Page 54 of Saved By My Buyers

Regardless, I guard my purse closely, since I don’t know if they somehow opened my safe, and the door to my bedroom is open. Stranger things have happened, after all.

“Give it to me, you whore!” Frankie screams, backhanding me. Wilting, I stop fighting because I need my face to be able to work. Hot tears slide down my cheeks as they wrestle the money out of my purse, as I swallow back a sob.

“There’s only three hundred dollars,” my roommate says robotically.

“I just paid Frankie for rent,” I rasp, pulling away and grabbing my shopping bag before bolting. I whisper up a prayer of thanks as my door slams closes, shoving the chair they left underneath it. Turning on the light, my eyes bounce around the room, searching for things that are wrong.

My mattress is cut up, the stuffing pulled out of it for spite. Moving closer to my closet, I find that they cut up all the clothes that wouldn’t fit in my safe. My lingerie for work is hidden away inside of it, something I did before I left, because I had a weird feeling.

Frankie can get really weird when he has to pay for rent. Hopefully he paid it before he went on a bender or we’re all fucked.

I’m broke after my shopping trip, and I don’t work again until two nights from now. The bastards took my food money so they could snort it up their noses.

I fucking hate it here.

Dropping to the floor, I sigh defeatedly. The auction is one month before my twentieth birthday. Being able to get the fuck out of Detroit and start over again will be the perfect birthday present to myself.

I just need to make sure I make it.

Chapter Eleven

May tenth

Dahlia

Iasked the club organizers if they could pick me up outside of Percy’s club instead of my apartment. I didn’t want to be waiting in front of my building for my driver. My roommates have gotten worse and worse lately, so I’ve picked up extra shifts, and am living off less and less sleep, so that I’m never home anymore.

It’s almost like living on the streets, except I pay for the privilege of an apartment that’s unsafe to live in.

The amount of coffee I’ve consumed over the past month and a half should be illegal, but all I can do is keep moving. This weekend is my end goal, and what I’ve been working toward since I received my acceptance email.

I made it to May tenth, it’s here, now the rest is out of my hands. There’s a certain amount of relief that I feel, knowing that I can stop fighting to simply survive.

Sitting in the car with my change of clothes inside, I gaze out at the world. The weather is warmer finally, but I’m still wearing a light coat tonight. I need to be at the club by six, making me glad I’m fine on time.

While I was filling out the paperwork, I caved and told them I was a virgin. I was doing some research online, and found out taking someone’s virginity is a kink. Maybe it’ll make me more attractive to buyers?

I never thought my lack of experience may be a plus for this until I began my deep dive on the internet.

“Ma’am, we’re here,” my driver murmurs softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. I think the lack of sleep is beginning to get to me, and my eyes want to droop closed.

Blinking rapidly, I nod as I open the door, sliding out to meet him outside of the town car. The driver escorts me inside the unassuming warehouse, and down to the club floor, using a key card.

“This is where I leave you,” he says, motioning for me to exit before him. A woman with a tablet turns to me with a smile. “Holly, take good care of this one.”

“Always do,” Holly says as I walk toward her. “Precious, right?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” I reply, my heart beating a little faster now that I’m here.

I watch as she clicks something on her tablet and then lifts a small bowl from the table beside her.

“Please pick a number from the bowl,” Holly says, watching as I do. “Perfect, you’re number nine in the auction, and from now on you’ll be called Precious. Anonymity is very important to us, as you saw from the nondisclosure agreement.”

Nodding, I rasp, “It’s important to me as well.”

The club made sure to explain to me how their records were impenetrable, as were their security systems when I applied. I can’t risk anyone finding me after I leave here. I’ve spent too much time and energy trying to outrun my nightmares.

Following Holly to my room, I’m met by two stylists named Nico and Sophia. The woman’s makeup is amazing, her dark sleek hair pulled back into a ponytail. We don’t speak much as I sit down in the chair and allow them to get me ready.

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