“What did you mean that those men,” I pointed to the big screen, “brought a girl as payment?”
Nathaniel glanced at the screen then looked at me. “To become part of the circle, you will bring a woman of a certain age to your first party. If she’s purchased by anyone present, you become a member. If not, then you’ll be given a second chance. After that, we don’t bother inviting you again,” his explanation was so calm and confident as though he were explaining how to fucking cook cheese and mac.
I swallowed down the fury sitting in my gut, my nails biting into my palm to keep me grounded. “What about the girl I threw into the pool.”
His gaze switched between the screens before looking at me. “She was as you would call, the cherry on top.” At my cocked brow, he added, “all these girls are drugged with something we call a sniffer. Something I invented myself.” I wanted to kick his teeth in, wiping off that smug grin. “It’s sprayed on their faces in fifteen-minute intervals. That way we ensure there are no marks before the sale and while they act normal, it keeps them compliant. Every so often we bring what we call a live specimen. No drugs, not even a sniffer. She’s invited, thinking it’s a normal party until the auction begins. The stronger the fight in her, the more the men will pay and that’s what makes us the most money. I’m talking an easy twenty million for a drug-free virgin.”
“And that girl was your cherry,” I asked. He nodded, confirming he hadn’t suspected that my act of throwing her into the pool was a way of getting her out of this party. The only way I could protect her without breaking my cover, yet. “So, what now?”
His phone vibrated on his desk. He checked it then set it aside. “Well, your little theatric sent her home with her cousin. Pity, that girl could’ve fetched a price as well. Not a virgin but there’s always someone willing to pay for a pretty face.” He stood and walked over to the bar. So, Isharawasinnocent, and this bastard planned to sell her too. “Right now.” He waved his phone at me. “My men have Ria, that’s the girl from the pool and they’re on their way back. Couldn’t get the cousin though.”
His words sluiced ice through my veins, hitting me with a gut-wrenching punch. How the fuck had that happen. Kat was tailing them. “You still plan to auction her tonight?” I kept my voice steady despite the panic mode that erupted in my heart.
“No. By the time they get back, the party would be over.” He turned away from the bar and slid a glass of brandy across the table. I caught it with a quick flick of my wrist. “I’m going to break her in and then add her to my catalog of high-end prostitutes in Russia.” He sat down, leaned back in his leather chair, and rested his ankles on his table.
I had to think fast. “What about the friend I told you about, the one wanting to buy women. He might be interested, and he’s loaded,” I tried, frustration burning the blood in my veins as unease began to warp my sense of control, I was seconds away from killing the bastard.
Nathaniel shook his head. “I might’ve let you into my little web but your friend would have to follow the same process as all those men. I must be certain they won’t leak my indulgences to the wrong people. I keep the circle tight.”
Trying to come up with a reason to leave and not shake my cover, my phone buzzed. ‘Mom’ flashed across the screen. I showed Nathaniel the phone. “I need to take this.” He nodded. Standing, I answered. “Mom,” I kept my tone light. Jesus, I was working up a sweat just thinking of Ria being taken.
“Kat called. Ria was taken when she and her cousin stopped for a coffee. There were too many for Kat to handle, she’s got the cousin,” Declan muttered.
With my gaze on Nathaniel, I nodded. “Yes, mom, I’ll come over as soon as I can. I’ve got to go now.” I cut the call.
“Is your mom okay,” Nathaniel asked. Our investigation had discovered Nathaniel’s weakness. His mother. If she called, he dropped everything and ran home to her.
“Not quite. She fell two days ago and twisted her ankle, so every little thing is an emergency. Mothers.” I downplayed the role of a caring son hoping he’d buy it.
“What the fuck, Gabriel, that’s your mother? When she calls you move ass to get to her. Go.” He tipped his chin at the door.
“Don’t you need me here?”
He shook his head. “Your mother comes first. Go.” I was at the door when he stopped. “Gabriel?” I turned. “If you want a piece of that pretty pussy, just say the word.”
“Thanks.” I barely managed to keep from sneering. Outside, I was climbing into my car when Nathaniel’s men drove up. I watched them take her in, their manhandling ripping a hole through my chest and lining my body with rage.
Drumming my hands on the wheel, I called Declan. “They’ve got the girl, I’m going in,” I said after he answered on the third ring.
“Want me to send in back up?” he asked, concern already dancing at the edge of his words.
“No. We can’t lose Nathaniel. This needs to be smooth. Have the memory cards been connected yet?”
“Not yet. I’m keeping tabs on it as we speak.”
Fuck. I couldn’t sit tight anymore. Opening the car door, I glanced around to check I wasn’t being watched as I made my way to the trunk.
“I know you can handle yourself, Gabe but be careful.”
“Always am.”
“Yeah, right,” he scoffed, cutting the call.
I tucked my Colt in the back waistband of my pants, stuck a Glock in my underarm holster, then knelt and strapped a knife around each ankle. If I was going down, I intended to kill every fucker that crossed my path spilling enough blood to paint the goddamn mansion. Shoving a couple more magazines into my jacket pockets, I shut the trunk lid. Inside, I headed for Nathaniel’s den. The men from the party were still on the grounds which meant he probably wouldn’t attempt anything with Ria yet.
I was wrong. When I entered the den, I stopped short. Nathaniel was spread out on the couch with a sobbing Ria standing in front of him. She was shaking and I wasn’t sure if it were because of fear or her clothes still damp from the pool. Her hair hanging around her face hid me from her sight. I walked further into the room and Nathaniel noticed me.
“How’s your mother, Gabe?” he asked.
