Page 61 of The Celtic Resolution
She wouldn’t say that if she knew where I was about to go.
“Don’t look so glum.”Domenico walks ahead of me, leading the way into the warehouse. “You kept telling me you wanted to be involved more. It doesn’t get more involved than this.”
It really doesn’t. In a bid to make my hands as dirty as his, my father has me helping him run an auction tonight. It sickensme to see some familiar faces here from both Italian, Irish and Russian backgrounds but not one single person seems to care how fucked up this is. I keep telling myself that I’m biding my time and gathering evidence against my father to take him down but with such a threat looming over my sister, I’m powerless to do anything but help.
“I’m not glum,” I say, weaving past a crowd of people who are dressed as if they’re attending a charity gala, not a slave auction. “I just didn’t sleep well and I drank before I came here, so I’m just feeling a little off.”
“Well suck it up.” Domenico stops in the middle of the floor and turns to face me. “Tonight we’re getting rid of stock. Everything that crossed the stage tonight will be going overseas and then we will focus on more internal sales until next month.”
“Why?”
“With the current… disagreements with the Irish, our access to the airport has been troublesome. But I have a plan in mind to fix that.”
“A plan?”
“Yes.” Domenico adjusts his tie and sighs. “But that’s not important right now. I want you to make sure the bids are high and the money goes where it needs to, understand?”
“Yes sir.” What else can I say? I contemplate the effects of grabbing the nearest champagne glass and cutting his throat with it, but killing him won’t put an end to this. Not with the Triad’s and the third, mysterious leader involved in all of this. Until I have all the details, I can’t act.
So I smile and do as he expects while trying to formulate a plan in the back of my mind. Getting in contact with Mary is my priority. Once she’s safe, my father has nothing else to hold over me and I can turn into a tactical nuke to take him down. I don’t give a shit about collateral or the family name anymore. No amount of money is worth tarnishing us with this kind of work.In fact, I’d instead shed my name entirely and burn this entire place to the ground.
My father tends to his phone for a moment, then tucks it into the pocket of his jacket and walks off. If I could just get his phone then I would be able to get in touch with Mary. All my calls to her go unanswered so I suspect he’s changed her number.
That becomes my plan. Play along until I can get his phone and then it’ll be a race against time to get to Mary, save her and get in touch with Rocky.
It’s a good plan.
A wise plan.
A plan that details halfway through the night as woman after poor woman is dragged up onto stage and drowned in bright lights, then sold to whoever lifts their card the highest.
It’s sickening. The guests around me treat it like a party, eating fine food and drinking expensive champagne as if this really is some kind of charity auction.
Until Saoirse appears.
My stomach falls out of my ass and the tray in my hands clatters to the ground as she’s dragged onto stage and held under the lights like some kind of broken mannequin.
Saoirse.
What thefuck?
Anger swells inside me like an explosion, and I quickly scan the crowds, but my father is nowhere to be seen. Does he know she’s here? Of course he does. No wonder he emphasized that everyone here would be shipped overseas. He’s about to rid himself of one of the people capable of taking him down.
I can’t let that happen.
As soon as the bidding starts, I’m involved. I have no plan beyond making sure no one else gets their hands on her and the money steadily climbs. Soon, Domenico appears at my side with an easy smile.
“Well, I’m surprised to see you soeagerto buy someone.”
He’s taunting me, subtly, so I lean into it and shoot him a smirk. “Are you kidding? The shit she put me through? It’s like perfect revenge presented on a platter for me.”
My father’s brow twitches upward. “Really?”
“Of course,” I say, raising my hand as the bidding reaches millions. “I’m gonna make that bitches life a living hell. That’ll teach her to manipulate me.”
My father almost looks proud while nausea churns in my gut.
I have to win. If anyone else takes her, I’ll never see her ever again.
