Payback

“That’s gone too.” Carter offered. “He sold it last year to cover gambling debts.”

“That’s a lie,” Rocco shouted.

“Of course it is, Father.” Carter knew he wouldn’t believe her, even though it was true. It was a test, he was trying to determine her level of loyalty to her family.

“What do you want?” She turned to Carter, looking exasperated.

Carter smiled coldly. “You, my dear.” Ignoring her outraged gasp, he continued, “Your father offered one of his daughters for collateral, and I’ve chosen you.”

Scarlett shook her head. “No,” she whispered. “You can’t mean to do this, Father. You can’t expect me to agree to this. You just can’t.”

Rocco looked ashamed as he slid his gaze from hers. “We have no choice, Scarlett. If you don’t agree to his terms, we have to give him the house and sell everything to pay off the remaining debt.”

Scarlett shook her head again, more fiercely this time. “I won’t do it. Forget the house and the stuff in it. I’m worth more than that, Father. How can you pimp me out like this?”

Rocco’s mouth dropped and Carter remained amused. “It’s not like that. Mr. Braxton will treat you well—just like a guest. It’s just a safety net for his substantial investment.”

“How long is this arrangement of your supposed to last?” She asked angrily.

Carter liked how feisty she was. He answered for Rocco. “Six months.”

She shook her head. “My classes—” She trailed off. “Where do you live?”

“About thirty minutes outside of San Francisco,” Carter said. “You can return to school when the six months are over.”

In a daze, Scarlett sank into a chair. Carter had the urge to go to her, to explain that it wouldn’t be as horrible as he was sure it sounded. He knew it was, in fact, horrible. But he wanted her. In ways he could hardly imagine.

“Please, Scarlett,” Rocco begged, grasping her hands as he bent forward. “I’m too old to start over completely. You’re only twenty, and I’m not asking you to sacrifice your life. It’s only a few months, and you’ll be well cared for.”

Carter watched as she sat up straighter with resolve. “I’ll do it.” He was impressed. Loyal to a fault.

“Go pack,” Carter commanded, not asking. “And hurry back. I want to leave this Godforsaken mausoleum as soon as possible.”

“If you hate it that much, why did you buy it?”

“I have my reasons.” He saw her mouth firm as she stormed from the room.

Rocco paced nervously, finally saying in a rush, “I need more money to cover my debts. I’m still almost a million short. How can I possibly get that much together and still have enough to buy the house from you?”

“That’s your problem.” Carter’s voice was as cold as his heart. “I’m definitely not giving you the money, if that’s what you’re thinking, and I’m not extending the time limit either.”

A sly smile contorted the other man’s features. “She’s worth it, I’m sure.”

Carter gave him a blank look. What the hell was he going on about now?

“What she assumed—well, it is a logical assumption that a man like you would expect that. She’s still a virgin. I’m sure of that. She hasn’t been allowed to date many boys, and the approved ones all feared me. Wouldn’t that be worth a substantial amount?”

Darren coughed suddenly, and Carter sat there in shock, disbelieving what he was hearing. He didn’t even know how he’d found himself agreeing to this, but he hadn’t purchased a sex slave for the next six months. Her own father was trying to sell her virginity to him. His hatred of Rocco intensified, and

Carter swore to himself that he would completely destroy him. “I’m not interested,” he said with admirable control.

With a furtive leer, Rocco directed a glance at Darren. “Perhaps your tastes run to other areas?”

Already grim, Carter’s mouth compressed even more. “I don’t happen to find the idea of a virgin sacrifice particularly appealing. Even a man like me has standards,” he said with a mocking inflection.

Rocco’s shoulders slumped. “Do you promise not to impede my attempt to get the money?”

“As long as it has nothing to do with my company,” he stressed, “Or this house, then I agree.”