“We have $375,000, will someone bid $400,000?” the host said into the microphone. “Men, she’s worthfour.”
Chaplinsky raised his hand once more. The host acknowledged him and called out for the next bid while the girl wobbled on her bare feet, completely unaware of hersurroundings.
“How do you acquire your new purchase once you win a bid?” Colequestioned.
“You settle up in the back before you claim yourprize.”
“Do you have to wait until the auction is over or could you…begin immediately?” Adamasked.
Chaplinsky wiggled his bushy eyebrows again, a habit that was grating on Cole’s nerves. “Eager, eh? Luis prefers that you settle up immediately. Then you can either stay with your prize or leave atonce.”
There it was…a way to get Chaplinsky out of the way so he and Adam could figure out aplan.
“We have $400,000, do we have $425,000?” There was a pause and then the host’s satisfied smile. “We have $425,000, do we have $450,000?” The host said pointedly, staring atChaplinsky.
The big man tapped his finger on the table. “I do not know that she will be worththat.”
Cole pushed his case. “Look at those breasts. High, firm, very young. I’d be willing to bet she’s practically avirgin.”
Chaplinsky blinked at him as if in shock. “You thinkso?”
“Can’t you tell? Look at that skin, her face—she can’t even be eighteen. I’d be willing to bet on it.” When Chaplinsky leaned in, obviously interested, Cole continued baiting him. “Think of what you could do with all of that young, tight flesh.” A revolting eagerness practically radiated from the fat Russian’sface.
You seem very knowledgeable on the matter,” Chaplinsky said with awink.
“We have $425,000, looking for $450,000. Looking for $450,000 gentlemen, for this beautiful and willing young slave. Although we cannot guarantee she is 100% pure, she’s exceptionallyclose.”
Chaplinsky’s eyes widened. The host had practically just confirmed what Cole had suggested. The Russian’s hand shot up into the air, indicating he’d willingly pay theprice.
“Ah, a connoisseur.” The host tipped his head to the Russian, acknowledging his bid. “Are any other gentlemen interested in my beautiful flower? They can have her for the price of $475,000. $475,000 for this nubile, untried slave.” The host seemed to latch on to the growing eagerness in the crowd. He was a master at his game. “Turn, my flower. Let them see how beautiful you are.” The host turned the brunette, who stumbled awkwardly in a circle, following the man’slead.
Cole vowed right then and there that he’d kill every son of a bitch in attendance at this slavery auction. His team would personally find every single woman who had been taken for this auction, and they would exact justice on theirbehalf.
Chaplinsky grumbled, “I do not want to pay more than $500,000 for another slave.” Adam must have caught some of Cole’s eagerness. He put an elbow on his knee and leaned in closer to Chaplinsky, as if the two of them were sharing a conspiratorial secret. “Every man will be jealous of you tonight. And I think Luis will too, now that he started the bidding way too low for this particularslave.”
Chaplinsky’s gaze shifted from the slave to Luis’s hand, which now had a tight grip on Tomi’s hair. The pleasant smile had disappeared from his face. Adam wasn’t lying; the proprietor had indeed realized his mistake, and from the painful expression on Tomi’s face, she was paying for it. Cole wrapped his fingers around the edges of his seat and squeezed, needing an outlet for the rage ripping around hisbones.
Chaplinsky’s hesitation vanished. “Ha, he is furious. And I, being the kind and thoughtful guest that I am, will make sure to rub it in his face later.” Cole could practically see the wheels turning in Chaplinsky’smind.
“Do we have $475,000 for myflower?”
Silence reigned. The host glanced into another booth that Cole couldn’t see. The man who’d been bidding against the Russian was obviously hesitant to pay more. “Going once, going twice, sold to my friend for $450,000.” The host pushed the slave off the stage into the guard’s waiting hands and signaled for Chaplinsky to come settleup.
Chaplinsky shoved up from his chair, having to wedge his fat frame out of hisseat.
“Will we see you again tonight? Or should I plan on a phone call from the home country sometime next week?” Adamsaid.
“I’ll be back,” Chaplinsky straightened the lapels of his tuxedo, a feat that should’ve ripped the strange material in two. It was a testament to the fine woven quality of the suit that it didn’t bust at the seams. “I may be a few minutes though.” He did another maddening wiggle of his brows. “I would like to sample my prize. I bid you gentlemen goodbye for now.” And with the eagerness of a toddler on the cusp of opening a much-wanted Christmas present, Chaplinsky waddled from the thick velvet curtains, which swished shut behindhim.
The minute they were alone Adam rounded on Cole. “Want to tell me why the hell you just did that? He’s going to ride that girl, and we’re not ready to stop them. I haven’t seenTara.”
“Luis has my ex-girlfriend. That’s her, kneeling at his feet.” Adam nodded in Tomi’s direction, allowing the bitterness and hatred he’d worked so hard to mask to rise to thesurface.
“Jesus Christ.” Adam fell back in his chair. “I’m guessing you weren’t expecting she’d behere.”
“Nope, and I’m guessing she wasn’t planning on it. Adam, I can’t leave her.” But Cole sure as hell didn’t know how they were going save both Tara and Tomi. As a matter of fact, he had no fucking clue about anything right now. Their entire plan for recon and trapping had been completelydemolished.
“If I alert our backup, it’s going to trigger their internal alarms. El Oscuro isn’t stupid. He’s got scanners on this place, and if he doesn’t have scanners, he has disruptors…which will keep our signal from ever reaching backup,” Adam said. He grabbed the scotch and downed his entire drink. Then he reached for Chaplinsky’s and finished thattoo.
