Ryan's Bride Read Online Free Page B

positioned so that she could not read what was written. “What is it?”
    “It merely says that you agree to be released to this man’s custody in exchange for his paying your fine to get you out of jail and making sure you won’t go back to being a thief.
    “Not that anyone really cares what happens to you,” he added with a smirk. “You told the police you have no family, that you’re all alone in the world. But it’s a formality, just in case.”
    “But I don’t know this man,” Angele protested. “And I don’t know what kind of work he offers. Maybe I’m not suitable. And if I’m brought back, it will look terrible, and the judge might give me a harsher sentence.”
    Threat was a thundercloud in his eyes as he slammed his fists on the desk. “It doesn’t matter that you don’t know him. And you’ll be suitable once he fattens you up a little. And don’t worry about a judge giving you a harsher sentence if you come back. I’ll make sure you stay in your cell till you die. Now, sign this if you want to live.” He tapped the paper with the pen.
    An image flashed before her eyes—her uncle stripping her naked, grunting and panting as he forced her legs apart to thrust himself inside her. She was no fool. She knew what he meant for her to do. She would be forced to work in a bordello.
    She shook her head wildly from side to side and stepped back from the paper as though it were a spider about to spring and bite. Panic was a choking knot in her throat, and she had to speak around it. “No, I won’t do it. You’re afraid one day you might have to account for me—what happened to me—so you want it to look as though I went willingly.”
    Rage spread across his face like a crimson tide. “You refuse? You dare not to cooperate? You refuse a chance at freedom?”
    “It isn’t freedom. It’s slavery.”
    “You little fool. This man is willing to take responsibility for you and pay your fine.”
    She was too angry to watch her tongue. “It’s not a fine, and you know it. The money would go in your pocket. I’ll wager there’s not a word on that paper about any fine. You just want it to appear that I agreed to go with him.”
    “I’m offering you a chance at a new life.”
    Snatching up the paper, she tore it in pieces and threw them in his face.
    Enraged, he shouted, “Leon!”
    The door opened quickly, as though Leon had been leaning against it, waiting for his cue to enter.
    “Take her to The Grave. Leave her there till she comes to her senses.”
    Angele could only pray she had the strength to resist. Maybe if Captain Duclos realized she had no intention of giving in, he would just let her rot peacefully in her cell. She preferred that to the fate he wanted her to accept.
    Leon seemed to enjoy putting her in The Grave. It was situated at the far end of the hall. He hung a lantern on a peg in the wall, then stooped to lift the rectangular board that covered it.
    There was no coffin. Just raw dirt. She could see several holes had been bored in the lid Leon held. They would keep her alive—if she did not die of madness.
    “Get down there. And you better get comfortable, ’cause there’s no room to turn around.”
    When she hesitated, he kicked her behind her knees, buckling them. She pitched forward into the hole but quickly rolled over, not about to be buried on her face. Then she would surely suffocate, unable to press her nose to the air holes.
    “Once a day, I’ll raise the lid and give you a cup of gruel and water. Other than that, you stay there till you do what the commandant wants.”
    He slammed the lid in place and fastened it. His voice coming through the holes was muted, but Angele could hear and listened in dread.
    “It usually takes a day or two to make a woman give in. A few die right away, though. They just can’t take it. Maybe you can last longer. You’re younger than most of ’em. Maybe smarter, too. When the man comes for you, I’ll see if you’ve wised up