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And I should, but I couldn’t drown out this new feeling.
    “I’m not sorry,” I said, peeking up at him.
    “You’re not sorry? I give you one speech on toughening up and this is how you behave? I should have whipped.”
    I did cower, then. My shoulders drew in and on instinct, I took a step back. I’d seen enough lashings in the old days to know that it sometimes killed slaves.
    “I forget myself, Master. Please forgive me. It won’t happen again.”
    Bram stepped in and he used the wall to his advantage once again by showing me there was nowhere to go. My back pressed firmly into the stone so I could avoid contact, and my face turned away as a sign of respect for his station. It was routine. It was who I was and I couldn’t forget that.
    “Look at me.”
    It took seconds before I could obey. I was shaking through the possibilities of what he could do. When I turned, his face was so close that all I could see was his eyes. They steadily held mine as his palms flattened next to my head.
    “There’s still an Everleigh inside of there. I thought she died long ago.” He pulled back, but only a few inches. “I’m sorry for that, slave. For your sake, I wished she was dead. I fear she may not like what her future holds. I know way back there in your mind, you hold to West Harper’s declaration, but I’m here to tell you right now, he will not win your bid.”
    “But why? He thinks he can.” My voice died out and I couldn’t deny that I held hope for West. I wanted to believe it was possible. That there may be happiness for me in this hell I was cast into.
    “Do you want him to be your Master? Like, want him, as a woman would a man? Or are you wanting his kindness?”
    Tread lightly. The statement rushed through my mind as I saw a darkness edge into his depths.
    “He has always been kind.”
    “But do you find him attractive? Do you hope that he might fall in love with you if he buys you?”
    “Love?” My eyes broke their connection with his. “I’m a slave. I do not deserve love. I only live to please my master, whoever that may be.”
    Mr. Whitlock stepped away. “Such a robotic response, but a correct one. West won’t find the money, and your new master will most likely be another old man. If you’re lucky, he’ll want you purely for sex.”
    “And if he beats me? Cuts and peels back my skin like Master Kain does to his slave? Kills me like Master Pollock’s does with the multiple slaves he buys?”
    “You can take a beating.” He paused. “But if he breaks your skin, I’ll break his neck. Then we will be here, reselling you, again. It’ll be like that until you die. The only way you’ll ever escape Whitlock is in ashes.”
    “Why are you doing this for me?”
    “I told you, it’ll not be for free.”
    I stole a glance as we continued walking along the curved hall. “So you’ll come to me, then. You’ll want sex even if I have a master? What if he finds out? What if he hurts me because of it?”
    The door opened to Medical and Bram grabbed my arm, nearly dragging me into the room he was pointed to. When the door shut, he was angrier than I ever saw him. I was practically thrown onto the hard hospital bed and his hand settled on my throat as his face moved in close. My injuries screamed to life as pressure built in my face.
    “You ask all of these questions, yet you’re afraid of the wrong people. Don’t fear your master, slave. Fear the devil at your back. Fear the reflection you can’t see staring back at you in the mirror. I’m everywhere. I see your every move. I’ve seen … for years . When and what I want of you, I will take. Fuck everyone. Let them try to get in my way. You belong to me when I decide the time is right. For your sake, you better hope the day never comes.”

 
    Chapter 5
    Bram
     
    “ Move .”
    The nurse nearly dropped her tray, instead pulling it into her blue uniformed scrubs, as I pushed through the door to leave my slave’s room. I couldn’t think