Page 15 of Fortress of the King

They threatened to sell her to an underground prostitution ring where she’ll be smuggled out of the country and sold to the highest bidder. It turns my stomach, and I’m barely holding onto my sanity.

All because I’m the epitome of what Medici favors. And now I’m stuck in hell.

My own private hell, one where I’m supposed to let this stranger, the mafia boss of this city, do whatever he likes to me. Worse still, he’s freaking gorgeous and nothing at all like I expected.

Not that I’m attracted to powerful and ruthless monsters, but he surely can’t be any worse than the people who have Mia.

They won’t let me talk to her. I’ve no idea what the hell they’re doing to her day in, day out. I’ve got one way out of this now, and it’s staring me in the face ……

I plan on hitting him where it hurts tonight, and if I can get closer, then maybe I’ll be able to learn something new that they can use. I don’t fucking care. I’m scared of failing, and even though I’m no goddamn spy, I have to do it. I have to try.

I put the final touches to curling my hair; it hangs down my back in long, Hollywood-style waves. Guilt riddles me as I think of Mia tied to a chair.

This has to go as planned…

He favors blondes. I hope he also likes figure-hugging black dresses.

I keep it conservative yet sexy, sliding into my sparkling high heels. The dress might be all work, but the shoes scream play.

I’ve been given a couple of auctions to sell tonight. Being I’m comfortable using a mic from my stint at Christies, it shouldn’t be hard, and it's why I need to look my best, because he’ll be watching.

The eyes of the man at the helm of the Boston underworld, how frightening.

I’m strong. I have to be strong. I can’t involve the police.Medici owns them.

Getting under Angelo’s skin has to be perfectly timed, so deliciously natural, as though our chance meeting was just that and our impending flirtations are all his idea. It wouldn’t be any fun if I just fell over and into his lap like all the other women who get handed to him on a platter. Not that I will be doing that. I wasn’t sent to seduce him, but rather to observe.

An hour later, the place is packed.

Security is tight, and the high rollers swish through the fancy room with designer suits and dresses, diamonds, and cufflinks. They’ve got enough money to feed an entire nation if they pooled all their funds together.

I know that he isn’t here yet, as obtuse as that sounds. Angelo has the type of presence that when he enters a room, it’s like Moses parting the Red Sea.

Not knowing where he is unnerves me. Each day, hour, and minute that goes by is another day my sister is bound and gagged.No! Stop.Thinking like that will only destroy me.

I spy Claire by Patricia's side, keeping close tabs on things behind the scenes. It’s a big night for everyone, and I need to impress Patricia and Angelo in one sitting.

I avoid taking one of the glasses of champagne to my office and downing it. Now isn’t the time for nerves or to get sloshed, but I need guts made of steel to get through this.

It’s just like any other auction.I tell myself.You’ve done hundreds of them.

That I have, but not with most of Boston’s elite sitting there staring. It’s always nerve-racking at the best of times, but I stand up straighter and don’t allow the pressure get to me.

As long as I have sight of Angelo, all will be well…

When the guests begin to be seated in the embellished chairs in front of the podium, a string of waiters appear in black and white, handing out overpriced champagne in long flutes.

That’s the trick; get the punters smashed so they don’t realize how much they’re actually spending on the artwork they don’t actually need.

I notice an empty chair at the very front and I wonder if he’s coming.

I absolutely hate how wired he has me.

Steel yourself, Rayne. Just breathe. This is just like any other auction…

The lights dim, and I’m momentarily distracted by the emcee for the night, a rather loud and obnoxious man with a three-piece suit and top hat on. A little over the top, but the crowd seems to like it.

He begins by introducing himself and then makes a big speech about how important it is to support those in need. He pulls out a couple of jokes, mainly poking fun at the high-flyers, and introduces the first auctioneer of the night.

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