"Starting without us?" he asked.
"Rude," I grumbled under my breath.
"Looks like we got here just in time," Leif said, sounding even more cheerful than the fucking elevator. "Good to see you all again."
He strode over to Sable's father and actually offered his hand, shaking it vigorously.
"Benjamin, long time no see. And Gregor Quinn. Aaron Martinson. You, I don't know." He pointed a finger gun at the man near the window, before turning to the woman.
"Imogen, darling, how have you been?" His tone was borderline acidic. Sickly sweet, but it would probably kill you.
So could the look she gave him.
"Leif Larsen," she said flatly.
"The one and only." He grinned. "Now don't let us interrupt. I think I heard something about starting the bidding." He looked over at Sable, his fake smile in place, as though he barely recognized her.
She stood between two of Benjamin's thugs, looking small but fucking gorgeous. I wanted to grab her, throw her over my shoulder, and take her out of here. Instead, I held my ground. For now.
Leif didn't even glance at Noah or Urban, nor did they spare us a glance. If they had, the lack of surprise might have been obvious.
"I didn't realize Forrest Cross was invited," Quinn said, his lip curled just slightly before he schooled his expression back to a pleasant smile.
"Neither did I," Benjamin said.
"I'm sure the invitation got lost." Forrest seemed indifferent. "I was curious about the proceedings." That was as close as he might get to calling out Benjamin on his bullshit.
It was close enough, we all understood. Benjamin in particular, from the irritation that crossed his face.
"I suppose you can stay and watch," Benjamin said. "As long as you don't intend to interfere."
"Why would I interfere?" Forrest asked, spreading his hands to the other side. "You made the situation clear last night."
"I did indeed," Benjamin agreed.
Was it too soon for me to rip his head off his shoulders?
"Let's continue," Imogen said, as if somehow she could salvage the situation. "Did we have an opening bid?"
"Not yet," Noah said. "Would anyone like to get us started?" A slight hint of mischief in his eyes; he included Forrest in that question. He better be careful not to stir up too much shit. He might dump all of us straight into it.
"Ten million," Gregor Quinn said with no shame at all.
Prick. What sort of person bid on another one like that? Oh, right, a prick like him.
I couldn't decide who was more disgusting. Him or Sable's father. He had no right to call himself that, as far as I was concerned. He didn't deserve to be related to her. Hell, he didn't deserve to be in the same room with her or breathe the same air.
I forced my gaze away from him and watched the expression on Sable's face. The fear in her eyes. She wasn't looking at Quinn with terror. Her eyes were on her father. Then on us: me, Forrest, and Leif.
Was she scared of us? It took a moment to click. No, she wasn't. She was scaredforus. Why? Had Benjamin said something to her? Threatened her?
I caught her eye. She swallowed visibly. Yeah, that was exactly what happened. Benjamin had threatened to do something to us if she didn't go along with his bullshit. That was why she walked away last night. That was why she looked as though she'd made her own choice. She thought she didn'thavea choice. She thought if she didn't leave, we'd be dead.
Could I love this woman any fucking more? Why hadn't I told her that? I should have. I should have said it a million times already.
No, be quiet, that wasn't too excessive. It might not be enough. Whatever. Either way, I should have said it.
I managed to give her a slight, what I hoped was reassuring, smile. We had this. We weren't going to be killed that easily.
