Page 102

Are you here, Kiera? Give me a sign.

Was my Kitty K still in Texas? In the United States?

Fuck. Stop thinking about the unthinkable.But how could I not?

The past few days had been an indescribable nightmare. The other day, I couldn’t believe I forgot to turn off the car and left it running for hours until I had to get something in the garage. Not knowing if she was safe had driven me insane. I’d never been this lost. The unknown was a fucking monster that fed on my fear. I’d used a lot of energy battling that monster because my love needed me.

Adrenaline had become the hot fuel in my blood, helping me survive the minutes. Pain and suffering took on a new meaning—an unfamiliar edge that cut up my heart.

While Levi ordered our drinks, I ambled around, studying and memorizing the men’s faces. I came to a door with the word Gambling etched across it. Farther down was a door with no label.

Levi came back with my Scotch and said he was going to check out the gambling room. “Want to join me?”

“I’ll pass.”

Levi entered the gambling room with three other men. That was when I realized there weren’t any women at this event. Why? Normally I’d see waitresses at these elite men’s club, but all the waiters and bartenders were men.

From the corner of my eye, I saw red shoes. But whenI turned, the man had disappeared into a crowd. Was this the same man I’d seen outside the boutique?

I headed in his direction, but then a voice came over the speaker. “Good evening, gentlemen. The auction is about to begin. Please take a seat and enjoy the show.”

Auction? Something sharp twisted in my gut. Was the man with the red shoes attending the auction?

Something told me this auction was tonight’s main event. The gambling was just a side entertainment.

I followed the men to the glowing unnamed door.

CHAPTERFORTY-FIVE

KIERA

I sat in a shabby stylist’s chair so a woman could do my hair. She didn’t look happy about it. Olivia sat next to me, talking far too excitedly. Three guards stood on the side, watching us. Four other women had finished with their hairstyle and makeup. In sexy lingerie, they babbled on about nonsense while leaning against the wall. They didn’t act like women in distress at all.

“I’m thirsty,” Olivia said, risingfrom the chair. She tripped on her own feet, falling to the floor.

“You okay?” I asked, wanting to help, but the stylist held me in place.

Bo approached with a paper cup filled with a pink drink. “Stay in your seat. Here’s a pink lemonade for you.”

I was going to tell her not to drink it, but she yanked it from his hand and gulped it down. I’d woken up this afternoon and had no recollection of the previous day. My only vivid memory was the night I’d skipped dinner and the smell of something strange coming from the vents. That had been two days ago.

Had I been asleep all that time? They must have spiked the food, drink, and air.

“Oww.” I winced when the stylist tugged my hair with the curling iron.

“Sorry.” She released my lock of hair into a bouncy curl.

Were these stylists also forced to work here? I didn’t dare ask because Bo and his men had eyes on us. My body felt weak, and I didn’t think that I could run if I saw an escape route.

When my hair and makeup were completed, they gave me a black lacy lingerie set to wear. The bra barely covered my breasts, and my underwear was a small patch. The see-through robe did nothing but make it more sensual.

“I’m not wearing that,” I told the woman standing at the clothing rack.

Bo interjected, “You will wear it or I will hold you down and dress you. Then I’ll let my men take their time undressing you. Your choice.”

I fumed, waiting for the right moment to stab him with something.

After I got dressed, I stood next to Olivia, who appeared mellower. She glanced at me, touching my robe. “You look nice,” she slurred.