Chapter 22
"Come on Evie!" Jonas slaps her cheek, and she opens her eyes groaning as the pain hits her.
"Oh, my head!" She lifts her hand only to find that she can't move it. Eve tries the other hand, and it too is strapped down. Panic sets in and her eyes fly open wide when she tries to move and discovers that her feet are bound as well.
"Jonas! Release me!" Eve struggles not to vomit. The pain from her head is unbearable, and she knows that she's in serious trouble. His hand strokes her leg as he speaks.
"I need you to listen, my beauty. Mr. Chen is not happy. It seems you have lost him seven assets and one is running around causing a great deal of trouble. How could you let her get the drop on you?" He sighs and pushes her hair back gently from her forehead. "I was ordered to clean up this mess." Leaning down to consider her almond eyes he murmurs.
“I wish things could have been different, you were special to me.”
"Wait! Jonas, I thought we were in this together!" she glances around the room frantically as his hands slide the silk dress up to her thighs.
“We were, but Mr. Chen made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I have been offered a partnership, here in New York. Ten percent of the profits of the girls and the drugs.” He leans down and presses a kiss to her thigh.
"Why settle for ten percent, Jonas, when you could have it all! Listen to me. He's a fool. I'm not the only one scheming against him," she snarls. Jonas presses his nose in between her thighs, smelling the intoxicating scent of Evie.
"God, I will miss you. You have no clue how deep this goes, but I promise you, I will think of you often." He holds up a new vial is it darker than the opium, and he shakes it before he twists the lid off.
“Look at this, Evie. It’s my newest creation. It’s one of the reasons Mr. Chen made his offer. Let me show you.”
Jonas slides the needle into her vein ignoring the screaming and kicking as he injects the drug into her bloodstream. He watches closely, rubbing her hair back from her face, gently stroking her forehead and cheeks with the back of his hand. “I haven’t had time to perfect it yet. Don’t cry love,” he smiles as it washes through her tiny body and she slurs her words.
"Let it take you, don't fight it. I can't understand you, Evie," he said gently kissing her mouth. Eve's mouth falls slack. Her pupils are huge making her eyes look solid black. Drool pools down her mouth and into her hair, and she is no longer aware.
“Excellent. With your help, I will be able to perfect my new treat. Enjoy the ride, Evie.” He writes into a small notebook and pushes his glasses back into place. Stepping out of the bedroom, he snaps out orders in Chinese to the two young women waiting for him.
“Come get me when she becomes lucid.” They close the door behind them. Three Chen warriors are waiting. “Have you found the boy yet?” he asked.
“No. The family left on a train. Do you wish us to send someone after them?”
"Not necessary. They are meaningless. Mr. Chen wants the girl found and killed. She has become more of a problem than we first anticipated. Lucky for us she sent a message to the U.S. Marshalls office, and it was intercepted. We were able to continue with that shipment of girls."
“The girl had the help of a Marshall.”
“I’m aware of Mr. Chase Rivers. He will be dealt with. If they could not travel by train, then it must be by horse or ship. Check the docks.” The man leaves, and he turns to the other two men standing in the corner with a young woman.
“Carmen, please forgive me for keeping you waiting.” Jonas sits next to the pretty young woman and takes in her features. “Tell me what you know about this, Bronnah O’Dalaigh.”
"Yes, sir. She came into the shop and said that Rose had an accident. She insisted that Mr. Chen was not happy with the last shipment and demanded to see the next one. I felt threatened… I'm so sorry." She blots at her tears, and Jonas smiles at her.
“Of course, don’t fret, Carmen, we shall figure this out together.” He offers her a tissue and pats her knee as she composes herself. His eyes drop to her voluptuous figure. “I need details, Carmen. What else do you remember?”
"She asked me to take the dresses to the carriage and give the address to the driver. It was the address here at the hotel." Jonas smiles at her. "Very good. Tell me about this driver?"
“Oh, he had a funny accent, not Spanish, nor French… I’m not sure.” Carmen glanced at the two men behind Jonas. Her hands are shaking as she tosses her long dark curls over her shoulder.
“Could it have been, Irish?”
“Oui! That’s it.” She smiles at him holding her tissue.
“Wonderful.” His eyes leave her for a moment, “Find him.”
The two men leave quietly, and he turns back. “Walk with me, Carmen.” He takes her arm and guides her to a bedroom door. He knocks and then opens the door, gesturing for Carmen to move inside.
She does and then skids to a stop when she sees Eve tied down to a bed. Her gasp of horror is met by the sound of the door closing behind her. Whirling around, she tries to run, but Jonas is blocking the door.
"Now Carmen, there's no need for that." Gripping her by her arms, he forces her over to the bed. "Look at
