Page 9 of Savage Redemption

And look where it got me? Crippled, a prisoner, betrayed by the people I should have been able to rely on. Even Rosa couldn’t get away fast enough when the chance came to escape.

I pause in my lurching progress back and forth.Rosa. Sweet little thing, compliant, obedient, she warmed my bed nicely and never demanded anything much for herself. A place to live, food, warmth. Safety. That was all she expected, and I was happy to provide.

She’s back with her family, in the UK. Or so Baz tells me. I asked if I could see her, and he explained that she’d gone home. She’d begged him to contact her father in England, so he’d done just that.

Why didn’t she ask me? I’d have phoned her father if she’d said that was what she wanted.

Or would I? I’m a selfish bastard. I wanted to keep her with me. I never thought of her as my prisoner, not exactly, but wouldI have let her go? I knew she’d been trafficked, and I knew how she came to be with Mateo and Alejandro. Auctioned. Bought and sold like a piece of meat. It was a miserable existence. I knew that, and for what it might be worth, I was sorry it had happened to her. Sex trafficking was never a practice I approved of or indulged in, though most men in my position would. I tried to be…better.

I came across Rosa by accident, after my cousins had been murdered by Kaminski. She was hiding in one of our safe houses and seemed lost, scared. On impulse, I took her with me and gave her a home. In exchange, she apparently assumed she was expected to ‘service’ my needs.

I let her. Well, why not? I never forced her to do anything. I didn’t need to. She was used to being…available and made no protest when I suggested she share my bed.

She was my companion. I liked her. She was responsive, a seriously good fuck. And beautiful. I had the impression she liked me, liked being with me, but perhaps I was kidding myself. What choice did she have, really?

No point dwelling on it. What’s done is done. I wish her well, wherever she is.

I resume my pacing.

The grating of the lock stops me in my tracks. I face the door, not sure what to expect. It’s too early for Baz and one of our evening chats. He’ll be working. And the fresh linen isn’t due until tomorrow.

It swings open.

“You!” I limp back to my bunk. “What the fuck do you want?” Stupid question. There’s only one thing would bring Kristian Kaminski down here.

I meet his gaze. I’m ready to die.

CHAPTER 2

Kristian

I stepinside the cell and cast an eye around the tiny space. The table and chair aren’t standard issue, a concession from Baz, no doubt. And I was surprised to see the prisoner on his feet, but I suppose it has been the best part of a year. I was aware of San Antonio’s brief stay at the clinic but hadn’t held out much hope for any sort of a recovery. Not that I cared, especially.

I focus on him. “How’ve you been?”

The man on the bunk shrugs.

I take in the empty tray on the floor beside the door. Looks like the remains of the duck pâté and salad Janey prepared for lunch, and a slice of chocolate cheesecake. “Baz has been feeding you well, I see.”

“Your wife is an excellent cook. Convey my compliments to her, if you please.”

My prisoner’s English is excellent. Only slightly accented. I bristle at the mention of Janey, though I suppose I started it. I drag over the single chair and straddle it, leaving Baz to lean on the wall, arms folded.

“Is this it?” San Antonio glares at me, his chin tilted up. “Took you long enough.”

I don’t reply. Let him fester for a while. Eventually, I allow my mouth to curl into something vaguely resembling a smile. “I saw no need to hurry. You’re going nowhere.”

His eyes narrow, but he shows no sign of fear. My respect for him inches up a grudging notch.

“Your clan seem to be happy without you. No one wants you back, San Antonio.”

“So I gather. My cousin is a treacherous rat. Perhaps you will do me the service of killing him, should the opportunity arise.”

“Glad to. But this still leaves me with a predicament. What am I to do about you?”

He doesn’t answer. I daresay he doesn’t want to fill in the blanks for me.

I continue. “You appear to be worthless. No ransom. No power to form any sort of useful alliance. No influence anywhere. Tell me, apart from your cousin who would doubtless thank me personally for the service, would anyone else even notice you were gone?”

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