The rest of the girls were sold with smooth precision, raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars for ElOscuro.
Stephan stood and made another announcement at the end of the auction. “I hope you all enjoyed tonight’s festivities, and as a thank you for attending, I’d like to offer you a surprise gift.” Playing the sultan role accurately, Stephan lifted his hands and clapped them together twice. A string of new girls wafted into the front of the room, gathering in the area directly in front of the stage. A blast of music boomed through the room, and the nearly naked girls lifted their hands and began to belly dance. Chaplinsky and Adam resumed their ardent discussion while Cole just watched andwaited.
A moment later one of the guards approached their group, leaned down and whispered in Chaplinsky’s ear. The Russian nodded, fighting to keep his face impassive but failing miserably. There was an undeniable air of excitement practically wiggling hisjowls.
“Well gentlemen, looks like you were unable to satisfy your requirements for thenight.”
Adam flicked his wrist. “I’m not surprised. I have a feeling I will have to look elsewhere to find what Iwant.”
Chaplinsky stared at Adam for a straight minute without speaking, his shrewd gaze digging deep. Cole knew he was trying to make up his mind on whether to invite them to the actual auction. Praying his bluff would be the little push that Chaplinsky needed to secure the invite, he gave the man a final nudge. “Come on boss, we’ve wasted enough timehere.”
Adam let out a long, unsatisfied sigh and extended his hand to the Russian. “You’ve got my card. I look forward to hearing from you soon. I think you and I could make a very lucrativepartnership.”
“Not yet,” Chaplinsky saidslowly.
“I’msorry?”
“I don’t think you should leave just yet. The party is not over.” Chaplinsky downed his scotch and stood, straightening the lapels on his jacket. “I’m not through with this discussion, and I have a feeling you will be very interested in the rest of tonight’sproceedings.”
Adam stood, eyeballing Chaplinsky with a questioning look. “But Stephan just announced the auction was over. That was the only reason I attendedtonight.”
“It is over for most. Followme.”
Adam flipped his head to the side, indicating that Cole should follow. His insides were racing with adrenaline, but he fought to keep his expression bored. This is what they’d been praying for. The rest of Fury Security had set up in a funneled perimeter, two spotters on the inner perimeter and the rest out wider, ready to pick up the girls as they left theauction.
If Adam got lucky and spotted Tara, he’d purchase her, guaranteeing her safety. Once they left the property, they’d signal to the team to scavenge for the rest. That way they could safely rescue all of the girls and keep their identities hidden from ElOscuro.
Chaplinsky wound his way through the throng of tables, out of the door through which they’d entered, and down to a single locked door on the right, where a guard had been posted. Without saying a word, Chaplinsky extracted the black envelope from inside his jacket pocket and handed it over. The guard stepped back and opened the door, allowing the Russian to pass through. Adam made to follow, but an arm shot out to bar his way. “Invitationonly.”
“They are with me.” The Russian’s voice took on a new level of authority. Cole half expected the guard to protest, but the man dropped his arm and melted back, allowing Cole and Adam to enter. Chaplinsky clapped Adam on the back and maneuvered him through a small, well-lit foyer, this one absent any Arabian dressings. Their footsteps echoed on the concrete floors and chipped black walls of the hall. The doorway at the end of the hall opened from the inside, another guard bowing as they entered. And then a huge muscular man in a nondescript black suit appeared before them, dipping his head in greeting. “If you will follow me, Sir, I have your tableready.”
They followed the man into a darkened, stadium-style room. There were about twenty tables in all, separated by thick velvet curtains capable of partitioning each off into its own private quarters. A broad set of steps led the way up each side of the room. The guard directed them up the far staircase to the top row and then guided them to the first partitioned area. There were no low-lying cushions or uncomfortable floor seats. Heavy and elegant leather chairs surrounded a smallertable.
The guard held the curtain back, allowing them entrance. “Your menu for tonight’s selection is on the table. We hope that we have something that can satisfy your appetite. I’ll be your personal attendee. If there is anything you need, anything at all, don’t hesitate toask.”
With that, the guard let the curtain fall and Chaplinsky gestured for them all to take aseat.
“What is this, Chaplinsky?” Adam asked, feigninguncertainty.
The Russian’s fat lips stretched into a full lascivious grin. “The real auction.” Chaplinsky picked up the menu and scanned it briefly before handing it over to Adam. Cole glanced at it over his shoulder. There was a short list—each line started with the name of a flower and ended with the description of awoman.
“Lily,” Adam read out loud, “five foot six, 120 pounds, health grade A, a score ofthree?”
“Yes, he likes to start with the bargains first. Each slave has been rated on a score of one to ten, one being those that will require the most training, and ten,” Chaplinsky rubbed his hands together, “ten is nearperfection.”
“So, what’s the difference between these slaves and the ones that were just offeredup?”
“Let’s just say these slaves will truly belong to you. Their bodies shall be yours; you shall have the right to do with them whatever you please, including killing them if it becomes necessary, without fear ofreprisal.”
Cole gave no sign of the excitement or the fury winding through his veins. What Chaplinsky had basically said in his own artful way was that these women had no choice but to be slaves, and if Adam wanted to slit his slave’s throat or abuse her body, she would have no choice but to submit. These women hadn’t volunteered foranything.
“Chaplinsky, I think I was meant to meet you tonight.” Adam grinnedbroadly.
Chaplinsky completely missed the dim glow of disgust in his eyes. “I feel the same way, my friend. Perhaps we’ll both find a new toy to take hometonight.”
Cole looked away, scanning the rest of the room. The curtains concealed the men to their left or right, but they could see the tables below them. Off to the side was another large dais, this one featuring a black, hand-carved throne upon which a dark-haired man sat. A single slave knelt at his feet this time, her back to the rest of the crowd, her long blonde hair cascading down around her face, hiding herfeatures.
A narrow waist, skin gleaming even from a distance, flared into perfectly rounded hips that had his fingers curling into his palms with the urge to touch them. Hot blood rushed to his cock and his veins bulged with sexual awareness. Something he hadn’t felt to this degree for a long, longtime.
