Page 58 of A King So Savage

Ava’s head tilted in confusion. “Some girls were discussing it once at a campus bar. I thought it was something related to the university. When I asked one of them if it was a scholarship opportunity, she looked me up and down and said I should apply. But when I asked the scholarship office about it, they had no idea what I was talking about.”

Kingston scowled. This was definitely a subject he wished to avoid. Neil, on the other hand, blithely ignored his irritation.

“It’s a club of sorts,” Neil explained. “The employees specialize in certain… activities… and I help ensure everyone stays safe and healthy.”

Ava’s face was blank for a few moments before realization sank in. “It’s a sex club.” Her gaze swung to Kingston. “You own a sex club?”

“It’s an exclusive social club,” Kingston replied stoically. “If members engage in sexual relations, there are mutually agreed upon protocols which are strictly followed.”

“Do you harvest your employees at LIST from Dr. Abbott’s charitable work?”

“No. That would be unethical, of course.”

Ava stared at him in disbelief as Kingston huffed out a more thorough explanation. “Many of those women are far too damaged for that type of work. Rest assured, no one at LIST is forced to be there.” He refused to acknowledge even the slightest bit of shame for being involved with this particular business venture. A membership in LIST was highly coveted and the opportunity to work there even more so. His employees were handsomely compensated for their time and enjoyed the freedom to work as they willed.

A bit of devilry danced in Ava’s mossy green eyes. She was inebriated, her cheeks flushed pink from the warmth of the wine. “How that must annoy you, Kingston Winter. Helping disadvantaged women under the guise of charity while also kidnapping and selling a few here and there for your own personal benefit. Kind of a contradiction, don’t you think?”

“I’ve not yet sold you, lamb. Remember, I might decide keeping you is far more lucrative.”

“If you possessed a single thread of decency, you’d let me go,” she hissed.

“If I do, your own brother will sell you off before I can snap my fingers. That’s his plan, you know. He’s already set things in motion. Trust me, Ava, you’re safer here at The Den with me as your jailer until I learn more of his plans and intentions. When Oliver returns, a few of these questions will be answered.”

“Will you add me to your stable of prostitutes at this LIST place? Will I be passed around or will I belong to a single man?” She demanded answers, the words flailing Kingston like lashes. Even Neil sat silent, his fork hovering above his plate as Ava fired off questions.

“Those women are not prostitutes, Ava. Positions at LIST are highly coveted. Employees are carefully selected, work of their own free will, make a shit-ton of money, and are pampered and protected until they leave my employment.” Kingston fixed Ava with a stony glare. “They want for nothing and make their own choices—regardless of the situation. Or a client’s kink.”

“Ah, the benevolent pimp.” Ava laughed disparagingly. “How refreshing.”

“Ava, it isn’t like that. I can personally attest to the truth of what King is telling you,” Neil assured her.

Kingston winced to hear the level of concern in the other’s man’s voice. His best friend would like nothing more than to scoop Ava up and comfort her.

Ava’s gaze flashed to the doctor. “I will likely be sold to the highest bidder. In the meantime, I’m held here against my will, dressed like a doll, and paraded about this mansion for Kingston Winter’s personal enjoyment. I’d say that makes me a whore. And he is nothing but an Armani tuxedo-wearing pimp.”

“You’ve had far too much wine. It’s making you overly emotional and irrational,” Kingston muttered. “I should have remembered you rarely drink alcohol and limited your consumption.”

“I’m not a child. You can’t tell me what to drink, nor how much I can drink.” Ava’s fingers tightened on the wine goblet’s stem before she defiantly swallowed down the remains in the glass.

“You’re earning a punishment, lamb,” Kingston warned. If Neil hadn’t been present, he would have already wrapped a hand in Ava’s hair and had her body anchored over his lap for a much-needed spanking. Damn if that wasn’t the image pounding in his brain now.

Ava’s breath caught at that. As if she couldn’t believe his audacity in mentioning punishment. Then all the fight seem to rush from her body, her shoulders slumping with dejected weariness.

“I want to go home.”

The anguish in her words and the underlying sob were as loud as a nuclear bomb going off. And when her heart-shaped chin wobbled, the tiny movement was a dagger stabbing Kingston’s heart.

Then he ruthlessly crushed his reaction to her pain.

“This isn’t about what you want, Ava. This is about the repayment of a debt owed. A rather large debt. If I ignore or forgive it, should I fail in making an example of your brother, my enemies will attack from all sides. And Oliver will be leading the charge. Do you think you’ll find yourself in better hands if that occurs?” Kingston refilled his scotch and gave a subtle shake of his head at Antony. The chef hovered in the dining room doorway, ready to remove their dishes and bring in the final course of dessert. A frown creased the elderly man’s forehead, but he dutifully backed out.

“I don’t care. I don’t care what you do to my brother. Or what you do to your own. I hope you all kill each other, honestly. Then I can go on with my life,” Ava said, wrapping her arms around herself. An almost hysterical laugh escaped her. “I can’t believe I must argue the point of how insane and wrong it is to kidnap and sell people. I don’t care how much charity work you sponsor. One does not cancel out the other.”

“We’ve had this discussion previously. We won’t have it a second time,” Kingston replied. “The wrongness of this is a non-issue.”

“You drugged me. You kidnapped me. You’ve held me against my will in a dungeon cell. You watched while your brother mauled me.Youassaulted me. And you will sell me for money.” Ava’s voice trembled as she hovered on the verge of tears.

“This discussion is over,” Kingston said in his hardest tone yet. The litany of transgressions committed against Ava was not something he wanted to dwell upon. Especially the mention of what his brother had done.

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