Page 62 of The Devil In Disguise

“826. You’re next,” calls a guard from the doorway.

It takes me a moment to realize that they are referring to me. Not one part of me wants to find out where they plan on taking me next, but in the short time I’ve been here, I have seen enough abuse to know I’ll be going one way or another.

Play your part, Amaris.

Reaching the doorway, he immediately shoves me forward with his SWAT machine gun. Leading me into a dim room, we step onto a platform until I’m almost to the edge where more guns surround me, tracking my every movement.

A bright light casts a spotlight on me, temporarily blinding me. While my features remain impassive, my body vibrates with uncertainty, betraying my fear. When my eyes adjust to the room, I make out multiple tables scattered around the room, too far away and dark to see any faces. From the shadows, I feel the weight of too many eyes casting down on me, confirming that the room is full of people. The tall wall ahead of me is lined with rows of windows. At this angle, they appear reflective, like a wall of mirrors.

A dimmer spotlight shines on a stocky man, about my height, stalking towards me in a clean suit and sardonic smile with a microphone in hand. He comes to a stop, running one hand over his styled, brown hair before running the other from my upper back down to my ass, squeezing. My brain screams in protest and my body wants to recoil instead of tensing up. On the outside, my face has a permanent scowl plastered on, otherwise betraying nothing.

The man switches the mic on and announces my number as if he was a game show host.

“Here we have this fine piece of ass, number 826. She’s a feisty one, but I know some of you like that.” He winks at that. “Nothing that proper discipline and some training can’t fix, of course.”

Is this some sort of game show? Shit.

Thoughts of Kylo invade my mind as I squint my eyes, trying and failing to get a glimpse of any other face.

Does he know I’m missing?

Where are you, Kylo?

“The bidding will start at fifty thousand. You know what to do, place your bids and send your comments my way.”

That snaps me out of my head. The man walks away, returning soon after with a large tablet in hand. Scrolling and smothering a laugh at whatever he is reading, he clears his throat and looks out to address the room.

“Ah, there’s good competition for this one. Here’s a comment, ‘She looks hot up there, but she would look better screaming and bleeding for me.’” He gives me a once-over before continuing, “I agree she would.”

Hell would have to freeze over before I allow any of these men to put their filthy hands on me. The thought alone of sleeping with any of these pigs makes me sick to my stomach. Kylo wasn’t the monster—I’m surrounded by the real monsters now.

“Bids are getting high, do I hear two-hundred thousand? Someone says, ‘You will be mine, emerald. Until we meet again.’” My blood runs cold at the mention of that name. He’s back.

“Love the determination. Let’s see it in the numbers. I have three-hundred thousand, anyone else?”

Who in their right mind would pay so much for sex? Not only did they strip away my identity, but they’re throwing out prices like I’m an animal.

That’s what I am to them, though. Isn’t it? An animal in a cage for them to poke fun at and use and abuse as they please. It then occurs to me that this isn’t just paying for sex. This is paying for ownership.

The man next to me laughs, glancing at me with faux friendliness. “You’re in high demand today.” Money signs almost shine right through his eyes. “Another comment. I love these. ‘I want her now. I’m not waiting for a taste.’ Oh, we’re at five-hundred thousand. Anyone else? Going once?” My heart sinks. “Going twice? Sold! For five-hundred thousand dollars. We will have your prize ready for you at the staircase.”

Two buff men come from nowhere and drag me away to the bottom of a wide staircase. A minute later, footsteps echo down the hall as my heart pounds in my ears in tandem with the steps. Dark, hazel eyes meet mine, full of excitement, when my kidnapper turns the corner, revealing himself.

“Finally. You’re all mine, emerald,” he says in a low voice as he gets closer. Averting my eyes to the floor, I keep my mouth shut and wait for the right time to make my next move.

He grabs my arm in a tight hold and drags me up the stairs. We go out a set of double doors that reveal flashing lights and loud music. None of it could be heard prior to the door being opened. Both of the guards follow closely behind as he tugs me down a long hall and into an all-red bedroom, leaving the guards outside the door. When he releases me, my feet stay rooted to the ground in the center of the room.

“I’m gonna have fun with you. From the moment I saw you at that party, I knew I had to make you mine. Kincaid isn’t man enough for you, baby girl,” he says in a low, husky tone that repulses me as his hands run down my sides. At the mention of Kylo, a load of emotions arise.

“He’s more man than you’ll ever be,” I quip.

Eyes flashing with anger, his open palm connects with my cheek in the blink of an eye. Heat creeps up my neck, reaching my ears, yet this time I say nothing.

“Don’t push me. You will learn to respect me one way or another, because guess what? You’ll never see him again, I made sure of that,” he sneers.

The insinuation is enough to twist the knife already plunged in my heart. Surely, he doesn’t mean what I think he means. Searching my eyes, a cruel laugh escapes him at what he finds.

“He’s dead. Nobody is going to come for you. The sooner you accept that, the easier things will be for you.”

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