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It moves up one thousand dollars at a time until we hit ten thousand, and I think Edgar might pass out from excitement. We are only on night three and one of his women has moved into the five-digit zone.
I hate Joel a little more every time he raises his hand to increase the bid, but I also can’t help but think that he could be useful to me. If we weren’t both fighting for Eve, I could talk to him about helping me track down Milaya. If anyone can get into the Cartel’s accounts and figure out what they may have done with her, it is him.
Finally, at fifteen thousand, Joel looks longingly at Eve and then steps back and bows out. “That is my limit,” he says, turning to me with a smile. “For now.”
I grit my teeth and try to look at the larger picture.
If he can help me track down Milaya, I might let him live after this week is over.
For a few days, at least.
Edgar wraps up the proceedings for the day, and Eve moves quickly across the room towards me, relief obvious in her face. I want to pull her against my chest, but it has to wait until we are in my room. Not here in front of everyone.
Despite my restraint, I still notice Maddie cast a dirty glance in our direction. As if she can feel the darts flying at her, Eve turns to look at Maddie. The girl’s glare grows even darker, eyebrows pinching together, and Eve quickly turns back to me.
“What the hell was that about?” I ask, placing a hand on her lower back to lead her from the room.
She shakes her head, but I can tell it is bothering her.
“Tell me.” It is a gentle command. She is dealing with enough right now that petty fights between her and other women don’t need to weigh on her mind as well.
We are some of the last people out of the lounge, so the hallway is nearly empty, everyone disappearing into their rooms with their winnings or going back to the slave quarters at the back of the inn.
I grab Eve’s hand and pull her back to face me. “Tell me what is going on.”
“It isn’t a big deal,” she says, eyes going glassy with tears. “Really. In the face of everything else, it is just some basic drama. But suffice it to say, you were right about Maddie wanting you to buy her. I think she has a crush.”
My chest swells with protectiveness. “Did she say something to you?”
Eve squeezes my fingers. “Yes, but it hardly matters. She is scared and trying to make this situation as good as she can for herself.”
“It matters to me,” I say.
There have been so few ways in the last week that I’ve been able to help or protect Eve. I couldn’t keep her from being kidnapped, I couldn’t save our daughter, and I couldn’t keep her from being put on the LeClerc auction block.
But this? I can handle.
I can stop a mean girl from tormenting her, especially when Eve has done nothing but try to help Maddie. She doesn’t deserve this, and I can fix it.
“Let’s just go,” Eve says, grabbing my hand.
I pull away from her hold, lifting a finger to tell her to give me a moment. “I forgot something.”
Before Eve can argue, I duck back into the lounge and am relieved to see Maddie is still hanging around.
She has taken off her heels and is holding them by the straps, circling her ankles to stretch them. She doesn’t see me enter.
“Hey,” I call.
When she sees me, her eyes go wide, and then she beams at me. Eve is right. This is more than just an auction for Maddie. She legitimately has a crush. Or a hope, at least, that maybe there is a light at the end of this tunnel for her.
“Hey,” she purrs.
I shake my head to cut her off before she can say anything else. “Give it up.”
Confusion clouds her smile. “What—”
“I’m never going to bid on you,” I say. “You are wasting your time flirting with me and tormenting Eve. I don’t want you. And it isn’t Eve’s fault, either. She wants me to be nicer to you, but as long as you are throwing daggers at her from across the room, I’m not going to be nice, do you hear me?”
