Page 4 of His to Keep
Jasmine wrinkles her nose as if she’s smelling something unpleasant. “He requested an audience with Jason.”
Requested an audience?Does she think Jason’s the fucking king? He may be a big fish, but he operates in a small pond. There are many more powerful people out there in the wider world who would swallow someone like Jason whole.
“Why is Jason bothering if he’s a nobody?”
“It can’t hurt to hear what he has to say.” Jasmine presses her thin red lips together. “Why are you so interested?”
“He’s an unfamiliar face, that’s all.”
It’s an unconvincing reason, since I don’t know any of the men in this room. Jasmine studies me closely for a moment. She’s suspicious, but she has no cause to be. It’s not as if I can talk to this man without her and at least one of Jason’s henchmen hovering over me. Even if I could speak to him privately, I wouldn’t ask him to get me out of here. If he wants to do business with Jason, he isn’t someone I can trust.
Eventually, Jasmine gives up on trying to bore deep into my thoughts and turns away. I can’t help glancing at the American newcomer again. To my surprise, he’s staring straight at me. Oureyes lock, and a wave of lust ripples through me. It’s so intense, I can hardly bear it. My cheeks heat and I lower my gaze. What the hell just happened?
When I look up again, the gorgeous Mr. Volante has moved off to talk to a group of men standing by the French doors. I can’t help feeling a twinge of disappointment that he’s no longer focused on me.
As I pour myself a glass of water from the jug that was sitting on the table, Jasmine’s phone pings with an incoming message. The wintry smile that settles on her lips as she reads it fills me with dread.
“On your feet.” Before I have a chance to obey, she grabs my arm and pulls me up with her as she stands. For such a petite woman, she has incredible strength. “It’s time to meet your new owner.”
I blink twice as I absorb what she just said. When it sinks in, I huff out a breath of disbelief. “Owner? Jasonsoldme?”
Jasmine shakes her head. “No, sweetie, he leased you out. For the next three years, you belong to Semion Barevsky.”
My blood chilled. Semion Barevsky is a creepy old man. Jason took me to meet him. Although he had a blonde with the biggest breasts I’ve ever seen fawning over him, he spent the entire night staring at me. I can’t believe Jason leased me out to him like I’m a fucking car or something. Why do I find that more insulting than the thought of him selling me?
“What happens after three years?”
“Jason will take you back and marry you.” She snorts in amusement. “Whatever’s left of you to marry.”
Confused, I frown deeply. “I thought he wanted to marry Cara Drummond.”
Jasmine’s eyes narrow. “Someone’s been keeping you informed.”
“Maybe they have.”
Several of Jason’s men are sympathetic to my plight and share snippets of information with me. I guess it’s because they know there’s nobody I can pass it onto.
From what I’ve heard, Jason intends to drag Cara back from London and marry her because it legitimizes his rule over the family her father was once the head of. No doubt he also wants to get his hands on the inheritance she’s so far refused to claim. The woman hated her father so much she didn’t even show up for his funeral.
I tilt my chin defiantly. “Is it true he plans to marry her?”
“What he does with the Drummond bitch is none of your concern. He wants you gone before he brings her home and he intends to get rid of her by the time Barevsky’s finished with you.”
That sounds ominous. Whatever Jason has planned for Cara, it isn’t good. I pity her. Despite what the Drummonds did to my family, I don’t hold a grudge against her. The women in our world have little power and there’s nothing she could have done to prevent the slaughter of my loved ones. I guess I should reserve my sorrow for the fate I’m going to meet and not waste it on a woman I’ve never met.
“Why would Jason want to marry me after I’ve been with Barevsky?” It makes no sense to give me to another manif he wants me himself. If there’s one thing I know about these assholes, it’s that they’re obsessed with their future wives’ purity. There’s no way Semion Barevsky will leave me untouched.
“Think about it, sweetie.” Jasmine’s saccharin tone makes me want to vomit. “In another three years, it will be seven since your brother vanished. What do you suppose happens after he’s been missing for three years?”
The night my family was murdered, Alexander wasn’t in the room with us. I’ve been told he ran, but was shot multiple times before plunging into the River Spey, never to be seen again.
At first I hoped he was out there somewhere, alive and plotting to bring down the Drummond family. Gradually, the dream faded. My big brother is either dead or choosing to stay away. I can’t decide what would be worse.
Either way, in three years, I’ll be able to step forward as his next of kin and have him legally declared dead. Then all of my family’s assets, which I assume are being looked after by my dad’s lawyers, will come to me as the sole survivor. If Jason marries me, he’ll take control of everything. I’ll be surplus to requirements, and he’ll get rid of me once and for all.
If that’s his plan, I can’t allow him to carry it out. My family’s legacy matters too much for me to let it fall into enemy hands. As I purse my lips, Jasmine flashes me a twisted grin.
“Ah, you worked it out,” she sneers. “Now quit stalling. Jason’s waiting and if you create a scene, you’ll regret it.”
