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The ends of dark hair move over Samuel’s shoulder as he shakes his head in agreement. “Necessary,” he repeats and pauses.
“Say what you have to say, old friend. The last few months have been bloody and has caused more than one family grief.”
Samuel pops the button on his tuxedo and leans forward, placing his elbows on the polished surface of our table. “I’m hearing some disturbing stories along the underground lines. Your manhunt isn’t going so well. Bodies are piling up and you’re no closer to getting your man. When is it going to be enough?”
“The Callahans are no longer a threat to my wife or my family. It took me longer than I care to admit to reach this point. They liked to talk a big game, but from behind their massive walls and armed enforcers. I did not go around killing innocent men, so don’t talk to me like I’m a fucking monster.”
I’m not ready to admit it out loud but I’m tired of knocking skulls and dropping bodies. I needed the Callahans off the face of this earth. That is now done. Now I can go home.
“You’ve been out of the country for a while, brother. You want to know something, ask. Don’t let the whispers of people mislead you with lies. I went to the lengths to protect my bride. And I have no fucks to give if you approve or not.”
Samuel considers me for a long moment. He’s more of a doer than a talker. If he was here to seek revenge for some slight, he would have already drawn blood. It is a trait we share. He is about my height with similar wide shoulders, loves a good suit and doesn’t put up with other people’s bullshit. Hell, we even have the same calluses on our trigger fingers, for God’s sake. He’s a brother in almost every sense of the word.
“Are we really going to do this?”
He points a thick finger toward the front of the large room. I take a fraction of a second to catch the shift of topic.
“Seems like it. I might catch more of your ire if I were to shoot my way to the front and steal back my bride back the way I want to. So here we are like civilized gentlemen ready to pluck down money for what I already own.”
Samuel’s dark chuckle sums up the irony of the night.
Ritual isn’t known for its upper-class clientele. Until about a month ago it was closed down for repairs with the promise of new management.
“This is the last place I thought an auction would go down. At least they replaced the blood-stained floors and put in some nice chandeliers.”
“Black carpet is the better fit for sure. Hides the blood better.”
Samuel pours another round for us both and we sit in silence for a moment. “You’re not wrong. Does she know you’re here?”
“Nope. And you’re going to help me keep it that way until I get some answers.”
“Should be fun.”
Fun? No. My hand is ready to grab for my weapon the second one fucker shows the slightest sign of going for the stage. When I finally get my hands on Amethyst, I’m not sure what I’m going to do. All I’ve sacrificed—all the time I’ve spent hunting down the men hell bent on hurting her—only for my wife to put herself on the auction block where anyone can get their hands on her makes me see red.
I force my face into a mask of indifference and settle my nerves by downing more bourbon.
“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s event is the first annual Jewel Auction. Let us begin.”
I draw in a deep breath through my nose and let it out. My blood pulses through me. Heavy black curtains peel to either side of a raised stage toward the front of the long room. Lights dim and the room settles into a quiet darkness. The auction participants at the surrounding tables hush their conversations.
It is time.
An overhead spotlight flickers on and a woman draped in a red cloak fills the space of white light.
An aged, sultry voice carries over the sound system. “Our first gem of the night is Miss Ruby. Silky black hair, lips made for delivering on fantasies. She loves giving pleasure as much as she loves receiving it. A natural submissive, our Miss Ruby is looking for a daddy to care for her and is a rare jewel any man would be lucky enough to win this evening.”
The red cloak and hood drops to reveal a woman wrapped in red velvet that doesn’t leave much of anything to the imagination.
“We will start the bidding at two-hundred million dollars.”
Samuel lets out a low whistle beside me. “Steep.”
I nod, not really paying too much attention to the price tag or the people calling out their bids. “The owner gave a fair warning about the amounts they were playing with tonight. Ryth Cross is a lot of things and among the labels attached to his name is a cunning businessman.”
Miss Ruby is sold for a fraction over bidding price and then the auction kicks into high gear. The women to be auctioned off are brought out one by one. Robes the color of their gem name are discarded in favor of the same decorative ribbon. Swaying hips, ample breasts and beautiful smiles catch the eyes of every man and woman in this room. Though each is just as beautiful as the next, none hold my attention.
“And now, the rarest of beauties. Ladies and Gentlemen, the reason you all came tonight has finally arrived.”
