Mercedes had taken care of her appearance as she made her way to River's office. The weekend went by far too fast, and when Sam left, her house felt lonely and empty, and she cuddled with a pillow that smelled like him as she cried herself to sleep. She didn't want to know what he had to endure, but hopefully, that would change. Smoothing out the hip-hugging wrap-around dress. It made her feel exposed and as a piece of meat, and that is how he felt, how they all felt in that place.

As the door opened and Mercedes was led into River's office, she took a seat and nervously placed her straight hair behind her ears as she placed her hand on her lap. "Hello Master River, how are you?"

Sam didn't know why he was called to Master River's office. He hadn't done anything wrong. There was no reason to be scared, only he was. He was absolutely terrified as they gagged him and pushed him into one of the closets. It could have been worse. Visits to Master River usually left him a complete wreck for a day or two, both emotionally and physically.

River sat at his desk and waited for Miss Vixen to arrive. He grinned when she came. "Hello, Miss Vixen. I am quite well, thank you. And yourself?"

She forced a smile. "I am well, thank you." She sat up straighter. "So, as I told you, I was interested in buying out Cap's contract. Now, what can we do to make that happen?"

He smiled. "This 'Cap' that you speak of is not for sale at the moment. His debt is far too high to let him go."

"And I told you that I would like to know what that debt is. I am willing to pay whatever I need to so that this can happen." She said in the voice that told people she was ready for a fight.

Sam heard Mercede's voice and felt hope fill him. Then Master's response made him feel sick.

Master River pulled out Sam's rather large file. "It looks here like he still owes well over $300,000."

How was that possible? Sam's original loan was for that amount, and he had been in this position for years.

She nodded. "Okay, that's not a problem. How soon can I pay that off." She said, at this point, she wouldn't need to borrow from her dad; she could just refinance her place and dip into her savings.

"That's how much he owes at the moment. That's not how much it would cost to buy him outright."

She raised an eyebrow. "Okay, so how much would it be outright?"

River looked up from Sam's file and smirked. "700."

"$700? May I ask why that much? Not that he isn't worth it." She didn't want him to think that she changed her mind.

Sam's stomach fell at that number. He couldn't let Mercedes do that.

"Interest. Plus the room, board, and feeding fees that have accumulated. Plus the stage taxes and room rental fees. And then factor in the potential loss of not having him here."

She could get that money; she would get that money. "So, how long will the process take?"

Sam felt sick. Without Mercedes, he'd never get out of this hellish place.

"A few months."

She nodded. "And you won't try to tack on more fees, will you? I would hate for that to happen." She said knowingly. "If I have intentions of buying him, then in those few months, I would assume he wouldn't be rented out to anyone else."

River observed her. "No additional fees, but I can't make him exclusively yours until everything is finalized."

She frowned. "And why is that? Maybe I don't want him damaged."

"He won't be damaged," he replied confidently.

She swallowed. "And you know that how?"

"I don't like people damaging what's mine."

"What's yours?" She took a breath and nodded. "Well then, I want to buy Cap, and I want him to come to stay with me on the weekends until he is fully mine."

"I'll need to discuss with the bosses on that one."

She nodded. "I know this is...a unique situation, or it feels like one to me. But I have every intention of buying him. So if we can get that underway, I can be out of your hair."

"I can start the paperwork for you at some point today."

She nodded. "And what all do you need from me?"

"I'll need proof of income, a signed letter of intent, a down payment of $100k." He paused and smirked. "I can knock that down a bit, though."

She did not like that look on his face. "Knock it down? How"

"I could take a few thousand off for a night with you."

She raised an eyebrow; this man just upped his creep factor. "Excuse me?"

He smiled. "A woman as beautiful as you deserves to be treated like a queen."

Now she knew he was crazy, she wasn't that, and he was toying with her. "Master River, I don't think so."

"Miss Vixen..." he was trying to trap her. "I don't think that you see your full worth."

"And what is my full worth?" She questioned.

"The most amazing experience of your life."

She shook her head with a smile. "I've already had that Master River with Cap, the reason I am buying him."

Sam felt his heart melt at that, and River smirked. "You know nothing of pleasure if he's the best you've had."

Mercedes smiled. "You know nothing about him if you don't believe me."

"Oh, he's the best that we have to offer. He's well behaved, can read a client, and do exactly as they desire without being told. He'd be a good asset if he didn't owe so much."

She smiled sweetly, not letting on how utterly disgusting she found him. "Well, with me paying all of that off, you won't have to worry about it much longer."

"That's if you get approved."

"Why wouldn't I get approved." She asked, trying to hide her panic.

"There are several steps you need to go through first."

She nodded, pulling out her phone. "Which are?"

"I need you to put your phone away, Miss Vixen. You know the rules."

She did as he said. "I apologize. I tend to forget when I'm in Lawyer mode. I just want to make sure I have the right information. I will do anything to make this happen."

"I'll have paperwork for you by tomorrow."

She nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate the help."

He smiled at her. "No, my dear. We appreciate yours."

She nodded. "Then that is all?"

He nodded. "We'll be in touch."

She stood, extending her hand to his. "Thank you."

He shook her hand with that still very predatory smile on his face.

She frowned, taking her hand back. "Which room was reserved for Cap and me?"

"He's unavailable today."

Mercedes frowned. "What? I specifically made sure he was available. I have already paid."

"And we've refunded you."

"I do not want a refund; I want to see Cap; I don't understand what the problem is?" She said, trying to reign in her anger.

And he got her. "A high-paying client outbid you for the evening."

"By how much I will pay what needs to be paid." She said, clenching her fist at her side.

He smirked. "I could offer you to join."

"To join? Join what?"

"The other client. They're quite into that."

"I am sure if they like Cap, they would not be interested in me. Just let me know the price; I would think with my intention to buy him, that would give me some benefits." She said calmly.

He looked at his watch. "You never know. You're a gorgeous woman."

She swallowed hard; she didn't know what to do; she promised Sam she would see him today, but this, this was taking it too far. But the real question was how far she would go for Sam.

Sam whimpered behind the gag, the sound completely muffled.

"Up to you."

Mercedes frowned, unsure what she was supposed to do here, she wanted to see Sam, needed to see him, but she couldn't stand by and watch someone use him. "I'll pay double whatever they are paying for him."

River smirked. "That's what I thought."

She frowned. "What? What did you think?"

"Oh, nothing, sweet Vixen."

She stood taller. "Tell me. You obviously are playing some game here. You knew I wanted to see him today; you approved it. And then you went off and gave our time away to someone else just so what? So you could extort me for more money?"

"Of course not. When one of our higher rollers come in, they take priority and nullify all other bookings."

"So the only way I can see him today is if I give in join? Join what? Watching someone use him? And then what?"

"Let me reach out to the other client and see what I can do."

She frowned, she couldn't take Sam being hurt, and she promised she wouldn't take over his bill, but this, she could do this. "Leave Cap out of it. I will do it if he gets time off and not be punished for it. And you can't tell him I am doing this." She said. "It will throw off the whole Dom/Sub thing." She added quickly, trying to cover her tracks.

River nodded. "I understand. He's a very good boy."

Mercedes nodded. "So please make your call. I would rather get this over with than continue waiting, Master River."

River left the room to make the call.

He returned not long later. "He's yours."

Mercedes bit her bottom lip as she waited for his return, and when he did, she raised an eyebrow. "He? Which one?"

"The one you so affectionately call Cap," he sneered. "He's yours for the night."

She wanted to cut her eyes at him, but she didn't. "Well, you didn't give me his name, so I had to call him something." She said, standing. "Thank you."

River rolled his eyes. "He'll be brought to you."

She stared at him for a moment, "You don't like to lose, do you?"

River didn't lose often. He knew how to play the game, and his goal was to get Miss Vixen in his clutches. "Let's get one thing straight, Miss Vixen. I never lose."

She smiled. "Neither do I. My record in court is impeccable. That being said, you look angry, and I am wondering if it's something I did?"

River offered her a look. "I'm in thought, my dear."

She nodded. "Okay..." She let it go, not wanting to know what was on his mind. "Which room are we in?"

"22c." And with that, two men approached to take Mercedes to that room.

Mercedes shoved her arm out of one of the men who grabbed her. "Excuse you, you don't have to be so rough." She made her way to the room and sat down. Hands shaking as she thought about River and his words. She hated him, hated him with a passion."

Meanwhile, River pulled Sam out of his closet and all but threw him to the ground. "I don't know what you have with her, but knock it the fuck off," he hissed angrily. "You're not going anywhere, whore. Get used to it."

They made Mercedes wait a whole hour before bringing Sam to her. River wanted to make sure he was as beaten down and broken as possible.

When he finally arrived in the room, he was held up by two men. They unceremoniously dropped him onto the chaise lounge. Sam nearly rolled off of it.

Mercedes was about to head back down to River's office when the door opened. But when she saw Sam, she saw red. Anger got the best of her, an anger she hadn't felt in a long time. She moved to him, helping him up. "Sam...Sam baby, what's wrong? What did he do to you?"

Sam stared through her as he leaned heavily against her. "m'kay..." he slurred.

She was torn. She wanted to give River a piece of her mind, but she also didn't want to leave Sam alone. "He hurt you, didn't he?"

Sam shook his head as he continued to lean against her. "m'kay."

"No, you aren't." She wanted to cry, but she had to be strong for him. "I got you." She said, holding him close. "And I am not going to let you go through this again." She was getting him out of there; she had no intention of leaving him alone in this hell anymore.

Sam smiled at her. "I'm stronger..." His words made little sense.

Mercedes took a breath. "Sam, I don't want you here anymore, okay? This is not a safe place, and I don't care what I have to do; you are coming home with me." She took a breath. "I will carry you on my back if I have to."

Sam laughed. It was a pained and slightly drugged laughed. "I love you."

She froze, looking at him. No one in her life had said they loved her since she left the Evans home all those years ago. "What?"

Sam laughed and didn't repeat it. He leaned against her. He'd hurt like hell the next day.

She wanted to ask him again, but she didn't. "Baby, do you think you can walk?"

Sam paused for a moment. "With you... anythin'"

She smiled. "Do you trust me?"

Sam hesitated. "always."

"Sam, I know you won't want to, but you need to leave this place and now. You can't stay here."

Sam laughed. "I can't, but I gotta."

She sighed. "Did they drug you? What did they give?"

"I dunno, Miss Mercy... gotta stay."

She shook her head. "No, Sam, please. Baby." She lifted his face to hers, and she couldn't handle seeing him so spaced out. "Sam, please, I can't have you die here; I need you in my life; I can't lose you again, So please let me get you out of here. I will pay for them. I will call my dad. I will call a damn raid, just, please. Please." She was rambling, she knew, but she couldn't help it.

Sam leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers in a chaste kiss to try to quiet her down.

She looked at him. "Please, don't make me leave you here."

Sam looked at her. He stared right into her eyes. "No other choice,"

"I am not leaving you. I am not! Do you hear me, Sam? I am not leaving you!" She shook her head.

Sam fell against her entirely. "Shhhhh," he whispered.

She closed her eyes holding him close. "Sam... God Sam, I love you too. I can't lose you." She whispered teary-eyed

Sam wrapped his arms around her tightly. "Loves you too. so muches."

"Please come with me. If you love me, you will come with me."

"Gotta protect them..."

"Protect who? I will make sure your family is protected, Sam." She said,

"can't risk it. I can't do this to him."

"But you can let that happen to you?! You don't deserve this!"

Sam laughed. He laughed so he wouldn't cry. "I know. but he deserves it less."

She shook her head. "I have the money. I am going to buy out your contract and get you out of here, but River is going to make it a living hell for you."

And like a flip of a switch, Sam started crying. "He's awful."

"He said I could buy out your contract. It's a lot, but I would do anything for you." She wiped his eyes.

Sam continued to cry. "I love you so much.'

She brushed his hair out of his eyes. "I love you too; I can't lose you. I won't." She pulled him close. "Let me take you away from here, please."

Sam hiccuped. "I can't."

She knew he couldn't, but she had to try. "I am gonna kill River for hurting you."

"Shhhhh..."

She shook her head and slowly stood. "He said he wouldn't hurt you. He wasn't supposed to hurt you!"

"He didn't touch me..."

"Look at you; he did something!" She said defensively.

He was a complete mess. He couldn't stand on his own or even really form coherent sentences. But at least he wasn't feeling any pain.

"I am going to put you to bed, and then I am going to have a word with him." She said, helping him up and moving him to the bed.

Sam clung to her. "Don't leave me. please."

She frowned, holding him close. "I'm not going anywhere." She climbed into bed with him. "I am just so angry."

Sam continued to cling to her tightly. "Don't be. he's helping me."

She shook her head. "How is he helping you?"

"When I'm... like this... no pain."

She tried to hold her tears in. "Sam, he has you on drugs... that's harmful to you."

"Rather them... than the pain."

She frowned. Sam was further gone than she thought he was; he wasn't going fair well when he first got out of this mess. She cried to herself, holding him close. Damn them for doing this to him.

Sam cuddled close. "Can we sleep?"

She nodded, too afraid to say yes, and he hears how upset he was. So instead, she pulled him closer to her.

It wasn't long before he passed out in her arms.

Mercedes had felt Sam fall asleep, and she was angry; part of her wanted to cuss River out, but Sam might get punished for that. So she moved slightly away from him and grabbed her phone. Then, dialing her dad, she frowned when he answered on the first Ring.

"Mercedes, what do I owe this surprise?"

She looked at Sam and sighed. "I need your help, dad. I need to talk to you."

"About what?"

"I want to get access to my inheritance."

"You do? And why is that?"

She looked at Sam. "Because it's time I did something for me."