Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 37136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 149(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
“Got to leave them wanting more.” The saying might be true, but I don’t mean it in this case.
“Oh, I’m sure you left him wanting more, but you’ve got no plans on giving him that little more he’s going to chase you for.”
I look her in the eyes and study her for a moment. Last night she seemed a bit cold, but now I can see the softness in her eyes.
“You’re right. I’m running. A man like that,” I point towards the now closed elevator doors, remembering that I haven’t hit a button, “could break me. And I’ve had all the breaking I can take,” I finish before pushing the button to my floor. I want to get my bags and get the hell out of Dodge.
“You’re right. Don goes through women monthly. Wines and dines them, then sends them on their way all broken-hearted. The little lies he whispers in their ears aren’t true. He says he won’t let you go until he gets his fill of you, but you know how men are when they think something belongs to them. He’ll blackball you. There won’t be a casino in town that will let you in the doors.”
I squeeze my eyes closed at her words. Shit. He played me. Maybe that was my karma for the few men I played when I’d first gotten to Vegas. At least I didn’t fill their minds with lies or grace their bed.
“He’s a hard dog to keep on the porch.”
I snort.
“I was sure you were a Yankee, but you seem to have a little taste for the south,” I say around an empty laugh because that’s how I’m feeling. Empty. I have no idea where I’ll go when I leave Vegas or how long the money I have will last me.
“I like to have a taste for all things.”
The elevator opens, and I make my way out. “Do me a favor. Give me a head start before you tell him I’m gone.” I have no clue where this woman’s loyalties lie. She’s too hard to read, or maybe I’m just slipping. First Antonio and now her.
She doesn’t answer me, just follows me out.
“Thirty million dollars for thirty days of your time.”
I stop walking at her words and turn to look at her.
“To be a Mistress?” I ask, remembering Antonio’s words about her from last night. He talked about her with respect, but now I don’t know what was the truth and what wasn’t from him. Could I sell myself? Wasn’t that what my mother did? She might have married those men, but she only did it for their money.
“Thirty million dollars to be at the beck and call of one of the richest men in the world. Your contract will be the strictest, and you can help guide some of the rules. Some. Of course, you are to have sex with him. The money is more about the anonymity to these men, and the fact that you don’t ask them questions. You’re their Mistress, and they can come and go as they please.”
“I don’t think—”
She cuts me off before I can protest. “Only a few men will be at your Auction. I already have them in mind. I know you’re just their type. The bidding starts at thirty million. Who knows how high it will go.” She holds her hand up, knowing I’m about to chime in. “Think about it. Thirty days and you're set for life. That’s at least a million dollars a day. No more cons or counting cards. Free.”
“The men—”
“Vetted. I don’t make it easy for men to get into Auctions. They have to do more than pay. Never has one of my girls been hurt. I have a lot of powerful men in my pocket. Others know not to cross me, and hurting one of my girls is something that would never be tolerated.”
“Will he know I did the Auction? That someone bought me?” I don’t have to say his name. We both know who I’m talking about. Part of me wants to do this, to be free. Thirty days and I’m set. I could go anywhere and do anything I want. The other part, the part that hurts from the things Sam told me about Antonio, wants him to feel something, too. Pissed he didn’t get what he wanted. That he thought he could use me and toss me away.
“Yes. There isn’t much he doesn’t know in this town.”
“Good.” This time if someone is going to use me, I’m going to get what’s mine.
Chapter Eight
Don
“I want the footage of her leaving the hotel. Then I want you to track it. There are cameras all over this goddamn city. I don’t care how you get the footage, just do it. Call in favors for all I fucking care,” I growl before ending the call and dropping the phone onto my desk.
“Fucking stupid,” I chastise myself. I should have known. I got too close and scared her off. I should have had men posted outside, ready to follow her if she tried to slip out on me, but I’d been too caught up in her to think about that. I was also sure that if she tried to slip out of bed, I would have felt it. I guess the lack of sleep finally caught up to me. I had her in my arms as I drifted off to the best night of sleep in my life, only to wake up and realize the grave mistake I’d made.
Now I can’t even track her phone. The fucking thing is off and she hasn’t been in to try and get a new one. For all I know she’s long gone. Hopped on a bus or maybe caught a flight out of town. But I’ll find her. With as much money as I have, I can do anything. I’ll drain every cent I have to look for her.
She was more perfect than I ever could've thought possible. Having her in my hands as she melted for me… I thought I was obsessed before, but now I might possibly go insane if I don't find her. Before her, I thought I’d had everything I’d ever wanted. Worked my ass off to get where I was, and now I think I did it all for her.