Chapter 10

My heart beats erratically in my chest as Dad and I step up to the elevator that will take us to the auction.

Pulling his key card from his wallet, he slides it through the reader, and it lights up green before the doors slide open.

Stepping inside, he scans his card once more and the doors close. The flip in my stomach tells me we're headed down.

"What the hell?"

"Must be below ground level. I could see that being a draw to people. An actual underground club." Dad smirks.

In seconds, the doors open to reveal a dark yet elegant space. All black furniture with LVT flooring that looks like wood and artwork of scandalously clad people and cocktails adorn the walls. The music is already playing and I can hear people talking, but no one is in sight yet.

We're greeted by a woman with dark hair cut into a short bob. "Good evening, gentlemen. Here is your tablet for the night. Feel free to enjoy the bar until it's time to begin, and then someone will escort you to your seat." She hands Dad a black tablet and I can't help but wonder if this is what all the merchandise will look like.

She's stunning; high cheekbones, a defined jawline, and an oval-shaped face.

"Come on, Atlas." Dad bumps his shoulder into mine.

I flash her a smile and follow him to the bar.

"Haven't even seen what's for sale and you're eyeing up the pretty hostess," he teases.

"She's not my type at all… too skinny, but she was hot."

A bartender comes to our side of the sleek black bar, setting down two coasters. He's wearing nothing but a pair of metallic purple boyshorts and black boots. "What can I get you gentlemen tonight?"

"Two crowns and sevens please," Dad tells him.

"Sure thing." He grabs the bottles he needs and begins to make our drinks. "Here you are." He sets them on the coasters and Dad pulls his wallet out again.

"No need, Sir. Cocktails are covered tonight. Enjoy." He winks and moves to help the next guest.

"Well, damn, pussy and an open bar. Anything else they wanna throw in for the night?"

I turn, people watching as I sip my drink. There are men and women here and from the looks of them, there's a very diverse crowd.

"This isn't playtime with your friends or one of those apps to meet up and fuck some stranger. Do you understand?" the gentleman next to me whispers, but I'm close enough to hear.

I don't want to spy, but I can't help myself. From the corner of my eye, I see three men dressed sharply huddled together, having what looks like a serious discussion.

The older one breaks from their trio and steps up to the bar. "Three whiskeys. Could you let someone know we're ready to be seated?" he tells the bartender before meeting my eyes and nodding.

Another man in purple underwear approaches. "Good evening, Mr. Sartori. I'm Han, and I'll be showing you to your table tonight."

My eyes widen as I almost choke on my drink. Quickly, I turn back to my dad and he's smirking at me knowingly.

"Just realize who you were eavesdropping on?"

"The fucking Sartori's are here? Should we leave?" I ask, dead ass serious. I'll forfeit the buy-in if it means I don't have a run-in with them.

"No, we don't need to leave. Christ, Atlas, did you do something to them that I don't know about?"

"Of course not, but you know who they are," I hiss.

"Yeah. And I know that I keep my nose out of their business, so I'm not worried. As far as I'm concerned, we're just at the same function."

I leave it at that because I realize I'm overreacting, but it's not every day you're at the same event as the local mafia family.

It's 2024 so they don't broadcast it, but we've done enough work in the region that we've heard things. While no one really knows what they do, we know they're not a family you cross.

"Gentlemen, it's almost time for the evening to start. Let me escort you to your seat." Our bartender from before smiles as he motions for us to follow him.

My dad strides ahead, and I follow closely behind, taking in the surroundings. The stage looms before us, commanding attention. Two short runways extend from either side. On the left runway, a man stands beside the DJ, their figures silhouetted against the dim light.

As we reach our table, nestled like a crescent moon booth in the second row, I slide into the plush black leather seat. My dad settles in beside me, his eyes fixed on the stage with anticipation.

The room hums with energy as the chatter of the crowd fills the air.

"Well, this is it. I think I heard someone say the lineup can be viewed on the tablet, but I want to go in blind." He takes a sip of his drink.

"I agree. Makes the… I don't know what to call it… connection stronger?" It's not a connection since we don't know these people and they're only with us for a weekend, but what else would you call it?

If we don't look at their pictures beforehand, our reactions will be more real when they come out.

The room darkens as the lights on the stage brighten.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Club Lust," the man with salt and pepper hair, standing next to the DJ, speaks. "We are pleased to have sixteen lots of merchandise up for sale tonight. Please remember, once the lights are fully off, no one is to move from their seats. This auction will be silent. As I announce the merchandise, a headshot will appear on your tablets. I will provide information on each lot. If you are interested, the starting bid is five hundred thousand and will go up in increments of fifty thousand until it reaches one million."

Shit! Will people really pay that much for sex?

He continues, not letting me think too much about that.

"At that time, each bid will raise by five hundred thousand. You can click the bid button as many times as you desire. Each auction will only be open for five minutes. At the end of that time, the tablets will announce the winning bid number only. A reminder we do not use names. If you are outbid, it will flash across your screen to bid again and if you win, the tablet will flash that you are the winner. Just a reminder if you bid for two people and win tonight, your tablet is automatically locked, preventing you from any additional bidding. Our first lot for the night is Virtue."

A timid woman steps out onto the stage in all-white lingerie and my stomach drops. She doesn't look like she is here willingly or that she wants to be up there. I didn't come here for that type of shit.

"Virtue is twenty and just as her name and attire suggest one hundred percent pure. That's right, ladies and gentlemen, you're bidding on a virgin. Who wants to be the first to have her? Let the bidding start at five hundred thousand."

Well, that would explain some of her timidness. A virgin. Auctioning off your virginity is bold. Good for her, though. She's pretty, but once again, too thin and I'd not be able to take her cherry under these circumstances. That should be special and a weekend of fucking that's paid for isn't special. At least to me.

I watch as the bidding on the tablet continues to rise, my eyes almost popping out of my head when the emcee calls it.

"The bidding is over. If you won, your tablet will now notify you so you can complete the payment. Virtue, please leave the stage."

The brunette leaves the stage, stumbling slightly on her heels. I look over at my dad and I think we're both thinking the same thing.

We might be in over our heads.

"Ten million dollars? We don't have that kind of coin," I whisper.

"Well, then we don't buy anything. At least we can check this off our bucket list." He smirks.

"Okay! What an amazing first lot. I knew her innocence would be sought after. There might be another cherry or two in the lineup. You'll have to wait and see. But let's bring our next lot to the stage. Lot two is Birdie."

What a weird name to use at a sex auction. Virtue I got, but I thought they'd all have names like Diamond, Rain, or Foxy. Not Birdie.

"Holy fucking hell," my dad gasps.

My attention snaps to him. He's holding the tablet up like he can't see it clearly.

What the hell?

I look up at the stage and my stomach rolls. I'm going to throw up.

"Birdie is twenty-three. She's a size fourteen with forty-D breasts. Curves for days here, ladies and gentlemen. A fun personality, standing at five foot six and blue eyes."

Sloane.

I've been searching for years and there she is, looking as sexy as ever on the stage, selling her fucking body for money. My step-sister.

My cock stiffens in my pants at the sight of her. She's wearing a royal blue lace set that hugs every lickable curve of her body.

"Bid," I hiss, looking at my dad.

"Why is she up there?" he asks, but I don't answer. Instead, I rip the tablet from his hands and hit the bid button myself.

No one is taking her home but me.

Seven hundred fifty thousand.

Outbid.

My next bid would be eight hundred fifty, but more than one person is bidding, so now I have to go one million.

Fuck!

I don't have a million dollars. I'm gripping the tablet so hard my knuckles are white and I'm afraid I might crack the damn screen.

"Thirty seconds!"

I'm going to jail.

No way am I leaving here, knowing that Sloane is going home to fuck someone else. I'll kill someone.

Dad leans over and taps the bid button and I snap my head in his direction, staring at him.

"A bid in at the last minute. Someone has spent a lot of time on eBay!" the emcee jokes. "Thank you, Birdie."

My eyes are glued to Sloane's ass; it jiggles slightly as she prances off the stage. I don't even know if we won. I'm still reeling over the fact that after seven years of tirelessly obsessing and searching, my woman just fell into my lap.

"Breathe, son," my dad whispers, and I realize I've been holding my breath. He nods at the tablet and I hesitantly move my eyes back to the screen.

Congratulations. You placed the winning bid on lot two. Please complete your payment for the merchandise.

"I can't afford that,"I tell him, my stomach sinking as the words leave my mouth.

He sets his hand on my shoulder. "No, but together we can. I know how long and hard you've been looking. She can't leave here with anyone else, Atlas. She's ours."

"Yeah, but now you can't buy anything."

"That's alright. No big deal. I'm happy we finally found her. Now we just have to wait until this is over to see her. I plan on asking what the hell she's thinking, auctioning herself for money. If she's in trouble, she could have tried to reach out."

Finally, my search is over, and Sloane is only a few hours away. There's only one problem now. I'm not returning her on Sunday. I've waited too long—fought too hard. She's not leaving again.