"At the last meeting I was told, one quarter million." He says. Well fuck me.

"She is beautiful, is she not?" Imam asks me. Hell yeah holy man. "Here she is a pearl among swine…fair skinned, bright eyed and fiery. Men find that tantalizing."

Yeah no kidding.

He's quiet for a moment and I figure this is a good time to do some thinking of my own. Jack, so beautiful—those son of a bitches taking turns trying to figure out which one of those fat bastards get to fuck her first.

HELL NO.

"We have a connection, you, Jack and I, and we owe you a great debt. I know that she has certain feelings towards you and she trusts you. I know that the 'trust' she has for you is not one sided." I'm thinking feelings would be good instead of trust and I think that's what he's talking about. "I hope you will understand what I'm asking of you."

The rational part of me is thinking, yeah don't touch her, I get that.

But this is me. I can't promise that, but I can try. "I think I do." I say looking at him. I'm getting that you hurt my baby and I'll kill you vibe. He loves her. He wants her safe. He wants her happy. I can't blame him for that.

But she wants me. That's not the issue. It's whether she should. "Soon holy man. The less you know the better."

"They will send people for her. Some will not take this lightly."

I close my eyes and put my head in my hands and rub my eyes.

Story of my life.

"Certain men Mr. Riddick, will not be pleased to see her missing. There was an incident, about six months ago that made this entire situation dangerous, to say the very least. It was my fault and I failed her miserably."

I can just imagine. This is Jack we're talking about.

"What happened?" I ask. No one was touching her, not while I have air in my lungs.

Not unless that someone is me…

"Several prominent men were in my kitchen attending a meeting one evening. I cannot even remember what we were discussing and it had grown late."

I can see where this is going. Jack can't sleep, what happens, she comes downstairs like she was dressed last night. Hair falling around her bare shoulders, spaghetti strapped night gown, pale skin, maybe it was a little chilly.

Skin, tattooed and gorgeous. Big problems…

"She had fallen asleep and came down for something to drink as is her custom after a nightmare. She gets dehydrated." He tells me as if I need to know that right now. I'm still fantasizing about her walking down flush and dressed like that. "She happened upon us have the meeting and needless to say, everyone stopped speaking and stared, some wantonly."

I would have been one of them. Bet there wasn't a limp dick in the room.

"She was unveiled, in her bed clothes… Many of the men gawked at her like errant school boys. It was very shameful, but you know men…"

And I do, we're a horny bunch. It's genetic.

"One of the men," he said avoiding my eyes because I kind of have an idea, "put his hands on her."

Which mother fucker did that cause the next word out of holy man's mouth better be that name. Cause when I hear it he's dead.

As pissed as I am, I'm cool, he needs to finish this cause Jackie and I are having a conversation once I get upstairs. "I will not tell you. It is enough to say, she retaliated for his shameful act, quite violently. I had left the room for a moment and when I returned, she not only had removed his hand, but a knife was at his throat. He still bares the scar from the edge against his throat. Since then, she has been under his watchful eyes, and much coveted as wife by some. If she chooses to tell you, then she will."

He wants this conversation to end. He's mighty uncomfortable. I've heard enough. "Mr. Riddick, there is a custom, upon the 17th birthday of a woman, they…"

"I know, they unveil her and paw at her trying to make up their minds who gets first shot. I know. Jack told me. That's not going to happen."

"It must. Even if you leave, we have to go through with it." he demanded.

"No. No one's touching her." I growl.

"You cannot stop them. They will take her by force. And it is in two days." He warns me.

"Watch me." I say needing to leave the room before I explode.