“How do you know about the auctions? And what were you doing there?” He tries to sound haughty, but the questions come out panicked. I’m beginning to lose my patience.
“I was there because I was invited. Who invited you?”
He swallows and glances over my shoulder, probably hoping someone will come save him. “I was invited as well. You can’t go unless you’ve been invited.”
“Who invited you?” I ask.
“None of your business.”
I stand so abruptly he jumps. I snort. This man is our dean and he can’t stand up to an eighteen-year-old. “Listen, Dick, if you don’t start answering my questions, I’m going to go to the board and tell them their newly hired dean was at an auction selling girls that graduated from this very school last year. Who invited you?”
He inhales sharply, his eyes darting around the room. “A friend of mine. Marcus Knight.” Just like that, the floodgates open and he tells me more than I asked for. “He helped me get this job. He said he needed someone here to watch out for his daughter because she was in danger.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
So, he must have been talking to Marcus when I walked in. He was telling him she’s doing okay. He can’t show up for parent’s weekend, but he’s doing this. Does he think she’s in danger because of me? Or is something else going on?
“Why is she in danger?” I ask.
“I…uh…I don’t know.” I tilt my head. “I swear I don’t. He didn’t tell me. He just said he needed me here to watch out for her.”
I sit back down and lean back in the chair, mulling this over in my mind. “He thinks she’s in danger.” It’s not a question, but Dick nods anyway.
“I don’t know why he thinks that. He didn’t tell me, but he calls me every day to make sure she’s doing okay.”
I want to ask why he didn’t come to parents’ weekend since he seems so worried, but again I don’t want to show my hand. I don’t want him reporting back to Marcus that his enemy’s son was asking questions about him or his daughter.
“How did he help you get this job?” I ask. The last dean was told to resign when news came out that he was sleeping with a senior. I think the two wound up getting married over the summer. It was all very hush hush. A lot of influential people send their children here to go to school. Some of them are influential in illegal ways and others influential in other sectors of society.
Marcus controls the drug trafficking from Florida to South Carolina. Anna’s father plans on running for president one day. My father has a number of businesses he uses to launder money. Mainly strip clubs and he’s started a few underground fight clubs, but lately he’s shown interest in taking Marcus’ territory.
I don’t care either way. If we can destroy him in more ways than one, I’m on board. I stand again and stare down at Dick. He sinks back in his chair and clutches the arms, his knuckles turning white.
“You need to remember your place here and how easily you can be replaced. This is my school, so if any of its students are in danger, you need to notify me. Understand?”
He nods in agreement. “Of course. Yes.”
“Seems like you get to keep your job for one more day.” I walk out of his office, leaving the door wide open. Heading toward the library, I have to see for myself McKenzie is okay. I just saw her during the last period of the day, but the fact she might be in danger I need to see for myself. This girl has no idea the control she has over me.
I wonder if she’ll figure it out one day and use it against me.
Chapter 4
Phoenix
Two Months Later
“Where the hell are you?” I want to snatch this fucking mask off my face. Instead, I grip my phone so hard it groans under the pressure.
“I’m not going to make it,” Dad responds. I take a step forward as the line moves up.
“Why? I thought we were doing this together, but you’re hardly around anymore. What is going on?” I keep my voice low as I glance around to see if I can spot Marcus or the dean. I’m pretty sure I recognize Anna’s father. She’s probably going to be sold, too.
The auction isn’t a terrible idea if people are doing it willingly. From what I can tell, there are some people that do. But not all members are vetted, so there’s no guarantee if they’re bought they’ll be treated well. I’ve set my sights further than just trying to find my mom.
I want to take these sons of bitches down and turn this into something people want to participate in. Not something they’re forced to do.
“I think I’ve found a lead on your mother.”
