutiny.

Neatly rolled up bundles of fabric mostly in dark shades. He shut and zipped the main pocket to open another one tucked between the shoulder straps, almost entirely hidden from sight. From within, he drew out a clear, plastic baggie large enough to hold an entire book and several items.

“Passport. New ID. Credit cards.” He paused to catch his breath, lick his lips. “A whole new life anywhere you want, Naya.”

My sheer bewilderment forgot not to speak, and I heard myself ask, “What?”

He stuffed everything back into the pack and stowed it between his feet to face me fully. “Tell me you don’t honestly want to marry that piece of shit.”

I shifted. Uncomfortable. “Mother—”

“Naya!”

I flinched and dropped my gaze. “No.”

“Good, because I’m not letting you. He’s a monster, Naya. He treats his wives like slaves. He ignores his kids. The only ones getting any of the Brixton inheritance are the kids from his first wife. The rest barely get by. He’s not going to treat you right. He paid a lot of money and I mean a lot to keep you ... untouched, and a lot more once they deliver you to him. You are nothing more than property.”

Maybe he expected me to be surprised by the revelation, but I already knew all this. He’d been paying a monthly allowance to my parents to keep me safely tucked away until I was of age and then until his last divorce was finalized.

I’d basically been put on layaway so no one else could have me. A blessing in many cases when so many of Father’s friends showed too much interest.

“He’s going to hurt you, Nay,” Malcolm said as if reading my thoughts. “He’s had wives already. You’re basically being sent to him to be his fuck toy.”

I flinched at the word. “Malcolm.”

“It’s going to be okay,” Malcolm assured softly. “I have everything planned.” He nudged the bag again. “It’s everything you need to escape.”

“Escape?” I mumbled, glancing down at the bag. “You’re going to hide me in there?”

Despite the urgency in his eyes, my brother smiled. “I wish it were that easy, little sister.” The smile faded. “We’re going to make you disappear.” The bag was given a shake. “I have a whole new life for you in here. New name. New ID. An apartment in the busiest city in London. A bank account. Everything.”

He was talking too fast now. Caught up in his own urgency.

“Malcolm, wait—”

He shook his head. “We don’t have time, Naya. We have to be quick. I have a guy who is going to drive you two provinces over and put you on a plane to London. When you get there, you will follow the directions I’ve written in the book. Everything is in the book. You’re entire cover story. Follow it.”

My mind reeled. The information piled over me, a mountain of words crushing me.

“How long did this take you?” is the only question I can blurt out.

The corner of his mouth twisted. “A long time. Four years, but I had to be careful. I couldn’t take too much money at one time without Father asking questions. I had to pull a lot of strings. Everything from your ID to your apartment were paid for under a shell company that has no ties to us. No one will ever find you if you’re careful.”

“Why?” I breathed, fear a barbed cage around my panicked heart.

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