CHAPTER1
Sasha
“Oh, Jane!” I groan. “This is a huge mistake! I haven’t seen him yet and I’m up next. What the hell am I going to do?”
“You can’t leave. I told you it was a dangerous idea. But there are people there that won’t let you leave since you agreed to the terms of the auction.”
“What was I thinking? I can’t have sex for the first time with a total stranger who buys me? That’s crazy, isn’t it? I know it’s crazy. I’m such an idiot!”
I slap myself in the head and eye the back door behind the stage. But there’s a huge man standing in front of the door and judging by the frown on his face, he’s not a fun guy. And he’s also not going to buy my crazy story that this is all for true love so if Jackson doesn’t show up, I need to leave. He glares at me as I move closer to the door and I moan softly. My hand caresses my belly like I can soothe the butterflies winging through it just by touching my stomach.
If anything, it gets worse.
I scuttle to a corner where I hope I’m not overheard. “Can’t Alejandro call someone?” I beg.
“He’s out on a job.”
I wince. “I don’t want to know, do I?”
“Nope, you don’t.” There’s a long, drawn-out silence. Then she says softly, “I told him at least four hours ago. He should be there.”
“Unless he decided I just wasn’t worth the effort anymore.”
“Humph! No way! Jackson will absolutely be there for you. Just wait a little longer and I’m sure it will all be okay. He’ll come and buy you and then you can talk to him about your feelings.”
“Yeah. Was I drinking when I thought this was a good idea?” I plead.
She laughs cheekily. “Yeah, you might have been. But it’s all moot now. You’re in it. Now all we have to do is hope that Jackson doesn’t fail.”
“No pressure there,” I growl, peeking out of the curtain and catching the eye of the man in charge. The ringmaster as the case may be. The smarmy bastard smirks at me and I duck back behind the door.
“Fuck, that guy looks like he really enjoys his job,” I whisper into the phone.
“What guy?”
“The announcer. The ringleader. He saw me and he smirked at me.”
“Keep your eye on some of those guys. Alejandro says there’s some not so nice guys there. And considering what he does, that’s saying something.”
“Ugh!” I crinkle my nose. If a killer finds this group a little shady for him, I’m really not feeling confident that I’m doing the right thing.”
I see them wrapping up with the other woman up on the stage. She’s wearing way less clothes than me but I still feel like I’m underdressed. Of course, I’ve never been auctioned off. I guess maybe you don’t need to dress for success when you’re selling your virginity.
“I better go. They’re about to come get me. Oh shit,” I mutter under my breath when I see the announcer look over at me again with a creepy look in his eye that I don’t like.
“If I don’t make it out of here, make sure and write my story,” I whisper right before I hang up.
I don’t need her answer. I know she’ll do it. The woman writes a damn good story with happily ever afters all over the place. Maybe that’s why she managed to convince me this was a great idea. Something about damsel in distress tropes.
“Come on, baby. You’re up!” The slime ball grabs my arm and starts dragging me onstage.
“Stop pulling! Give me a second,” I yell, tugging on my arm and trying to dig in my platform heels.
But I’m already under the lights. My eyes widen and I swallow loudly. I can’t see past the bright lights along the base of the stage.
“Come on,” he hisses. “Get your ass out there! You signed up for this not me.” His big hand shoves me in the back and I trip, almost falling over onto my face.
Masculine chuckles make my face redden, the blush probably clashing horribly with my red hair.