Page 95 of Marked

I step back, away from the mess, taking the knife with me.

Zack hops off the table and comes stand beside me, his arm around my waist.

“You did good, little bird.” He kisses my temple.

“It felt good.”

“The cement truck finished an hour ago. Demolition will take place tomorrow, after the cement has had time to cure,” Jeff reports.

“Good. Thank you for taking care of that. I know none of this was official.” Dustin’s barn came in handy. Everyone fit nice and snug in his pit. After the concrete cures, they’ll all be part of the foundation. Of course, all identifying material– like teeth and fingerprints– were removed before the fill in took place.

He laughs. “Fuck, man. Nothing we do is official.” He pauses. “Thought you might like to know Casper found a link between those girls you rescued and a guy name Baron Barnes. He’s taking care of it.”

“Really?” I’ll have to call Casper, see if he needs any help with the Baron. The fucker’s eyes touched my girl, he shouldn’t get to keep them.

“Yeah. Looks like he was the buyer. Vince hadn’t gotten in touch with Jimmy about it, yet. Found it on Vince’s phone. That fucker really was stupid. He never erased anymessages.”

“Maybe he thought he could use them as a safety net in case he got busted and needed something to get him out of trouble.” Or he was just a complete moron.

“Well, whatever the reason, we have them all. A complete list of buyers and sellers, names of girls, locations of pickups.” Jeff sighs. “He’s done most of my work for me. Thanks for getting that phone over as fast as you did.”

“Not a problem. Do the girls know?”

“What Casper’s doing? No. They don’t know about the buyer. He wants them to heal up.”

“They’re doing all right then?” Harley will want to know they’re safe and sound.

“As good as they can, I guess. Charlie’s already asking about the boyfriend,” Jeff huffs. “Casper’s assured her he won’t go unpunished.”

“Casper’s taken an interest in her?” Harley walks through the bedroom after her shower with only a towel on her head.

“Seems like it. Sort of like you, huh?” He laughs.

“I don’t have an interest.” My eyes never leave her naked body as she saunters around my bedroom, plucking up a pair of panties and a tank top from her bag. The marks from my flogger still paint her ass and parts of her shoulders. The cuts from it have healed enough that we can leave the bandages off today.

“So this girl you’ve been working with, she’s nothing?”

“She’s everything, Jeff.” Each word is enunciated with force.

“We’ll need to add her if you want her to get paid at some point. I’m assuming you’ll be keeping her around?”

I watch my little bird slide the pink cotton panties up her marred legs, over her supple ass and the perfect curves of her hips, with pure desire.

“It will be up to her.” I won’t cage her. Everything in her life will be her choice. No one will ever choose her path for her again. Not if I have anything to say about it.

“Just let me know when the time comes. You have the address you needed. Do you need anything else?”

“No.” Steady steps bring me to Harley as she watches me in the full-length mirror. A pair of cutoffs dangle from her left hand. I shake my head, and she drops them to the floor. A knowing smile hits her lips.

“Shouldn’t need you for a while,” I say, trailing my fingertip over her shoulder, pushing the thin strap of her tank top down.

“Let me know if that changes.” He ends the call and I toss my phone onto the bed.

“Was that Alfred?” she asks, still looking at me through the mirror.

“Alfred?” I cock an eyebrow.

“Yeah, the old guy who stays in the Batcave and does all the tech stuff?” She giggles slightly at her own wit.

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