Given: Highest Bidder

by Willow Winters

  Until then,

  Love always,

  Crazy Nat

  Tears sting the back of my eyes as I read the message.

  “Oh Nat,” I say softly, swallowing back a large lump in my throat, “Why do you have to make this so damn hard?” Now I’m really dreading our conversation. A part of me wants to leave now before she comes back, so I don’t have to deal with the situation. But I’m not going to take the easy way out. I’m going to wait until she’s here to decide which action I take.

  I reread the message several more times before placing it on my nightstand and walking back into the living room to wait for Nat.

  I flip through channels on the TV, thinking Nat is going to walk through the door any minute. But almost thirty minutes later, she's still not here. I glance at the time, my anxiety growing. Zander said he’d be back at six, and it’s almost two.

  I turn back on my phone to text Nat to see what’s going on. Before I can type a letter, the last message she sent before I turned my cell off pops up.

  Nattybatty95: Hey I’m going to stop by A.C. Moore to get some supplies so we can chat while we paint. I have a feeling this is gonna be a juicy talk. ;)

  Artistchick96: Okay. I’m here at the apt already... but can you hurry? I need to leave here by 5:30.

  No sooner than I’m done texting, there’s a knock at the door.

  My heart jumps in my chest, my hand gripping at my shirt. It’s Natalie. It has to be. She’s probably back with her hands full of painting supplies. I let out a breath and try to shake off the dread.

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  “Coming,” I call, slowly getting up, and moving as fast as I can.

  I take a deep breath when I place my hand on the door handle. Muttering a quick prayer, I swing the door open and put on a cheery smile, “Hey Nat-”

  My heart freezes as I see Danny standing only a foot away with a demented grin on his face. He’s dressed in his usual dress pants and dress shirt, except his eyes are bloodshot, his hair isn’t finely coiffed as usual and his clothes look rumpled.

  “Expecting someone else?” he sneers. A whiff of alcohol hits me and I immediately know he’s been drinking.

  “Danny?” I gasp. “What are you doing here?” It’s hard not to tremble and keep my voice even. I wasn’t expecting this at all. Zander’s words come to me unbidden.

  Don’t leave the house without telling me.

  “I’ve come to collect my debt,” he growls, his eyes boring into me with a hatred that causes my skin to prick.

  “What? What are you talking about?” I try to move, to slam the door in his face, but my body feels frozen, paralyzed with fear. He takes enough of a step in that I can’t slam the door. I can run though.

  “I followed you here,” he says, his voice low and dangerous. “You know what?” I ask after swallowing the lump growing in my throat and being as firm as I can manage. “You’re making me feel uncomfortable. I think you should leave.” It’s hard, standing up for myself. But I don’t have to take this kind of abuse from Danny. Not anymore. My hand feels hot as I push slightly on the door.

  “You’re really asking me to leave?” Danny demands in disbelief, his nostrils flaring as he splays his hand on the door, keeping it from shutting.

  “You’ve been drinking,” I say, “and don’t look well. It’s for the best.” My heart beats chaotically. If I just act like everything’s fine, it’ll be okay. I’m in control. “Please leave.” I hold his gaze, straightening my back and willing him to go and leave me alone.

  For a moment, I think Danny is going to comply with my wishes, his head bowing. But when he looks back up at me, my blood runs cold.

  “I don’t think so,” he says, his voice dark and deadly. Without warning, he rushes forward.

  Crying out in alarm, I try to slam the door, but it smacks against his foot and he forces it open with a feral grunt. The door hits me straight on and I stumble, falling onto the floor. Heart pounding like a hammer, I scramble forward on my hands and knees while simultaneously reaching for my cell in my pocket.

  I open my mouth, preparing to scream as loud as I can. But cold, powerful hands clamp down on my mouth from behind, muffling my cries. His hard body falls on top of me, knocking the phone out of my hand, but I grab it, forcing it into my blouse to hold onto it.

  Kicking and bucking, I struggle violently, but I’m no match for Danny’s strength. He presses down hard on my neck, cutting off my air supply. I strain against his grasp, my heart pounding so hard I think it will burst. Danny increases the pressure, growling in my ear like the monster he is.

  I grow weak, my vision dimming black around the edges.

  It only takes about five seconds for me to go limp.

  “I gave you to him,” I hear Danny’s voice growl from somewhere far away as I fade off into darkness. “But now I’m taking you back.”

  Chapter 27

  Zander

  “You look like shit.”

  I look up at Charles and see him smile. Grunting a humorless laugh, I lean forward and toss the papers back to him.

  “I guess that’s what happens when you get your hands dirty,” he says with a glint in his eyes.

  “You couldn’t be happier, could you?” I ask him.

  “Just surprised you risked your pretty boy face,” he says with a smirk.

  “You’re not the only one,” I mutter beneath my breath. My father hasn’t let it go. Everyone knows. I’m a disgrace. Or so my father tells me. I haven’t responded to him, and I won’t. He’ll never understand. She’s worth more than anything. She’s worth far more than my reputation. If my father could understand that, my mother may still be breathing.

  “What’s going on with her?” Charles asks me, catching my attention with his tone.

  “What do you mean?” My heart races a little faster with him questioning me about her. I don’t want anyone to question it.

  “The money-” he starts to ask, and I cut him off. I’m so fucking sick of talking about money. So much fucking money runs through my hands. I don’t need it. I’m tired of chasing it. I just want to live a full life. One with her.

  “I’ll give her the money, but it’s not going to him. It’s just for her.” My voice is flat, but firm.

  “So it’s just the month?” Charles asks.

  My stomach drops at his question. She said she doesn’t want to leave me and I believe her, but only time will tell if she’s actually happy. If I can give her enough. “I’d rather it not be.”

  His brow raises as he leans back in his seat, the leather groaning. “It seems... expensive.”

  I shrug, not knowing what to say.

  “How do the contracts work?” Charles asks.

  “It’s just a month,” I explain, and my voice is flat. “After that, I’m keeping her.”

  “Paying?” he asks, resting his ankle on his knee and tapping his foot.

  “No.” I’m harsh with my answer, narrowing my eyes. He raises his hands defensively. “She’s not a whore,” I say and I practically spit the words. Is it too much to think she’d want me without my money? I don’t entertain the thought. I refuse to think she’d leave me. She’s not in it for the money. She’ll stay when the contract is over. I’ll make sure of it. Whatever she desires, I’ll give it to her. I’ll spend every cent of my wealth on her to keep her happy.

  “I’m just asking out of curiosity.”

  I’m about to tell him to mind his own business when he adds, “They're an interesting thing, the auctions.”

  I glance at the screen on the computer as he talks. The living room is empty, the house quiet and cold without her in it.

  “I imagine a woman would put herself up for auction… if she knew about it.”

  I check the cameras to the house again, but Arianna’s not home yet. She knows to be home when I get back. My only request is that she greet me when I get home. If I had it my way, she’d never leave, but I’m not so selfish to think that’s possible.
/>   “Your sweetheart isn’t home yet?” Charles asks me, and there’s a slight mocking tone in his voice. I just give him a sharp look and don't say anything.

  “It’s different, seeing you like this,” he says.

  “Like what?” Weak. I’ve never felt as though Charles was an enemy, but his tone makes me question.

  His answer surprises me. “Like you give a fuck.”

  I stare at him, searching his face for his intentions, but I don’t have to guess.

  “I’m jealous,” Charles admits and then looks away, staring past me and out to the window behind me. The dark night of the city sky playing shadows across his face.

  “Jealous?” I ask him, a smile creeping onto my lips.

  “Not jealous of your face,” Charles answers with a smirk. I huff a laugh and lean back in my seat.

  “It’s good to see you happy,” Charles says with a lowered voice. I meet his eyes and I know with everything in me he’s being genuine.

  I prefer not to let the emotions dictate my response. I shake them off, leaning back in my seat and resting my chin in my hand. “I’ll be happy when Brooks is out of the picture.”

  “Changing the subject,” Charles says, the grin fading from his lips. It’s quiet a moment until he answers, “Soon.”

  “When is it happening?” I ask him as I pick up the slate block, and the edges seem sharper to me than they ever have before.

  Charles shrugs, “It all depends on what you’d like.” He takes out his phone, tapping the screen and bringing up Brooks’ information. “He’s predictable. If you’d like it to look natural, that can be arranged. I suppose it just depends on when and where.”

  I nod my head once, debating on what to respond, but Charles interrupts me, “We have a problem.”

  There’s an urgency in his voice that makes me sit up straighter. I wait for him to continue as he watches the phone, his body stiff.

  “Where’s Arianna?” he asks me.

  “She should be at my place s-”

  “He was at her place. He changed his routine. He went to her house.”

  My hands grip the edge of the desk. “He’s on Fourth Street?” There’s only one reason that Brooks would go there. I take out my own phone and message Arianna to text me back and stare at the screen. Willing her to text me, but nothing comes.

  I can’t wait. “When was he there?” I ask Charles, my voice fighting to hold back the panic I feel. She’s been gone for hours. My thumb taps across my phone and I call her. The phone rings and rings, but there’s no answer. Everything in me stills, he’s gotten to her.

  Charles nods his head as he taps on the screen of his phone. “Three hours ago.” I hang up the phone and realize that’s right when she left. He was watching her. I call her again. Ring. Ring. Ring.

  “Where is he now?” I ask him as my ice-cold blood slowly pumps through my veins.

  “His place.”

  “On Andrews?” I confirm, already grabbing my keys off the desk and leaving for the door.

  “Yeah,” Charles says as he grabs his coat and comes up behind me.

  “He has her. I know it.”

  Charles nods his head, throwing on his coat as I open the door.

  “You’re coming?” I ask him.

  He nods his head once, the mask of indifference on his face morphing as he smiles at me. “I can’t let you have all the fun.” His humor does nothing to ease me. Right now nothing will make me feel as though I haven’t already lost her.

  “We’ll get her back, Zander,” he tells me as he places a hand on my shoulder.

  I don’t answer him. The door closes behind us as I stalk to the elevator with purposeful strides. I’m not letting him take her. I’ll kill him first.

  Chapter 28

  Arianna

  Whoosh!

  The sound of the whip sings through the air before lashing against my bare back. Crack!

  A strangled scream rips from my throat, echoing in the hollow basement as blazing pain shoots up and down my flesh. I weakly struggle against my binds, sweat beading my brow. I’m suspended, naked, held up by chains hanging from the ceiling.

  It’s useless to fight. My head lolls to the side as my aching body screams at me to do something, yet I’m too weak. I never had a chance. I woke up in this position, and every ounce of my body is sore from fighting.

  Despair consumes me.

  The only thing I feel is pain.

  I scream and scream again until my voice is raw and cracking, shaking against my binds, my back on fire. After several agonizing moments, my head drops forward and I hang limp against my bindings, my limbs trembling as a cold sweat breaks out all over my body. I don’t know if he’s going to hit me again, but I don’t even know if I’ll even feel it, my vision blackening around the edges.

  “I gave you everything,” Danny says behind me, his boots thudding against the cement floor as he paces behind me, his voice filled with utter contempt.

  My eyelids open at the sound of his voice. He hasn’t spoken since I woke up. My voice is sore from screaming, from begging and pleading. I can feel the cool air blowing over the open lashes and it stings with a pain that’s indescribable, but even that isn’t enough to scream over. The only movements, the only sounds I have the energy for are those that are instinctual. And even then, it’s dulled by exhaustion.

  I lick my dry, cracked lips. “Danny... please,” my voice croaks as I cry weakly, tears streaming down my hot face. “You don’t have to do this.” I think I say the words, but my eyes are so heavy, my body so weak and the pain so unbearable, I’m not certain of anything.

  “He wants to keep you?” Danny asks angrily.

  I swallow back the lump of fear in my throat as I try to think of a response. I clench my sweaty hands, my fingers brushing against the rough metal and the raw cuts at the sharp cuffs shoot a pain down my arms that makes me wince.

  “And you want him too, don’t you?” Danny’s words are just a whisper. His voice is eerily calm. I try to pick my head up, my throat too dry to answer.

  I hear him drop the whip. My heart slams in my chest, and my body stiffens. I think that’s what I heard. Please God, please. I can’t take any more.

  “Well he can have you back,” Danny whispers next to my ear. His breath feels so cold. Everything feels so cold. “As soon as I’m done with you,” Danny says as he wraps my hair around his wrist and pulls my head back too sharply, a scream tears through me as my neck is ripped to the side.

  The moment he lets go, I hear him pick the whip back up and somehow, I’m able to cry again. Not that it will do me any good. I can’t save myself. I’m powerless and pathetic.

  Dread presses down on my chest as his whip sings through the air and I cringe. Whoosh! Crack!

  Whoosh!

  Crack!

  Whoosh!

  Crack!

  My mouth opens wide in agony, saliva dripping from my lips, but I have no voice left to scream with. I buck, shudder, and strain against my bindings, my back feeling like it’s being flayed to the bone.

  With each painful lash, the room spins around me, my breathing becoming shallow, ragged.

  My heart is becoming sluggishly slow.

  When the darkness finally claims me, I’m incredibly grateful. I only pray it will swallow me whole.

  Chapter 29

  Zander

  If the cops had seen-” He won’t fucking let it go. I spend the whole way here. He’s had her for nearly four hours. Four fucking hours.

  “Enough,” I snap at Charles. He won’t shut the fuck up. I get out of my car which I've parked a block down from Brooks’ house and slam the door.

  “You need to be quiet,” Charles says and grabs me, gripping my shoulder and slamming me against the car.

  All I can see is red.

  I push against him, but he pushes me back.

  “He has her!” I scream at him, but he doesn’t relent, slamming my head into the car and pushing his face against mine.

&
nbsp; “Calm the fuck down,” he says through clenched teeth. I wish he hadn’t come with me.

  I use all of my weight and push him off of me. He stumbles backward and nearly falls on his ass.

  “He’s going to see you coming.”

  “Let him!” I scream, my voice hoarse and my skin so fucking hot I can barely stand it. I just need her back. I turn from him and take quick strides, my eyes focused on the house at the end of the barren street.

  “He could kill her,” Charles calls out to me, and it’s only then that I pause. My heart freezes in my chest. No. I clench my teeth and move my hand to the gun at my waistband. I hear Charles’ footsteps walk up behind me slowly, with determined steps. “If you barge in, he could kill her.”

  I’m silent as I stand there, feeling a wave of nausea threatening to come up.

  “We both know he didn’t take her for a chat.”

  “Stop it,” I tell him with my eyes closed. All I can see is her face, her smile. I can practically hear her laugh.

  “You need to listen to me. You need to restrain yourself.”

  My hands ball into fists and my blunt nails dig into the fleshy part of my palm. “Just go then. Lead the way, but no more waiting. I need her.”

  Charles slaps a hand on my back, and it’s hard and firm. He moves ahead of me and I lift my eyes to watch his back as he moves off the sidewalk and hides in the shadows of the trees along the large estates.

  He looks over his shoulder and I’m quick to move, my heart pounding so hard it’s the only thing I can hear.

  Thud. Thud. Thud. Each beat is another second she’s in there with him.

  I can’t hear a damn thing, a loud ringing in my ears is the only thing I can focus on as Charles leads me through the scattered trees to the side of Brooks’ house.