Page 15 of Auctioned to the Bratva

“There is no way Caleb, Irina owes you nothing and neither does the Morozov family. You know that.” Roman proclaimed, his voice raising with rage.

Staring at her sitting in that cage, I felt my own fury rising. I was flooded with a sudden need to protect her from this man and the life I was trying to stay clear of. I felt sure it was due to her connection with the Bratva that she was in this situation.

However, she left if my memory recall is correct. Maybe her father was in the life; why would Caleb think she owed him money otherwise?

Glancing around the room and then at Roman. My mind considered the options, maybe I would have to accept the family bond to get her out of this situation. If that is what would beneeded, I would do it, I thought to myself. But first, I would try my way.

Stepping forward I spoke up. “I’ll buy her, name your price,” I shouted at Caleb. He glanced at me with disgust and laughed. “You can bid on her like everyone else my friend.”

“No,” Roman said the anger in his voice very clear. “She isn’t part of Bratva, and you have no right to her.”

“Oh, Roman, my man,” Caleb said as he rubbed his chin. “You have no idea, ask your father why I am doing this.” Caleb turned and headed back up the steps to the stage.

Caleb’s bodyguards grabbed me and Roman and pushed us back to the table where we had sat earlier. “Stay and we might not need to kick you out. Look where you are; you are outnumbered.” The one said as they returned to the front of the stage.

What did Caleb mean when he told Roman to ask our father, did he have something to do with this? I wondered.

I realized that these men were not going to listen to Roman or any threats he could make. “Leave it, Roman, I’ll buy her, even if it costs me everything,” I said as he slammed his fist on the table.

“Well, people. May I direct your attention to the lady on my left.” Caleb said over the mic. “We will start bidding on her first.” There was a cheer throughout the club. I looked around at the people and wondered how anyone could just accept something like this.

“Let’s get this auction going,” Caleb shouted cheerfully. “Directly from Russia with love is the shy Irina Gusev, let’s start at one million,” Caleb said as he raised his hands into the air. “Do we have a million? Yes, you, there in the back, thank you.”

“Do I hear two?” Caleb continued. I lifted my hand, but Caleb appeared to be waiting for other offers that he got. “Yes, thank you, Sir,” he said as he pointed toward someone seated at the bar.

I felt a tinge of fear pulling at my insides. What if I can’t save her from this? What will happen to her if someone else gets her? I clenched my fists at my sides as my fury raged within me. I wanted nothing but to save her and to make Caleb pay.

If I couldn’t buy her, I would take her. I wasn’t sure how that would work, but I would not stand by idly.

“Can I have three?” He asked, and I lifted my hand again. “Okay, fine, I see you.” He said, pointing at me. “Anyone wanting to go to four?” He continued. I kept my hand in the air, I was willing to pay whatever price he wanted.

I noticed Roman was on his phone, and I assumed he was calling our father. He could call who he wanted I thought, I would buy her and save her from this life. I was interrupted when Caleb called out, “This is getting intense people. Do I hear ten, is anyone offering ten?”

I stretched out higher, hoping to be seen, and I even added my voice to my hand as I called out. “Here.”

Caleb smirked at me and scanned the room. “Anyone else maybe, anyone?” he continued.

I rose from the table boiling with rage as I slammed my fists on the table. That caught Caleb’s attention but did not deter him from his mocking. Roman grabbed one of my arms. I noticed six other men standing close by as I glanced at him.

Some of them I recognized from meetings and others from photos Roman had shown me. At that moment, I realized that being part of a bigger family may not be so bad after all.

Roman pulled my hand to him and shoved a gun into it as he drew me closer. I was shocked and tried to let go, but his grip around my hand and the gun. His grip intensified as I struggled.

Over my shoulder, I heard Caleb announcing that the final bid had been accepted. I glanced back to see him pointing at the fat blubber of a man seated at the bar. “Sold for ten million to the handsome man at the bar,” Caleb said gaping directly at me.

Chapter 10 - Irina

I couldn’t hear what the man with the scar was saying but Caleb’s composure abruptly changed as they spoke. The two men glanced at me, and then Caleb stormed off leaving me with the stranger.

He stood closer and looked down at me as he moved to my head. He started pushing the steel table I was tied to toward the small room.

“Please,” I said quietly, trying to look back at him, “please let me go.”

The man only smirked and kept on pushing without a word. The door opened as we neared the room, and I was forced inside. He picked up a roll of tape from the table inside. Glancing at me as he cut a piece, he stepped closer. He trailed a line over my cheek before he placed the tap over my mouth.

I tried to object and move my head from side to side but the throbbing returned, and I had to stop. The man ran his fingers up my leg, and I squirmed while protesting through the tape covering my mouth.

“This is what you get for coming here and messing with the family,” he said, staring down at me with his hand firmly on my thigh. I felt my heart racing and my chest closing as I struggled to keep my breathing normal.

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