Page 48 of Auctioned

That moment sealed our fate.

I gave our relationship my best because I believed in us.

I gave it my best until I couldn’t.

Now, all that’s left is to get as far away from the Hawthorne men as possible.

That’s my good girl, the memory of James’s voice whispers in my ear.

Stupid brain. He wasn’t praising me. He was mocking me.

He’s just as insane as Topher is.

“You’re going to feel a little pressure,” the doctor from hell says to Baylor.

Camden is at the top of the exam table, stroking her hair. Pretending to care.

Bullshit. It’s a reminder of his threat.

Another whimper escapes her when the doctor opens the speculum’s bill. Fuck, I’m so angry I could burst into flames.

“Calm the fuck down.” Topher must sense my murderous energy. I’m snarling too. Could be that. “Consider this your final warning.”

Telling him his father performed the same exam on me last night would be delicious. James isn’t close. Can’t scare me into silence.

Then again…

The guards. They’re spread out across the room. Two of them even have a clear shot at me. James might be furious if Topher starts shouting and causing a scene. One word from him, and I’ll be dead.

Fine. Fuck him.

Poor Baylor stares up at the ceiling while she’s being checked and probed. In her delirious state, she reaches for Camden’s hand.

The doctor exclaims, “A virgin!”

She says absolutely nothing as Camden guides her into the center of the stage. When the motherfucker takes his place behind the podium.

“The starting bid on my and Topher’s sacrifices will be the same.” Camden has his hand on Baylor’s shoulder. The other is flattened on the podium.

I see red. My chest heaves with each breath, fueling my rage further.

This is it. They’re going to put a price tag on us. This is actually real.

“So.” From where Topher holds me hostage, I can see Camden’s face. His smug grin. When I’m free, I’ll wipe it off him. I swear I will. “Starting bid on Miss Carpenter is…one million dollars.”

Flatline. No pulse. No air.

One million is the starting bid. I repeat that in my head.

Then it clicks. Then, I realize what and who I’m dealing with here.

They aren’t just rich. People who don’t blink at the ridiculous sum and start calling three, five, seven on a girl are wealthy. They own the city. Maybe the entire country.

I take a closer look at the crowd. The chief of police is here too. I recognize him from the news. How corrupt must he be to afford this?

Very. Fucking very.

The rest of them aren’t as well known. I don’t know most of them, which only solidifies my concern. The truly influential men and women, the ones who pull the strings, sometimes prefer to remain in the shadows.

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