Then what? I didn't know, but it was heartening to know at least one person in this room cared about me. Even if his handswere completely tied, I knew he was in my corner. He might need to keep his cover for the greater good.
I was starting to think bitter thoughts about the greater fucking good. Yeah, okay, I was only human. I was allowed to have a moment of selfishness. In the end, though, it was good he was here. At some point, Noah might explain to the guys what happened to me.
Or maybe not, because then they wouldn't forget about me and move on. Chances were they'd come after me and risk getting themselves killed anyway.
All of them, they'd take that risk without blinking.
I had to trust Noah would do the right thing.
"Ah, but I will win her, Aaron," Quinn said, unflinching. Unwavering. Absolutely certain I'd be his at the end of the day.
Aaron chuckled. "I guess we'll see about that, won't we?"
"It's good to see some healthy competition," my father said, as if they were about to thumb wrestle or play a game of checkers.
"Gotta drive that price up." The smile I gave him was venomous. He might have a point about me sharing my mother's temperament after all.
"It's not personal, Sable," he said.
I blinked at him a couple of times. If it wasn't personal, then what the fuck was it? I don't know, but selling me off to the highest bidder seemed pretty fucking personal to me. If it wasn't, then what was it?
I remembered a moment later. Of course, to him it was business, taking care of a problem. Making it go away, makingmego away. It was personal to me, but not to him.
I wanted to makehimgo away. My fingers twitched to grab out the gun and use it. If he was dead, he couldn't have my guys killed, right?
That wouldn't stop Gregor Quinn from taking me. He might share me with Aaron.
Hardpass.
I bit my lip to keep myself from looking in Noah's direction.Was Noah lying when he said he was working with Forrest? Was he playing both sides, or he just playing us?
I'd been alone before, but I'd never been so lonely, so vulnerable. I might as well be naked in front of all of them.
The woman clapped her hands together. "Now, now, gentlemen. Shall we start the bidding?"
I gave her a venomous look too. Could we start with her?
I shook my head slightly. In spite of everything, I wouldn't do that to another woman, not even one who took part in this. What was her role in all of it anyway? I don't suppose it mattered too much. She was complicit either way. I still wouldn't offer her up for sale. If I did, I'd be a hypocrite.
On the other hand, if she wanted to offer herself, who was I to argue? It didn't seem like that was going to happen, though.
"Thank you for hosting this evening, Imogen," Dad said smoothly.
"Always happy to help, Benjamin," she said, giving him a smile like they knew each other better than I wanted to think about.
I wasn't naive enough to assume my father was faithful to my mother, or vice versa, but this was like watching two snakes courting. No offense to snakes, they were beautiful animals, but that was the vibe I was getting here. Slithery, and if anyone turn their backs, they might get bitten.
"I see we have our esteemed auctioneer here," Quinn said, nodding toward Noah. "Glad you could make it at the last minute." The fact he recognized him without a mask on spoke volumes about how deep Noah and Urban got within their organization.
NowI looked over to the youngest Cross brother, scared of what I'd see there.
He grinned. "I had nothing else on tonight. Urban and I were happy to help out. Right, Urban?"
"Yeah," was all Urban said. He also looked like he'd rather be anywhere but here. For him though, it was more boredom than it was cold terror, or the anticipation of what was to come.
"And we have the celebrant. Thank you for coming, Robert." The last man in the room nodded.
Celebrant?
