Page 22 of Auctioned to the Titan

My heart races, and I feel bile rise in my throat, but I fight to keep still, terrified of what they’ll do if they realize I’m awake.

“I can’t…” My father’s voice trembles. “I can’t do this. She’s my daughter, Kirk.”

Kirk’s voice drops to a chilling whisper. “You have two choices. You either keep your mouth shut and let me handle things… or you’ll find yourself in the same position she is.”

There’s a long pause, and I can feel my father crumbling under the weight of Kirk’s threat. He has always been a selfish coward. Finally, he mutters, “Fine. Just don’t hurt her.”

I stop pretending to be asleep and raise my head to look straight at my father. His eyes widen in shame and pleading, but I don’t look away.

My voice is cold and unyielding as I finally say the words that have been bottling up inside me for years, “I was never your daughter. I was your housekeeper, your chef, your chauffeur. I did everything for you, hoping one day you’d step up. But you’re just a coward that never deserved someone like me for a daughter.”

Kirk turns, and my body freezes, as a slow, menacing smile spreads across his face. “You’ve still got fire. Good. Most of my patrons like a little spirit they can tame.”

Chapter 8

Damon

“You lost her.” My voice is so low that it sounds like a growl.

I glare at Erick, my driver, who’s been standing by the doorway to my office the past ten minutes. He hasn’t stepped a foot inside, wise on his behalf. Though the man has been my driver for the past several years, the need to punch something is too strong; he probably knows that.

His head is bowed in contrition, but it’s not enough. It’s not enough to erase the fact that his incompetence is the reason Alice is missing.

Or the fact that you let her go shopping alone.

“I—she was about to enter the bookstore, and I—”

“I told you to keep her in your sight. I gave you one job, and you couldn’t even do that!” I shout, slamming my fist onto the table. The noise cuts through the tense silence and pain spirals up my arm.

But the pain there is nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

My hands are trembling so much with a violent mix of anger and panic. How the hell did this happen? I had sworn to protect her. I had promised her safety, and now she’s gone—disappeared without a trace, snatched out from under my nose.

Every second that passes feels like another second too long. Alice is out there—alone, afraid, and I failed her. The thought sends panic crashing through me.

I pace, running my hands through my hair. My phone sits where I threw it on the desk after not being able to reach Alice for what feels like the millionth time of dialing her number. I pick it up, scrolling though my many contacts, thinking of what favors I can call in to help find her. I’ll call every contact if I have to, every connection I have. Men will be out there scouring the city.

“Why?” I mutter to myself. I think of all the men I’ve pissed off, every business empire I’ve conquered to get to where I am. It’s a long list.

I turn to my driver who looks like he might pass out. “You said she was talking to a man. What did he look like?”

I’ve asked him the question several times, but it’s always the same answer.

“I didn’t see his face, sir.”

“Calm the fuck down and tell me anything you remember.”

Erick takes a deep, shaky breath and runs his hand through his hair. “I remember…he had black curly hair – “

“Black curly hair?”

He nods and then it hits me.

Dark curly hair could mean her father. And her father could mean the auction house.

My blood turns to ice. Kirk. That sick bastard.

I did this. I put her in danger by ending the partnership with Kirk.

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