Page 53 of Throne of Sin

It takes a second for me to find my backbone. “She has a name. It’s rude not to use it.”

They look shocked at my outburst. The men’s eyes fly to Dante.

“She willingly entered the auction,” Dante sighs, gesturing toward me with his hand.

Now they look impressed.

“What the hell is this?” I ask, placing a hand on my hip.

“Demi, this is special agent Barnes and special agent Horne. They’re undercover, trying to bring down one of the largest trafficking rings in the world.”

I look back at Dante. “I’m so confused.”

He wraps his arm around my shoulder, his warmth radiating through my body, sinking deep into my bones. When he does this, no matter the situation, I feel safe. False security, I’m sure of it, but my body refuses to see reason.

My heart is still racing as I try to relax.

“Demi, can you tell us who your contact was to get into the auction?” Special agent Horne asks.

I look up at Dante, who nods his head. “We can trust these guys. I’ve been working with them for the last six years. Together, we have saved about a thousand women as I enter deeper into the trafficking world. I’m their inside guy.”

I should have expected this, but I never saw it coming. “If you save women, why am I working for you?”

The men glance at Dante, then at me. Dante stiffens beside me.

“Stop asking questions, and answer theirs, Demi.” His tone is full of authority, ignoring what I asked.

“A guy named Tex. I begged him to let me enter,” I answer.

“How do you know Tex?”

I glance up at Dante once again. I hate how it looks like I need his approval before I answer anything. I’m just worried about saying Jameson’s name out loud. Dante’s mood always changes whenever I do.

“No one will know you said anything.” They think I’m worried about giving up my source. I’m not. I’m worried about how it will affect Dante and I.

“Jameson.”

“Does Jameson have a last name?”

“Jameson Kelly.”

“How do you know him?” Agent Horne asks.

How do I tell them the truth?At this point, where do I even start?

“He grew up in the same small town as us,” Dante answers for me.

“Do you have a picture of him?”

I shake my head.

“I can get you one,” Dante adds.

They question me for an hour before Dante and I leave the room. My mind is spinning, and I feel exhausted.

“I still don’t know, are you helping or not?” I ask.

He wraps his body around me, pulling me into a hug. “I’m trying to take down the largest human trafficking ring in the world. I regularly buy women and set them up with new identities and a new life. Each woman has helped to fill in the blanks for us, giving us a clearer picture of our target. The longer I’m in that circle, the more help I can give. Only those two men know my real purpose. Everyone else thinks I’m vicious. Ithasto stay that way or I lose all my power.”

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