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I spit a laugh, my head shaking. “Why do you say that?”

She smiles, her own head shaking. “Because each of you have paid for an entire night to reserve me. That’s not cheap, and Mama makes sure that it’s extra expensive when she knows that high rollers are calling in to make a reservation.”

I laugh again. “It’s well worth it to spend time with you, and honestly, it’s even more worth it when we know that reserving you for an entire night is going to keep you out of the clutches of other men.”

Her expression turns a little sad at my words. “I’m sorry that this is the situation we’re in.”

I take her face in my hands again and look her straight in the eyes. “None of this is your fault.” A kiss on her forehead. “There are so many things that I want to tell you, so many things that I yearn to discuss, but I don’t know how safe it is to talk. And I don’t want to cause more trouble or endanger you or your friends. So, I will just say this. There will come a time when you won’t be in danger anymore, and neither will your friends.”

A bit of confusion crosses her face, but then a little light flares in her eyes. She simply nods at me.

I have to fight back the instinct to just tell her everything, and screw the consequences. Tell her all about Mama and her background that I’m sure Sin doesn’t know. Tell her about our plans to free her. But my simple words will have to do for now.

“Tell me what it is that you want to know about me.”

She laughs takes my wrists in her grip and pulls my hands down to her lap, resting her palms on the backs. “What’s your favorite color?”

I bark another laugh. “That’s your question?”

She shrugs. “I didn’t say it was my only question, but it’s a good place to start. I don’t know anything about you, you don’t know anything about me.” She huffs. “Well, I guess you probably know more about me than I do about you.”

I shake my head but answer honestly. “I’ve always been partial to green. Like a nice dark evergreen.”

She smiles at that. “That’s really a good choice. Like the tuxedo that you wore on New Year’s Eve.”

I smile again, this time a little lopsided. “Yeah, that was kind of on the nose, huh?”

She giggles. “Well, it’s a great color on you. You looked very handsome.”

I feign a dramatic gasp. “I was only handsome that night?”

“You’re just handsome and general. Probably even more handsome completely naked.”

Her joke makes my blood warm, my skin tingle. My cock stir.

There’s nothing I would like more than to be naked with her right now. But, despite my appearance of being calm and collected, I don’t trust myself. I know the rule about not knotting her. Mama made it clear over the phone, and Ilya and Garen both warned me about it.

And I am absolutely ravenous for this woman. The last thing I want to do is endanger her.

So, if staying abstinent for now is what needs to happen to keep her safe, I am more than willing to do that. Especially considering the payoff once we finally free her.

“What else would you like to know?”

“Garen told me that you and your brothers have known each other since you were born. How long have your families been friends?”

Well, this question I can answer vaguely and still be satisfying, but all of the details can’t be divulged. Not right now, anyway. As soon as we have her out of here, we can tell her absolutely everything. No more secrets.

“Well, our families go back generations, actually. Obviously you know Ilya’s family is from Russia, and Garen’s is from England. My family roots actually extend to Ireland, but we’ve been in the United States for four generations now. Which is why I don’t have a fancy accent like they do.”

This joke makes a Sin giggle again, and the sound breathes new life into my soul. Those sapphire eyes of hers sparkle, and I am completely smitten all over again.

I clear my throat. “What else? I’ll tell you anything and everything I can.”

Sin spends the next hour peppering me with questions, but nothing too invasive. It’s like she knows for certain that it isn’t safe to talk inside the club. Which concerns me, because I know she’s been having more detailed conversations with Garen and Ilya.

I wonder if something has changed.

Once she seems satisfied that I’ve answered her questions, she asks, “Do you have any questions for me? You know, not about mansions in Beverly Hills I’ve never been to.”