What the hell century did I wake up in this morning?
“I’m curious. What do I do when I’m finished with the beautiful treat and require another?”
“Well, if you believe they make the perfect slave, we’ll be happy to buy her back. For a reduced price, of course. Even while you own her, as a member you’re allowed to participate in another auction. As many as the number of women you can handle.”
“If the selection wasn’t satisfactory? What then?”
His smile should send chills down my spine. Instead, I wanted to wipe it off his face. “Then we’ll be happy to dispose of her for you. We pride ourselves in customer satisfaction.”
“Excellent. Any objection as to the dollar amount? Once I’ve made a choice, I become highly possessive and competitive.” It was becoming impossible not to break his fucking face right here, right now.
“Absolutely no limitations.” He laughed as if I was making a joke. I could only imagine how much money they were bringing in. “Now, I’ll leave you to enjoy your evening. Perhaps after tonight, we’ll have a long conversation. I can tell you’re going to fit in perfectly with our members. We are a very tightknit group. Perhaps we could even be friends.”
I wasn’t interested in being his friend. “Perhaps.”
“Oh, a couple of things. As mentioned already, we take our privacy very seriously. What happens here and any subsequent events you will attend are to remain private. Imagine just how many people would clamor to become a member if they knew about our fabulous offerings. That would destroy the exclusivity. Any violations of the agreement are dealt with harshly.”
With a smile on my face, I lifted my glass. “I wouldn’t expect otherwise.”
He stood, peering down at me as if I’d passed another test. “One last thing. Given that the last thing we want is any interference by members of law enforcement, once you’ve made your selection, as a guest you will be required to test the merchandise. In front of several members of my staff, including myself. I hope you don’t mind voyeurism, Mr. Cavanaugh.”
“Not at all.” As anticipated and a necessary evil. Although not one I held any interest in, I’d managed to convince myself there was no other choice. However, if I was expected to be brutal with the woman, the fucker had another think coming.
“Good to know. After this evening’s festivities have been completed, either you will be contacted again with an invitation to attend another festive event, or you won’t. However, if you’re not one of the lucky few, you can keep the woman as a complimentary gift.”
After paying a hefty price, of course.
“Understood.”
“Enjoy your evening, Mr. Cavanaugh.”
I lifted my glass in response. There was no doubt my interactions would be watched. While the main goal was to expose the operation and the people involved, tonight was all about locating Reese. If what Catcher had told Maverick was correct, the new girls were always sold to the infrequent guests or newer members.
While that increased the chances Reese would be a part of the women chosen for tonight, it certainly wasn’t guaranteed. Every bit of what I was doing was a crapshoot. At least I could save a single girl. Then I’d go from there.
Less than ten minutes later, the lighting in the room changed. Every bidder had a prime seat in front of the stage. The music was lively, the lights behind the tables providing a perfect backdrop while all eyes were on the stage.
Nothing surprised me any longer. After years spent as a prosecuting attorney, I’d heard countless stories of various acts of abuse. Maybe I’d been naïve enough to think the girls would simply be tossed on stage, screaming and begging for help. That wasn’t the case.
The initial parade of women in beautiful dresses and high heels strutting on their long legs, smiling as they moved from one side to the other was cause for alarm. They weren’t fighting, their smiles almost genuine. Had the girls been drugged or indoctrinated? Or had they simply been promised something that didn’t exist? With their makeup and hair styled by someone in the industry, I was simply watching a beauty pageant.
The girls knew the routine well enough, stopping in front of each man for three seconds to allow us all to have a better look. Preening as they jutted their hips forward, tossing their long hair. While my eyes remained on every girl as she passed,I wasn’t truly seeing them, lost in another wave of anger and determination to bring these bastards down.
As the minutes dragged on, hope was waning. There were plenty of beautiful women in line, but none of them matching the photograph.
Until the very last girl.
Where the others wore expressions as if fully entrenched in whatever lies or threats had been used on them, this girl was different. She reeked of anger and determination, flashing her lovely eyes at every man. But not in the same way as the others. She was daring them, taunting them. And if looks could kill, she’d cut each one of them to ribbons.
Given I was the last man on the parade circuit, she was losing her patience. The moment she stopped in front of me, her glare became even icier.
I sat up in my seat, studying her intently. While I could easily tell she was terrified, her resolve and fury kept the adrenaline rush flowing. My God, she was fucking stunning. So much so that for a few seconds my heart was beating rapidly, completely mesmerized by her soft, creamy skin and the way her long blonde hair cascaded across her shoulders. The dress was beautifully designed for her voluptuous body, accentuating every rounded curve perfectly.
With her long legs and aristocratic features, she was easily the most beautiful girl in the room. Although I could see signs of dehydration and sleep deprivation that no amount of makeup could hide, even her skin glowed under the harsh lights.
Not once had she made full eye contact with any man, but she did with me. Very slowly, her lips twisting as soon as shedid. There was an instant sense of connection, one so strongly tethered it was as if a crackle of electricity flowed between us.
She stopped all movements, lifting her head, searching my eyes with hers. I was utterly taken aback, vibrations humming through every muscle. I’d never reacted to a woman so strongly before, the need and hunger almost uncontrollable.
