81. Tessa

81

Tessa

" Y ou have beautiful hair," Mister Skinny says as he runs his fingers through my red strands. There's nothing sexual about it. If I had to guess, this dude bats for the other team, as he seems way too obsessed with my hair and complexion. "Good skin too."

"Thanks?" This whole situation is surreal. He made me shower, put on a robe, and now he's giving me a makeover. I feel like I've stumbled into a twisted reality TV show, where crazy Russians forcibly kidnap women off the street and then auction off them to the highest bidder.

Oh wait.

That's actually what's happening.

"I need to get out of here," I murmur, hoping the room isn't bugged. Mister Skinny seems like a nice enough dude. He's been respectful so far. But I don't trust him.

"Sorry, sweetie, I work on commission. The better you look on stage, the more I'll make from your sale."

Anger burns away some of the fear. "You do know that's twisted as fuck, right?" I snarl, yanking my head away from him, despite the sharp sting that comes from losing a chunk of my hair.

"It is, yeah, but I was in your shoes once, and I survived," he says with a cheerful smile that looks entirely fake.

"You mean you were trafficked too?"

He nods while combing styling product through my hair. "Yep. And look at me now. Stylist to the hos."

I snort, despite the horrific nature of my current situation. "How did you escape?"

His smile slips. "Who said I did? Now be quiet. We don't have much time."

I try asking him more questions, but he refuses to engage. Eventually, I give up and sit quietly while he applies makeup and styles my hair.

My options are limited. Since I have no clue where we are or what's going to happen, it's hard to make a plan. But I refuse to sit back and let Mashkov treat me like a painted doll. Stella escaped the cartel and got her happy ever after. So I will do my damnedest to escape whatever Mashkov has in store for me.

And once I do, I'll hunt that bitch Elena down and rescue Chloe.

Mister Skinny pats my red lips with a tissue and declares me ready for my red carpet moment. I scowl at him in the mirror and he shrugs. There's a sharp knock on the door, but before it opens, Mister Skinny presses a metal nail file into my hand.

"Take this," he whispers. "Use it if you need to."

He points to the white corset I'm wearing, which makes me look like a fucked-up version of a bride on her wedding night. Only my Prince Charming is a million miles away.

"Tuck it down between your tits, sweetie. Plenty of room in there." He winks lewdly as I push the thin strip of metal down into my cleavage, where it's hidden from view.

"She's ready!" he yells. The door opens and Aleks walks in. His eyes widen when he sees me in my white corset, lace thong, and heels, but to his credit, he doesn't look at me like I'm a piece of meat.

"Come on, it's time." Mister Skinny pats my arm and steps back.

"Good luck, sweetie." I swear, if one more person says good luck , I will fucking stab them in the eye.

Aleks leads me out of the small room, closing the door behind him. We're alone in the corridor. Harsh lights illuminate a concrete passage with white walls. I can hear music from somewhere above us, but we could be anywhere. There are no identifying features.

"I thought you were going to help me!" I hiss.

"I'm trying!" He takes my arm and moves me along. "Father got word there was going to be a rescue attempt on the house, which forced him to speed up the timeline. My hands were tied."

Hope fires back to life in my chest. "They came for me?"

"It would seem so." Aleks grinds his teeth. "If only they'd waited a few hours, I could have got you out, but no matter."

He pushes me along toward some stairs. A woman screams from somewhere nearby and I flinch, but Aleks ignores the jarring sound.

"What's the plan?" I ask.

"The auction must go ahead. I can't stop it now. My father is here and his men are everywhere."

"Oh great," I reply sarcastically. "So I have to pretend to be thrilled while some abusive asshole drops a ton of cash to buy me? I'm not a whore, Aleks!"

"I know that, but until whoever places the winning bid comes to collect his purchase, I can't intervene. Once you are sold, I'll get you out. Some of my father's guards are loyal to me. They'll assist."

The way he talks about me like I'm a prize heifer makes me want to punch him in the face, but I put a leash on my homicidal tendencies. Aleks seems genuine. Besides, he's my only option right now. Unless the guys find me here, which is unlikely.

"This all sounds way too dependent on many moving parts, Aleks. What happens if you can't get to me? What if a billionaire rapist steals me away and takes me to another country? I'm fucked then!"

Aleks may be full of good intentions, but his plan has more holes than a fishing net.

"And what about Chloe?" Whatever happens, I will survive this, but Chloe can't stay with Elena.

"I'll figure that out once you're safe. You are my priority right now. Chloe is safe with my grandmother. She's insane, but she won't hurt Chloe."

I'm not sure I believe him, but while I'm stuck here, there isn't much I can do.

We reach the top of a staircase and a metal door swings open.

"Hello, my sweet kukla ," Sergei Mashkov says with a broad smile. "You look lovely. Jasper has done a wonderful job, as always." His eyes slide down my body, lingering on my tits for way too long. It takes all my willpower not to vomit over his shiny shoes.

Aleks squeezes my arm, warning me to stay quiet. "She's ready, Otets ."

"Good. Take her to the backstage area. The auction will begin shortly. We have some very important buyers in this evening and—" The sound of a phone ringing interrupts his spiel. Aleks moves to lead me away, but his father raises his hand and he stops.

"What is it, Kirov?" he snaps. "We're about to start the auction." There's a long pause while Mashkov listens, his face turning purple with rage. "When this is over, we strike back," he snaps, ending the call.

"Trouble, Otets ?"

"The house is gone."

"Gone?"

"Yes, the mudaks burned it to the ground!" His fists clench and a vein throbs in his neck. I wonder how close he is to a coronary event. That would solve all my immediate problems. Then I remember who was in his house.

Oh God . Shock hits me and my knees buckle. "Chloe!" I whimper.

Mashkov glances at me and waves his hand dismissively. "My daughter is fine. She's miles away."

I close my eyes with relief and mutter a silent prayer, thanking whatever deity is listening for protecting my daughter.

It doesn't escape my notice that Mashkov is more concerned about his mansion than my feelings. "I will burn your father's house to the ground before this night is over!" he snarls. Spittle flies in my face as he looms over me. He's so angry that all sense of reason has fled. The thin veneer of respectability he likes to show the world is long gone, leaving nothing but a raging animal behind.

He grabs my neck and squeezes tight enough to halt the flow of oxygen to my brain. I can't breathe. Aleks' voice grows fainter as he tries to reason with his father, but Mashkov doesn't release me.

Is this where I die?

In a bland corridor underground?

" Otets , calm down," Aleks yells, attempting to pull his father's hand away from my neck "You're going to kill her!"

Just as I'm about to pass out, Mashkov releases me and I drop to the floor. My neck throbs with every agonizing swallow. All of Jasper's hard work has been ruined. Mascara and tears drip down my face. My hair is a mess. I probably look like the Bride of Frankenstein by now. Not that I care.

"Get her out of there," Mashkov snarls before striding away.

"I'm sorry," Aleks breathes in my ear. "He has a vicious temper."

Aleks must have had a hellish childhood with a father like Sergei Mashkov, but while I am sympathetic, my own precarious predicament takes precedence.

"I'll survive," I reply, straightening my back and pulling my shoulders back.

"Good. Now let's get the auction over with so I can get you the fuck out of here."