Page 5 of Merciless Protector

David’s sister was up next. She was staring at the wall behind us as he wrote 888 on her cheek. I put in my bid. It was ten times higher than my last. I couldn’t press the button on my watch yet. As of right now, no crime had been committed, at least by the men around the table. Money hadn’t exchanged hands. Ruin could be caught, as he was in possession of underage girls. I wanted them all gone. So I had to wait until the end after the men had paid and the girls were in their clutches. It was a risk, but I had faith in my team.

I held my breath as Ruin announced that the bids had closed. I locked gazes with David’s sister before glancing down. Though I was listed as bidder number one, my position on the list was second. Someone had outbid me. I quickly glanced around and caught the smirk on the man across the table. A rage so primal caught me unaware as I wished a thousand deaths on the man.

The last girl was yanked forward. She was a tiny angel, most likely a preteen. Ruin wrote 255 on her cheek. Because Ruin knew all the bidders and bids, I didn’t bid as much for this girl. I was still playing the character he assumed me to be as I planned my next move. I lost and was third on the bidding list.

“Gentlemen, the bidding is over. Pay your winning bids. You have five minutes.”

I’d lost everything, so I moved to get up.

“Sit,” Ruin commanded, rubbing me the wrong way. What he said next kept me in my seat. “If any payment doesn’t go through, the next winning bid has an opportunity.”

Ruin had a few more minutes, and then I planned to turn his world upside down. That left me nothing to do but observe. I spotted it when Ruin flicked his finger toward the table. Two men who’d been cloaked in shadows stepped away from the wall. They immediately surrounded the guy on the other side of the table, who I was sure had beaten me in my bid for David’s sister. The two goons hauled the guy out of his seat as he protested.

“I can pay,” the guy yelled.

Ruin didn’t seem impressed. “You’ll pay alright.”

They dragged the man out of the room while he yelled promises Ruin didn’t seem to care about.

My screen flashed to life, catching my attention. A log-on to the cryptocurrency platform we’d been instructed to use opened up. A timer on the corner let me know I had three minutes to complete the transaction.

I had a healthy trust fund from my parents, but that didn’t mean I hoped to lose two million dollars to this asshole. Griffin assured me they’d hacked into the platform and would follow the money. It had to transfer to Ruin to be legit in his eyes. They hoped to get it before he transferred it somewhere else or into some other currency.

The transaction was completed before a minute was up. Ruin grinned.

“Gentlemen, your fillies,” Ruin said, widening his arms.

Everyone got to their feet, and so did I. As we did, I double-tapped the button on the watch to activate the team into action. They, along with local law enforcement, should be here within minutes.

As the assholes took hold of the girls, I willed the team to be here sooner.

“You,” Ruin said, pointing at me.

Men with guns had come into the room as the buyers filed out with every girl in tow except David’s sister.

“I don’t know you,” Ruin said when it was just the three of us besides the goons that still lined the walls.

In my head, I was counting time. The team should be here any second.

“My money is good, right?” I asked, sounding confident, with a hint of ego. Something he’d expect.

“True, but trust is important. You need to prove yourself. You’ll go into the room just outside this one and take her virginity.”

I let out a dark chuckle. “I think I paid enough to do her where and when I want,” I said, my spine made of titanium.

“You’ll fuck her, or I’ll kill you and let my men have a go at her.”

Well fuck.

4

MATT

There was no mistaking the pleading in her eyes. Her fear was palpable, and I wanted to tell her it would be fine. Backup was on the way. Only so far, no one had come.

“What will it be?” Ruin, the sick bastard, asked.

She reached for my hand and took it. Her skin was soft, and she gave my hand a little squeeze.

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