Page 17 of My Soul for Sale

“Well, damn, pussy and an open bar. Anything else they wanna throw in for the night?”

I turn, people watching as I sip my drink. There are men and women here and from the looks of them, there’s a very diverse crowd.

“This isn’t playtime with your friends or one of those apps to meet up and fuck some stranger. Do you understand?” the gentleman next to me whispers, but I’m close enough to hear.

I don’t want to spy, but I can’t help myself. From the corner of my eye, I see three men dressed sharply huddled together, having what looks like a serious discussion.

The older one breaks from their trio and steps up to the bar. “Three whiskeys. Could you let someone know we’re ready to be seated?” he tells the bartender before meeting my eyes and nodding.

Another man in purple underwear approaches. “Good evening, Mr. Sartori. I’m Han, and I’ll be showing you to your table tonight.”

My eyes widen as I almost choke on my drink. Quickly, I turn back to my dad and he’s smirking at me knowingly.

“Just realize who you were eavesdropping on?”

“The fucking Sartori’s are here? Should we leave?” I ask, dead ass serious. I’ll forfeit the buy-in if it means I don’t have a run-in with them.

“No, we don’t need to leave. Christ, Atlas, did you do something to them that I don’t know about?”

“Of course not, but you know who they are,” I hiss.

“Yeah. And I know that I keep my nose out of their business, so I’m not worried. As far as I’m concerned, we’re just at the same function.”

I leave it at that because I realize I’m overreacting, but it’s not every day you’re at the same event as the local mafia family.

It’s 2024 so they don’t broadcast it, but we’ve done enough work in the region that we’ve heard things. While no one really knows what they do, we know they’re not a family you cross.

“Gentlemen, it’s almost time for the evening to start. Let me escort you to your seat.” Our bartender from before smiles as he motions for us to follow him.

My dad strides ahead, and I follow closely behind, taking in the surroundings. The stage looms before us, commanding attention. Two short runways extend from either side. On the left runway, a man stands beside the DJ, their figures silhouetted against the dim light.

As we reach our table, nestled like a crescent moon booth in the second row, I slide into the plush black leather seat. My dad settles in beside me, his eyes fixed on the stage with anticipation.

The room hums with energy as the chatter of the crowd fills the air.

“Well, this is it. I think I heard someone say the lineup can be viewed on the tablet, but I want to go in blind.” He takes a sip of his drink.

“I agree. Makes the… I don’t know what to call it… connection stronger?” It’s not a connection since we don’t know these people and they’re only with us for a weekend, but what else would you call it?

If we don’t look at their pictures beforehand, our reactions will be more real when they come out.

The room darkens as the lights on the stage brighten.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Club Lust,” the man with salt and pepper hair, standing next to the DJ, speaks. “We are pleased to have sixteen lots of merchandise up for sale tonight. Please remember, once the lights are fully off, no one is to move from their seats. This auction will be silent. As I announce the merchandise, a headshot will appear on your tablets. I will provide information on each lot. If you are interested, the starting bid is five hundred thousand and will go up in increments of fifty thousand until it reaches one million.”

Shit! Will people really pay that much for sex?

He continues, not letting me think too much about that.

“At that time, each bid will raise by five hundred thousand. You can click the bid button as many times as you desire. Each auction will only be open for five minutes. At the end of that time, the tablets will announce the winning bid number only. A reminder we do not use names. If you are outbid, it will flash across your screen to bid again and if you win, the tablet will flash that you are the winner. Just a reminder if you bid for two people and win tonight, your tablet is automatically locked, preventing you from any additional bidding. Our first lot for the night is Virtue.”

A timid woman steps out onto the stage in all-white lingerie and my stomach drops. She doesn’t look like she is here willingly or that she wants to be up there. I didn’t come here for that type of shit.

“Virtue is twenty and just as her name and attire suggest one hundred percent pure. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, you’re bidding on a virgin. Who wants to be the first to have her? Let the bidding start at five hundred thousand.”

Well, that would explain some of her timidness. A virgin. Auctioning off your virginity is bold. Good for her, though. She’s pretty, but once again, too thin and I’d not be able to take her cherry under these circumstances. That should be special and a weekend of fucking that’s paid for isn’t special. At least to me.

I watch as the bidding on the tablet continues to rise, my eyes almost popping out of my head when the emcee calls it.

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