Page 5 of Protected Hearts

The guard reached out and curled his fingers around her elbow, over the bruises that were already put there by William’s grip.

She wrenched away. “I can walk.”

He understood her English and gave her a nod. As he led her through the house, she took in every single detail that she could. She was in New Jersey, on an estate, by the looks of it.

They turned a corner, and she saw how big the house really was, extending in several directions. Through one glass door, she spotted a pool with beautiful manicured trees.

So private.

Now that was really concerning.

Nobody’s going to find me.

William’s cultured voice carried to her from some other room in the echoing mansion. “You wanted her as part of the deal, Vanya. I did as you asked. I brought her.”

Deal? Ohgod. Was she going to be…trafficked?

Her mind went haywire, and her vision dimmed for several endless heartbeats. When the spots before her eyes cleared, she saw a massive man was standing in front of her, this one less blocky than her guard but no less terrifying for the wild look in his eyes.

William was there too, watching her far too closely.

“Vanya, meet Shiloh. You can give her any name you want, though.” William chuckled at his own joke. “You wanted mycastoff. Here she is. Good luck with her—she has a sharp tongue.”

Vanya stepped up to her. His fingers cupping her jaw weren’t harsh like William’s… which terrified her even more.

“I have ways of silencing my women.” Cigar-scented breath washed over her face as he spoke every word with emphasis. “I only get screams when I want them.”

The man released her. Dizzied by what was happening, and with no way of figuring it out right now, she was grabbed by the guard again. His hard grip left more bruises, and she bit off a cry as he dragged her away. William’s smirk flashed past her vision.

She was shoved through a doorway. Wrapping her arms around her middle, she evaluated her surroundings in a nanosecond. This space was just as massive as the others in the house, yet was filled with very little furniture, as if nobody actually lived here and the property was only staged for real estate photographs.

There was a single white leather sofa with a marble side table. On it sat a vase filled with real flowers. A woman was standing by a window, and she turned at Shiloh’s abrupt entrance. The door slammed shut behind her.

She must be an employee.At last!Someone Shiloh might be able to persuade to help her escape.

Then the woman pointed at a metal bar like she’d seen used backstage in fashion shows in the corner. On it hung a long, white gown covered in feathers.

“I’ll help you dress.”

“Dress? Why? Inthat?” It looked like…like a…

Had William called her his castoff? And Vanya said that he knew how to silence his women…or make them scream.

Oh god. Was she supposed to—the bile rushing up her throat made her gag—marry the Russian?

She looked at the dress and fought off a sob.

Some weddings have doves.

I’m the dove.

* * * * *

Oaks followed the black car at a discreet distance down the winding road. He stayed back, wishing he could ditch the moving van and find a much less conspicuous vehicle.

He didn’t know where he was, but he kept his eye peeled for escape routes at every turn. The military taught him to always have a plan in place. He just didn’t know what that was right now.

At a gap in the well-manicured trees lining each house on the long street, the black car turned right. He braked and guided the van off the main path, choosing a spot in the shadows.