Page 13 of Auctioned

Lately, he’s been too close to Oliver and his son, Camden. I haven’t been able to trust him, despite my best efforts.

I give him the impression that I’m as invested as he is.

Tonight, he had a chance to prove to me that his heart was pure.

It was a test, and he failed.

He was needlessly cruel toward Ophelia. Aggressive. Violent. Excited to sell an innocent woman.

But I haven’t given up hope. He’s my son, after all.

As soon as he shows remorse, I’ll spare him.

Oliver and Camden? Never.

Myfriendhad his chance. I gave him an out, and let’s just say, it didn’t work out as planned.

Ever since, neither he nor I have trusted one another.

The Morgans are as good as dead.

Movement on my screen snaps me out of my daze. Ophelia’s restless, twisting and turning in her bed.

The thought of another man or a woman like the Morgans having their hands on her…

Inconceivable.

My detailed plan will ensure it won’t happen.

Her fate will be no different from that of the other sacrifices before her.

One of the men I hired specifically for this job will wait for her. A day or two after the auction, he’ll kidnap her to anundisclosed location, give her the number to an offshore bank account.

He’ll set her free.

And I’ll never see or hear from her ever again.

Everything inside me rages against this decision, as final as it is.

That was the deal I made with myself even before I met her. Before I fell hard and motherfucking fast for Topher’s girlfriend.

The flames crackle in my fireplace. Lightning slices through the black of the night. Thunder cracks somewhere nearby. Heavy rain lashes at the large windows.

Faintly, I hear the leaves and branches of the old oak trees surrounding our property rustling in the wind.

Me? I’m here. A glass of whiskey in my tattooed hand. My black dress shoe tapping on the expensive navy rug at my feet.

My skin warms from the fire. From watching her on the CCTV app on my phone. The one Topher has no idea exists.

I take a sip from my drink. It burns my throat as I swallow.

Twenty-one years and nine months. It’s been that long since the last two virgin sacrifices were put up for auction.

Since two others were chosen to carry our sons right after the auction had taken place.

Since I managed to save Topher’s mom from being raped. By me.

Since I ended up saving both of our sacrifices without anyone being the wiser.

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