Page 49 of Auctioned

They most likely are the real puppet masters.

And if they’re here, that only means one thing.

These sick four people who kidnapped Baylor and me are the puppet masters’ puppet masters.

James didn’t lie to me yesterday.

Damn it.

Asking them to help us would get us nowhere. Running away from the person who buys me and going to the cops would make matters worse.

No one will listen to me.

They’ll track me down.

They’ll send me back here.

Or.

They’ll have my head for snitching.

If my escape plan works, I’ll have to leave the country altogether. America will cease to be my home.

Shit. I don’t have a passport.

They took away my purse and driver’s license.

The Greyhound bus is my only option. I’ll stand in one of the corners of the central station. Beg for cash. For a ticket.

A good Samaritan or two will help, and then I’ll be off on a bus that’ll take me to the border. Any border. Canada, Mexico, I’m not picky.

Anywhere but here.

A fresh start.

Hopefully, one day, when the dust settles and everyone forgets about me, I’ll be able to return to Baylor.

Hope and resolution press against my ribs.

I’ve got this.

“Ten!” a man with curly red hair in the second row yells, a light Irish accent laced in his voice.

He breaks the streak of the civilized bids. Of people raising a hand to indicate they’d like to buy Baylor, please, and motherfucking thank you.

Tears roll down Baylor’s cheeks. So many of them that the front of her black dress is soaked. She’s crying in complete silence. Terrified of what a bid that high means.

Nothing good.

Her tears and the redhead’s shout set off a war between the buyers. A real one.

A woman in a blue gown with her blonde hair pulled back in a twist bares her teeth. “Twelve!”

“They’ll pay much more for you.” Topher’s lips press to my temple. Softly. Like he cares. I curb the urge to scream. One day, I’ll have my hands around his repulsive neck and I’ll choke him. “That fire in your eyes. I wish I had noticed it sooner. I would’ve used you for something else. Too late now.”

Something else?

His words throw me off.

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