Precious Gems - Sierra Hill Page 0,14

of his plan to get what he wants out of Mudd.

“And what, little girl, shall I do with you in the meantime.”

Chapter 8

The entire atmosphere changes as he leaves the room, presumably to ruminate over his options, as I remain locked behind closed doors. It had been charged and electric as he stood close, towering over me, touching my face with his thumb.

And now I feel cold and alone, wanting to be the object of his attention again. And for him to call me little girl.

I should be offended by the way he keeps calling me little girl, which is indecently patronizing. But in some weird way, I like it because of its suggestive connotation.

And frankly, it reminds me of who he is and who I am not. And I like that power dichotomy.

Technically, I’m not his equal. Far from it. I’m naïve in this world where he’s had years of experience. And his knowledge of this business gives him insight into the reasons behind Mudd’s motives for doing this and why my father sent me and not someone else.

My father could have sent any of his underlings. Men with far more practice and familiarity in this type of transaction.

When Mudd assigned me to this deal, he said it was to keep things on the downlow. That no one would look twice at me flying to Europe. It would keep the Feds off our scent. Mudd couldn’t afford to attract any more attention to his wheeling and dealings because he was already going through a trial for extortion and various other federal crimes.

The logic seemed reasonable to me at the time. But now I’m questioning everything he said to me before I left, rewinding every conversation leading up to my departure and peeling back the onion layer strip by strip to figure out what he has up his sleeve.

But nothing is clear to me, and I’ve not come to any conclusion.

Before Faron left, I’d suggested he let me call Mudd directly to see if I could get him to come clean about the product. Considering my father’s nickname, coming clean is obviously an oxymoron. Mudd is as dirty as they come.

Regardless, my father owes me an explanation and I want to know why he did this to me. My father has never loved me, and he treated me with the same care as he would anything he owned and managed. But I was mistaken when I thought he’d given me this opportunity because it meant he trusted me and had faith that I’d come through for him.

Instead, he put me in a dangerously compromising position. One that could jeopardize my safety if Faron sees fit to hurt me. He’s technically already kidnapped me and holds me prisoner against my will. What’s to say he won’t dispose of me if I don’t get him what he wants?

I pace the room, running everything through my head as I notice my beautiful surroundings. The silk of the comforter over the massive king-size bed, the rumpled sheets where I’d fallen asleep. There are certainly worse places I could be held captive, and the accommodations here are far better than anything I’ve ever slept in before.

Aside from the handcuffs and unnecessary hooded cover, I haven’t been mistreated in any way. And both of those restraints were promptly removed. I’ve been fed and given water, and Faron even said he’d send for some new clothes to be sent up for later. Every possible creature comfort I could desire was provided to me. And on the plus side, I’m as far away as possible from the man I call my father.

My hope is that once this matter is resolved and the deal is complete, I can return home and begin a new life out from under Mudd’s thumb. With the promise that I’ll be free from him and all the sorted, criminal elements associated with this family and life.

First things first, though. In order to be a free woman back home, I have to gain my freedom from Faron.

The touch is feather soft, gliding over my cheek as a cloud whispers through the sky. I lean into it, pressing my face closer to its warmth, a sigh passing through my lips to acknowledge my gratitude.

My heart begins to race, pulse quickening with every velvety touch. My limbs quiver as the touch lowers, tracing petals of indulgence over my skin, making its way over my collarbone. My sigh turns to raspy moans, my breasts heavy with need as