Chapter Eight

As he watched Butterfly walk away, naked but for the scarves still fluttering from her wrists and the silver slave collar around her neck, Bryan felt a surge of intense rage so white-hot it literally clouded his vision. His gut churned and he drew in a slow breath, trying to calm himself as his hands became tight fists at his sides. He couldn’t attack this guy and pound the shit out of him. Any move he made at this point was bound to get her in big trouble. He remembered seeing Jasmine on her way outside earlier. What the hell had she done to get her hair whacked off like that? The woman’s whole attitude had changed, the temptress now replaced by a mere shadow. Not that money mattered when a person’s well-being was at stake, but his financial future hung in the balance, too. This was what happened when you made a deal with the fucking devil.

Anger never wins the goal. Be sly like the coyote to get the best of an enemy, his grandfather used to say. Maybe he could find a way to free Butterfly, or at the very least protect her from whatever punishment he may have inadvertently brought down on her head.

“So what’s the going rate for…” He could barely bring himself to say the word, especially after the gift Butterfly had just given him. “…for sluts these days?” He pulled up his jeans and zipped them as he spoke, struggling to keep his voice calm.

Gary’s eyebrows lifted and an amused smile played on his lips. “You’re making me an offer for her?”

Fuck! He wanted him to name a price? The man had to know he had nothing. A little savings, not much, but he’d give it all to get her out of here. “Eight hundred.” He stared into cold gray eyes, hoping his own weren’t burning like black coals with suppressed anger.

The bastard laughed, and Bryan wasn’t sure if it was because he thought it was too much or too little.

If Gary guessed how much he cared, it would destroy any chance he had of winning her. Guys like this loved games of control. The value of a possession rose in direct proportion to how much someone else wanted it, and Gary would delight in dangling over his head what Bryan desired but could never afford.

“Like you say, she’s good. I’d like more of that, but you know I’m not rich.”

Still smiling, Gary stroked his hand over the supple red leather of the horse then reached down and tugged on one of the metal hoops in front. “I’ll have to sleep on it. Maybe fuck her a few times to see if her cunt’s still tight enough to hold my interest.” His gaze shot up to check Bryan’s reaction.

Although his neck and jaw tightened, he continued to reign in his anger, quieted his breath to help calm his temper. Gary’s taunting showed he wanted to snap Bryan’s control. This was just a game to him, the kind of power play he thrived on. Bryan had to act cool, even though the idea of this fucker touching Butterfly in any way killed him.

“You want the stocks you’ve commissioned done in time for your party?”

“Yes.” Gary’s eyes narrowed, and Bryan could almost see him trying to figure out where he was going with the question.

“Plus I still have a little finishing work to be done on the pillars before you show them off to your guests. It’s a lot of work and very little time to complete it.” He pursed his lips as though considering. “I have a proposition for you—the rest of my work for free if you sell me the girl without a fresh mark on her. I want her body unblemished…a fresh sheet for me to write on, so to speak.”

Gary’s little smile returned, and Bryan wanted to punch the smirk off his face. “For someone like you that’s almost a fortune, isn’t it, probably your rent money for a few months? What will you live on? Love?” His laughter was dry and humorless. “Do you think a woman like Butterfly is capable of love? How can someone with no self-respect, someone who’s not even a person, really, offer that? Gratitude and neediness perhaps, but without a firm hand to keep her in line, she’ll soon fall apart. She can’t survive outside of the environment I’ve created for her.”

Bryan despised this assessment, but the last statement caught his attention. Perhaps there was a kernel of truth here. Could he take Butterfly from her proverbial cocoon and expect her to thrive? He couldn’t provide her with the things she was used to. All he had was a crappy apartment and a gut feeling that she needed more in her life than torture and demeaning treatment. What if he was wrong? What if her psyche was too fragile to survive in the real world? For that matter, what if she didn’t want to leave with him?

“Are you willing to take my deal?” What if I can’t handle her? This is a huge commitment. I’d be taking on a human life! He brushed his worries aside. “In fact, let’s turn it into a bet.”

Gary gave another sharp bark of laughter and folded his arms over his chest. “I can’t wait to hear this. Go ahead.”

“The money plus my work on the dungeon equipment, and…” Bryan took a deep breath and the biggest gamble of his life. “…we’ll leave the decision to Butterfly. She can choose to remain here with you or leave with me.”

“Interesting.” Again caressing the leather of the horse as if it were a woman’s skin, Gary contemplated the offer. “I like a gamble, especially when I know the odds are in my favor. All right. We’ll present the choice the night of the party and ask her what she wants to do.” He held up a finger. “But with one stipulation. You can’t have any contact with her between now and then. I don’t want your influence clouding her judgment—such as it is.”

Bryan’s mind raced. Without a chance to talk to Butterfly and present his case he was taking a huge risk. The devil she knew was familiar, safe. What if she refused to take a chance? He’d lose the girl and everything he’d worked so hard to save. He finally nodded. “Agreed, but with a condition of my own. Leave her completely alone, don’t threaten or hurt her in any way.” He gave a tight smile. “I wouldn’t want you influencing her decision either.”

“Done! A gentleman’s agreement that neither of us will interfere.” Gary held out his hand. It took Bryan a few seconds to get past his repulsion enough to take it. All he could think of during the brief clasp was that this hand did horrible things to Butterfly all the time.

“Trust me, I don’t need to threaten. The bitch is completely under my control.” The man’s smug smile expressed his utter confidence that he’d reduced Butterfly to a mindless drone who would respond exactly as he predicted.

God, what if he was right? Bryan pulled his callused hand from Gary’s smooth grip. He pictured Butterfly’s wide, vulnerable eyes gazing into his and her sweet smile, so hopeful and trusting when she gave it to him.

He focused all his thoughts on her and willed her to hear him. Please, baby, listen to your heart. You know what’s best for you. When the time comes, choose me.