Page 29 of Sin and Salvation

The trio were entirely silent for a long minute that felt like it stretched into forever.

“What do you mean, he sold you?” Zane asked, his voice dangerously smooth and cold. He had approached without me hearing, setting a cup of hot coffee on the glass table in front of me. “Concordia’s Houses outlawed the sale of live demons long before you were born.”

I murmured athank youand picked up the coffee, taking a long, fortifying sip. “Unless you come from the House of Pride, and you own half the banks. People will overlook a lot of things for money. And it’s not like he ever drew up an actual bill of sale.”

“Why didn’t you leave?” Aeron’s green eyes were flat, and he had a knife out, which he fiddling with in a way that made me nervous.

I clutched the hot cup between my hands and could’ve cried for real when Zane draped his leather jacket over my shoulders, enfolding me in soft warmth that smelled like cool water and pine trees. The Greed demon settled next to me, not quite touching, but close enough that I felt like he was bolstering me to continue.

“Maxime kept me with him at all times. I mean atalltimes. It’s why I was in so many of the pictures you found online.” I gestured vaguely towards Zane’s pocket, where he kept his phone. “Everyone thought I was his assistant, and I did fulfill some of those duties, I suppose.”

“I won’t even ask why you didn’t report your brother to the Houses.” Zane rubbed the temple where the black snake’s scales were inked. “Of course they would’ve been in Maxime’s pockets.”

I nodded. “He keeps them there with the Zelus Casino—that’s how he got me from Rastus. My brother was so massively in debt he could never pay it off, but Maxime accepted me as a reasonable substitute. More than reasonable, I guess.” A bitter laugh escaped me. “Rastus just told me I was worth five million in credit. He’s probably spent the last few years gambling it all away.”

I put the coffee down and rubbed my eyes, the beginnings of a headache pounding at my temples, but Crow’s deep voice drew me out of it.

“Tell us everything.”

I looked at him, trying to take comfort in how steady his eyes were. “He started raping me the night I was sold. My… my powers are driven by sex, and desire. And I can amplify the power of the demons around me. That’s why Maxime never let me leave his side; I was essentially a walking, talking battery pack for him, and I could schedule his dry-cleaning while I was at it.” I took a fortifying breath, and felt Zane’s hand on the small of my back. “He gave me an apartment in Giraud Tower, but I was on his schedule. When I was in there, I was locked in from the outside, and one of his bodyguards was always stationed outside the door. The windows were shatterproof security glass, and glued shut to keep me from trying to jump.

“He gave me lots of things… I suppose that’s why people like Julie Zarro thought my head was shoved up his ass all the time. But I was a prisoner. He fucked me when he needed more power, and I was never allowed to be anywhere alone unless it was in my apartment.”

I felt a simmering tension rise in the room as I spoke, almost like a smell I couldn’t quite make out.

I knew it was restrained violence, the shoulders of the three Black Hearts as tight as wire, the flames in their eyes the flicker of rage.

“How did you make it to our side of Concordia?” Crow asked grimly.

I took another gulp of coffee, grateful for the caffeine and clarity it afforded me. “He messed up. He was organizing a big meeting with some of his shareholders, and I went down to the kitchen to check on the catering situation. The chef was freaking out, and the bodyguard…” I snickered. “He got sidetracked when the chef claimed one of the caterers was stealing from the lobby. He walked away without a look back, I guess because he was so frazzled, and I saw a window, and… jumped through.”

“That’s why you were all torn up.” Zane wound a lock of pink hair around his finger.

“I ditched my nice shoes under the dumpster outside Giraud Tower,” I informed him.

Aeron finally cracked a grin, though, like earlier, there was no real amusement in it. His eyes were still blazing with hellfire. “Don’t worry, sugar. We’ll get you better ones, with nice spiky heels—”

“If you really want some sugar, you’ll let me jam one right in Maxime’s eye.”

Aeron let out a sudden laugh, as though he were shocked. Then he sat up, tilting my chin up to face him using the point of the knife.

“I knew you were the one for us,” he murmured.

ChapterFourteen

“Please,” Zane scoffed. “You thought she was an accountant.”

I couldn’t laugh, not with Aeron’s blade that close to my throat, but the hellhound lowered the knife and tucked it away.

Odd, how I’d let him put it right there, and not a single frisson of fear had gone through me.

“And it’s not time for you to go making your mark, regardless.” The Vice President pulled me closer, almost into his lap. “She just spilled her life story. Let her come down from that.”

Crow sat back, nodding to Zane. “Take care of her tonight. Let her know the rules. I’ve got business with Darvix and Brody to take care of tonight.”

I had no idea who Darvix was or what that business might be, but when Aeron gave Crow a knowing look, I wondered if maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with my brother.

Crow touched my cheek, looking deep into my eyes. “You’ll be safe up here. And if you want to leave, the door is unlocked.”

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