Dollars (Dollar #2)(59)

“You didn’t?” His eyes glittered. “Hand-me-down?” He raked his attention over her.

I wanted to f*cking stab out his eyeballs. I buffed my nails on my shirt, doing my best to remain above his cheap filth. “I suggest you shut the f*ck up.”

How dare he look at her? I never wanted another f*cking bastard looking at her that way again.

His eye twitched. “Aww, I get it. Sensitive subject in public.” He lowered his voice. “She’s well trained, though, judging by her condition. But you could work on her making eye contact. That’s a bit rude.”

I ignored most of his sentence, temper hissing through my nose.

Well trained? What f*cking condition? “You’re basing your conclusion on her behaviour by her bruises, am I correct?”

He laughed. “Yeah, they’re the signature of good control. Don’t you think?”

My hands clenched until my knuckles popped.

Selix crept up behind me. His solid power was comforting even if I didn’t need his help to kill a turd like this. He shifted slightly, moving to shadow Pim, placing himself unasked to protect the girl I’d stolen—the woman he couldn’t understand why I was fascinated with but wouldn’t say a word because he knew I didn’t need logic to do things.

Just as I didn’t need any more encouragement to hurt this prick.

Pim trembled against me as Dafford leered at her. “Pick her up from Morocco? That’s why I’m here actually. Heard there’s a travelling company called the QMB that finds locals and prepares them in an auction. Heading there in two days.” He sighed dramatically. “Pity I don’t already have a replacement. We could’ve shared for the night.”

Cunt.

“I don’t share.”

Pim’s feet scuffed the pavement. I didn’t know if she was preparing to attack or sprint far away. Either way, I was done listening to such garbage.

Already, our little tête-à-tête had garnered attention from locals. We were a novelty. With such attention, I didn’t want to cause a scene. Then again, I knew a thousand different ways to kill—seen and unseen.

Selix cleared his throat, a code for us to move or act but not to dally any longer.

I wanted to flat out murder Dafford.

But I had enough self-restraint to suck in a breath and convince myself he wasn’t f*cking worth it.

Straightening my back, I growled. “Well, as entertaining as this chat has been, we’ve got to go.” I gave Dafford a tight smile, keeping my temper and every other demon I battled locked tight.

I gave him a lifeline even though he didn’t bloody deserve it.

He didn’t take it.

Reaching out, he had the motherf*cking audacity to touch Pimlico’s shoulder. She flinched, whiteness coating her face as she bared her teeth.

He gripped her hard in reproach. “No way to respond to a master touching you, girl.”

And yep, I’d known this would happen.

I’d known the minute I stole her that Pim would be the cause of my unravelling, my undoing, my self-control.

Yanking her forward, he snarled, “Tell you what, Prest. If she’s a hand-me-down, you’re not doing a good job keeping up her training. I’ll buy her off you, right here, right now. Name your price.”

Pim’s eyes doubled in size but instead of looking to me for help, she twisted and fought on her own. Always on her own. Never leaning, never seeking.

I’d been waiting for this opportunity. To offload her. To make her someone else’s problem. I didn’t have the willpower or the strength to live with her and not hurt her.

But to sell her knowing her fate?

Sell her after getting to know her in the small silent snippets she’d given.

Fuck no.

Dafford laughed, still holding what was mine. “Come on, man, I hate this place. If I can leave sooner, I will. Tell you what, I’ll buy this one and you take my ticket to the auction and pick up a newer model.” His face romped with evil. “I’ve always liked the unbroken ones. More fun that way.”

It didn’t take a thought. Nothing did when I reached such a dangerous calm. My arm shot out, my hand wrapped around his throat, and I squeezed.

Pimlico stood there, frozen as I squeezed and motherf*cking squeezed.

Selix moved to the side, blocking my violence from those gawking as best he could.

It would be so easy to kill him.

To stop him hurting others and repair a little of my damaged karma, but this was too public, and I wouldn’t go to jail for him.

Letting Dafford go, he slammed to his knees, gasping for breath, holding his bruised neck. “You f*cking—”

I stepped closer, crowding him. “Finish that sentence, and I finish you. Get out of town. If I hear you went to the auction, I’ll find you and kill you. No more girls. Do you understand?”

He sneered. “Always did think you were a *. Bet she’s not even yours.” He glared at Pim. “Bet you haven’t even f*cked her.”

I couldn’t stop my leg as it shot forward and connected solid and true on his chest.

He wheezed, doubling over.

“She is mine. And she’s not for sale. If we cross paths again, *, you know what will happen.”

Grabbing Pim’s arm, I dragged her with me as I stormed away.

I needed to leave before I reneged and decided his death was worth more than my future tasks. I had too much to do before my journey was at an end—too many apologies to utter, too many wrongs to right.