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gave his head a hard shake.
    “You can’t afford her.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “You heard me. You can’t afford slave twenty-four-six-ninety. I know how much you’re worth. You don’t have the money.”
    I cocked my head to the side as anger filled me. “I’ll find it.”
    “I said no.”
    “No, you said I didn’t have the money. I’m telling you I do. Are you saying no? Is that what you’re doing?”
    “You’re better than a used up slave. Find a real woman, West. A wife.”
    I laughed under my breath, but it was anything but happy. “I don’t want a wife; I want her. Besides, you owe me. I’ve covered for your ass for more shit over these years, asking nothing in return. I’m not saying don’t charge me for her. Just give me the option to buy if that’s my choice.”
    Bram’s jaw clenched repeatedly as he stared at me. “Fine. You want your chance to bid, you got it. But don’t think you’ll win. There are men out there willing to pay hundreds of thousands for their chance to use her as they see fit. If you think you can find the sum to win her, have at it. I won’t stop you. Just know you’ll be bidding for nothing.”
    Cautiously, slave twenty-four-six-ninety emerged from the entrance of the bedroom, wearing the same white robe she’d come in. Her stare lifted right to me and I didn’t turn away like I usually did. I met her gaze with everything I had. There was no point in hiding my want of her anymore. She was free. To me, she was already mine.
    “Let me have her now. Name your price, it’s yours. There’s no reason she has to go to Slave Row and endure what she’ll be put through. I can take care of her.”
    Bram’s eyes flared with fury as his head jerked to me. “That is asking too much. You know that’s not how it works here. She will go to Slave Row, and if you want her, you will bid. End of discussion.”
    My lips pressed together with my need to argue. It was pointless. I had known Bram almost my entire life. When he was set against something, swaying him was impossible. He didn’t want me to have her. That was clear. But I had a chance to win. I would win.
    “Slave.” I tore my gaze from Bram’s and headed for the dark-haired woman who’d captured my attention from the first moment I saw her on the monitor. “I make no promises, but rest assured when the day comes for you to be bought again, I will do my best to make you mine.” I paused as I took in her beaten face. “Would you like for me to own you?”
    “You?” She looked to Bram, only to come back to me. “I … I would be honored, Mr. Harper. Master,” she rushed out.
    “I’m not your Master yet,” I said, smiling, “but perhaps soon. Until then, Mr. Harper will do.”
    She gave a nod, walking to Bram’s side as he impatiently signaled for her.
    “We’ll talk when I return. This isn’t over, West.”
    Bram may have thought it wasn’t, but the conversation was at an end. He was going to try to get me to change my mind. Little did he know, I’d come too far to go back now. Slave twenty-four-six-ninety was going to be mine. I had made sure of it.

 
    Chapter 4
    24690
     
    “You would be honored? The correct response would have been, I’m not worthy of you, Mr. Harper.”
    “You’re right, Mr. Whitlock. I am unworthy of Mr. Harper. I apologize. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
    I continued to take in the white tiles lining the floor as we walked to Medical. My response was ingrained. The words came from deep within, barely even registering as I said them. Honored. Yes, I would have been honored to belong to Mr. Harper. I was guessing he was in his early thirties, and he was extremely attractive with light brown hair, brown eyes, a thin, straight nose, and nice lips … but, I would have been even more honored to leave this place. My mind said it was wrong to think that, but the other part of me—the rebellious part I tried to lock away, couldn’t be muted. Honored. I hated being owned. I hated