Page 96 of Maxim

My siblings.

I frown. I feel like shit for letting myself get so caught up in Maxim that I’m forgetting them. It’s like not having them here has made them an out of sight, out of mind thing. I hate that.

I’ll do better for you,I promise them.

“Of course I am. Now let’s get started on this puzzle from hell,” I say, clearing my throat.

“Hey, Alexei said it will build character.”

I scoff. “Right…and that’s why he said we should do it together and not the two of you.”

A line forms between her eyebrows. “You actually might be onto something.”

“That’s what I thought,” I tease as I open the box.

I was wanting a distraction from Maxim, and it looks like I have it. Let’s just hope the both of us are still alive by the time he comes home.

“Are they ready?” Jan asks.

The madam nods. “Training wise, yes. They will be prepped the day before, like usual.”

“Have you had any issues with any of them?” the mystery business partner asks, speaking in front of me for the first time.

Maybe this is progress.

“Some have been more…spirited than others but I have it under control,” she says confidently.

“That’s what I like to hear,” Jan says.

“The spirited ones are my favorite.” The man with no name turns and whispers to me.

I want to throw up. I’ve been trying to figure out more about this guy, but it’s like he’s a ghost. Not a single person has uttered his name. At least not around me. It’s driving me insane. I need to know who he is so we can find him if he slips away. I refuse to let him live.

“Well, lady and gentlemen, this is going to be our best sale yet.” Jan claps with a pleased look on his face.

“I hope so. We only have the one young one this time,” the guy quickly becoming my number one enemy points out.

They have almost a hundred men and women up for auction, and he’s concerned that there’s only one that is underage? He would die if he knew she was really eighteen. He needs to get the fuck out of here with that.

“Yes, that is disappointing, but we will next time. We can’t kidnap too many kids. It creates panic and shit,” Jan tells him.

The man looks at me. “Why didn’t you grab any more young ones when you did your run?”

“Because I never had the opportunity with the storm and all. Besides, that’s the kind of heat we don’t need right now. Taking a kid and selling her so close to home would be less than smart and we both know it,” I echo what Jan told him.

He opens his mouth to respond, but before he can, Jan cuts in.

“He brought us good product. It’s fine.”

The madam nods. “There’s one male from his last run that has taken to the training beautifully. He will make someone extremely happy.”

Jan’s eyes gleam. “Make sure you give me his name ahead of time. We will start the building on him higher than the others.”

“Yes, sir.”

He looks at his watch. “I have somewhere I need to be. Do any of you have anything before we leave?”

“No, sir,” the madam says.