Page 54 of The Players

Danny looked frantic. “No one. They’re staying here.”

Oh crap.“They’re not moving the girls out of town,” Sy said. “He’s going to auction them off here.”

What better way to stick it to Kristoff than by trafficking children in his own town?

Judging by Kristoff’s burning eyes, he’d come to the same conclusion.

“Dickless Danny,” Angel hummed. “Now, when you say that, are you referring to him not having a dick anymore, or him having less of a dick? You know, since technically he still has one.” He eyed the growing red stain around Danny’s crotch. “I mean, his cheap jewels must be mangled and in pieces by now, but he still has one. You know, a partial dick.”

Kristoff emptied the gun in Danny’s crotch. Then he turned to Angel. “Dickless, as in no dick at all.”

“Ah. Thanks for theclarification.” Angel smiled smugly at his brother. “See how I used the word of the day there? You snooze, you lose. Pay up.”

Damon looked disgruntled. “Should’ve known something was up the moment you showed interest in a dick other than your own.” He pulled out some bills and shoved them into Angel’s hand.

Sy’s gaze went back to the girls. There was no way Keegan had gathered them together on his own. These girls were just merchandise. It wasn’t so much them being sold that was the problem, it was the way they were dressed. There was only one man he’d heard of who would do something that even remotely mirrored what was happening here—the elusive Bridemaker.

They hadn’t crossed paths before, each minding their own business, but now that sick shit had hit their shore.

“Find the motherfucker.”

Sy looked over at Kristoff and nodded. He’d gladly take on this job.

CHAPTER 19

CARMEN

Nothing beat a good morning workout in the gym. This time, she was going to kick Vince’s ass. Well, at least she hoped to be the one doing the kicking for a change. So far, she’d bested him once, and she was afraid that had been a pity victory. After all, her “victory” had coincided with the morning after her blabbing about the pictures.

They’d been going at it since dawn. Her tank top clung to her sweaty back and her thighs were burning. She refused to be the one to call it a day though.

Balancing on the balls of her feet, she circled Vince, hoping to find a weak spot. Just as the bastard had done with her after he fucked her senseless. That had been two days ago, but she still hadn’t quite forgiven either of them. Ever since, the deal with the pictures was hanging above her head like the sword of Damocles. So far, they hadn’t pushed her about it, but it was only a matter of time.

“Go for the painful and soft spots,” Vince reminded her. “A kick in the throat. A punch in the eyes.”

“Or the balls?” she quipped. “I would love to demonstrate how I could kick you in the balls.”

He lifted a brow. “If you can get that close to the family jewels, I deserve it.”

“Oh, believe me when I say that you do.”

“I’m glad to see you’ve regained your spirit, beautiful.”

One sentence was enough to remind her how she’d nearly lost her spirit, and joy of life in general. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that today her internal wounds hurt less. Even though she didn’t believe time healed all wounds, it did put a scab on them. After all, she fell apart in his arms, but she was still standing. Perhaps it was time to show him exactly how tall she intended to stand, right on his butt.

With a surprise attack, she launched herself at him. She grabbed his hand and turned his arm, ducked underneath it, and could almost smell the sweet scent of victory.

Almost.

Lying on the floor, when she looked up, Vince seemed impossibly tall from this position.

She expected him to give her a hand and lift her up, but he dropped next to her, and placed his weight on her ankles.

“No more sit-ups,” she groaned. Even thinking of them hurt her nonexistent abs.

“Thirty,” he demanded, settling comfortably on her feet.

“Twenty?” she bartered.

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