Page 193 of Morally Gray Daddies

“Twenty.”

My shoulders relax as relief floods me. I don’t know why that makes me feel better. Though she’s still more than ten years younger than me, she’s legally an adult.

I sigh. “I know you’re scared, and you probably won’t believe me, but you’re safe now. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Her tongue slips out to wet her lips, and my gaze falls to the plump cushions.

I need to get the hell out of here.

“I’m going to leave a phone on the kitchen counter. My phone number will be programmed into it. My name is Patrick.”

She nods, and I let my hand fall from her chin. I pause briefly, not wanting to leave her. Will she try to escape? She might, but there are only two ways out of here. The front door and the balcony, which is thirty floors up.

As I turn to leave, I pause and look back at her. “Welcome home, Anastasia.”

Chapter Six

Ana

As soon as I hear the snick of the front door closing, I dive for the food bag Patrick left on the bed. My mouth has been watering since he handed it to me. I don’t care that it’s cold by now. It could be rotten, and I’d still eat it. It took every ounce of willpower not to stuff my face in the car—it would have shown weakness. The last thing I want to do is give these guys more power than they already have over me.

He says I’m safe, but he’s also right about me not believing him. He traded me for half a million dollars. I might be sheltered but I’m under no delusion that he won’t expect anything from me. Perhaps I can clean for him. I’d have to clean until I’m dead to work off that amount of money, but maybe he’ll make a deal with me like he did my father.

The burger tastes like heaven. Greasy, fatty heaven. I devour every single bite before moving on to the fries. If food orgasms were a thing, I’d be having one. I probably look like a rabid animal right now with the way I’m shoving it into my mouth.

By the time I finish, my stomach hurts, but I don’t regret it. I can’t remember the last time I had a fast-food cheeseburger. It’s probably a good thing he only got me one because I’d probably eat another and make myself sick.

When the endorphins from the food start to clear, reality sets in, and bile rises in my throat. My father used me to pay off his debt. He told Patrick to put me on the streets. I’ve known for a long time my father doesn’t like me because I look like my mom. I didn’t realize he hated me so much though. It shouldn’t hurt me because I hate him, too, but it still stings.

I look around the spacious room, taking it all in. There are worse places I could’ve ended up. Just because I’m here right now doesn’t mean it’s not coming.

Who is Patrick exactly? What kind of business is he in that he trades money for women? He’s dangerous, that’s for sure. So why do I have a sense of safety around him?

I smooth my palms over the thick bedding. It’s like sitting on a fluffy cloud. I could sleep well on a bed like this. And the fact I’m thinking that instead of trying to think of an escape plan is disturbing.

Slowly, I lower myself to lie down. Maybe I’ll just close my eyes for a second. Then I’ll start planning how to get out of here.

Chapter Seven

Patrick

“Do you have a second?”

Declan and Killian look up from where they’re talking as I enter Declan’s office.

Both men nod and sit back in their chairs.

“How’d the collection go?” Declan asks.

I lower myself into a seat across from them and lace my fingers together, resting my elbows on my knees. “Yeah, that’s what I need to talk to you about. I fucked up.”

They glance at each other, then turn their attention back to me, and suddenly, I feel like I’m about to sign my own death warrant.

“I, uh, I went to collect. He didn’t have the money. He said he could get hold of ten grand. Of course, I told him that was unacceptable. As I was about to shoot him, he said he had something better for me to pay off his debt.”

“Fuck,” Killian murmurs. “What did you do?”

“He brought down his daughter. Offered her up. Said she’s a virgin, and we could sell her and all this shit.”

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