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$375,000…$400,000…$450,000…
Jude had to look away or he was going to be sick. But when he did, his eyes immediately fell on Geoffrey. He was pacing, moving silently back and forth from his chair to the opening in the curtain. Every few passes, he’d get just a tiny bit closer to the opening as if he were going to step out and snatch the boy from the catwalk.
And this was only the second boy to come out since Andrei had disappeared from their private room to go after Gratton. He glanced at his watch. They still had at least six more minutes before they could go, but Geoffrey was crumbling fast.
On Geoffrey’s next pass close to the table, Jude reached out and grabbed Geoffrey’s thin wrist, pulling him off balance so that he fell into his chair with a soft scrapping of the legs along the carpet. A soft whimper escaped him and he trembled under Jude’s firm grip.
“I can’t do this. It’s wrong,” he moaned softly.
“It is, but you have to hold it together.”
“We have to do something.”
Geoffrey’s gaze drifted back to the catwalk. The boy had made it to the far end and was making his way back toward the opening. His pace was faster now, his steps a little steadier as if he were coming out of whatever trance he’d been in. Jude’s heart broke. Where had he come from? Stolen off the streets? Kidnapped from a loving family? Or something far worse that Jude couldn’t even begin to imagine.
The young man at his side whimpered again. Jude took his hand in his. “Squeeze my hand. Squeeze it as hard as you have to. But you have to hold it together. We’re leaving here in five minutes. Okay? In five minutes, we walk to the elevator and we’ll meet Andrei safe and sound at the car.”
“But what about him?” Geoffrey looked up at Jude with wide eyes filled with unshed tears. “What about all the others? Are we just going to leave them here? We have to do something.”
“We planned to call the cops. The second we’re outside, I promise. We can’t do anything if they catch us,” Jude pressed, trying to keep his voice low and reassuring.
“Can’t we take one of them with us?” Geoffrey reached out a shaking hand and pointed at the brunette that passed them one last time. “Can’t we take him? He looks like my little brother. Oh God, could this happen to Finn? Not Finn. He’s so sweet and innocent.”
“No, he’s not your brother. Your brother is safe at home.” Jude sucked in a breath, reining in the panic that was building in his chest. Geoffrey was tugging at his grasp as if he were trying to get to his feet again. He was only half in the chair now, leaning toward the opening as if he were trying to make a break for it.
“But he’s someone’s brother. Someone is looking for him.” Geoffrey’s voice was rising with each panicked word.
Jude closed his eyes, swearing softly to himself. “Lucas, warn Andrei. I have to get Geoffrey out of here now before we’re caught.”
Pushing to his feet, Jude pulled Geoffrey with him out of the small room and into the narrow hall that led along the backside of the rooms. He shifted his grip on the smaller man so that he had him just above the elbow, his fingers digging into the sinew of his bicep. It wasn’t his intention to hurt Geoffrey but the man was hovering on the edge of hysterics.
As they neared the door they used to enter, a young man similar to the one who had met them in the foyer stepped out of the shadows to intercept them. Jude’s heart pounded violently in his chest and his mouth went dry. Beside him, Geoffrey softly gasped, but kept his mouth shut and his head down.
“Is there something I can help you with, sir?” the attendant asked in a low voice.
“We’re leaving,” Jude growled, trying to fill his voice with the kind of distain and haughtiness he’d expect these assholes to feel. “My pet is sick.”
The attendant looked at Geoffrey, who cringed and moaned, giving every impression of being terrified.
“If you would like, we have a retiring room where he may rest comfortably until after the auction. We will see to his care.”
“No, we’re leaving,” Jude snapped. Tightening his hold on Geoffrey, he used the smaller man as a battering ram, pushing his way past the attendant and into the door. The opening temporarily sent a splash of light into the darkened room before they escaped into the hall. Jude shoved down the urge to look over his shoulder to see if they were followed or to run to the elevator, which was only a few yards away.
Jude released his tight hold on Geoffrey only when they stepped onto the elevator alone and the doors closed behind them, descending back to the first floor. A soft sniffling broke the silence of the elevator, and Jude watched Geoffrey out of the corner of his eyes as he roughly wiped away his tears using the heels of his palms.
