I try tugging at the rope around my wrists but it’s pointless. It’s too tight and besides, even if I did manage to break free, there are men with guns behind me, ready to shoot if I run. This is happening. I am being sold because of my father’s debts.
He was supposed to protect me but instead, he has done the ultimate betrayal to me.
“Let’s start with this beauty, shall we?” Dexter asks, pointing at me. “I know I promised you men she would be a blonde but her father lied about that. She’s still beautiful though. And herfather assured me that she’s a virgin. He made sure she never dated.”
I can feel the energy in the room change at that information. These men are hungry… for me. To take my innocence. To hurt me.
To ruin me.
“Let’s start the bidding at five hundred thousand dollars.”
I gasp. I may have grown up with wealth but even I’m not immune to how much money that is. That’s a lot to just spend on a human being. These men are rich. They don’t play by the rules of society.
One of the men must raise his hand because Dexter says, “We have five hundred thousand dollars. Going once, going twice…”
“One million,” a man murmurs in the dark. I squint to see who it is but I still can’t make out his face. I should have looked harder at the men when I walked down the aisle but I was too afraid. I’m regretting that now.
“Two million,” another man says. I gasp once more. How much money do these men have to spend on me? It’s crazy… and terrifying. To have this much money means you have a lot of power.
The price keeps going up between the two men until one of them finally says, “Six million dollars.”
The other man doesn’t offer a counter.
“Six million dollars going once, going twice…” Dexter brings his gavel down. “Sold! To Nikolai Volkov. Come get your girl.”
I can see him stand up. The man who bought me. As he walks forward, he comes into the light.
The first thing I’m struck by his how handsome he is. Tall and broad shouldered. Dark hair and stubble. Blue eyes that are so striking, they’re hard to miss.
Why would a man who looks like him need to buy a woman?
He has a Russian name, I note. Russian just like my family. Is he a part of the Bratva like my father is? I have so many questions but am I going to get answers from the man who just bought me like I’m a slave?
I want nothing to do with this man.
Dexter goes to untie me when Nikolai shakes his head. “I’ll do it.” His tone is commanding, even with that one simple sentence. Dexter immediately backs off.
Nikolai comes to stand behind me. The sheer presence he has is unwavering. It makes every hair on my body stand up.
He kneels down and touches my wrists. The moment he does, a spike of electricity goes through my skin, like I’ve been burned. This man bought me. He is not my savior.
He’s surprisingly gentle with the binds as he unties me. Once he’s done, he takes the rag out of my mouth and for a moment, caresses my face like we’re lovers and not… whatever we are.
“You are beautiful,” he murmurs before he drops his hand. For some reason, I blush. “Let’s get you out of here.” He pulls me to my feet, once again in a gentle way. Who is this man to treat me like this? None of it makes any sense.
“The other women?” I whisper, turning to them. They both stare at me with their eyes, pleading with me to save them.
“I don’t want them.” His answer is a cold, hard slap to the face.
“But…”
“They are not your concern anymore, Irina.”
I gasp. Dexter never said my name. How does this man know who I am? I’m too afraid to ask.
“Come along.” He takes my hand as if we’re boyfriend and girlfriend and walks me down the aisle, away from the stage. Away from the women. Away from this horrifying situation.
But that doesn’t mean I’m walking into something better. No. I’m sure I’m walking towards somethingmuchworse.