Chapter 28

West

I couldn’t stop pacing. I couldn’t stop running my fingers through my hair. To say I was a nervous wreck was an understatement. There was so much riding on this auction—on making Everleigh mine.

“Drink,” Bram snapped. “You act like you’re getting married. She’s just a damn slave.”

I took the glass he offered and downed it in one drink. “It’s bigger than marriage. There’s no divorce, and this purchase cost money. Lots of money. I don’t know how I’m ever going to repay you.”

Bram glanced over, but went back to staring mindlessly at the floor. “You’ll give me what you can, when you have it.”

“You said Master Yahn offered you twelve million. Twelve. I offered you three. I have it, sitting in my bank, with still enough for me to feel comfortable with after I pay you. But do you know how long it’s going to take me to clear this debt? Never. Because I know come tonight, that twelve is going to be a fucking speck of dirt in the actual cost. It’ll soar, and I don’t have that kind of money. Everyone knows it. I’ll bid higher and higher, and they’ll know the truth.”

Bram’s eyes rose and he nodded. “That’s why I’m going to have to give you cap. If it goes over twenty, you stop. I will not match anything over that price. I can’t afford the kind of trouble that would stir.”

“So I’ll lose her?”

My stomach dropped and the nervousness rose. Had I thought I had this in the bag? That Everleigh was mine? She wasn’t. Not yet, and maybe never.

“You’ll lose her,” Bram confirmed. “I’m sorry.”

He turned, refilling his glass. All I could do was gaze at him while my mind blurred. I had to have her. I had to! I had changed everything around in my life so I could finally have something Bram never would.

Now this … No.

“She doesn’t deserve to go to any of them. She deserves to be with me. To be happy.”

My voice was low, but Bram heard every word. He looked over, sighing. “If this place wasn’t my responsibility, I’d give you every cent I

owned so the two of you could be happy.”

“Would you?”

“Of course I would. West,” he paused and his brow creased. “West, there’s something I need to tell you. A lot actually. You and I, we’re in need of a serious talk.”

Knocking had his gaze going between me and the door. The pained expression only lasted for a moment before he shot forward to swing the barrier open.

“Master, everything’s ready. You can take your place.” He nodded, turning back to me.

“What were you going to say?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing. Look at me, I can’t think because of you,” he laughed. “I’m sure you’re worried for no reason at all. I can’t see her going over fifteen million. You should be fine at a twenty cap. You can tell them you got an inheritance. It’ll all work out fine. You’ll have twenty-four-sixninety, she’ll have you, and I’m sure the match will work out flawlessly.”

He grabbed his suit jacket from the back of the chair, sliding it over his broad shoulders. I finished the rest of my drink, grabbing my own. I felt sick. Everything rode on this auction. Everything. It had to go my way.

I glanced at my watch, buttoning the jacket before following him out. My mind raced and I knew what I had to do.

“I’ll see you down there. I need to go back to my quarters. I forgot something.”

Bram looked over his shoulder and I didn’t miss the way his eyes narrowed suspiciously and he leaned over whispering to his high leader. Instead of worrying over it, I focused on what I knew. He didn’t want me to have her. He did, but he wanted her for himself. He loved her. He’d want her too. If it wasn’t for his responsibility and the rules here, he’d be the one bidding. Luckily, the law prevented that from happening. That only left one person in my way.

I grabbed my phone, staying true to my word and heading toward my apartment. Eli answered on the first ring.

“Main Master would have my ass if he knew I had my phone on me while I was on duty.”

“Good thing you don’t give a shit. Listen, I need a favor.”

“Another one?”

I pushed through my door, closing my eyes at the anger. “Master

Yahn. I want him dead.”

A laugh echoed through. “How am I supposed to manage that? I’m stuck on guard outside of The Cradle. I can’t leave. If I do, he’ll see on the tapes and I’m dead. I don’t mind dying, but I ain’t doing it because of stupidity.”

“He has to die. He’s the only one who will outbid me. I can’t let that happen.”

There was a pause on the other end and the breathing was the only thing that let me know Eli was still there.

“Listen, there might be another way. You can’t go to our barracks because that would be suspicious, but maybe I could run there real quick.”

“For what?”

“Poison. I confiscated some awhile back from a slave. Her master kept getting sick and he had his suspicions. I kept it after he murdered her. You don’t have to kill Master Yahn, but you can make him miss the auction.”

A smile stretched across my face. “Of course. Perfect. Where will you put it?”

“I have break soon. While I’m eating dinner, you can come see me. After all, it’s auction night. You’ll want to pass some time talking with a friend to drown out the nervousness.”

“You’re a fucking genius.”

“I know. Give me fifteen minutes and then head my way. I’ll see you soon.”

****

The auction room was packed, seating the richest around the top of the circular room. Their luxury booths were doused with red velvet and gold chairs. Matching curtains hung from the top to close them off if they wished not to be seen. Waiters delivered drinks of their choice and the trays the slaves held were filled with the finest delicacies. The room was a buzz of voices. Everyone wore their expensive suits and the slaves attending with their masters looked more suited for the red carpet than an auction of human boys and girls.

I nodded to Bram who was a few feet away. He was speaking with a few of the masters in the center of the room and although he appeared invested in the conversation, I knew he didn’t want to be there.

A girl in deep burgundy chiffon, the required color for attendants, swept by with her tray and I waved her away. Food wasn’t what I wanted. I gestured over to a boy, grabbing a glass of champagne as I let my stare rise to the upper level. Master Yahn was already in his lavish booth. The slaves weren’t present yet, but it wouldn’t be long before they started the march. The process would begin in maybe half an hour, but I was in no rush. The poison was already in the right hands, ready for Master Yahn’s cup when the time came.

“Mr. Harper.”

The loud voice had me turning. I smiled and held out my free hand to one of the main masters—Bram’s second.

“Master Kunken. Pleasure to see you here, tonight. In the market for a new slave already?”

He let out a laugh and his large belly shook as our hands embraced. The need to draw back from touching him was automatic. Lord only knew the last time he’d been elbows deep in blood—in body parts as he prepared his newest meal. “I’m on the fence. We’ll see if there’s one that catches my eye.”

“There’s a few you might be interested in. There’s quite the selection this time.”

“What about you. Any grab your attention?”

My head tilted and I shrugged. “You can say that.”

“Well, now. I knew we’d win you before it was over with. I better take my seat. My detail tells me the march will start soon.”

“Yes. It won’t be long now. Happy bidding.”

I turned, heading for Bram as a few of the masters walked away.

“How you doing?”

He threw me a look, adjusting his tie as he glanced around. “I could be better. It’s not looking good for you, West.”

“What do you mean?”

“Word has gotten around about twenty-four-six-ninety. I know what they’re after.”

I paused in surprise. “What’s that?”

Bram’s hand placed in the middle of my back as he led me closer to the small stage in the middle of the large room. “Apparently her master left her everything. She’s filthy rich. Men are willing to pay a hell of a lot of money to get her inheritance. And it’s all under the table, so to speak. Master Vicolette made sure of that. What I want to know is why I haven’t been contacted yet. I’m sure it’s coming.”

“Fuck,” I growled out. “What did you tell them?”

“I pretended to know something. It would have been stupid not to. I said I was aware of everything concerning slave twenty-four-six-ninety, and that the details were disclosed. I wouldn’t admit, nor deny it. Dammit. I didn’t expect this.” Bram wiped the sweat from his brow as he continued to take in the people crowding in. “Money makes animals of us all. Although it may not sway some, others see her as an investment. They’ll be willing to spend a fortune if they think they’re getting a return.”

“So you think Master Yahn knew this?”

“Definitely. Supposedly, he and her old master share the same lawyer. Of course, it’s outside of our firm or else I would have been prepared. Now I’m left this mess.” Bram paused. “He’s not the only one who knows. Word is out, but there’s one person who may have Yahn beat.

The master wants her badly enough. He told me, himself, not minutes ago.”

“Who?”

Bram glanced to the right and I followed his stare. “Master

O’Farrell?”

“That’s right.”

“Great. Just what I need.” Once again my stomach twisted. Had I thought I had this under control? “He’s a fucking actor. He’s too high profile. How does he plan to get access to her funds?”

“From what I was told, he’ll be able to with the way it was set up. Master Vicolette wanted her taken care of. He said enough to me when he was asking over legal advice a while back. The only thing in our favor is that so far this is a rumor. They may not want to risk the money without knowing the truth.” He paused, watching as a guard signaled. “Go to your booth, West. It’s time. Let this night start so it can be over with already.”

Over … it was only beginning. The news on Everleigh should have made me fear losing her even more, but it didn’t. I’d have her and her money, even if I had to kill everyone in my path to eventually make it so.