Chapter 33

McKenzie

"Ican't believe you're going to another auction," Anna says. I stare at the clothes in my closet, trying to decide what I need to bring.

I shrug. "This is who I am now, and this plan is in motion, so there's no backing out now." Before she can reply, Clara comes rushing in with a garment bag hanging over her arm.

"It arrived!" she says excitedly. I clap my hands as she hands it to me. Walking to the counter in the middle of the closet, I lay it out and unzip the bag. I pull out the dress and admire it for a few moments before turning it to show Anna and Clara.

"Wow!" "So beautiful!" they say at the same time.

It's the dress I'm going to wear to the auction. The dress is a mermaid fit, the top black lace that will leave little to the imagination, and there are red and black roses that make up the skirt.

Clara walks forward and runs her finger over the silky fabric. "This is going to look beautiful with your skin tone and hair." This is the first time I remember being excited about going to an auction. Nix said we used the auctions to experiment, so I'm assuming I have been excited in the past, but this feels different.

After this auction, things will be different. Hopefully. "Are you going to try it on?" Anna asks. I walk to the closet and peek into the bedroom. Nix is working from home today, so I close the door.

"I'm pretty sure he'll knock before just walking in." Clara and Anna both snort. I put my hands on my hips. "He's not that bad." They share a look and I chuckle. I take my leggings and T-shirt off, standing before them in my panties and bra. Anna and I were roommates back at Brighton, so this is normal for us and well, we're inducting Clara into the normalcy I guess.

I hand the dress to them and they hold it low while I step into it. It's strapless, so when I pull it up, I take my bra off quickly and wait for Clara to zip it. "It's not as heavy as I was expecting it to be" I say as I walk to the floor-length mirror.

Anna and Clara stand behind me with small smiles on their faces. "It's gorgeous, Kenz," Anna says and Clara nods in agreement. I smile at them and take a deep breath.

"Mr. Phoenix hasn't seen it at all?" Clara asks.

"No, I told him it was red and black because he's picking out our masks and he wants us to match." As soon as the words leave my mouth, there's a knock on the door.

"Kenz?"

I turn around and face them with my hands on my hips. "See?" They start giggling, but the door begins to open. "No!" I yell out.

"What the hell?" Nix says. He doesn't close the door, but he stops.

"I'm trying my dress on and I don't want you to see it."

He huffs. "The girls get to see it," he complains. I walk up to the door and make sure I'm hidden before I stick my head in the crack.

"You can wait," I tell him as he scowls at me.

"Fine, but tell the girls to get out."

"Nix!" I chastise him and he gives me an I don't give a fuck look.

"Get out of your dress, but don't put anything else on." My mouth opens in an O just as Clara and Anna walk toward the door.

I step completely behind the door, so Nix doesn't see me. "Phillip said dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes and that was ten minutes ago!" Clara yells as she's leaving.

"I only need sixty seconds," Nix throws back.

I stick my head out the door again. "Sixty seconds?!?"

He arches an eyebrow. "I believe I did that last night, didn't I?" I snap my mouth shut. "Exactly."

I close the door in his face for being so arrogant and to get out of this dress so he can prove himself.

We load onto Nix's plane. According to him, it's mine now too. We're flying to Mississippi to go to the next auction. Victor Valentine will be hosting this quarter's auction. He isn't part of the council, but Nix has been working on getting things changed and finally received confirmation from the council it's okay if non council members host auctions.

They've decided this will be the last auction hosted at someone's residence. They're going to work on opening clubs throughout the country, but for now, there will be four. They'll be located in the northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest. Nix will be the owner of the one in the southeast.

Everyone is coming on the trip, but not everyone is going to the auction. It took some convincing to talk Anna into coming. When Rex promised her he'd keep her safe, she finally said yes. We all sit; Nix sits next to me while Rex and Anna sit across from us. Anna rubs her hands down her thighs and pulls her legs up to her chest. It's going to take a while for her to get to the point where she's not scared anymore.

Nix made sure word was spread wide about this auction. Our hope is because it's in a different location, it will attract the people we need to come. Nix wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me into him. Anna glances at Rex and I see the longing there. Rex only sees her as someone to protect, but maybe one day he'll wake up and see what's right in front of him.

"Victor called me earlier today. He's received almost three hundred RSVPs. It's the largest auction so far. He has security that will be there. Including my security, it will be well protected. Everyone we wanted to RSVP has," Nix tells us.

My stomach swoops knowing who we're about to come face to face with. According to Nix, I've met Victor and Olivia already, but I don't remember. He reminded me they were at the auction we hosted right after he rescued me, but I was living day by day at that time, so it's vague.

"How was he able to get so many RSVPs?" Rex asks.

Nix grins slightly. "There's been a problem with trafficking in his city for a while. He made sure the people in those circles found out about it. What they don't know is the money we raise from this will go toward helping victims of trafficking."

Anna looks out the window and squeezes her eyes shut. Rex wraps his arm around her shoulders and squeezes her. She gives him a grateful smile and lays her head on his shoulder. I wonder if there are people Victor and Olivia want to catch like we do.

Another change Nix made was everyone who is being auctioned tonight is choosing to participate. Every person who signed up to be auctioned had an interview with Nix, Gil, and Victor. They were promised if they decided at the last minute they didn't want to, that would be okay as well. There will also be a few undercover people in the auction. Dick will be there, so the plan is to lure him in with one of the undercovers.

Even more people are participating than before because it's not being controlled by elitist pricks. The bid each person receives goes to them except for ten percent. That goes to the fund to help those who we're trying to help. The flight doesn't take long and before I know it, we're landing.

Nix rented several hotel rooms for all of us, but we're getting ready at Victor and Olivia's house. We stand at their door and wait for them to answer. Their home is gorgeous and inviting. The amount of flowers is amazing.

"Nix, we need to ask them who their gardener is," I say as Victor opens the door, his arm draped around Olivia's shoulders.

"That would be my wife." He smiles down at the black-haired beauty whose cheeks blush slightly.

She shrugs. "Flowers are easier than people," she murmurs.

I chuckle and nod. "One of the reasons I like to bake." We share a look and Victor invites us in. Victor and Nix walk ahead of Olivia and me.

"I know you don't remember me, but we have met a few times over the past few years," she says.

I smile at her and swallow nerves suddenly settling in my stomach. "I wish I could remember."

She pats my arm. "I'm sure your memories will come back when you need them." She sighs. "There are some things I wish I could forget."

I tilt my head at her. Nix said she's had trauma in her past, but he's not sure what. And it's not my place to ask unless she wants to tell me. "So, the auction is going to be somewhere else?" I ask.

She nods and leads me into the kitchen. "Yes. Victor does not want people in our home, especially with everything that is planned for tonight."

"Phoenix is the same way. We have a home in downtown Savannah we use. Where will it be?"

She grabs two champagne glasses, some champagne, and orange juice. "There's a house recently built for special occasions like this. It will be there." She lifts the champagne. "Mimosas?"

"Definitely. How many special occasions are like this auction?" I ask as I take a sip of the mimosa she made me.

She laughs. "It was not built with this in mind, but Connor says he's going to talk to Phoenix and talk him into letting this place be the southern location for the auctions."

I smirk. "I'm sure Nix will be fine with that. He wants this to take off."

Olivia leans in like she's going to tell me a secret. "Well, between you and me, Connor and his wife throw the best BDSM parties." She laughs when my eyes widen.

Laughter sounds behind me, and I turn to see Victor and Phoenix walking in. Victor is laughing with his wife. Nix steps behind me and wraps his arms around my waist while Victor does the same to Olivia.

"Don't let that term fool you," Victor says. "In this case, it stands for burgers, drinks, and salsa music."

Nix and I laugh. "I want to go."

Olivia looks up at her husband. "I'm sure there will be another in a couple of months. We'll be sure to let you know about it."

I glance up at Nix, a question in my eyes. He leans down and kisses me on the forehead. "Anything you want, love." He turns his attention back to Victor. "Shall we discuss the plans for tonight?"