I pulled my cell from my pocket, ringing Miss Rice at the front desk. Seconds later, her delicate Welsh accent was singing in my ears. “Yes, sir?”
“Delaney Bennett, is she here tonight?”
“Umm let me just check, yes… she is here. She was assigned a ticket for tonight’s members only event in the Showroom. Looks like the ticket was purchased by Lacy Goodwin, Miss Delaney is her plus one tonight.
Shit!
I ended the call racing for the other side of the club. There isnofucking way I’m letting Delaney participate in tonight’s event.
Over my dead body!
I pushed myself through the crowd of members trying to get in, each member eager to clear the way once they realized who I was but I didn’t have time to wait. I stopped at the doorway, waving my hand to the guards to open it.
“Evening, sir,” one guard started to greet me but with no time for pleasantries I stormed past him. My need for her felt like something I hadn’t felt – I felt possessive over her, like I wanted her to be mine and only mine.
I was pissed off and on a mission. A mission to go get my girl before it was too late.
How did I not know she was registered for tonight’s event? How the hell did I miss her name on the roster? I frantically went over the names once again in my head. There’s no way I would have missed seeing it there.
I finally made it to the end of the hall just about to open the door. I stopped short when I heard Lacy giggle.
I looked over to see her and Delaney sitting at a booth in the corner ofthe room, hidden, and trying to keep herself out of sight of the obvious male gazes that were now fixed on her. These men were shamelessly tripping over themselves to get a good look at her in that outfit.
Why the fuck did she wear something so skimpy?
What I didn’t understand was the rage I was feeling and the pure jealousy that was threatening to control my next move.
I walked over and sat down in the booth next to her, blocking the view of everyone else in the room. She gasped, and her face flushed a deep crimson red. I leaned into her close enough to graze her cheek with my lips. The heat that was radiating from her body was evidence enough that I had an effect on her.
“What are you doing in here, sweetheart?” I whispered.
“I’m not sure, Lacy invited me, but she didn’t tell me what exactly happens here?” She looked around noticing the attention she was still getting, only something tells me I had everything to do with the attention this time. I didn’t usually fraternize with my members, at least not down on the ground floor, my private quarters, now that’s a different story.
“Hmm, well you’re in for a treat.” I cooed, realizing Delaney was not participating in the auction tonight.Or ever, if I could help it.
The sound of the microphone being powered on filled the room and everyone’s attention was on the stage.
“Alright, fellow crawl patrons welcome to the most anticipated night of the month: Auction night! Now I know you are familiar with the rules but let’s briefly go over them for shits and giggles…”
“Auction?” Delaney asked under her breath, to no one in particular.
Wouldn’t you like to know?
Delaney
The man on the microphone started to announce names. Each time one was called, a woman walked out on the stage, did a little strut dressed in lingerie, and a red lace mask across her eyes, with a number pinned to her hip. I watched as men and women in the audience started to take note, paying close attention to the stage, and then the women would walk off the stage, then another name was called. Like they were being showcased before being sold off like cattle.
Are they auctioning off women? What the hell is this place?
Mybreath hitched when I realized that my assumptions were correct when a woman stepped out on stage and red paddles started to rise from the crowd. The man on the microphone shouted out numbers so quickly that it was hard to follow. I must have looked terrified sitting there with my mouth open. I looked around to find Lacy but she was nowhere to be seen.
I’m gonna kill her, ugh!
I scooted all the way around the crescent-shaped booth, toward the door. I almost made it there but just as I reached for the door my wristwas grasped and I stepped back into a hard chest.
And the musky smell of Dallas Kingston.
“Where are you off to?” He breathed heavily into my ear.
