Jett
I’d done some crazy-ass shit in my life, but what was happening before my eyes was one of the weirdest things I’d ever seen.
I watched as a naked woman left the stage, obviously happy that her body had fetched a high price, judging by her smile. Apparently, not all of the women here were victims, but I had no doubt many of them were either brainwashed or coerced into the situation.
Jesus Christ!
What female would want to be sold like their value was nothing more than monetary? Probably not many.
I’d done some bad things in the past, usually to save lives or keep people from getting hurt. I’d done plenty of illegal hacking. I’d even used a gun to fire on terrorists when I was working with Marcus for PRO. I might have been the tech guy, but every one of us had been skilled with weapons of all types.
But I’d never—in my wildest damn dreams—imagined the atrocities that were happening here at this club tonight.
My body stiffened as I realized the grand finale of the evening, the virgin sale, was about to occur.
I heard men talking in hoarse whispers as a naked woman stepped into the spotlight on stage, and then my heart completely stopped.
The woman looked young, probably barely drinking age—if not younger. I had no doubt that this was Ruby, and I already knew she was almost twenty-three years old, but she looked like she could be straight out of high school. Her body was youthful and curvaceous, her pussy obviously shaved to make her look even younger than she did naturally.
For fuck’s sake, even her hair was in two ponytails at the side of her head, and she was completely devoid of makeup—not that she needed any.
She was beautiful in a totally earthy way. But her expression was what was making my heart do strange things that it had never done before.
Her head was held high, but I could see the fear in her eyes. I’d gotten a table near the stage, and I could see her swallow hard as she tried to gather up the courage to keep her chin up.
She was trembling, even though she was trying to wrap her arms around herself to try to stop it and hide it. When the man holding onto a thin chain around her waist knocked her hands away from her body to put her on better display, I had to keep myself from jumping onto the stage and strangling the bastard.
The MC’s voice sounded over the loudspeaker. “What would you give to get this pretty young thing into your bedroom? She’s one-hundred-percent virgin, and ready for whatever you have planned for her. Or maybe you prefer a dungeon where you can torment her slowly before you take what you paid for. A prize like this is worth any price. She’s afraid, and I have a feeling she’d put up a good fight. Imagine punishing this one for being a naughty girl. Gentlemen...let’s start the bidding.”
My gut rolled. Jesus! I had to admit I’d been around the block, and I could be as kinky as the next guy. But this was way too difficult for me to be comfortable observing.
The young woman looked hopeless, and I was almost feeling her pain and humiliation.
I tried to catch her eyes, but she was still staring straight ahead, her head up like she was trying to salvage her pride.
I frowned as I looked closer, noticing that she was biting her lower lip.
Protective instincts surged up inside me, the need to save this woman from further pain and humiliation so strong that I had to force myself to stay in my seat.
The bidding was ridiculous, a slow torture that I almost wanted to just end by offering any price for her.
Stay cool. Stay calm.
I looked around the room, watching some rich old men practically salivating to get their hands on the woman gracing the stage.
Hell, I wanted her, too. I wasn’t innocent. But I was more desperate to rescue her than I was to fuck her at the moment.
I didn’t want a terrified female.
All I wanted was a woman who actually wanted me now that I was damaged goods. But Lisette had already taught me a lesson about wanting more than I could ever have.
I was damaged, and there was no way in hell I was ever going to find anybody who didn’t cringe at my scars. Hell, sometimes they even made me look away from the injuries on my own body.
I signaled to the auctioneer—if I could really call him that—to up my bid.
I wasn’t leaving the building without Ruby.
The bidding hit six figures, and men started to slowly drop out with disgruntled looks. The amount of money being offered was nothing to me. I had more money than I could spend in plenty of lifetimes. I didn’t care if we hit seven figures or beyond.
I had no more than placed my bid when I suddenly looked up and met Ruby’s gaze. Her steady, tormented expression made me want to just scoop her up, wrap her in something warm, and take her home with me.
I knew something about her life, things that Dani had shared with me.
She was a woman who’d never really known kindness.
She was a woman who’d usually been cold, defenseless, and alone on the streets.
She’d been hungry.
She’d been frightened.
And by God, I was going to show her that not all people were bad.
Ruby deserved a whole lot better than the crappy hand that life had dealt her.
I sent her a conspirator type of wink and a grin. I was rewarded by the first hint of emotion from her dark and tortured eyes.
For just an instant, I saw a glint of hope pass across her face before it fled just as quickly.
Dani hadn’t told Ruby exactly how she’d help her, but I was hoping she’d understand that the last thing I wanted was to hurt her.
Finally, Ruby was going once.
Going twice.
Sold—to the gentleman in the front row.
I breathed a damn sigh of relief.
Ruby was coming home with me.
Dani
“Marcus, is this big rush really necessary?” I asked as I fastened my seat belt for takeoff in his massive jet.
“Yes,” he answered simply.
Okay, he was angry at me for not signaling for him to come and help me. Maybe I should have explained that I was terrified that something would happen to him, but I’d made up some stupid excuse instead.
He hadn’t liked my explanation.
So, he’d been nearly silent while he’d driven like a bat out of hell to the airport.
Honestly, the whole carjacking idea had been brilliant. The ruse and the lack of connection between me and Marcus had been perfect. I’d already handed over the tiny camera to a government official who had taken it when we’d arrived at Marcus’s jet, and left almost immediately to have the information analyzed.