Jerred's Price Read Online Free PDF

tight.
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    Joanna Wylde
    “Oh, I have all kinds of ideas,” he replied dulcetly. “But I don’t know if you’d like them or not. I suppose that before we get any further, we should agree on a price? I’d hate for you to think I’m not a man of my word, and I think we’re long past playing coy.”
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    Jerred’s Price

Chapter Three
    Giselle glared up at him, disbelieving. After all that had happened, how could the bastard still think she was for sale? She’d had him beaten and arrested, for love of the Goddess! Her eyes narrowed as she thought about that. “How did you get out so quickly?”
    He smiled at her, a disgustingly smug look coming across her face.
    “I’ve found that justice is for sale here on Transit Station Three,” he said slowly.
    “Remember, I told you everything was for sale if you were willing the pay the right price. Why don’t you tell me what your price is?”
    “How did you manage to pay a fine that big so fast?” she asked. He merely looked at her, one eyebrow cocked in amusement.
    “Your price?” he prodded after a moment.
    “I told you, I’m not for sale!”
    “Then why are you here?” he asked. “If the only reason you came here was to rob me, it seems that it may be in my best interest to call the guards and report you. What do you say to that?”
    She froze, terrified. She had more than a guess as to what the guards would think of that… Time to try a new approach.
    “Can we just forget this ever happened?” she asked suddenly, giving him her most winning smile. “I only came here because I needed a place to stay and I didn’t think you’d be around. I made a serious mistake, and I’m sorry for that. Can you just let it go?”
    “Why did you need a place to stay?” he asked. She shook her head, disgusted for revealing so much.
    “Tell me, or I call the guards,” he said with sudden insight. He knew something was up; she could see it on his face.
    “Look, you’re imagining things,” she replied. “I’m sorry I bothered you, but there’s nothing to this. I was just locked out of my apartment, and I figured your room would be empty. I wasn’t carrying any cash to get a room of my own and Manya had already left for the cycle.”
    “That’s ridiculous,” he said. “You didn’t need a keycard for your apartment; you already used that little excuse to fool me once. After that, I think it’s very generous for me to offer you money. Some would say you owe me.”
    She rolled her eyes, forgetting to smile.
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    Joanna Wylde
    “You don’t want me to call the station guards for a reason, don’t you?” he asked.
    “You’re here because you’re in trouble.”
    She shook her head, denying it. His grin grew broader.
    “No, I’m right,” he said, “I can tell. There’s a little twitch by your eye. You’re lying.”
    “No,” she said softly. “No, just let me leave. Please.”
    He sat up abruptly. She felt exposed, insecure. Why was all this happening at once?
    Why had she been so foolish as to come to his room?
    “You’re running from something, probably the station guards,” he said shortly.
    “Tell me what your problem is. Maybe I can help you.”
    “You’re wrong.”
    “If you have nothing to hide, you won’t mind me calling the station guards.
    Computer, open a connection—”
    “No,” she whispered. “Don’t call them. Please.”
    “Tell me.”
    “I saw something,” she whispered, defeated. “I saw one of them commit a crime.
    Justice is for sale here, you said it yourself. They’ll kill me if they find me.”
    “The guards?”
    She nodded quickly, hoping desperately that he would have the decency not to turn her in.
    He smiled broadly.
    “I take it they know where you live,” he said slowly. “That you came here as a last resort?”
    She didn’t reply. He was right, of course, but she’d be damned if she’d admit it openly.
    “You need to get off the station.”
    She nodded.
    “And you don’t have any money? Or not