ows, utterly baffled by

h hands, determined to break free. His body barely budged-he

he swung her hand

h warning. "Mr. Ford-" He clearly thought she

He caught her wrist before she cou

rting? You must be new to all this-can't even understand

ous look. Flirting?

r bare skin brushing against his

nerves, sending an involuntary shiver down he

learly entertained by the fury burning in her e

auction sprinted toward them, greed gleaming in his ga

fore Preston stepped forward, gun already cocked and

, outrage coloring his cheeks. "

ver, yanking him back with a sharp look

nce. "Mr. Ford, we apologize-she's our blood slave, and she damaged your auction

ce from Charlie's face. Something col

t continued, nervous but uncertain where he

his voice cold and absolute. T

his voice. "Mr. Ford, you can't! She's property of Heaven

to finish, fear cree

-a motion so casual it seemed careless, bu

refusal. "Her auction price was t

eathless-no one in Heaven Island's

whipped out a checkbook, scribbled out a dizzying

he check flutter to the ground, unintere

, "Mr. Ford, I can't accept this. Heaven Is

lips. "And if Heaven Island ceased to

t might have been small talk about the weather, b

od frozen, words d

the woman's exposed shoulders, scooped her up as

n black fell in behind him,

n a strangled voice, but as Charlie's regal figure

held Elesron's fortunes in his grasp, a kingpin in bo

for every breath, now lay limp and

ing her steady emerald gaze, an

hope and triumph, the thrill of freedom spa

tervention meant she was finally leaving this nightmare,

the floor, gripping his head as he snapped, "Enough! Even if you'd won the bid, you never wou

ed blood slave-and now that she'd been taken, the fallout awaiti