AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Fifty-thousand.” A deep, rich voice carries up from the darkness in front of me and my eyes search out the man it came from.
My stomach clenches when I find him. He’s younger than I expected. Relatively handsome, with a kind-looking face.
Nothing at all like who I was assuming I’d be going home with tonight.
A little of the tension twisting my gut eases and I manage to exhale some of the air my lungs are holding hostage.
“Excellent opening bid, Frederick.” Yvonne’s smile widens like she’s pleased, so I decide I will be too.
Frederick can’t be so bad.
And fifty thousand makes my cut thirty-five thousand, five thousand more than I was hoping for.
Unless I can convince him I’m worth having twice.
“Fifty thousand once.” Yvonne lifts the intricately carved mallet in her hand, poised to seal my fate. “Twice.”
“One hundred thousand.”
I nearly choke. Partly because of the amount, and partly because the voice that offered it is nothing like Frederick’s.
This voice is deeper. Rougher. Harsher.
A man steps from the shadows, moving into the illumination of light cast from the stage. He’s tall and broad, with dark hair and black eyes that are narrowed on me. He looks at me nothing like Frederick did.
There’s no warmth. No interest. No kindness.
He’s every bit the kind of man I would expect to be here. He exudes power and control and violence.
And if I could move at all I’d be running for my life.
