Page 27 of Promiscuous Lies

I pocket my phone, ignoring the friend request as I have all the texts he’s sent me throughout the day. I’ll reply to them eventually when I decide how to handle this situation on my terms.

“Look, isn’t this cool,” Bentley says as he sets the game up in the living room. I take a seat on the floor despite us having a kitchen table. There’s always been something cozy about playing games on the floor. Or maybe it’s because it takes me back to my childhood with my parents. We used to play games every Christmas. I stuck to the same tradition but decided any time was a good time for games.

“It’s so cool!” I say with a smile. “Did you play this with Amy last night?”

He nods. “Yeah, she said I’m way too clever for a five-year-old,” he says proudly. “I asked if we could ask the girl next door to play, but she said it was too late.”

I smile, but something lodges in my throat. I always feel bad for not giving Bentley more opportunities to be social. He doesn’t really have friends, and I haven’t been able to afford any type of schooling. I know he would thrive in the right social environment.

I swallow as I place the coffee down. “Are you excited to go to school with other kids your age?” I ask him softly.

He looks up, his big brown eyes sparkling. “Yes! But I hope everyone will like me.”

My heart falls and shatters into a thousand pieces. “How could they not? You’re like the coolest!”

He giggles as he looks back at his board game. “You have to say that because you’re my mom,” he says with a slight blush. I hide my smile.

It’s only a few weeks until he starts kindergarten, and I’m terrified as much as I am excited for him. I’d planned on getting a part-time job during school hours to save more money, but with Dutton’s offer, I’d be earning almost triple anything I could earn anywhere else. Maybe I could put Bentley in a private school the following year if I’m able to put enough funds away.

“Will I be able to bring my new board game to school?” Bentley asks.

“We could ask the teacher.”

“What’s the teacher’s name?” he asks.

“I don’t know yet. We’ll have to find out together,” I say, and he giggles as if we’re in cahoots, and his laughter does everything to relieve my worries.

My priority has been and always will be this boy. I’ll do whatever I can to save the money he needs for his future.

Suddenly, Dutton’s offer doesn’t look so bad.

It’s only one date, and he never stipulated when it had to take place.

CHAPTER 14

Dutton

“Iheard you’re going on a date,” Eli says as he sits behind me. I choose to ignore him.

A row of ten women and four men stand before me in lingerie. I assess each of them to make sure they’re in sellable condition.

“Does your father know about this date?” he asks.

“Does your father know about all your activities?” I ask pointedly. I look away when I realize I bit at his antics. “Remove the bra,” I tell the last woman.

She gulps but does as I say. I don’t move on to the next in line, I stare at the woman in front of me who barely stands five foot two. I loom over her, and it’s obvious she’s intimidated. Usually, I feed off that, but not here. Not in this place.

“Are you sure about this?” I ask the woman. She looks up at me, her freckled features young and innocent. “You’ll all receive an abundant amount for these services, but it’s okay to back out.”

The virginity auctions have been something my father has run for over thirty years now. He came to an agreement with Anya and Alek Ivanov to conduct business in their territory because they host all the other black-market auctions inManhattan. In return, they get a small cut. The virgins earn the most.

We safely conduct the auctions with vetted clients who have specific fantasies. Security is provided outside the room, and by tonight, these fourteen people will leave with their virginity taken. They range in age, but I’m always quick to pluck out the ones who aren’t quite ready, no matter how desperate they are for the money.

The girl swallows.

“Leave us,” I say to the other candidates. The girl in front of me is confused but doesn’t move. Only Eli remains in the room.

“Please. I need the money,” she says, almost tearing up. She had only just turned twenty-one, but the girl was as frightened as a fledgling. It means she’ll sell for more because the innocent types always sell for the most.

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