want your money. Iron owns you now.” Flint turned on his heel, presenting her with his back, as he marched away.

“Flint, please…”

She shoved off the med bed and got to her feet. She gripped the blanket around her to keep her body covered and tried to run after the retreating Flint. She felt a tug on her arm where the nutrition IV was attached. She tore it away. Dizziness hit her but she stumbled after him, dragging the blanket that was around her body.

“Flint!” she yelled.

He froze, turning around slowly. Mira reached him and grabbed his shirt with her free hand. She clutched at him desperately as she stared up into his surprised features. She’d forgotten how big and tall he was.

“I’ll do anything, Flint. Please don’t do this. I want to be with you.”

He reached down to curl his hand around hers where it gripped his shirt. She almost expected him to crush her hand in his. She knew with his strength he could have. His touch was gentle though as his fingers encircled her fist.

“You wouldn’t have run away if you wanted to belong to me. I’ve given you what you wanted, Mirasia Carver. You are no longer my property. Release me and go to your new owner.”

Hot tears slid down her face. “Please, Flint. I’ll beg. Don’t do this. I’m so damn sorry. I was hurt.

You…I’m more than property. I…”

He cut her off. “You are property. You are Iron’s property now.” He tore her hand away from his shirt and turned away. He stormed for the door.

A sob tore from Mira before she collapsed on the floor. “Flint! Please! Please don’t do this!”

He didn’t pause or turn around again. He just left the large cargo bay, the doors slamming shut behind him. She ignored the cold floor against her bare legs and the uncomfortable blanket twisted around her.

Mira lowered her head as sobs hit her. She didn’t fight when Iron lifted her off the floor to carry her back to the med bed.

As he gently dropped her on it she looked up at him. She saw something in Iron’s eyes that almost resembled pity. He sighed.

“What did you expect? You rejected him when you ran. You embarrassed him in front of all the men.

They are teasing him about how you ran from him and how he went after you. He was irrational to order two ships to follow you. We’re days off course.”

“I only ran because—”

Iron cut her words off. “It doesn’t matter why you did it. It was done. Rest and heal. I’ll collect you when Doc clears you from Med.” His eyes narrowed as he leaned in so his face was inches from hers. “I will not be anything like Flint. I won’t trust you or give you an opportunity to embarrass me. You will learn your place, slave. That’s your title now. You will learn to answer it and you will do anything I say. If you resist I will take great pleasure in punishing you. Flint was soft where you were concerned but I’m won’t be. If you think about running tonight let me assure you that you have nowhere to go. I’ll be watching every move you make. There are cameras focused on you and Doc embedded a stun implant.

With one push of the button a high-voltage shock will shoot up your spine to temporarily paralyze you so you’ll drop where you stand. You will suffer greatly if you try anything, slave.”

Mira just stared at him. Inside she went numb with shock.

Iron smiled coldly. “Unlike Flint, I don’t mind sharing my property if you piss me off. I want you to think about that. Have you ever been tied down and shared by men? You won’t even be able to fight.

Whatever they want to do to you, they will do. You’d better please me when I get you into bed—enough to make me rethink wanting to punish you like that.”

Horror hit her. She was in hell. Maybe dying on the pirate ship would have been best. She watched as Iron turned on his heel and marched away. The cargo doors slammed shut behind him.

She lay down, curling into a ball as hot tears slid down her cheeks. When she had no tears left she used the blanket to blow her nose and wipe her eyes. Flint had sold her to Iron and Iron hated her. She didn’t want Iron to touch her. If she had to be property, she wanted to belong