Read Savage Chains: Scarred (#2) for Free Online

dysfunction.
    She didn’t repress the heavy sigh that followed.
    ###
    Reyes despised that Angelica had to walk slightly behind him. Her position also stressed him out, since he couldn’t control what happened in his wake. If one of these partygoers, many of whom were drunk, decided to cop a feel Reyes was pretty sure he’d come unglued.
    Let me know if anyone touches you. I won’t stand for it.
He moved his gaze from side to side, watching everyone who passed.
    Is that why my chain is vibrating like a Harley right now?
    If any of these cretins put his hands on you …
    Okay, ease down. I can see your neck muscles flex. That’s not good for any man, and probably not a vampire, either.
    He cleared his throat.
You’re going to make me laugh.
    You need to laugh more.
    Maybe so, but right now I’m seeing another of the Board of Governors, a man by the name of Fitch, and I’ll want to meet him. He’s a few yards away, very tall. Wears his hair flowing around his shoulders. He has one of his slaves with him.
The blond woman was naked and stared dull-eyed toward the ground in front of her.
    Oh, my God, Reyes, she has cuts in perfect thin lines down her abdomen. He must have used the cat’s claw.
    Looks like it, but there’s nothing we can do.
    She’ll die.
    Not right away. He’s known to take his time.
    Fitch approached. “Reyes. It is
Reyes,
right?”
    Reyes once more picked up the slack on Angelica’s leash and drew her close to his side. He extended his hand, and Fitch shook it. “How do you do, Master Fitch? I understand you’re on the Starlin board.”
    “I am and your name keeps coming up at the meetings, has for some time. Keep up the good work and you might be asked to join us.”
    Reyes strove to check his emotions, but excitement coursed through him. He had one goal here, to get on the board, but he was prepared for his efforts to take years. Would it be possible to speed up his plans? “I’d like that. Starlin has set the bar in every sense.”
    “One day, we’ll exceed even Briggs in volume.”
    Daniel Briggs was the largest slaver in the entire vampire world and his Dark Cavern system, which he owned and operated, moved more slaves than any other outfit. He was also untouchable as the most powerful vampire on the planet and currently now headed up the Council of Ancestors.
    Once Reyes brought Starlin down, he fully intended to turn his sights on Briggs. The vampire owned hundreds of clubs from which he drew
new talent,
the current euphemism for fresh slaves. Briggs even owned the Ocean Club, which Starlin also used to gather its slaves, including Angelica.
    Wishing Fitch enjoyment of the festivities, Reyes tugged on Angelica’s leash.
    As he moved past Fitch, however, Angelica’s voice shot through his head.
Reyes, he just grabbed my ass.
    Fitch?
    Yes.
    Reyes didn’t stop to think; he whirled, leaped toward Fitch, and had him in a choke hold on the ground, one knee hard into the vampire’s sternum. “You don’t touch my slave. Sharing is a courtesy but not a right. You ask first. Have you got that?” Board or no board, Reyes was setting some boundaries.
    A crowd gathered quickly, but Reyes didn’t care. He had to live this life for now and Angelica had already sacrificed so much to play her role, but like hell would he let any man touch her and not feel the consequences.
    “Understood.” Fitch’s voice now sounded hoarse, like he had laryngitis. “Apologies.”
    Reyes released him slowly, then rose to his feet. He didn’t wait to say anything more to the man, but Reyes did notice the startled look in the blond slave’s eye and that tears welled quickly after.
    Reyes understood. He cursed several times as he moved away. He’d just made it worse for the woman. Fitch was a bully, like most of these slavers, and he’d take his humiliation out on her.
    Reyes? Are you okay? What’s going on?
    I want you to move forward and walk in front of me; just keep your head down. I can’t have that