otions flicker across

e

xi

ehen

was obvious, but there was more to her story. There was

Monroe. Her father was basically selling her to him. Damien was starting to think he was

was silent, so Damien took charge. He wasn’t patient an

ld,” he said wi

hesitation. It was obvious she was nervous, not used to bei

red his hand. She looked at it with suspicion, but her father had taught her well, because even though it was ob

amien noticed her father’s silence as the two of them sat on th

slave. Damien was disgusted that the man so willingly sold his daught

mo

qu

e was twisting her fingers in her lap. When her tongue quickly moistened her surprising

embered that. He got a new employee and an inside connection to the Ander

ze from her, his attention focusing once more on her father. He looked

that he was telling her that was her job title. He also somehow knew that she wouldn’t defy her father. What had him

o! He refused to feel any weakness toward the girl. She wasn’t some innocent bystander who needed protection

her choice, or her father’s, she hadn’t seemed unhappy to be traip

ntually explained. Damien observed the man who showed no emotion as he spoke. He was stone col

onroe – a business deal, where he got a significant

over her words, her voice confused as she look

e excellent job you’ve done with your charity work, and he’d like to hire you. I’ve accepted on your behalf. The position starts immediately. You should be honored that a man as influential as Dami

re than clear that she would take the job or face his wrath. The authority he used i

ughter infuriated him. He wanted Sierra to stand up for herself, tell her fath

looking for work,

rled as if Sierra were nothing more than a burde

he research, and decided you’d accommodate my needs perfectly. It’s really q

ith reserve, her shoulders slou

e,” Douglas said, menace

Was it a fear of being cut off from her trust? He wanted to believe that, but somehow he d

is was asked with hesitancy as

shou

funds. He knew what she was truly asking. She wanted to know if

onder, he

out of her eyes. Those expressive brown eyes flashed to his own, locking their gazes together as his thumb

do,” he said, his voice showing no

as out of her element, looking confused, but he saw a spark of excitement there, too. He watched

an attraction to her that seemed to be growing by the minute. It had been a while since his last arrangement with

He’d still get what he ultimately wanted, an

t to realize she was talking about the job, not about being his lover. Her tongue slipped out and moiste

ore than qualified,” he said, managing to place that hin

l opening at the top of her blouse. Her generous curves were heaving up and down as he

as business in Australia so you’ll be leaving straight away,” Do

lved. His focus was shifting from revenge to desire, which he didn’t like, but he knew she’d consume his thoughts if he were t

d if I’m taking the

scornfully. “We’ll take care of all the

e was about to say something to him until Sierra slowly stood

as his to command, and she hadn’t put up much of

all the negative information he’d heard abou

feeder. He was willing to sell his own daughter as if she were nothing more than a slave. Damien’s respect for Sierra was

y the way she seemed utterly broken, as if her father had somehow bent her will to his comm

thing Damien knew for sure was that there was a lot more to Sierra than the small

tting through the meeting had wreaked havoc on the ghost of a Band-Aid covering his own childhood skeletons. His wound

e out Sierra – when she wasn’t

t of the investment with Monroe Enterprises. Douglas got a third up front, then the rest in three months. Still, if she left,

rly that the contract was impeccably solid. Dam

st as the man signe

∞

ged to walk from the room without shedding a tea

sinking in. Some of her fear lifted. It was her way out. She was going away

Mr. Whitfield, and she was terrified of what their

drunken rage. She may even be able to spend some time with Bree, get awa

well as excitement to be leaving, Sierra stood and pulled out two suitcases. Sh

he picture of her sitting on her mom’s lap, their arms wrapped tightly around each other. Each time she

ndy get along? Sierra somehow doubted it. If Douglas wouldn’t let her leave, she couldn’t see him allowing his

oon even if only for a weekend. She shut the cover and carefully placed the album

attend. He didn’t buy them as a reminder of his love for her, but because he had an image to maintain, and he certainly couldn’t have

s, and she wasn’t much of a shopper. She had her clothes, her few sentimental keepsakes from

hed her prison in darkness before shutting the door. She pushed down both the fright a