Page 24 of Savage Assassin

Icome to on a couch in what appears to be an informal living room somewhere in the house. My head feels heavy, my eyes a little sticky, and I pry them open as I slowly blink back to consciousness, the events of the day rushing back to me in a whirlwind.

I’m not entirely sure that I didn’t imagine it all, until I hear the low sound of Levin’s voice, and I turn my head to see him talking to an older man who appears to be a doctor.

“She’ll be alright,” the doctor says in a low voice. “Just exhaustion and nerves, I think. Not uncommon, these events are a bit–straining, on the girls. But if you’re disappointed in your purchase and wish to speak to Diego–”

“No,” Levin says, and I can hear the edge in his tone. “I’m not disappointed.”

“Very well. When she wakes, she can be readied to join you for the evening. If you wish to rejoin the guests–”

“I’ll wait here.” There’s that same sharp edge, and the man retreats, clearly intimidated by Levin.

“As you wish.”

Something flutters in my chest when Levin says that he’s not disappointed in me. It’s ridiculous, frankly–why should I care whether he’s disappointed that I passed out or not? It’s not as if I could help it, or evenshouldhave been able to help it, after what I’ve been put through today. But it makes me feel comforted, somehow, that he’s not upset.

What now?

Levin turns towards me when the door shuts behind the other man, his eyes widening slightly as he sees me. “You’re awake,” he says, a hint of surprise in his voice as he walks towards the couch where I’m still lying, unsure if I’m ready to sit up or not. “I thought you might be out for a little while still.”

“I’m sorry I–”

“No need to be sorry. Today must have been a strain for you.” He sits down on the edge of the couch near my legs, gently nudging them aside to make room for himself. His touch is gentle, almost too light for me to feel, but there’s a flush of heat that I feel anyway where his fingers brush against my calf.

It’s every bit as ridiculous as being glad that he wasn’t disappointed in me.

“Are we leaving?” My voice still sounds wobbly, as if I’m trying to speak underwater. “I can get up if we–”

“Not yet.” Levin’s jaw clenches slightly, and I see a hint of warning in his eyes. “Diego is having a party tonight. All thehonored guests,” he says emphatically, “are staying tonight to enjoy the celebration with their new acquisitions and enjoy the Gonzalez’ house’s hospitality. As we will also need to do.”

The way he phrases it is so careful that I immediately understand what’s going on–or at least I think that I do. Diego’s guests are staying to enjoy whatever revelry he has planned, and if Levin leaves with me now, it will look suspicious. We won’t be able to leave until tomorrow at least–which means continuing to play the game of a rich man and his new purchase.

I’m fairly certain he’s also being careful not to say anything in here that might give us away, just in case someone is listening. We have to keep up the ruse until we’re well away from Diego’s compound and any chance of being caught.

The thought makes my stomach knot all over again. I’m beyond exhausted; everything wrung out of me from the effort of maintaining my composure all day, let alone not giving away that I knew Levin was here and trying to rescue me. But I know I have to get through it.

If I don’t, all of this will have been for nothing.

I nod, swallowing hard as I start to slowly push myself up from the couch. Levin instantly leans forward, his arm going around my back to help me. The feeling of that hard, muscled support sends another flush of unexpected heat through me.

“Careful,” he murmurs. “Slowly. Someone is going to come help you get ready soon, but there’s no rush. We don’t want you passing out again.”

He’s being a little too conciliatory for one of these men, but if someone is listening, it could still be explained away. He’s paid a massive sum for me, so it’s not beyond reason that he’d treat me with kid gloves, even if I’d bet that same amount of money that none of the other men in that audience would have.

“I just need a second. And then I’ll be fine.” The words still sound a little shaky, but Idofeel as if I’m starting to come back to myself, at least a little. “What do you mean, help me get ready?”

Levin shrugs, his arm still pressed against my back, helping me stay upright. I find that I don’t really want him to move it. “I suppose they have clothes for the girls to wear to the party tonight. I’m not aware of what that entails. I’m sure it will be–sparse.”

There’s a note of levity in his voice that I’m fairly sure is forced, but I know it needs to be. Heshouldbe excited at the idea of seeing me in sparse clothing, after how much he paid for me.He has to play a role, too,I remind myself.Anything he does is to keep us both safe until we can get out of here.

“I’m good,” I tell him after a few more seconds pass. “You can tell whoever is going to–help me that I’m ready.”

Levin gives me a momentary, appraising look, but then he nods and stands up, walking over to one side of the room and tapping what looks like a doorbell on the wall. In a matter of seconds, the door opens, and a short, slight-looking woman dressed in the staff uniforms of the household walks in, nodding respectfully to Levin and then crossing directly to me.

“Come along,” she tells me, urging me up from the couch. “Time to get you ready for the festivities tonight.”

I glance back once at Levin as she ushers me out, suddenly wanting very much to stay with him. He’s the only safe thing here, and I catch a glimpse of what looks like a reassuring expression on his face as I’m whisked away. Still, it’s not enough to slow the sudden, panicked racing of my heart.

“The worst part is over,” the woman says quietly to me, as she walks me down the hall. “You’ve been bought now, so there’s no more wondering.”

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