Johnny led her to an area on the stage where a pink blanket was spread out with several toys and coloring books. She sank down onto the blanket and picked up the yellow teddy bear, holding it firmly to her chest. It didn’t matter what age she was supposed to be, she needed any comfort she could get. And the stuffed animal would do just fine.
“Prospective Daddies. The last girl up for adoption tonight, Ariana, is ready for your bids. If you’ll proceed to the table to the right and cast your bid, we can begin.”
“Don’t we get to talk to her, spend some time with her?” one man called out.
Johnny shook his head. “Not this time. You’ve all been given a profile of Ariana and a video of her playtime here at the House.”
Ariana’s stomach dropped. Video? She sought out Costello in the crowd. His scowl didn’t improve her mood. What were they watching on their little devices?
After slow tortuous moments passed, the men made their way to the bidding table. She swept the room again for Costello but couldn’t locate him. Just as she was about to get up and look for him, she found him.
Except.
No. It was Kevin.
She could tell because Kevin had a scar on his left cheek from a boxing match in college. He’d told her about it while they were waiting for Costello to come back to the cabin.
What was he doing there?
“Stay here, I’m going to check on the bids,” Johnny told her in a cold tenor then stepped off the stage. As he moved through the crowd, Costello appeared, standing before him. It looked like they were tangled up, both trying to walk around the other.
Finally, Costello’s face tightened, then relaxed as Johnny slipped to the floor. A smear of blood trailed down Costello’s shirt.
She jumped to her feet, ready to run to him. Why hadn’t anyone else seen it? Where was the sound? Who had been shot?
As she reached the edge of the stage, a strong hand wrapped around her arm.
“This way, Ariana.”
Kevin. She looked from him to where Costello had been, but he was no longer there. She pulled against Kevin’s grip, but he was as strong as his brother and wouldn’t release her.
“This way. Now, Ariana,” he said in the same dangerous tone as Costello.
“Is he okay? Where is he?” she yelled.
“Johnny’s been shot!” One of the men finally realized what happened and called out to the others.
“Get Ariana out of here, Costello.” Marco, Courtney’s Daddy, urged Kevin. “Take her back to her room.”
“I’m on it.” Kevin nodded and pulled Ariana’s hand harder. “Now.” Kevin pulled her through the room, weaving through the spectators and the other little girls until they were in the hallway. “The car’s in front. Hurry,” he said. She swallowed against the fear that threatened to paralyze her.
“But what about Costello?”
“He should be there. Let’s go, Ariana. We don’t want anyone to think you left with anyone but him.”
She raced down the stairs behind Kevin. By the time she made it to the front door, her lungs burned, and her thighs ached. But the sight of Costello sitting in the back of the car, gave her the energy to sprint forward.
She flung open the back door and jumped inside.
“Go!” Costello yelled to Kevin who took the driver’s seat.
Costello pulled her close as Kevin hit the gas and the car sped away from the House.
“Are you hurt? I saw so much blood!” Ariana felt his chest, looking for the injury.
“No, no, I’m fine.” Costello grabbed her hands. “It’s Johnny’s blood.”
“You killed him? Frank’s never going to leave us alone now.”
“I killed him to keep the Romeros off our backs. He was going to try to take out Frank. I dealt with the problem for Frank, and he’s given me our freedom in return.”
Costello shook out of his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“Really? We’re completely free?”
“Completely.” Costello nodded and hugged her to his chest. She inhaled, letting the musky scent of him wrap her in warmth.
“How’d you manage to get those screenshots anyway?” Kevin asked.
Costello laughed. “I didn’t. I can’t tap into emails and all that bullshit. But I can use a simple graphic design software and create it.”
“No shit?”
“Totally made up. It doesn’t matter. Johnny was planning to overthrow Frank, and he did have at least one member of the committee backing him. They can sort the rest out themselves.”
“And Nancy? She was helping Johnny wasn’t she?” Ariana asked.
“Frank will take care of her. With Johnny out of the way, he can get rid of her. He hated her as much as everyone else. It was only as a favor to his brother that he kept her around.”
“And what about Shelby and the others?” she pressed.
The car went silent.
“Ariana. The deal I made with Frank was that I go away. I can’t interfere at all in his business or anything that touches his business.”