Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
This cannot be happening. This is worse than what happened to me… unless the girls are actually here out of their free will. Yes, that has to be it.
A moment later, that thought evaporates into thin air when the girls are brought out on stage. There is a crowd of men congregated around the stage, and the area fills with whistles and loud hollers as the half-naked girls are each placed on a pedestal.
Each girl looks more scared than the next, their eyes wide with shock, their body shaking, but the worst part is that they are in chains. In actual chains. There are collars around each of their necks, and a chain hangs down that’s connected to their handcuffed hands, which hang in front of them.
You’ve gotta be kidding me. How can they just sell another human like this? Tie them up like animals and display them like this is a circus. Rage burns through my veins.
The host starts talking, introducing the first girl, but my mind is in chaos, I can’t even comprehend what he is saying. Men start bidding, and I feel like I’m going to be sick. I want to ask Julian how to stop this nonsense but can’t get my lips to move.
“Drink your wine,” Julian’s voice pierces through the heavy fog. He holds the glass of red wine I’d easily forgotten while watching this horrible event out in front of me, and I take it on autopilot. “Drink,” he orders as if that’s going to help me process what’s going on.
“Sold, to number six-o-one!” The auctioneer calls just as I bring the glass to my lips.
“Fucking Christ!” Julian growls, “I need to talk to Markus. I’m going to leave you here at the bar. Do not get up, do not go anywhere, even the bathroom, and do not talk to anyone. I will be within distance and watching you the entire time. If you try and run, I will not only hurt Marie, but I will punish you. Understand?”
Gulping a little more of the wine down, I nod. The fear of being left alone creeps up my spine, making my gut tighten. Even with the auction taking place, I just know someone is going to come over and try and touch me, but Julian doesn’t seem to care about what I want. Maybe everything he’s said tonight is true? Maybe he’ll sell me or let someone take me? I can imagine myself up on that stage.
Yes, being with Julian hasn’t been easy, but it’s surely nothing like what those girls have been through. I grip the glass of red wine a little tighter and watch as he takes his drink and strolls over to where Markus is standing.
Peeking over my shoulder, I look at where he is standing and to the dark-haired man that he is talking to. I’ve only seen him twice, including the night I was taken. I think Julian is trying to keep his men away from me on purpose.
They seem to be arguing, Markus’s face is completely unaffected even as Julian snarls at him.
When Julian’s eyes lift to meet mine, I panic and look back down at the floor, trying to ignore everything that’s going on around me. Ignoring that women are being sold, ignoring that men are looking at me like I’m for sale, and most of all, ignoring the fact that there isn’t anything I can do about it.
I thought I knew what the mafia was about... I was wrong, so wrong. My fingers tremble against the glass, and I truly feel like I’m going to barf. Julian needs to hurry because I’m not sure how much longer I can keep up this charade.
“Hello, Elena,” an unknown voice greets me. I don’t answer or even lift my head, but out of the corner of my eye, I see someone taking a seat two spots down from me. “It’s okay, you don’t need to say anything, just listen.” He is just talking loud enough for me to hear, and I’m guessing that’s by design.
“You know, I almost had you. I was so close, but Moretti outbid me. Tell me, how tight is your pussy? I mean, is it really that tight and pink? Is it worth ten million, you think?”
I want to get up, to walk away, but I’m reminded of what Julian said.
“Truthfully, I wouldn’t have ever paid that much... but for a second, I was so sure I was going to get you. When your father started taking bids, I had a playroom put together for you. I bought chains and whips, and a butt plug so big it would’ve ripped your tight little asshole apart, but not before your virgin cunt had bled all over my cock.”
“Please, go away,” I whisper, just wanting him to stop. I don’t care if Julian punishes me. I can’t listen to another word that comes out of this man’s mouth. I feel degraded like dirt beneath his feet.