Chapter 21
SABLE
The loft apartment wasn't what I was expecting. The fittings and fixtures were industrial, the counter in the kitchen stainless steel. A huge, black fridge dominated a corner. The floors were polished concrete.
But the furniture? It all looked like it was bought for somewhere else. Soft grays, blue here and there. On one wall, a panoramic photo of Vancouver Harbor was hung. The city looked out toward a snow-capped Mt. Grouse, sun glinting off the water.
I wished I was there right now. I wished I was anywhere but here, standing with a matched set of goons to either side of me.
A couple of other men stood near the window with a woman I recognized from the auction.
She glanced at me with mild disinterest.
I gave her the same in return. Didn't she realize she'd be the one the men would turn on first? Or turn in if the police came sniffing? We weren't so high off the street that they couldn't throw her under the first bus.
One of the men turned to me and gave me an appraising, appreciative look. "The guest of honor is here."
"I didn't realize we were having a party," I said, my tone flat, not festive. "Shouldn't you be hiding behind the furniture?"
He laughed a little too loud, considering how lame my joke was. "She's too adorable."
I gave him a smirk worthy of Woody before he turned away, back to his conversation.
"What do we do now?" I asked out of the side of my mouth, addressing the question to Conrad. He seemed the most likely to respond without a sarcastic or salacious comment.
"We wait," he said.
I was right, that was neither sarcastic nor salacious, but it wasn't very helpful either.
"Wait for what?" After a moment, I realized my mistake and corrected myself. "Wait for who?" I gestured towards a couch near the window. "Can I sit?"
It would be a nice place to lie back and read. Much less pleasant to sit and wait for what I knew was coming next.
"You should stay standing," Silas said. He leaned over and whispered in my ear, "Unless you want to kneel."
There it was, the salacious comment I was anticipating.
"The floor looks a little hard for kneeling," I said.
"Looks perfect to me," he replied. He scuffed his shoe on the floor.
"Go ahead," I offered. "If you want to kneel, don't let me stop you." If he thought I was kneeling for him, he'd have to think again. I suspected Conrad would stop that before it began. Or one of the other men. Again with the whole damaging the merchandise thing.
Not surprisingly, Silas didn't kneel. Instead, he stepped away a couple of feet, where he could keep an eye on me. As if somehow he thought I'd try something if he wasn't watching more closely.
Of course, if he didn't know if I was going to try something, I would have shot him already a few times over.
I gave him a smirk too.
With a click, the door opened behind us, letting in several more men. Men I knew. Some better than others.
Noah and Urban stepped in first, their faces matching brick walls. Expressions guarded, not giving me anything. Least of all what they felt, which I hoped like hell was that they were on my side.
I liked them, I'd hate to have to shoot them. Yeah, I know, I was wildly outnumbered by now. Still, if the opportunity arose and I had to do it, I would.
Behind them, my father walked. No surprise there either, but it hurt to see him. Was he really going to go ahead with this?
Judging by the calculating expression on his face, yes. Yes, he was.
Beside him walked another man of the same age, his hair grey around the temples, blue eyes watching everything and everyone.
Gregor Quinn, asshole extraordinaire. Right now he looked benign, as if he was here for a pleasant cocktail party with friends. Of course, that facade was his daily mask. Pleasant public servant on the outside. Predator on the inside. The things he must have gotten away with in the past…
What would happen if I shot him right now?
Before my hand went anywhere near the gun, I reminded myself of the three men I loved. If I killed Gregor Quinn, my father would make sure I watched them suffer before he had them killed.
If I thought it was only me he'd kill, I'd do it to save the world from one more person like him, but it wasn't only me. My guys were doing good in the world. Being good in the world. Woody would scoff at the suggestion, but the world needed them.
If they saved one more person because I made sure they got to live, then it'd be worth whatever I was going to go through.
What is it they say about the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the one? Yeah, that.
"There's your lovely daughter," Quinn said, his eyes raking over me, as if he was appraising a Picasso.
I only have two breasts, I thought. Did that mean I wasn't as valuable as a Picasso? Whatever, it was easier to buy bras.
"Yes, this is Sable," Dad said. "She has her mother's looks and temperament."
I thought he was trying to be complimentary, but considering my mother's temperament, I couldn't help being a little offended. In the grand scheme of things it was a small slight, worthy of a silent, 'Fuck you too.'
"And her mother's legs. I bet she screams beautifully," Quinn said.
Honestly, some small part of me expected my father to be disgusted. I saw none of that on his face. This was nothing to him but a payday.
Also? I didn't want to think about how Quinn seemed so familiar with my mother's legs.
"Getting ahead of yourself, aren't you, Gregor?" one of the other men called out. "You haven't won her yet."
In the corner of my eye, I caught the twist of Noah's lips. I forced myself not to look straight at him, suspecting if I did, I'd give him away. It was enough for me to know he was on my side. Sympathetic at least.
Both of us—all of us, if Urban was on my side too—had to play it cool. I didn't bother to look at Urban; I'd never read his expression. Nor would I assume. Noah might be the only one I could trust.
Then what? I didn't know, but it was heartening to know at least one person in this room cared about me. Even if his hands were completely tied, I knew he was in my corner. He might need to keep his cover for the greater good.
I was starting to think bitter thoughts about the greater fucking good. Yeah, okay, I was only human. I was allowed to have a moment of selfishness. In the end, though, it was good he was here. At some point, Noah might explain to the guys what happened to me.
Or maybe not, because then they wouldn't forget about me and move on. Chances were they'd come after me and risk getting themselves killed anyway.
All of them, they'd take that risk without blinking.
I had to trust Noah would do the right thing.
"Ah, but I will win her, Aaron," Quinn said, unflinching. Unwavering. Absolutely certain I'd be his at the end of the day.
Aaron chuckled. "I guess we'll see about that, won't we?"
"It's good to see some healthy competition," my father said, as if they were about to thumb wrestle or play a game of checkers.
"Gotta drive that price up." The smile I gave him was venomous. He might have a point about me sharing my mother's temperament after all.
"It's not personal, Sable," he said.
I blinked at him a couple of times. If it wasn't personal, then what the fuck was it? I don't know, but selling me off to the highest bidder seemed pretty fucking personal to me. If it wasn't, then what was it?
I remembered a moment later. Of course, to him it was business, taking care of a problem. Making it go away, making me go away. It was personal to me, but not to him.
I wanted to make him go away. My fingers twitched to grab out the gun and use it. If he was dead, he couldn't have my guys killed, right?
That wouldn't stop Gregor Quinn from taking me. He might share me with Aaron.
Hard pass.
I bit my lip to keep myself from looking in Noah's direction.Was Noah lying when he said he was working with Forrest? Was he playing both sides, or he just playing us?
I'd been alone before, but I'd never been so lonely, so vulnerable. I might as well be naked in front of all of them.
The woman clapped her hands together. "Now, now, gentlemen. Shall we start the bidding?"
I gave her a venomous look too. Could we start with her?
I shook my head slightly. In spite of everything, I wouldn't do that to another woman, not even one who took part in this. What was her role in all of it anyway? I don't suppose it mattered too much. She was complicit either way. I still wouldn't offer her up for sale. If I did, I'd be a hypocrite.
On the other hand, if she wanted to offer herself, who was I to argue? It didn't seem like that was going to happen, though.
"Thank you for hosting this evening, Imogen," Dad said smoothly.
"Always happy to help, Benjamin," she said, giving him a smile like they knew each other better than I wanted to think about.
I wasn't naive enough to assume my father was faithful to my mother, or vice versa, but this was like watching two snakes courting. No offense to snakes, they were beautiful animals, but that was the vibe I was getting here. Slithery, and if anyone turn their backs, they might get bitten.
"I see we have our esteemed auctioneer here," Quinn said, nodding toward Noah. "Glad you could make it at the last minute." The fact he recognized him without a mask on spoke volumes about how deep Noah and Urban got within their organization.
Now I looked over to the youngest Cross brother, scared of what I'd see there.
He grinned. "I had nothing else on tonight. Urban and I were happy to help out. Right, Urban?"
"Yeah," was all Urban said. He also looked like he'd rather be anywhere but here. For him though, it was more boredom than it was cold terror, or the anticipation of what was to come.
"And we have the celebrant. Thank you for coming, Robert." The last man in the room nodded.
Celebrant?
The pieces fell into place in a very ugly puzzle. My father wasn't just going to auction me off; he was going to force me to marry whoever won. Aaron or Quinn. Both the same age as my father. Both with hungry gazes on me.
Whoever won me intended to consummate the relationship, with or without my consent, before the end of the night.
For the record, they absolutely did not have my consent.
"Let's get on with this, shall we?" Imogen said. "I'm sure you boys are very eager to begin."
"By all means." Quinn moved over to the kitchen to pour himself a drink from a decanter on the counter. After a moment, my father and Aaron moved over to do the same.
"Who wants to start the bidding?" Dad asked.
Before anyone could say another word, the door opened again.
"Starting without us?" Forrest strode in, followed by Woody and Leif.