Chapter 30

Bram

Nervousness, sickness—nothing compared to the ailment I was undergoing. This was so wrong. Selling my slave? My slave. No one else’s. She didn’t deserve this. Yet, I’d put her in a fucking mob of vicious predators ready to eat her alive. What the fuck kind of person was I?

“Next up.” I gripped to the podium tighter. “Twenty-four-sixninety.”

Blue chiffon molded to my slave’s body and with every sway of her hips, she grew stronger. Braver. My jaw tightened and I met her stare despite the need to turn away. This was wrong. I could feel it in my gut. With each foot she got closer, I saw it. Not just her fear … my fear, reflecting back at me through her stare. It hit me head on, gripping so strongly that I couldn’t stop my mind from racing.

Blue eyes lined with black eyeliner became almost hidden behind her narrowed gaze. Then … her lips quivered. The action sliced right through my heart, nearly dropping me on the spot. I was speechless as she took her place on the slightly lower level before me. What was happening to me? What had she done? I didn’t know this man who felt so much love for a person. He was overflowing with emotion that it seemed unfathomable that it could be me.

I looked at her paper, staring at the starting bid. Seven hundred thousand. How much was my slave worth to me? Fuck, she was priceless.

“Bidding starts at seven hundred thousand.”

Before I could finish, multiple lights on the front of the booths lit up. I paused, not wanting to go any higher. Not wanting to continue with this.

“Do I hear eight hundred—”

I spun in a circle taking in all the booths with red glowing circles. My eyes darted to West and I forced the words to continue. All the while, my mind was racing, scheming. Taking in what I knew. What I hid.

“Do I hear nine …?”

The last wasn’t even necessary with how fast they were hitting their buttons. I glanced back to West, dropping my eyes. He was worried and he had every right to be. Tonight, she wouldn’t be his—or ever.

“Do I hear one million? Two—three—ten—? Up and up it climbed.

With each million the lights began to decrease, but my anxiety wasn’t.

Sweat soaked through my shirt and I pulled at my tie. Four lights remained.

Four.

“Do I hear—”

“Twenty-five million!”

My heart all but stopped as I met Master O’Farrell’s stare. He was standing, as if he’d all but won.

“Thirty million!”

Heads turned in the direction of one of Master Yahn’s men. He was gone, but two of his guards remained behind.

I glanced up at West, meeting the rage he displayed. Satisfaction surged, but I held it inside, refusing to let it show on my face. All he got from me was a sympathetic look. One he tossed aside from the glare he cast back.

“Thirty-two million.”

Master O’Farrell jerked at his tie and I knew it was over for him. I’d been doing this long enough to recognize a hanged man when I say one.

“Fifty million!”

Gasps rang out as Eveleigh’s voice echoed through the room. It took everything I had to hold in my smile. Silence took over quickly as she turned to face me. “I will bid fifty million for my freedom.”

“There is no freedom, slave.” I hesitated, looking around at the master’s greedy faces. What was happening was unheard of. There were no rules for this. It was all up to me, and I’d known that when I gave the order.

“For fifty million, I will give you your choice of a master. Nothing more. You will still be a slave.” My eyes rose. “Unless someone outbids you. Fifty million, going once? Going twice?”

I brought the gavel down before anyone had a chance to dispute or react to what was happening. She had an inheritance and it was supposedly a lot, but there was no proof the rumor was true. Either way, I didn’t care.

My heart was racing as relief filled me.

“Choose a master for yourself, slave. There is no changing your mind after this decision.”

“Can I choose myself? May I be allowed to be a Mistress? I will stay here for life, but I wish to be responsible for my own life. I am no one’s slave.”

My heart dropped to my toes at the unexpected request. She was meant to choose me. To trap me in front of everyone, yet, she hadn’t. The shock and surprise were enough to leave me swallowing back the hurt.

“You have the money,” I said, shrugging. “I will grant your request. You will take residence in one of our empty apartments. We will go over the details after the auction.” I gestured to Lyle and leaned down as he approached from the lower level. “Take her to my apartment. Have her wait for me there. Stand guard outside and make sure she’s protected.”

“Yes, Main Master.”

West was already standing. I nodded for the next slave to be brought out, but kept my eyes on my supposed best friend. I hated how he was going after her. I had to figure out a way to fix these mistakes I’d made … with both of them. My slave wasn’t twenty-four-six-ninety anymore. She was Mistress Davenport, but she was still mine. And my best friend wasn’t as careful as he thought.

****

“Next up. Twenty-six-nine-seventy-five.”

My eyes stayed on the paper before me and my brow drew in as I studied the details of the slave. She was a blue. I barely recalled the redhead I removed who had been sharing a cell with my slave. I’d been so wrapped up in Everleigh that I hadn’t given her much thought.

Confusion had me looking down. Eighteen, non-virgin, wealthy family. It didn’t make sense why she should be here. We specialized in virgins. Rarely did we get one that wasn’t anymore, unless they were previous slaves. And definitely not the wealthy. That was asking for trouble.

The veil eased from her head, resting around her shoulders while she stood taller. She didn’t seem afraid, when she should have been.

“Starting bid is two hundred thousand.”

Lights lit up everywhere and I increased the number. It was average, going two to fifty thousand at a time. By the time it got close to six hundred thousand, only two lights battled over the girl.

“Do I hear seven hundred thousand?”

I kept my attention mainly on the paper, glancing up every few seconds. I was tired, yet amped up to get back to my slave. What was she doing? Was she even still awake? It was late. Hours had gone by since she’d left.

“Six hundred and eighty thousand going once. Twice. Sold.” I brought the gavel down watching as an older man stood. One who was all too familiar—one of my main masters

“Uncle Percival?” Her head shook with confusion, but it quickly faded to something more. Something so full of fear that I recognized the secrets she must have held. The only thing was … if he’d done anything sexual to her in the past, she had a lot more to worry about down here. Master Kurken ate his slaves. And he rarely kept them for long. Getting her only meant he was about to do away with the one he had now.

“N-no. No!”