Diamond by Tigris Eden Page B

be like to be used that hard and then be allowed to rest, really rest for two whole days? Her ribcage constricted from the sharp intake of breath at the thought. She wasn’t into any man like that, not even if she was faking it. The act of sex was just that, an act. Two people slamming together repeatedly in a rut was not her idea of a good time.
    Her only goal was securing a patron who would sponsor her family. Her method may not be one she liked, but it was better than the alternative. She wanted Anna and her daughter inside the Quarry walls. Diamond only wanted her for what he could get out of her, and that was okay with her, because she wanted something from him, as well. They were both using each other for their own personal gain. She didn’t trust that Diamond would honor their arrangement. Attia was coming, but she was the least of Nadya’s worries. Something more menacing was headed their way, and if she didn’t follow through with her initial plan to take down the towers, things would end up backfiring. The world itself would be flipped on its axis. That one lingering memory kept her moving forward. She’d been waylaid, but now, things were progressing much faster than she’d anticipated. You’re running out of time. The voice inside her head reminded Nadya. It was something she already knew. She’d been stagnant for too long. It was time to take action. Move pieces into their proper place.
    Nadya didn’t know how she knew, but the warning in her gut was real. She trusted her instincts, had learned a long time ago, her internal alarm bells would never lead her astray. Something deep down inside told her she’d suffered horribly at the hands of a person whose idea of a good time was torture and bloodshed, and all because she’d done the opposite of what her gut had warned her about. She wasn’t one to repeat past mistakes.
     
     

Chapter 5
     
     
    The clothes he’d outfitted her with were more than acceptable. Better than what she’d come in with. Nordas had given her a pair of leather boots that actually fit, and a pair of socks. Pants that fit so tightly, they felt like a part of her skin. Her top was tight-knit and covered her from neck to wrists. There was a zipper at the left side of her shirt that went from beneath her armpit to the bottom hem of the shirt and attached to her pants. Nadya was given another hooded wrap, this one made of metal mesh that was surprisingly lightweight. Lastly, a pair of black gloves. Her entire outfit was black, with the exception of the metal mesh, which was silver. The wrap would not only cover her head but her face, as well. She was even given a pair of goggles. Nordas said it would help with seeing at night. She had no problems seeing in the dark but took them anyway.
    She’d been informed that they weren’t leaving until dawn. It was a smart move, but a costly one. There was no telling if her family would still be where she’d left them when they finally made it to their destination. Nadya’s stomach growled. She was still hungry. She realized she hadn’t eaten anything for days before coming to the Quarry. Her last meal had consisted of a less than desirable bowl of tree bark and beetle grub Dominika had found. No one should have to eat that shit, but it was either that or people, and she refused to eat people.
    Nordas led Nadya back to Diamond’s room. Confused, she followed. Emerald was supposed to scan her at his place.
    “You are to sleep here.”
    “Why?”
    “It’s what he wants.”
    Nadya raised her hand to knock on his door. Mild irritation swept over her. She knew the moment she stepped over his threshold, she was not only confirming her intent, but also cementing it in stone. Diamond had warned that if she tried anything he’d cut off her pinky finger. She was an investment. His cash cow. You’re doing this for them. That reason alone had her knuckles rapping against his door.
    “Come in.” It was Lip’s voice she heard, not Diamond’s,