Page 140 of Forgive Me Father

“Keep your head up, Roman. The night has barely begun,” Echo whispers. “Now, I’m going to socialize. Try not to kill anyone.”

He breaks off, finding himself in conversation with a nearby group.

Fat fucking chance I do that—

“Roman,” A voice cuts through the din.

I peer through the crowd and spot his golden eyes—Luca.

He strides over, looking smug, dismissing the man and woman trailing behind him.

“What the fuck are you doing here—”

“I could ask you the same thing, Father. If you’ve come for Eden, I’m sorry to say she won’t be up for bid very long. My parents have saved a great deal for tonight’s event,” He grins.

He fucking knew.

All this time, he knew what was going on.

“That’s why you befriended Eden?” I hiss. “You knew about this bidding—”

“Had you not fucked what was mine, she wouldn’t be in this bidding at all,” He snaps, his rage stoking mine. “I was willing to keep her out of it, but I suppose she needs true discipline from someone who isn’t you,” He smirks, tugging at the necklace around his neck.

I recognize the chain. I step toward him, fists clenched.

“I doubt you want to make a scene here, Roman. We do have guards of our own,” Luca smiles, nodding towards the men in suits watching the crowd.

“I couldn’t allow Eden to go up for her bid wearing this ghastly thing,” Luca says, pulling the chain from beneath his shirt. My gold band hangs from the end.

“Where the hell is my girl?” I demand, fury boiling over.

“An hour ago, she was on the floor, learning a little discipline from me,” He grins, my stomach sinking. “She was so nervous, tight as hell. Perhaps you can still smell her on my fingers,” He hisses, dragging his fingers towards my nose.

Grabbing his hand, I’m two seconds away from shattering his bones.

“You fucking hurt her?” I growl, finally seeing fear in his eyes.

“Maybe if she had taken it instead of screaming, I wouldn’t have had to—”

I drag his hand down, squeezing until something breaks. I cover his mouth, pulling him into a corner away from the guards' wandering eyes. Sobbing, I pull the gun from my waistband, pointing it at his lower stomach.

“I could kill you and your parents before those guards even notice. There’s a silencer on this pistol,” I warn, glaring at him. “Now take me to my girl and those children, or so help me God, I will bring this church to the ground—”

“Roman,” David’s voice cuts in, breaking up Luca and me.

Walking with another member of their little cult, both men are dressed to the nines.

Perfect.

Glaring at Luca, I see he knows better than to speak.

“I didn’t know if you’d make it. The bidding is just about to begin,” David smiles, smug as ever.

“Perfect,” I hiss. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Guided into the main cathedral, I see that most of the altar’s usual decorations have been moved, revealing an unsettling display.

A red satin chair now dominates the altar, with a beautiful young woman standing beside it, holding a sign with bidding prices.