Master B-0361

T hey say when you meet your soulmate, you know. Time stops. Everything you thought you knew no longer matters. It’s not your life anymore; it’s the life you can build around them.

It’s true.

I once was a believer in love. Maggie had been everything to me. She was the first girl to sweep me off my feet. The first one I had ever said ‘I love you’ to. And I had loved her with every fiber of my being. We’d given our virginity to each other. Started planning and dreaming of a future. Every second was small caresses and kisses. It was so different than the cold life I’d lived before that. She brought life to the deadness I hid inside and warmed my frozen state. Fed it with her constant affection. But then she’d met Jake Princeton, Master Five , and all that changed.

She fell for him, and I lost her. Not that it stopped me from trying to get her back. For years, even after they married, I did everything I could to show her I was still here. That I still cared. One child. Then, she got pregnant with another. I would have taken them both to care for as my own. She had no interest in my offers or pleas. No interest in me. With her death, and then his suicide, I lost everything. Every hope. Every dream. Every chance I ever had to get her back. The warmth, gone. The affection, gone. Revenge, gone.

Some say true love can only happen once in a lifetime. Perhaps they’re right.

“God, she is so fucking hot.”

I glanced over to Master One-thousand-twenty-nine, nodding as a leggy blonde cautiously walked onto the stage. Although I didn’t know the Master very well, I was just glad it was him by me and not Pete, who’d left for the blank slates once the introduction ended. A few random comments I could handle. Shit talking and gossiping was not how I wanted to spend my night.

“What’s your type? Are you looking for anything special?”

Special? Yeah…a dead woman. But I’d never find another Maggie here. Maggie had been one of a kind. Just as beautiful on the inside as the out. Strong. Graceful yet every bit the leader.

“I’m not too picky.”

I lifted my drink, chugging back the vodka as the Master nodded, clicking the bidding button. His attention was on the stage, and mine…it was living in memories I couldn’t escape.

How many hours was I going to do this? No, how many years? How many auctions would I be chasing a ghost?

My head leaned back, and I closed my eyes. Time drifted as I laid there, staring into happy, love-filled eyes. Back to when she was mine. When she loved me too. It was the loud voice next to me that had my lids shooting open and me leaving Maggie.

“Hell yes. She’s mine. I’ve got to collect my new slave. Have a good night, Master Three-sixty-one.”

As I nodded, I glanced around seeing how empty the room had become. There was only one person left on my row, and that was a good forty chairs down.

“I need another drink. I’ll follow you out.”

I stood as the Master did, ignoring the announcer’s voice as we headed to the aisle. I reached for my wallet, jerking to a stop as I realized I wasn’t in my suit. I was in the damn God costume, which was ridiculous, if I wanted to be honest. A moment of confusion had me spinning for my wallet on the chair, only to turn back to the aisle as I remembered that I didn’t bring it. Fuck, I was buzzing more than I thought.

I stepped for the aisle again, not able to continue as almond-shaped light brown eyes connected with mine. She was walking to the stage, a mass of blue sheer material following behind. Dark hair that reached the length of her elbow swayed as she spun to look back at me. Even as she neared the stairs, she was peering over her shoulder.

And what was I doing?

Was I blindly walking back to my seat? Sitting? Fuck… I was.

Did she look like Maggie? Aside from the color of her hair and the shape of her eyes, I wasn’t sure. She had magnetism, and fuck if it didn’t suck me right in like Maggie’s used to.

That still didn’t make her Maggie. That was almost enough to cause me to stand and forget this silly feeling. If it wouldn’t have been for the fact that I needed someone new, I just might have.

“Up for auction is b-eight-forty-two.”

I couldn’t get sense enough to pick up the bidding button before lights flashed on the screen from another Master. The slave stood straight but I could see the small steps back and forth she took. Her eyes were wide. Her lips were parted. She was on the verge of running but knew better as she forced herself to stand straight through the sways. If that wasn’t a red flag, I didn’t know what was. She wasn’t taking her status easily. She wouldn’t be an easy slave. She was a fighter to her core…but hadn’t Maggie been one too?

“Fuck.”

I hit the button, biting down as I tightened my jaw through the warnings that kept going off in my mind. I should have welcomed this. I should have latched onto this new slave and never looked back. I wasn’t, which was ironic. All I had wanted now for years was Maggie. Now that I was getting a taste of some sort of familiarity of her energy, I was hesitant to take it. I wanted the woman I was in love with. I didn’t want a replacement, and maybe even intoxicated, I could see the possibilities of that.

Lights flashed from the previous Master’s number as he outbid me, and I hit the button again, cursing myself as he did the same. With the handful of Masters present, it could have been anyone. Back and forth we went. It didn’t take long before our bidding war wasn’t about the money or the slave and all about the determination to fucking win.

“Son of a bitch.”

The deep tone from one of the private balconies above had me smiling as I relaxed even more into the chair. Money wasn’t an issue. I didn’t give a shit how far he wanted to drive the slave’s price up. I wasn’t backing out. I kept my stare on the woman who was putting her full attention on me. I wasn’t hiding that I was in this bidding war. I kept my elbow positioned on the arm of the chair, clicker in the air as I kept pushing it. B-eight-forty-two would know…the Master who was fighting me to have her would know…This slave was mine, and I didn’t give a shit what either one of them wanted.

“I thought that was you! Bastard.”

I hit the button again, turning to look up to the first balcony level, four rooms down. My laugh couldn’t be contained as I stood.

“So, you’re Master Twenty-two. Jett LaRoe . Does your mother know you’re down here?”

“ Ha. I’m a Master here. I’ve been spilling blood since I was a young teen. I’m legal and in college now; I’m good. Besides, I don’t make it a point to see my mother if I can help it. She’s off… doing her own thing .”

“Analyzing people?”

“Fucking their heads up, no doubt.”

I glanced back at the screen, seeing my number flash, indicating I was the winner. I locked eyes with the slave, watching as the guards quickly escorted her out.

“Little out of your price range, isn’t she, LaRoe?”

“I was going to ignore that part.” He laughed, something in his thoughts narrowing his eyes. “I could have gotten away with it. You owe me, Rivers. You remember that. She’s…a good one. Have fun.”

I laughed, glancing back up. “I plan to. Good luck finding a slave. I’m headed to go get mine.”

His head turned as a young w began walking to the stage.

“Oh, I’ll have fun . This one will do, right here. Have you ever seen anyone perform a lobotomy, Rivers?”

My lips separated at his question. His dark hair had his light green eyes shining as he kept his gaze locked on the terrified virgin who headed for the stairs.

So, that’s what he was doing with them. Perhaps the apple hadn’t fallen too far from the tree. His mother, Melissa, Mistress Two, was a shrink here. She was foundation at the Gardens and very established in our outside circle of elites. She was like Elec. She had this power to hypnotize or… make you believe unimageable things . Supposedly, she was the one who taught Elec everything he knows. What had she taught Jett about the mind? Anything? Nothing? He was probably more under her control than he realized.

“I haven’t seen one. Someday, you’ll have to show me.”

“I’d love to. You can’t imagine what I can do. I’m full of tricks. Find me when you’re ready to watch an exciting show.”

I nodded. “I’ll do that.”

As I headed to the aisle and towards the exit, I couldn’t stop from looking over my shoulder, back to the stage. That girl was doomed, and she had no idea what she was in for. That could have easily been my new slave. That could have been my new Maggie dying again. The thought had a weird twinge tugging in the pit of my stomach, and it wasn’t even centered on the woman. It was all about the lack of control I held. If someone else killed her, I couldn’t control that. If it were me…If I did it, that would be okay. But Jett. Anyone else…

No.

I didn’t like the cord of attachment that was put into place when I put the slave in hypothetical danger. It invented feelings that weren’t true. Emotions that shouldn’t exist. I hadn’t even got her to my apartment and already I felt the need to protect what was mine. To fight for it. And…she was mine. But she wasn’t real. She wasn’t Maggie. But I’d make her into Maggie. And then when it was time, I’d lay her to rest on my own terms. I didn’t get to do that. I never got to say goodbye.

Would I ever? No.

Heading through the exit, I let my steps eat up the distance of the hall. It wasn’t crowded, and aside from a man and slave leaving the room I was headed to, not a soul was in sight. I slowed as I approached, taking a deep breath before entering.

Just like the other smaller auction rooms, this one was filled with black leather sofas. Behind a tall desk in the back was a guard, staring down at a tablet. He stood by the doors to the waiting cells. Aside from me, the room was empty. Was it really so late?

No wallet. No phone. No watch. What the fuck had I been thinking?

As I headed for the guard, I knew what had been on my mind. Maggie lived there, laughing and kissing me. Loving me. Newly engaged to me again. How had eight months together felt like forever, and yet no time at all? Eight months…had consumed me for more years than I wanted to think about. Eight months…It sounded stupid. Unreal. My heart or brain didn’t give a shit. When your life revolved around responsibilities and duties, all you wanted was someone to help ease the hell that had been cast on you. At least that’s what I had wanted. I thought my life would be better with her warmth. Her love. I thought I stood a chance at happiness with more than a betrothed or partner. I never needed help. What I needed was a loyal woman who put me first and was ready to take on the world at my side. Maggie had wanted that. She made me believe it with her plans of our future and those kisses she used to seal the deal. I had been so excited, relieved even. But then Jake made her fall in love with him. Maggie went from genius business major to mom. He snuffed out her spirit and kept her focused on their family instead of her passion. As if she wasn’t strong enough to do both.

“I’m here for a pickup.”

“Master Number?”

“Three-sixty-one.”

The guard pressed buttons, his eyes lifting to take in my face to see if it matched my identity.

“Slave b-eight-forty-two?”

“That’s right.”

He hit more buttons.

“They’re finishing programing your code word now. It shouldn’t be much longer. Would you like your slave’s information?”

Last auction I hadn’t cared, and most guards didn’t even ask, but I couldn’t help the pause the question gave me.

“Email it over to me.”

“Yes, Sir.”

I stepped back, heading to the closest sofa but not sitting down. I paced. I debated on when I should introduce my two slaves. My mind stayed busy. When the door opened and eight-forty-two emerged with a guard, I didn’t waste my time playing nice. I reached for her bicep, taking solid hold as I nodded to the guards.

“I’m not going to run.”

My hand stayed firmly around her. “You’re thinking about it.”

“That doesn’t mean I’ll do it.”

“Doesn’t mean you won’t, either.”

Brown eyes cut to me, but she stayed quiet as I led her through the halls and into the main lobby area that held the elevator. More people were collected in the large room, lounging on the sofas and laughing through their intoxicated conversations. I hit the button for the elevator, sighing in relief as I led us on without anyone joining. Only then did I let go, but I pulled her a step closer as I did.

“You have abandonment issues.”

My mouth opened the slightest amount as I turned to her. The accusation was quiet, but I hadn’t missed it.

“What are you, a fucking shrink?”

“No. But I’ve taken classes and been to enough of them throughout my life to know. Your lack of trust is obvious.”

“Well, so is your lack of freedom, so spare me the analysis.”

More silence. It had her as stiff as a statue next to me as seconds passed. The door opened, and she lifted her arm for me to take. No judgement. No arrogance. She was trying to put me at ease, but I didn’t like it.

“ Walk. If you run?—”

“You’ll kill me. It’s all they keep telling us.”

She headed out. I followed behind, watching her warily as I tried to measure what I’d seen of her up to this point. I thought she was scared. Nervous, as she’d swayed back and forth on the stage. Even her quick glances portrayed a woman stuck in fight or flight. But if she was afraid, her words didn’t show it. That she kept speaking at all was surprising given my other slaves were either crying or silent.

“This place is huge. Where are we? I know it’s called the Gardens, but where is it located?”

“Third door ahead.”

Her lips twisted at my response.

“I wasn’t trying to be mean by saying you had abandonment issues. I really wasn’t. I have them too. That’s how I know.”

My eyes narrowed as I stopped at the door, reaching up to grab the key from balancing on the frame.

“Someone could have seen that and got into your place.”

“They wouldn’t find much. Besides, there’s cameras. No one would be stupid enough to try to break in.”

Green lights flashed. I opened the door, waving her inside. If I’d been questioning the fear, I didn’t have to anymore. The emotion had her shoulders drawing in as her fingers fumbled with each other. She paused at the threshold, taking the smallest steps as she made her way inside the dim apartment. I could have pushed her. I could have told her to hurry. I didn’t. I wouldn’t have done that to Maggie. I wouldn’t do it to her.

“I thought you said there wasn’t much in here?”

More steps. The deeper she got inside, the more relaxed she seemed to appear. The door shutting had her spinning and her tensing up all over again.

“What are you talking about?”

She gestured around the room. “You said you didn’t have much.” As her eyes ate up my living room area, her head kept shaking back and forth. Her fingers went up and she mouthed words as she went deeper inside. When she got to my coffee table, her jaw dropped and she kneeled, tilting her head to study the small pieces before it reared back in shock.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Do you like chess?”

“No. But…I know this set up. It’s twenty-four carat gold vermeil. Wood. Sterling silver. I know this exact board, and it costs well over one hundred thousand dollars.”

“Does it?” I walked forward. “I wouldn’t know. It was a gift.”

“A gift?”

“From my mother.”

“Oh.” The slave straightened to stand. “She must have bought those candle sticks over there on the shelves too. Same brand. Those cost over ten grand.”

My brow wrinkled in confusion. “You look too young to be a collector.”

She laughed. “I wish. My best friend interned at the place that sells them. She was obsessed. She even decorated her side of the room in the company’s famous colors.”

“I see.”

“If you could have, you would have seen how ridiculous it paired with black. I wouldn’t recommend matching the two colors. They don’t go at all.”

I tried not to smile. I failed.

“You should feel right at home.” I gestured to the black sofa and lack of color in my own apartment. “For now, you’ll be sleeping here.”

“In the living room?”

Was that relief? It sure looked like it.

“That’s right. I already have a slave, but she’s not well. If you give me a minute, I’ll go get her.” I caught my reflection on the mirror at the wall. My light blond hair was disheveled, and the gold winding leaves on the God crown had me rolling my eyes. “I’m going to change too. I’ll be back.” I paused. “If you run, and I have to come find you…”

“You’ll kill me? Like, really kill me?”

I took slow steps, not stopping until I was towering over the shaky brunette’s curvy frame.

“Not immediately, but you’ll wish I did. Life isn’t always what it seems, slave. Death is easy. Hell is surviving when you don’t have a choice. Cross me, and I’ll leave you alive, but you won’t even have the ability to beg me for death. It’s not a life you want. Trust me .”