Page 4 of Ravaged Hearts

I longed to lift his shirt and feel the bare skin beneath, but I knew that would be too much. As distracted as Vaughn was, I didn’t want to risk breaking this lust-filled spell by pushing him beyond his limits.

Beside my head, the phone beeped. We froze, holding each other’s gazes until Vaughn reached for it and checked the screen.

“Blue Sky Bar. Ten minutes.” His brow creased. “Ready?”

“I’m ready.” I wasn’t, but I decided my new mantra was going to beFake it till you make it.

“You’re a terrible liar, but I appreciate your courage.” He traced one finger down my neck. “Gatita, you know I respect you, right?”

“Yes,” I replied cautiously.

“Good. Because tonight, I’ll say and do a lot of things that will make it seem like I don’t. Starting with this.” He reached for the duffel bag and fished something from the side pocket. A black leather dog collar. He must’ve pinched it from Daphne’s supply cabinet.

I eyed what he held, realization dawning that he expected me to wear it around my neck like a slave. Like he owned me. I felt sick. “You can’t be serious.”

“It’s for your protection.”

“My protection?” I squeaked.

He rolled the collar between his fingers. “This tells the men at the meeting that you’re mine. It’ll mean none of them willtouch you without my permission. Not unless they have a death wish.” He lowered his chin. “These men, they understand what this collar means, and as disgusting as it is, they’ll respect me more once they see that I have a slave. It’s some fucked-up status thing in the underworld. It’s rumored el Capitán has one of his own.”

Acting like a timid, abused woman went against my nature, but if I kept the end goal in mind—that what we were doing could ultimately help liberate women from this very situation—then I could do it.

I pressed my lips together. “Fine. I’ll wear it.”

We sat up, and Vaughn carefully secured the slim collar around my throat. “We’re in their world now, so I need you to act the part. You’re quiet. You’re submissive. And you do everything I say without question.”

“So don’t act like myself at all?” My lip curled. “You’re going to enjoy this, aren’t you?”

“Believe it or not, I prefer it when you unleash every ounce of your sass on me.” He took hold of my hands and rubbed circles over the backs of them with his thumbs. “There’s something else you should know about Miguel. He’s going to look at you like you’re his favorite meal.”

Great. That didn’t sound creepy or uncomfortable at all. “What makes you so sure?”

“You’re exactly his type, and Miguel has a weakness for things he can’t have. When he sees this collar, he’ll know you’re off-limits, which means he’s going to be jonesing for a taste.”

“I swear to God, if you ask me to?—”

“Relax, Gatita. I promise, no one touches you except me. But maybe I can use Miguel’s unwholesome craving to get exactly what I want.”

3

VAUGHN

As we walked along the sidewalk toward the bar, Hope tugged at the hem of her skintight black dress and fiddled with the leather collar around her throat.

“Stop fidgeting,” I said.

I felt like an asshole, asking her to play the part of my slave girl for the evening, but if it helped get us the intel we needed to track down Espinoza, a few hours of discomfort would be worth it.

“Sorry.” Hope dropped her hands to her side. “This whole ensemble is irritating as hell.”

We passed a group of guys who looked like they were heading out for the night. The lot of them eyed Hope the way a pack of hungry wolves zeroed in on a lame deer. Until they met my murderous gaze, then they quickly looked away.

“Are people staring at me?” Hope asked, her words flying out fast. “I feel like people are staring at me.” She went to adjust the collar but lowered her hand before reaching it.

“Only because you look hot as fuck, Gatita. No other reason.”

With her tight dress, high heels, and heavy makeup, thecollar passed as a fashion accessory rather than a symbol of ownership.

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