Page 16 of Auctioned to the Bratva

He chuckled and ran his fingers up my arm as well before leaning in closer. “You will collect a nice sum on the auction.” He added before leaving the room. Two men were standing at the door, guards, I presumed as I tried to make out more of my surroundings.

My stomach hurt and I still felt drowsy from whatever they injected me with. Fear gripped me as my muscles spasmed. My arms and legs shook for a bit before calming down. I wondered what was surging through my blood and could only hope my body could handle it. I didn’t want to die here and not this way.

A short while later two women came in to change my clothing. I noticed the two guards smiling as they removed my clothing. They untied the top straps and pulled a long silky dress over my head. My arms felt heavy, and I suspected it was from the drugs. Laying me back down, they tied the top straps again before releasing the bottom ones.

Once I was changed, one woman removed the tape as they cleaned my face and neck. “What is hap…” I tried to ask, but my mouth was dry. I was sure my throat was scratched as it felt like I had swallowed a ton of sea sand or something.

The pulsing in my head hadn’t subdued either, and my vision kept going in and out. “Just relax,” the younger woman whispered as they brushed and tied my hair up.

“Come on ladies,” I heard a man speak from somewhere in the distance. Two other men entered, and the women moved back with their heads down. The men undid the bounds and dragged me through the door. They took me down a passage and another door.

“It’s almost time to open.” The voice added as they shoved me into some kind of cage. It was circular with bars all around.

One of the women entered with me and rubbed something on my gums before leaving. Instantly, my mind whirled, the earth spun, and I felt my body go numb. I tried screaming, but no sounds were coming out of my open mouth.

As the steel cage started lifting, I grabbed at the bars and gripped them for dear life. Glancing around it appeared that I was in a club. My body was shivering, but I wasn’t sure it was from the cold air. My mind tried to reason with the situation, but fear had a solid grip on me.

The lights seemed to be floating, and so was I. There were spots of black swimming around my vision as well. Then, a sensation of heat washed over me, and I felt sweat forming on my forehead.

Soon, the cage stopped as the curtains hanging from the ceiling surrounded me. Loud music started playing below me somewhere. I grabbed my head as the drums penetrated my mind causing the throbbing to increase. Tears fell from my eyes and streaked down my cheeks. I wondered why I didn’t stay indoors or stayed with Sergei.

Looking around my heart filled with dread, this was not going to turn out well. No one knew where I was, and I couldn’t even be sure they knew I was missing.

Making the wrong choices because you think you know everything has gotten you here, my mind spat at me. I wanted to stay clear of Bratva, and look at me now.

I tried to stifle the crying as my throat closed and my heart started pounding in my chest. There was no escaping reality. I inhaled hard and exhaled in shudders as my mind tried to understand everything. My lungs burned and so did my eyes, but I had to try and focus.

The music blared below me, and lights lit up the floor as voices started to fill the room. I couldn’t see much as the floor of the cage was covered. Peeking through the side, I managed to see some of the people moving around below. The room filledquickly, and soon, the people below were pushing and shoving around each other.

As my head started clearing, I tried calling out, but the music drowned out any hope of being heard. It wouldn’t make a difference anyway, my mind kept telling me. Just give it up, you are not getting out. The people in this room are all willing participants.

I hugged my chest as despair filled my veins. I carefully moved to the middle of the cage and held on to the pole in the center. I could only hope that Evelina had tried calling and that she would know something was wrong. She would if she didn’t get hold of me.

Breathing in deeply, I decided that she would know, she was out looking for me or the family at least. I had to hold on to hope if I wanted to get out of this. After a while, the music suddenly quieted down, and Caleb started speaking. I could only see his feet on the stage, but knew his voice.

As he spoke, I felt the cage started lowering. I scurried over and hugged the center pole as the people in the room came into view. The lights were bright, I fluttered my eyelids, trying to adjust quickly so I could see the people.

Then the cage stopped abruptly on the ground as Caleb announced that I would be auctioned along with another woman. Glancing at the stage, I saw Caleb walking off the stage to the front as two big men tried to keep someone from getting through.

I tried to stand, but my legs wouldn’t work with me. My arms were weak as well, but I managed to lift myself slightly. Focusing on Caleb and his men, I tried to see if I recognized anyone.

Was that, was it really Roman? I rubbed my eyes as I rose to my knees trying to see clearer. Yes, Roman was shoving the older man while talking to him. My heart bounced as a sense of safety and hope entered my mind. Seeing him gave me strength.

Sitting up more I gasped as my eyes caught a glimpse of Sergei. Did they know? What were they doing here? I tried to formulate ideas around this. I was trying to assure myself that it was not planned. No, how could it be? Roman would never allow something like this. It was a pure accident that they ended up here.

Roman looked furious and so did Sergei. Caleb walked back on stage as Roman and Sergei were pushed back to a table somewhere in the middle of the room. I tried to keep my eyes on them but there were so many people moving around.

Caleb, back on the stage started the auction, and my heart sank to my feet. Sergei was the first to make a bid. But I didn’t want him to buy me, I wasn’t property. I tried to stand, but my legs were still wobbly, and I sank back down to the floor.

“No,” I tried calling out, but my voice sounded like a horse yelling as it left my mouth. Another bid was made by someone further back. I could not see them, and then someone at the bar also placed a bit. The amount kept going up.

Now and then Sergei would also raise the bid. I didn’t want him to buy me, but what other way did I have out of this? I closed my eyes as the bidding continued hoping now that Sergei would get the final bid as it was my only option for safety.

Looking over trying to see Roman again. Through the people and faces, I noticed Ivan had also joined them. This meant that Evelina also knew I was here. A flicker of hope embraced my pounding heart. But, if Ivan was here, there wouldbe more of the family present. I glanced around the club but couldn’t make out any of the others.

I clung to the pole and lowered my head as my heart raced. This could turn into a shootout, I thought as the bidding started slowing down. Sergei raised the bid and Caleb on the stage pointed towards him but didn’t lower the bidding hammer. He was moving his hand sideways toward the bar.

“Sold,” the man pronounced, “for ten million to the handsome man at the bar.”

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