Page 58 of Savage Desires

We walk through the laidback living area, down a hallway, and into a large conference room with a table capable of seating twenty-five people comfortably. There are eight people already gathered. Some are talking with friendly accord; others are glaring at each other with disdain. It's a precarious balance between friends and enemies. Outside of this building, most of these people wouldn't be caught dead associating with each other, but here, we have the same purpose and are willing to overlook grievances to achieve our goal.

The room goes quiet when they notice a new face. Willow straightens her spine and puts on a mask of indifference. She won't show these people an ounce of weakness. She's phenomenal. I'm so fucking lucky that she's mine.

"Well, well, well, who do we have here?" Lester leers, practically eye fucking Willow.

Willow narrows her eyes at him, her lip curling up in disgust. "I'm Kisten's, so you can put your dick back in your pants," she says sharply.

I bite back a smirk at her sass. Lester isn't dissuaded by her attitude. She's earned his respect, which is both good and bad. Mauve gives Willow a once-over, her dark eyes filled with intrigue. She stands and closes the distance between us. Willow stands tall, awaiting the other woman's approach. Mauve holds out her hand, and Willow gives it a confident shake.

"Glad to see another woman join the ranks. Sissy and Chante will be pissed they missed out. Name's Mauve, don't let these assholes get to you. They like swinging their dicks around, but their bark is worse than their bite."

Willow smirks. "Disappointing."

Mauve throws her head back and laughs. "You're gonna be fun. Let's get this party started. Chen is alone at the club, and that's never good."

I quickly introduce the other men at the table. Willow takes them all in with a calculating eye. She lingers longer on Seamus, but I doubt anyone else would notice. I'm so tuned in to her that I'm aware of every twitch she makes.

"Nice to meet you," she says.

I lead her to the head of the table and sit. She glances at the empty chair to my right but instead perches on my lap like a queen, and I'm her goddamned throne. I squeeze her hip in silent approval.

"Let's get this meeting started. I have shit to do," Davis says. He looks at his expensive gold watch as if it gives his words more meaning. I could give a fuck less what he has to do. He owns several high-end strip clubs and has a real disdain for anyone who takes advantage of women, but he's a real prick.

"We have a ring running here in the city right under all our noses," I say with a growl.

Everyone sits up straighter at the bomb I just dropped.

"Impossible. We haven't had a full operation in the city for years," Seamus barks.

Willow tenses on my lap. I circle my thumb on her thigh to remind her she's safe.

"I can assure you there is a trafficking ring in New York City. I've been a victim of it for the last four years until Kisten rescued me four days ago," Willow says defiantly, waiting for anyone to contradict her.

Mauve's eyes widen in horrified surprise and the others burst into furious chatter. I bang my fist on the table, making everyone shut up. Willow is stiff on my lap as she takes in the various looks on everyone's faces.

"Tell us everything," Mauve orders.

I tell them about the tip Hera gave me about Mecca—not mentioning her name because I prefer not to die by her skillful and violent hands. Willow leans against me when I describe how I helped her at the club and shivers when I talk about the woman who took her away.

"Madame," Willow murmurs. "She goes by Madame. I don't know her real name, but she's in charge of the girls."

Maude growls. "A woman is in charge of keeping other women captive and doing despicable things to them?"

"Yes."

I continue with my story, telling them about my little chat with Todd Mallory. Lester and Davis are livid when I tell them about the mansion and the women being kept there. All eyes are trained on Willow when I tell them about the auction and how I bought her.

Mauve's eyes narrow at my arm around Willow, then turns that dark glare on me. "You fucking bought her?"

I scowl. "I saved her fucking life. I didn't buy her to keep her, for fuck's sake."

Willow's gentle touch on my chest chases away some of my anger at the accusation.

"Then why the fuck is she here?" Mauve pushes. "Why isn't she on her way to Hope House or back home where she belongs?"

Willow levels a glare on Mauve. "I'm here because I want to be. I have inside information about Mecca and the people that run it. I want to help take down the bastards that stole years of my life from me. They deserve to pay… to bleed… and I want to be the one wielding the knife that cuts them down."

All eyes are on Willow as she declares her intentions. Mauve drops some of her anger but doesn't like the answer. Several of the others aren't sold either. Too bad. It's not their choice, and I won't hold her back from getting vengeance. I promised her she could help and I will stick to my word.