Page 181 of Risks of Temptation

Roger steps in front of the woman. He says something near her ear, and she shudders. He turns, his arrogant expression makes my stomach twist.

Malin's hand covers mine, and gratitude fills me. I feel guilty about it. My heart is breaking for the woman under the bag. I could have been her, waiting to have it lifted to see who bought me, instead of knowing Malin would be there. As much as I was scared while waiting under the bag, I always wanted Malin and had trust he would take care of me, even knowing he would eventually break me.

Roger turns to the crowd and proclaims, "This woman is mine. I own her. She will submit to me and forever be my property."

The room erupts in cheers.

He points to Malin and me. "And I will win his property tonight."

Malin freezes.

I dig my nails into his thigh.

The President comes onstage. "This event will happen in private. We will return after, when my son is in possession of both women."

My stomach flips. What is he talking about?

I nervously glance at Malin. He tugs me closer and red rage fills his face. He glares at Gustave and quietly growls, "What have you done?"

Gustave ignores him.

The woman behind the President clasps her hands tightly together, but even through the dim light I can see them shaking. The black silk dress she wears clings to her body. Her matching stilettos are six inches high and she wobbles on them.

"Let's go," Gustave says. Bernadette is next to him.

Malin looks up and scowls. "I will put a bullet in your head for this."

Gustave leans down and slowly says each word. "Play. Your. Role."

Malin angrily shakes his head but moves me onto my feet and wraps my leash around his hand. He guides me through the room. Roger leads the woman with the black bag on her head. The President is on the other side of her. Gustave and Bernadette are behind us.

The click of heels on the wooden floor is the only sound during the entire walk to the President's suite. I shudder, and Malin pulls me closer, kisses my head, and murmurs in my ear, "We need to get out of this, ma belle."

I nod, but I'm not sure how. I want to help end this invisible war, but I don't want to take the chance of Malin losing me. Gustave didn't say anything about giving the President and his son a chance to win me.

We step into the elevator. Malin pulls me so I'm flush to his body. The woman with the bag over her head stands next to me, shaking. There's a sense of familiarity about her, but I don't know why.

Probably because I reacted the same way she is.

But I was being led to Malin. She doesn't know who she's getting.

My stomach flips faster.

You may end up with her fate tonight.

The elevator dings and she jumps. The door opens into the penthouse suite. Everything is similar to our apartment in decor, but it's larger. And the President's eyes are painted on the entire wall across from the elevator, glaring at us the minute we walk in.

They lead us into the main room. The President takes his finger and drags it from the woman's mouth, and down the front of her body, then lifts her dress, and cups her naked sex.

Tears seep through the black silk, and she shakes.

He gets near her face. "My son and I will have you at the same time later tonight. How does it feel to be owned by the most powerful men in the world?"

Malin holds me tighter. Bernadette shifts next to Gustave.

Roger steps forward. He rolls the bag past the woman's mouth and over half her nose. Her face is wet. Something about her heart-shaped lips and high cheekbones looks familiar, but I can't place it.

"Say Happy Birthday to my son," the President orders.