Chapter 3

I almost threw up at the thought.

Heather paled. She did not want things to spiral beyond her control, but she also did not want me to stay long enough to see my father.

After a moment of deliberation, she gritted her teeth and muttered, "Take her away. I don't want her here at all. As for the money... I'll transfer it to you later."

Hugh's eyes lit up. He yanked me backward by my hair, as though he wanted to rip it from my scalp. "Did you hear that? My sister has spoken!"

I tried to pry his fingers loose, but all I accomplished was making him tighten his grip even further.

His two degenerate friends stared at me the entire time.

One of them let out a whistle. "Where'd you find this one? She looks expensive as hell!"

Hugh snickered. "Found her in Mr. Windsor's house, guys. Looks like the massage parlor sent their best! Hell, she's a feisty one."

I gritted my teeth against the pain and snarled, "Fuck off!"

He answered by driving his foot into my abdomen.

Agony exploded through me. My knees buckled, and I nearly collapsed, but he jerked me upright again by my hair.

"You're the one who fucks for cash, babe. I wouldn't insult the people I serve if I were you," he sneered. "Every one of your establishments knows who I am!"

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails bit into my palms.

Heather watched everything from the comfort of the stairs.

Meanwhile, Sarah dragged my suitcase aside and asked, "Miss DeVry, do you know the password?"

Heather looked at me with open contempt. "No. I'll open it myself. I can't wait to see how many disgusting things you've stashed in there!"

"You don't deserve to touch it!" I shot back.

Sarah raised her hand, but I caught her wrist and twisted it as hard as I could. She screamed.

Hugh roared and slammed me into the wall. A sharp pain shot up my spine.

One of Hugh's friends laughed. "Whoa! Easy there, dawg! Not here!"

"Yeah. Take her somewhere else. We can question her on the way. If we find out who her pimp is, we might be able to blackmail him into coughing up some cash too!"

"They're absolutely right!" Heather chimed in. "Look at her clothes. They're classy as hell. She must have some sugar daddy bankrolling her. Squeeze some money out of her owner! And frankly, take her away already. Her presence is polluting the entire house!"

I locked eyes with her. "You're the one wearing my mom's nightgown and standing in my house. If anyone's polluting this place, it's you!"

She frowned. "Your... mom?"

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Oh boy. Here comes the plot twist."

Hugh laughed so hard he doubled over. "No. No fucking way. She's not about to claim Mr. Windsor is her dad, is she? Oh, God! Then I guess I'm his long-lost son!"

"Take the nightgown off!" I growled.

Heather stared at me with feigned bewilderment. "What the hell are you talking about? Mr. Windsor said anything I like in this house is mine to use!"

No. I knew my father. He would never say anything like that. He treated everything my mother left behind as priceless. He would protect those keepsakes with his life before letting lowlife bastards like them defile them.

There could be only one explanation. She had stolen the keys to the master bedroom.

I fixed my gaze on Sarah. "You. You gave her the keys, didn't you?"

Sarah avoided my eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Heather sneered, "Why would I need to steal any keys when the master bedroom is mine now? Do I have to file a report every time I decide to wear something I like?"

While I simmered with rage, Hugh shoved his hand into my coat pocket. "What else are you hiding in here, huh?"

I slapped his hand away.

Furious, he struck me across the face with all his strength.

My ears rang from the impact.

When the ringing finally faded, Heather's mocking laughter filled the room. "Not the face, Hugh! That's how she advertises the rest of her body for work!"

Hugh chuckled like a schoolboy laughing at a dirty joke. "Ohhh. Right. Not the face."

His friends moved in from both sides and seized my arms. I could no longer break free.

Hugh shoved my passport pouch into the inner pocket of his jacket and reached for my coat. "Come on, babe. Time to show me and the boys just how good you've got to be to land a man like Mr. Windsor."

I answered with a swift kick to his abdomen.

He stumbled backward, his face darkening with fury.

"You bitch! You think you can fuck with me?" he bellowed. "Drag her out of here!"