Page 6 of Stalking His Mate

My mouth falls open. That’s life changing money. A half million dollars would be more than enough to take Chad back to court and get him out of our lives.

“And what will I be auctioning?” I force myself to ask, even though… I’m pretty sure I know. What else would someone bid so much money on?

Yesenia’s eyes are locked with mine. “Your freedom, in exchange for one night. Just a single night, that you won’t remember.”

I open my mouth to decline, but she continues before I have a chance to speak. Assuring me that I won’t he hurt. That those bidding have been vetted. I’ll be given a contraceptive shot and an amnesiac and when I wake the next morning my payment will already be in my bank account.

“Imagine, being able to have a means to take care of your daughter the way she deserves. Being able to live your life without the constant worry over what your ex will think. To be able to take him back to court and not have to deal with his bullying ever again.” She pushes the card further toward me. “Think about it. The next auction is in two weeks. When you’ve made your decision, call the number on this card any time before then.”

I’m still staring at her when her fingers slowly unwrap from around my wrist, and she sets several large bills on the counter between us. It’s far mor than her coffee cost.

“You said I wouldn’t remember?” I swallow thickly around the words. “How…how do I remember about the… the money?” I should be asking her how she knows so much about me? About my situation with Chad. I shouldn’t really be considering doing this.

“The amnesiac at the end of the night,” the bar stool squeaks as she slides off it. “It creates a sort of short-term memory loss, so you’ll remember everything leading up to that night, and after, but not during.”

Am I really thinking about going through with this?

“Think on it,” she tells me once more and then I watch her walk out the door.

I look down at the card sitting there. It’s plain and white, but it might as well be a bomb after what she just told me.

Slowly, I pick it up and turn it over. Typed in black is a phone number. Nothing else.

“Orders up!” the cook shouts through the window and I about jump out of my skin.

Shoving the card and cash into my pocket, I hurry to grab my customers food. The rest of the night goes by in a blur of forced smiles and mopping. Then I’m back at home, sitting in the middle of my lumpy bed holding the card in one hand and my phone in the other.

Would this really be worth it? I know exactly what Chad would accuse me of if I suddenly came into a fortune. He’d call me a whore, and for once he’d be right.

I think about what kinds of men would be at an auction like that. My mind conjures up fat businessmen who probably need to medicate before they can get it up. Could I go through with it?

You fucked Chad for years, and he’s the worst kind of small-dicked pig.

I flip the card through my fingers. One night for half a million dollars, maybe more.

And no memory.

This is the most insane thing I’ve ever considered doing.

I turn the card over again and type the phone number into my phone.

5

DANTE

My phone chimes and I pull it from my pocket.

YESENIA: Your girl is on the schedule for the next auction.

I swipe my thumb across the screen and shove my phone inside my jacket pocket.

It’s late. Most of the lights inside the old apartment building went dark hours ago, not that I give a shit about any of those windows. Only one window has my attention. The one on the ground floor facing the parking lot I’m watching from the shadows.

A dozen yards and less than half an inch of glass is the only thing separating me from the woman on the other side of that window.

My woman.

My mate.