She turned back to the crowd. “Remember the promises he’s failed to keep and the priceyoupaid. This is your chance to get back just a fraction of what he’s taken from you.”
No. No. No. No. NO!
My knees weakened as she spoke. Somewhere along the way, my father’s plan had completely fallen apart.
I was never being taken to my husband. I was never being taken to a marriage.
I was being auctioned off.
This was all about revenge on my father. They couldn’t take it out on him, so they’ll do it to me.
The woman continued and listed the rules of bidding. I stood there in numb silence. It was as if I were a fly on the wall, watching some other girl get sold before a crowd.
Tears swam in my eyes and I blinked them away, thinking about my fate. These men weren’t going to take me under their wing, to make sure that I would be taken care of.
They were going to throw me down on a bed and use me until I’m bloody. Until I begged them to stop.
Well, I wasn’t going to show them that weakness. I was a D’Agostino, for God’s sake. I was made of sterner stuff than that.
I lifted my chin and gazed about the room again as the woman droned on around me, meeting the eyes of any that dared look at me.
Think I’m weak? That I’ll just curl up and die? Think again.
As I looked out into the sea of eyes, one particular pair caught my attention. They belonged to a man who stood in the back of the room, his arms crossed over his chest.
He was younger than the rest of the room, his dark hair raked off his forehead, matching the dark suit he was wearing. While I couldn’t make out his features, I knew he wasn’t here to help me.
No one was.
Chapter 4
Leda
“We will begin the bidding at five hundred thousand,” the woman started. “The same rules apply as always. The club will not tolerate any fights or killings due to a bidding war.”
I swallowed. How many times had they done something similar? What sort of club was this?
A half a million dollars. Opening bid.
A hand went up, and the woman acknowledged it. “Opening bid accepted. Do I hear one million?”
Another hand.
“Two million?”
Another hand. My own palms started to sweat at my sides, and I wanted to wrap my arms around my waist to provide some comfort. I wouldn’t find any here, not among these assholes who thought it was okay to play with one’s life.
“What about five?” the woman continued, clearly pleased at the bidding. “Is ruining Carmine D’Agostino worth five million?”
They wanted to ruin my father. I wasn’t going to survive whoever won me. This kind of money wasn’t going to give me the life I had been hoping for.
This was going to be my death.
My stomach roiled. I wouldn’t see Nico or Rory again. They would wonder what happened to me, and after some time, I would be forgotten.
The bidding moved higher, almost to ten million, and my knees nearly gave out. Ten million dollars to ruin me and therefore have payback for whatever grievance they had with my father.
I hated this. I hated my last name. I hated my father.