Rough Exile

He gave a curt nod, but I wasn’t sure whether we were really on the same page or if he was just trying to shut me up. I considered the offer. It was bold of him to assume I would cooperate just because of the money he was willing to splash around, but the Island didn’t pay anyone in cash. As far as I knew, if a woman dropped out of her program of study or didn’t pass, they didn’t fork over money instead.

It was true what he’d said—my siblings were all busy with school. My parents would be shorthanded at the store, and there would be no one around to clean the house and cook meals, but they wouldn’t miss me, specifically.

I considered it, looking down at my lap. It was difficult to sit demurely in a bikini with my arms bound so tightly behind me, but I’d balanced myself with my legs folded off to one side.

Mulling over the offer and wondering if I should ask for more money, I studied the two men. Both were the rugged, outdoorsy type I’d always been attracted to, but why had they chosen me for this? I hadn’t thought they were interested.

It didn’t really matter why they’d chosen me. They were offering me the money.

“What kind of guarantee do I have that you’ll let me go after the contract is done?”

His dark eyes flashed in annoyance. He was even hotter when he was annoyed, which was a bad thing for me. I really didn’t need to be leering at assholes who were coercing me into taking their contract.

What proclivities did they have? Both of them had been on a free-for-all sex Island for three weeks and hadn’t slutted around like the rest of us. It made me more than a little curious.

He crossed his arms. They were heavily muscled, tanned, and tattooed. “What kind of guarantee do you get from the Island?”

I shrugged. “The Island is an established business. A friend referred me there. There were official contracts to sign. They are professionals. Taking your contract would be more of a risk for me.”

“I’m sure we could write up a contract, if it would make you feel better,” he said sardonically.

“That wouldn’t make any difference. Without seeing your Yelp reviews, there’s no way to know what I’m getting myself into.” I smiled a little, trying to make a joke out of it, but he only scowled. So cranky, this man. Then again, a celibate month on a sex island might be more than most men could tolerate.

I glanced over at Ilya. His dark eyes were following our conversation, but he still hadn’t said anything. He hadn’t even spoken to Bron.

“I can’t offer you more assurances than I have, other than possibly to get Island management to cosign the agreement.”

“Where are you taking me?”

“Another island.”

“And you promise not to kill me or maim me in any way?”

“That wasn’t our intention. However, you are testing my patience.”

I snorted, assuming it was a joke, until I saw his expression.

Of course, it wasn’t a joke.

Great. Four months with two men who had no sense of humor? This was going to suck, but money was money.

My head was still swimming from the piña coladas we’d been drinking. It was strange to think my glass might still be sitting on the beach next to the thermos we’d borrowed, unless it had gotten knocked over or broken in the struggle.

“I wish you’d asked me and given me time to tell people, rather than scaring the hell out of everyone.”

“And how would that be any fun for us?”

“You took a big risk by doing this. The Island might have come after you for it.”

Bron turned his head and spat over the side of the boat as if that was his opinion of the Island. If I craned my neck, I could see land in the distance, but there was no way for me to guess how far it was.

“You think this place is so good, but they don’t care about you. Where do you think your little friend Clover ended up? She isn’t at home looking at schools on the internet. She’s alone with dangerous men, and probably with no extra money to show for it. The Island isn’t hunting those men down to have her returned. All of you are replaceable to them. They gave us access to your files with no hesitation, as though it was a simple extra charge.”

I swallowed, my chest hurting with his with the information he’d dropped in my lap. I wanted to say it couldn’t be true, and yet why couldn’t it be true? Maybe I was too trusting, but I wasn’t an idiot. Poor Clover.

“We have to help Clover,” I said desperately.

“How?” he said with a snort. “Do you think the men exchange phone numbers, or are friends on that...Facebook? I doubt the Island cares. They took her away so there was no mess to clean up. And her family? Well, girls go missing all the time.”

”Is that supposed to make me more comfortable about leaving with you?”

“Like I said, you’re coming with us either way. You’re a silly little girl if you think you’re safer on the Island than you would be with us. Stupid risks are stupid risks.”

He had a point. They had me anyway. Agreeing to their proposal was merely a formality.

I stuck out my hand, and he shook it.

The gleam in his eye suggested this wouldn’t be easy money.