Page 24 of Seduced by a SEAL

She’d have no chance of fighting them off.

No hope of escape.

The woman shrugged. “A week maybe? Don’t know. Don’t care. I figure this has got to be better than where those other women were taken. They give me a little food and water, and I spend the day sleeping. No one has touched me.”

Her eyes ran over Camila, taking in her expensive dress and shoes. “How’d you end up here? You don’t seem like the type of woman they’d normally target.”

“Horrible luck,” Camila muttered. “And lots of enemies, apparently.”

“I’ll say. You’ll probably be the next to go. They can make a pretty penny off someone like you.” Her eyes ran over Camila again. “Unless they’re holding you for ransom? Some rich boyfriend or husband to come rescue you?”

Camila’s stomach tightened. “My father,” she murmured.

The woman chuffed out a laugh. “Wonderful. A daddy’s girl. You’ll probably be out of here in no time then. Unless they can make more selling you to the highest bidder.”

Camila pressed her lips together. The women who were sold as sex slaves were usually never seen again. But being held for ransom didn’t mean she’d fare well either. Did they take her for money? Or to lure out her father?

He could pay a ransom, and it’d still be possible they’d never let her go.

Not when she was the bait that all those men would love to claim.

Her lower lip trembled, and she bit down into her flesh, refusing to give in to her despair. Refusing to give the men who’d taken her any of her tears. What had she just told Rosa the other day? She could take care of herself.

Inexplicably, her mind flashed back to Colton. His warm brown eyes, muscled hands, and commanding presence had soothed her in a way she didn’t think was possible. Not when she’d never needed a man in her life before. Someone like him would always make sure she was safe and secure. A man like that would tear down walls and fight wars to get her back.

But right now?

She had no one on her side.

She wasn’t his.

Her father would come—maybe. He’d send some of his men at least. But would that be more about saving face or rescuing her? And if he did show up or send a team in after her, would her captors really let her go?

“How long have I been here?” she asked the woman.

“Probably fifteen hours or so. They brought you here yesterday afternoon—the guy carrying you in wanted to rip your dress off you right here in front of everyone. The others wouldn’t let him.”

Camila shuddered.

“I guess you’re too valuable for that. They haven’t touched me yet either—can’t pretend to know why. I don’t know how many women are being held here. Most don’t seem to stay very long. And the men running it like to sample the merchandise, if you know what I mean.”

Camila muttered a curse as a woman a few feet away started sobbing. “I shouldn’t be here!” she wailed. “I need to go home!”

“Shh, sweetheart,” the woman clad in jeans said. “Don’t let them hear you.”

“What’s your name?” Camila asked.

“Mariana. You?”

“Camila.”

“Don’t expect to get out of here,” Mariana said. “One way or another—they own you now. It’s easier to accept that.”

“I’ll never accept that,” Camila said, disgusted.

Mariana shrugged. “Maybe you’re lucky. You’re rich. But the rest of us? We don’t have a chance.”

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