Chapter 36

Phoenix

I've trained myself not to react when my emotions are high, but knowing my mother is right behind me is testing even me. McKenzie's nails are digging so hard into my thigh I'm glad I chose a red suit so the blood will blend in. I hate the fear she must be feeling right now. But I will make it right. I will.

We sit through the remainder of the auction. I rub my fingers up and down the inside of Kenz's wrist. Everyone is quiet and on alert. Jason has confirmed he's in the back watching Dick. Victor has a couple of guys back there as well. Luca is standing at the other exit. Everything is covered. My mother is not going to get out of here without being seen.

Once the auction is over, an announcement is made about where the ritual will take place. "I'll follow her and make sure she goes to the correct room," Rex says in my ear. He also opted for a full face mask and his hair is slicked back, so even if my mother has seen him before, hopefully she won't recognize him. McKenzie and I stand to exit. I force my muscles to remain relaxed as I guide Kenz to the aisle.

I wrap my arm around her and lean down as we walk. "Are you okay?" I whisper, so only she can hear and those in our ears.

"My heart is pounding," she replies softly. I place my hand directly over her heart. To others, it looks like I'm flirting with my pet, but I'm trying to calm her and let her know I'm here.

"I'm going to have so much fun with you later, pet," I murmur.

She sucks in a breath, her eyes flying to mine. I wink at her and she exhales deeply. She nods once, understanding I'm trying to get her head back in the game. We follow the crowd downstairs. Some branch off to go have fun of their own and I have to continue to dig deep to stop myself from looking for my mother.

"She's behind the two of you. I'm keeping an eye on her," Rex says.

"Dick is headed downstairs with the girl he bought," Jason tells us.

"My guys will stay at all exits once everyone is downstairs," Victor instructs.

We gather downstairs and wait for instructions like everyone else. Several people were purchased, so they'll begin branching off into the different rooms and areas. The girl Dick bought begins to act out just in time.

"What? I didn't know this was part of this. I'm not doing this." Victor and Olivia step forward with one of their security.

"It's okay," Olivia says softly. "Come in this room over here, both of you, and we'll get this sorted out."

Some other girls begin to protest, which was expected, so the other security that was hired leads them all to separate rooms to help. What they don't know is those rooms will lead them outside.

"Let's go see if Victor needs help," I tell McKenzie.

"I'll talk to her," Kenz says. "I mean, I know how she feels." I know she's saying what she's supposed to, but her words hit me square in the chest. She didn't know what was happening the night her father sold her. She had no idea what was happening. Yet, here she is, by my side.

"She's following you," Rex says.

I interlace my fingers with McKenzie's and squeeze her hand. She squeezes mine in return. Victor and Olivia come out as we're about to walk into the room.

"We talked to her, and she's okay, but she asked if only a handful of people would watch," Olivia says.

Victor gestures. "You four should be okay and us, of course."

I know he and Olivia will not be joining us. I know my mother and Rex are behind us still. This almost seems too easy. We walk into the room and Victor shuts the door. Dick glances around, knowing something is off. Ava, the UC he thinks he purchased, is sitting in a chair in the corner ready to offer assistance if needed.

"What's going on?" He turns toward her. "Get on the bed."

I take my mask off. "I don't think she will."

Dick's eyes widen, his neck and face becoming a bright shade of red. He looks over my shoulder toward my mother, probably hoping she'll do something, but she doesn't say a word.

"Sit," I demand. He swallows, but does as I say. Rex walks over and stands next to him, putting his hand on Dick's shoulder. Ava smirks and waves her fingers at him. He swallows again, but doesn't move. He's already accepted his fate. I know Rex and Ava will handle him if he decides to try something.

I turn, face my mother, and tilt my head. She removes her mask and offers me a snake-like smile, but I don't return it.

"Mother. It's been years," I greet her. Kenz is still squeezing my hand, so I pull her close and wrap my arm around her waist.

My mother clicks her tongue as she stares us down. "What exactly do you think you're doing, son?"

Kenz brings her other hand up and grips my bicep gently. I know she's offering me support. How she ever thought I wouldn't choose her, I don't know. It wasn't a difficult choice. This woman will stand beside me through anything, while the one in front of me is nothing but a narcissistic manipulator.

My gut still clinches at the look in her eyes. She's never loved anyone but herself, let alone me. I force one side of my mouth to tip into a smile. "I'm changing the rules, mother."

She narrows her eyes, causing the creases in her forehead to be more evident. I wonder what she'd do if I pointed it out. Try to stop this conversation to go get botox immediately?

"So, you've made your choice?" she asks. I know she's trying to bait me.

"You made your choice the day you set your sights on my wife."

She snorts and rolls her eyes. "At least one of us gets a Knight." I tilt my head and McKenzie stiffens next to me.

"What do you mean?" McKenzie asks, and I know my mother wanted that question to be asked. She walks over to another chair and sits, adjusting her black dress around her as she gets ready for her performance.

"You see, years ago, in high school, I was promised to a man. A man I wanted more than anyone else." She glances over at Dick, who has kept quiet this entire time, and smirks. "In fact, Richard was friends with this man, gained his trust. Of course, back then Richard was quite the looker."

She sighs dramatically as she stares at him. "You really have let yourself go." Dick doesn't say anything, obviously used to this sort of abuse. "Anyway, my future was laid out before me. I was promised to the most eligible bachelor of Brighton Academy." Her eyes harden and she glares at McKenzie. I pull her closer to me. I want to step in front of her, but I know that will show a weakness and we don't need that. Not now.

"But halfway through our senior year, we had someone transfer in. It was highly unusual for a student to be accepted so far into the school year, especially a senior, but exceptions were made for this particular student." She scoffs and runs her hands down her silk dress. "Her parents had passed away, and she moved in with another family whose children went to Brighton." She rolls her eyes.

"The man I was promised to took one look at her and fell head over heels. I was all but forgotten. My family's empire and his were going to be joined and we would have ruled the majority of the southern states, but he went and ruined it all." She stands and takes a step toward us, but her eyes are glued to McKenzie. This time I do take a step in front of her, but she continues to stare at her.

"All because of your mother. She ruined everything." I spare a glance at McKenzie. She's staring at my mother with tears in her eyes, but she doesn't speak. My mother walks toward Dick, Rex standing behind him, waiting for his opportunity to kill the man that dared touch Anna. She doesn't spare a glance toward Ava, who has almost faded into the background. She does her job well. "So, I started scheming. Richard and I tried to find ways to get rid of Isabel, but we could never get to her."

She turns back around and puts her hands on her hips. "Your father was prepared for what he called my temper tantrum. He protected her. She was fragile, your mother. I thought he'd get bored with her eventually. My father got tired of waiting, so he found your father." She finally looks at me.

"He said I had to marry him or get sold at the next auction. I chose to get married." She runs her hands through her red hair, so different from the blonde hair I remember, and clutches it like she's trying to pull it out by the roots. "I had plans for the auction. I wanted to change things, but I couldn't do that since I was a woman. I had to have a husband." She glances at her red nails. "So barbaric, but I knew my place and did as I was told. I never loved your father. I tried. I really did, but for the majority of my life, Marcus Knight was supposed to be the man I married." She shrugs. "But your father believed I loved him and that's all I needed to begin slowly changing things."

McKenzie steps forward. "You killed my mother." The first thing my brain wants to do is reject this, but I know she's right. I knew where this story was headed the moment mother began talking about the man she was promised to and the girl he fell in love with instead.

"I did." She admits it like she's talking about the weather. McKenzie sinks into me and I hold her tight so she doesn't fall to the ground. "And your father tried to find me. He started coming to auctions. Tried to find evidence, but I was very careful."

"We have a situation out here," Victor says in my ear. I share a look with Rex.

"Handle it," Rex replies.

My mother glances between us and arches an eyebrow. "Issues, boys?"

"Your father is here," Jason says.

I glare at the woman who gave birth to me, but that's all she is to me, I'm realizing. "Dad is here," I tell her.

She sighs and shakes her head. "Loyal to the very end."

I ball my hands into fists as I glare at her. "How are you able to make all these men do your bidding?"

She huffs. "All the men except the one I wanted, you mean?"