Simo chuckled. “You are right, my friend. You will because I know who you are.”

Pim sucked in a breath beside me. No doubt reading into Simo’s sentence incorrectly. She thought she knew me. She thought all I wanted was to fuck her and dispose of her.

That’s what you want her to believe.

And it was what she would continue to believe.

Because it’s the goddamn truth.

Bowing slightly at Dina, I murmured, “Pleasure meeting you. I promise your yacht will have everything you require and more.”

“Thank you, Elder.” She hugged her son’s head to her thigh. “If you’re ever in Morocco again, please let us know, and we’ll arrange a tour of our wonderful city.”

“You’re very kind.” Bracing myself, I grabbed Pim’s elbow and steered her away from the table. “We’ll remain in touch via email. Until then, have a good afternoon.”

“Goodbye, Elder.” The Royal Highness and his family exited through the back of the restaurant away from the public eye.

Selix fell in step with me and Pim. She had no choice but to move as I guided her to the exit. Restaurant shadows steadily brightened as we traded fan-disturbed air for hot, sticky noon.

The doorway wasn’t wide enough for both of us to pass. I pushed her ahead of me, clenching my jaw against the mottled bruises still decorating the top of her shoulders. The beads of her spine were too pronounced beneath her dress, still too stark and crying of an unhappy tale.

My hands balled in rage. After the meeting from hell and knowledge that someone other than me and my mother knew who I truly was, I wasn’t in the mood to be gentle.

I wished Alrik was still alive. I’d fucking kill him all over again for what he’d done to Pim and for my own black satisfaction.

Having his marks on her drove me insane. Seeing her malnourished and unhappy while belonging to me made me criticize the very reason why I’d got involved with her in the first place.

I need to do better.

I was someone who cared about perfection.

When had I forgotten that and twisted perfection into an obsession I could no longer handle?

I needed her healthier, happier if I was to earn whatever it was I wanted. The hard part was I still didn’t know what I wanted. Or why I kept up this farce when she only complicated my life.

Pim raised her head to the cloudless sky, letting the sun decorate her face. She inhaled the scents of dust and dung from camels tethered nearby.

For a fleeting second, I saw the girl she’d been before she’d been sold.

I saw how she could look if I fucking let her go and—

No, she would never be that innocent or happy again—no matter if she was with me or the mother I couldn’t track down. Such hardship and evil she’d endured marked someone forever. Sure, she’d find pockets of happiness tucked in the overalls of life, but most of the time, those memories would steal her back, reminding her time and time again what she could never run from.

I knew because that was my life. And it fucking sucked.

Her head tilted until her eyes met mine. The rare freedom on her face vanished, smothered beneath distrust and wariness. Taking a step toward the black car that’d brought us here, Selix dashed in front to open the door for her.

I stalked behind, never removing my eyes as she gathered her long dress and slipped into the shaded leather interior.

The thought of returning to the ship so soon didn’t entice me. Even that rarity pissed me off. Normally, I couldn’t wait to run from crowds and chaos. However, nothing called to me to return. The only thing that did was locked in a secure box with its bow freshly strung ready to play. I hadn’t created music since Pim stepped on board. Solving a different problem in my stowaway had buried the itch.

If we returned to the Phantom, Pim would vanish to her rooms. I would vanish to mine and we would be right back where we started before I dragged her outside.

No.

What do I want from you, girl? And why can’t I decide how to take it?

“Get out.” I marched forward, yanking the door from Selix as he moved to close it. Pim looked up in shock. “We’re walking back.”

“But sir—” Selix cleared his throat. “It’s height of the day, the heat—”

“Don’t care. It’s only a few kilometres to the port. I want some exercise.”

Selix wisely kept his mouth shut and didn’t mention we’d exercised together just this morning in the marital arts gym a few decks below. He’d favoured crescent knives. I’d wielded a katakana sword. It had been fun.

Pim glanced from my bodyguard back to me, her eyes widening.

I held out my hand like a gentleman, battling the urge to yank her from the car and drag her to my side. If Pim was ever going to be strong enough to give me what I wanted, she had to start making decisions and take responsibilities for those decisions.

Perhaps that’s what’s missing? She’s never been given a choice. Not by me or Alrik. Chances are not even by her own mother.

I’d given her a choice this morning to come with me.

The least I could do was give her another. “I’m walking. You’re welcome to join me.” I closed my hand, dropping it to my side. “Or you can drive back with Selix.”

Her mouth parted, searching for a trap.

Selix stood calmly, his black top knot glistening in the hot sun.

A few seconds ticked past. Sweat tickled my back beneath my jacket. Shrugging the linen off, I threw the blazer past Pim to sprawl on the backseat. The muggy air on my white t-shirt didn’t really help, but I couldn’t be assed wearing more clothes than what was needed.