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This tunnel was much larger, grander, and I felt as if I’d walked into some fancy cellar and not an old sewer.There was even Victorian-style, black iron streetlamps lighting the way.It was almost—charming.

At least until we reached the end and walked into an open area.There was a small stage in the middle of the space, surrounded by chairs, and I could see two other tunnels on opposite sides, one wide open, leading somewhere else, and another with a heavy curtain drawn across it.It was partially open, and beyond it, though mostly obscured, I saw cages.They appeared empty from where I was standing.

My mouth went dry and dread churned in my stomach.“Are there others coming?”

“In an hour, everyone will start to arrive.I wanted to bring you here early and show you around.”

I swallowed thickly.“Then why the masks, if we’re here alone?”

“Cameras,” he said.“We’re also here early for the deliveries.”

Poe didn’t want Tarrant to know I was with him.“Of what?”

He tapped the side of his nose.“All will be revealed.You’re one of the reasons tonight could happen, and your skills have ensured these events will continue.”

“Me?”I felt sick to my stomach.

“When Luke fucked up, we found ourselves in serious trouble,” he said, surprising me by sharing.“We have clients that rely on these evenings.Things could have gotten dangerous if you hadn’t stepped up.”

Stepped up?They were holding Luke captive and blackmailing me.Poe was utterly delusional.“What should I expect tonight?”

His chest puffed up.“A very special, exclusive auction that I’m tasked with overseeing.”

An auction.Oh fuck.“That’s a…a big deal,” I said, trying to stroke his ego and keep him calm.He seemed to be getting more excited by the minute—his eyes were bright and he kept clenching and unclenching his fingers.

He nodded, his nostrils flaring.“It is.”His hand shot out, and he grabbed one of my breasts, startling me.The move was odd, awkward, confusing.He breathed in deep, squeezing me almost painfully as he released a shuddering breath.

I didn’t know what to do.I was all alone with this crazed demon.If I pushed him away, I could end up dead, but he was hurting me, his hold bruising.His eyes opened, his excitement increasing as he stared down at me.

“After tonight, I can have you,” he said, and he actually shuddered.“I can keep you.”

What the fuck was he talking about?“Keep me?”

He backed me up until I hit the wall.“Tarrant is…controlling.He likes our undivided attention.”He glanced up at the camera, and I realized he’d turned me so his body hid what he was doing to me.“He has ways of knowing if we’ve…strayed from our path.After tonight, he’ll know that you’re on our side, and things can be different.”

Holy shit.He wasn’t allowed to be with me.Tarrant was a fucking twisted weirdo who controlled everything his people did, down to who they fucked, and thank the goddess for that.Poe had risked a lot kissing me at the fights, and Lars was obviously keeping Poe’s secret.

He squeezed my breast again, like some inexperienced, grabby weirdo, and I barely held back my flinch.

“You’re excited about that, too, aren’t you, Sutton?”

I nodded, swallowing thickly, trying to hide the pain he was causing.“Yes, of course.”

He smiled, looking relieved, then his gaze darkened.“Fuck, I want to sink my teeth into you…” He squeezed me again and sucked in a rough breath.“Right…here.”

His phone rang and he startled, then finally let go of me and held a finger to his lips.

It was hard not to sag in relief.

As Poe listened, his excitement slowly gave way to fury, even as he kept his tone even and controlled.He had to be talking to Tarrant.

Poe ended the call, shoved his phone in his pocket, grabbed my hand, and yanked me along with him back the way we came.

I jogged to keep up.“What’s going on?”

“The auction’s been cancelled.”

“What?Why?”