3. Three
Three
Flame
I grip my glass tighter as the third virgin goes for three million. Ty bid on all of them but backed out at the last second. “This is getting out of hand. How much can we put together if we pool our funds?”
What happens in the Aubergine Affair is supposed to stay in the Aubergine Affair. But some fuckers have no respect for rules. Admittedly, that’s often me. If one person narcs that we won our stepsister in a virgin auction, our bid for promotion will be rejected. The stiffs that we’re replacing have to decide to leave to open up positions for me and my brothers. They’re called stiffs for a reason, and it’s not for their starched shirts.
Ghost’s jaw tightens. “I’ve got access to about a million liquid. You?”
“Half that?” I run a hand through my hair. “Ruckus?”
“I didn’t know I needed to check my portfolio today. Around two.” Ruckus leans forward, eyes locked on Ty’s smug face across the room. “Have you noticed Ty’s pattern?”
“Playing games.” Ghost’s voice carries his signature calm.
Ruckus agrees. “I’m guessing his money’s all tied up in his fancy suit. Running up the bids makes him feel important but he can’t back it.”
The spotlight hits Sabrina and my world stops spinning. She shuffles onto the stage in a dress that shows me a side of her I wasn’t prepared to acknowledge.
I blink several times. It’s her.
The red shimmery fabric clings to every curve as if painted onto her body. I shouldn’t notice, but God help me, I do. Her dark hair cascades past bare shoulders, and her plump red lips look as if she’s applied a fresh coat of gloss. Of course she has.
My chest constricts. Sabrina isn’t just my little stepsister anymore. Sabrina is the focus of everyone in this room… except for Jasmine and the men who bought her. They aren’t wasting any time making good on the auction commitment for satisfying sex.
But that’s the problem. Sabrina will have sex with someone in this room before the night is over.
And to make matters worse, we’re snowed in. I’m always up for a good time, but this is uncharted territory.
“Starting bid at one million dollars.” The auctioneer’s voice cuts through my haze.
Three paddles shoot up instantly. Including Ty’s. I choke on my anger.
“Two million,” a voice calls from the back.
“Two point five.” This from some seriously decent-looking guy—but there’s not a chance in hell I can let him or anyone else win Sabrina.
The numbers climb higher, each bid twisting a knife in my gut. Sabrina’s eyes dart between the bidders, her fingers trailing nervously over her cleavage.
“Four million.” Ty’s smooth voice carries across the room. He raises his paddle with grace. Why doesn’t he back out like he did with the other women?
“Four point five,” Ghost counters, his face carved from stone.
The decent guy drops out. Two other paddles lower.
My throat’s dry as I worry that our combined funds will get crushed under the astronomical bids.
Sabrina’s gaze finds mine, and for a split second, I think she wants us to win. Something primal stirs inside of me—an urge to grab her off the stage and run.
But where to? The blizzard closed the roads.
Ruckus asks, “What do we do if they keep going up?”
Ghost swears, “We’ll protect her one way or another.”
“Six million,” Ty announces, giving us a pointed smirk.
Fuck!
The paddle suddenly weighs my hand down. We’re out of our league, and that bastard acts like he knows it. But watching Sabrina up there, vulnerable yet trying so hard to be brave, I realize I’d sell my soul to keep her safe, but the auction doesn’t accept souls for payment.
I watch Ty alternate between shooting us death glares and an insufferable grin. “You think he knows who we are? About our role in the investigation?”
Ruckus drums his fingers on the table. “The timing’s too perfect. He shows up here, fixates on Sabrina…”
“Right as we close in on linking all of the fires to him.” Ghost’s knuckles whiten.
“He’s toying with us.” The realization hits like a punch to the gut. “Using Sabrina.”
Ruckus’ voice drops lower. “What if this isn’t just about derailing the investigation? What if he wants to get at us personally?”
“She’s just collateral damage to him.” The words taste bitter.
“The rest of my funds will take days to liquidate.” Ghost shakes his head. “We have to face the possibility we won’t win her.”
“Then we better figure something out fast.” I look up to meet my brothers’ worried gazes. “Because that bastard’s not getting anywhere near our sister.”