Andre
“WHAT ARE YOU doing, Andre?” Victor steps in at my side, his eyes flicking between me and the stage. “This is not what we came here for.”
That’s where he’s wrong.
This is exactly what I came here for.
Not the woman, but for what she represents.
“It will be fine.” I adjust the watch around my wrist, keeping my gaze on the woman staring at me like she’s regretting every choice that brought her here.
I barely notice Yvonne’s sly smile as her gavel swings through the air. That glimpse is the most attention she’ll get from me. I’m not interested in the auctioneer or anything she does.
Outside of what it can gain me.
And tonight it appears I have much to gain from Yvonne’s yearly auction.
“Sold.” She is clearly pleased with this unexpected turn of events. “Duchess goes to Andre Valinov for one hundred thousand dollars.”
Duchess’s already fair skin pales even more, her wide blue eyes glassy and filled with panic as she stands at the center of the stage, looking completely out of place in this year’s lineup.
She’s not the normal type that fills Yvonne’s roster, which I find more interesting than anything else about her.
Maybe that’s not entirely true.
If I was assessing her as a man, instead of from my position as head of the New York sector of The Association, then I would potentially spend a little more time noticing the long line of her limbs and the pert curve of her small tits.
I might consider how they would feel under my tongue as I fuck away the reason she’s on this stage.
Because for the first time I think Yvonne found an actual virgin for her auction, which makes me even more happy I pulled her from Frederick’s clutches.
Not that I would ever admit that.
I tip my head toward Victor. “Handle her.” I give Duchess one last look before turning and walking away, leaving my second in command to deal with the very expensive point I just made.
I don’t even give Frederick a glance as I pass him on my way out of the club with no name. But I don’t need to look at him to know he’s pissed, and that makes my evening a little better than it was.
Definitely worth every penny.
I move through the maze of hallways, pausing to retrieve my pistol from the woman who runs the check counter. She offers it back to me with a smile. “Did you have a nice evening, Mr. Valinov?”
I holster my weapon, tucking it into place under my jacket. “It was fine.”
One of her brows barely twitches, but other than that her expression doesn’t change. “I’m happy to hear it was acceptable.”
She’s worked this desk for the twenty years I’ve been a part of this world. Long enough for me to know by the simple twitch of her brow that she’s already heard exactly what happened between me and Frederick.
Which almost brings a smile to my face.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening, Mr. Valinov.” Her tone is even and smooth, exactly the same as it is every other time I leave this place.
But something is different. Something I can’t put my finger on.
Not that I care to try to figure out what it is. I’m sure it will come out soon enough.
Things like that always do.
I finish adjusting the collar and lapels of my jacket as I exit the final dark hallway leading to the stairs that will take me out of this place.