Page 137 of Morally Corrupt

"How else are we to draw Jimenez out?" I add sarcastically, but Vlad stuns me.

"I knew you'd go for that."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… in the beginning, I have to admit, I exchanged the info for the club because it was convenient, but after hearing Martin's words, I realized this would be your best chance at catching Jimenez's eye."

"So, you planned this?"

"Planning? No, come on, B, you know me. I'm not a planner; I'm an opportunist. It just happened that the puzzle pieces fell into place on their own."

"Great…" I mutter, but then get to the meat of the problem. "Since you assumed I would auction myself, you must have researched how."

"Now, thatisplanning." He baits me, but I don't reply. "I've talked to someone. I'll text you the info. But I'm curious. Did that husband of yours agree to this?"

"No, he didn't."

"Sneaky… You do do sneaky best. I'll tell my guy to expect you this afternoon. He'll take care of everything."

"Thanks," I say and hang up.

Vlad is definitely up to something. Ugh. Too complicated to think about this right now. I have one job: to get Jimenez to buy me, and then… well, I don't know what then, but one step at a time.

All I can think of is Adrian's expression when he gets Jimenez.

"Bianca," he would say, his eyes full with love. "Will you marry me again? Renew our vows." He would get down on one knee and propose to me again. I would jump on him and pepper kisses all over his face, saying, "Yes" a million times.

I shake myself from my fantasy, now more motivated than ever.

* * *

I drag my suitcase full of weapons on the bed and proceed to arm myself as best as possible, opting for the smallest but deadliest weapons I have. This is one of those instances where a knife is more useful than a gun. I'm also making sure to add some listening devices in case I manage to drop a few backstage.

After I'm satisfied with my arsenal, I leave Adrian a quick note, and I slip out of the room before he returns, stealing his bracelet so he can't go to the club at night.

Vlad's already texted me the instructions. I'm to go to the club's location, ask for a certain Diego, and show him a code I'd received via text.

As before, I have my bracelet on.

When I arrive at the abandoned factory, I knock, showing the bracelet and asking to speak with Diego. The bouncer looks me up and down before giving me a brisk nod and guiding me to a different part of the club that I hadn't seen last night.

A man is waiting for me in front of the door.

"Diego?" After I show him my code, I ask, and he opens the door to take me inside.

The room is bare except for a few items. It's also the size of a closet.

Maybe it is a closet…

"Vlad told me you want to sell yourself," he adds as he goes to a big bag in a corner and removes a white gossamer dress, some face paint, and a neck collar like the one we'd seen on the auctioned people the other night.

All the auctioned girls had worn some type of sheer dress, but the colors had been different. Some had worn white and some red, for obvious reasons.

"It's a dummy." He indicates towards the neck collar. "It will emit light pulses, but it will not actually electrocute you. So, you must pretend if anyone activates your collar."

"I can do that," I add drily. It's what I've been doing my entire life. He proceeds to show me how to manually remove the collar in case I need it off.

He then explains how everything will go down. I'll wear that see-through dress, and I'll have to paint my face and body to seem bruised. He emphasized the fact that I must seem unwilling.

---