Chapter 52
EMRIS
This whole event is making me fucking sick. There are hundreds of people. A mix of men and women alike. It’s a black-tie event, so of course all the rich fucks here are dressed in designer clothing, and perfect black, red, and white masquerade masks cover their faces to help hide their identity.
There’s a single stage in the middle of the room, surrounded by many cubicles.
Jasper tried to explain what it was like, but this wasn’t what I expected.
Not at all. If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume this was something like a charity gala.
Archer hosts a few of those at the hotel occasionally, and this is similar.
Aside from the smell of musk and a faint smell of mildew, it all looks the same.
People walk around with champagne glasses in their hands and talk about the latest gossip.
That’s until Peter’s voice filters through the speakers, announcing that the bidding will start soon.
With how things played out earlier during his ‘celebration,’ it made him not trust me.
I’m not sure where he thought he could in the first place, but I know it was just a mind game for him.
He knew I wouldn’t bend and break unless it was because of Brielle, and I was okay with playing the part if it helped get us out of here, but what he did earlier was my tipping point, and he knows he can’t trust me now.
Which leads me to where I am—Peter has me in one of the cubicles with Troy.
I’m not allowed to leave this spot. Apparently Peter wanted me to get a front-row seat for when Brielle gets brought out on stage.
My heart squeezes in my chest when I think about failing and not being able to rescue her, but I’m not giving up.
Over the past week, Jasper and I have tried to come up with a plan that might work. He has someone he wants to get out of here, like I do, and me showing up here was the motivation he needed.
Peter has dangled the woman Jasper loves in front of his face a lot longer than he has dangled me and Brielle.
He knew there wasn’t anything he could do because he’d already done it.
He’s been here for many, many years, and everything he’s been forced to do has been engraved in his head to be natural.
He knows nothing about the outside world, but that’s going to change after tonight.
Jasper went over how the auction works with me when we were helping set up.
There are two buttons in each cubicle. One button keeps your bid going up.
After each round, you can either advance to the next number, or you can press the red button that says End, and that’s that.
Two people are only allowed in a cubicle at one time, waiting until the next round of bidding begins.
The person at the end of the bid with the highest amount is the one who gets the woman.
I lean against the wall of the cubicle, my nails digging into my palms as I wait to see if Brielle is the first to walk out.
Jasper is in place for our plan, but I’m not sure if this is a good idea or a bad one.
All I know is that we both know the risks.
We both know that we either succeed or we die trying.
The first girl to come out is a tall blonde who looks completely dazed out of her mind.
She stands in the middle of the stage with two guards next to her, her eyes wide.
She struggles to stand still, swaying to each side as time passes.
The sound of the buttons goes off as Peter lists things about the woman to the crowd.
It takes about ten minutes before a sound goes off and the highest bidder’s number is announced. Clapping and shouting come from the cubicle next to me, and I know my nails have fully cut into my palms, but I can’t find it in me to stop.
The next girl comes out, and my heart beats wildly until I know it’s not Brielle.
I can’t stand here and watch as each girl gets sold, waiting to see the love of my life walk out next.
It’s making me feel murderous, and the first guy I want to kill will be Troy.
I glance over at him, my eyes narrowed as he watches the crowd, a bored expression on his face.
“Not enjoying your time?” I ask, wanting to see if he’ll slip up and tell me something.
He sends me a glare before looking back at the stage. “Nope. Just waiting for my turn to bid on the only woman I want.”
I bite my tongue so hard I can taste the blood.
“You do know she’ll never love you, right? You can spend millions on her, and she still won’t love you,” I say, knowing it’s going to get under his skin.
He scoffs before turning around and crowding me, but I make sure to keep my emotions in check.
“She’ll love me. Just wait. She thinks you’re dead, and once I buy her, I’ll be the one to comfort her. To use and abuse her and then make her think I’m sorry. I’ll play all my fun mind games on her until I’m all she can think of.”
I try to keep the shock off my face at his comment. They told her I was dead? She’s been suffering with all of this and thinking I’m dead?
My hand moves before I can think as it wraps around Troy’s neck. His eyes grow wide as he scratches at my arms. My hand tightens, and his face starts turning bright red. Before anything else can happen, his eyes roll to the back of his head, his body slumps, and I drop him.
That’s when I notice him standing behind where Troy just was, a needle in his hand and a wide grin on his face.
Killian steps over Troy’s body and looks back up at me. “Oops?” He shrugs. My chest deflates as relief floods me.
“I’ve never been happier to see you than I am now. How the hell did you find us?”
Killian’s hand grips my shoulder, and I know he can read me more than what I’m giving off.
I know I look like shit because I feel like shit.
“I’m sorry it took us so long. There were a few obstacles in our way.
After your pocket call the day you guys got taken, it gave us just enough information to point us in the right direction. ”
I nod. “Where’s Archer?” I ask, watching as the next girl comes out before averting my gaze again when I know it’s not Brielle.
“He’s getting out as many of the girls as he can without being detected. We have the place surrounded. Peter won’t know what hit him.” He smirks, but I can’t find it in me to find any kind of joy in this. “There’s a black SUV parked off to the side waiting for you.”
I manage to nod as the buzzer goes off again and the next girl is sold.
My stomach drops when I see a wave of brown hair on the stage next. There are no tears. No emotion. Nothing is coming from Brielle. They have her in some skimpy ass outfit, which shows off the not-even-healed brand on her side. She’s empty in every way that matters.
“The star of the show, ladies and gentlemen!” Peter says over the speaker. All the buttons buzz as people start their bidding, and I can’t take it. I don’t care if I die in the process.
Killian must read my mind because he hands me a loaded gun, and I step up to the front of the cubicle, aiming the gun directly at Peter.
His eyes lock on mine before they grow wide, but before I’m able to get a clear shot, he grabs Susie, who was sitting next to him, and shields himself with her body.
All the guards spring into action, and I aim.
Even if I don’t kill him right now, at least the stupid bitch will be dead.
A bullet zooms across the room and right into her skull.
She slumps on Peter, and he drops her to the ground before dodging his way through the people around him.
I fire another round, and it goes right into him. His steps falter, but he doesn’t stop. I’m hoping that was enough to make him bleed out and drop dead, but I can’t worry about him right now—I need to find Brielle.
Fuck. My eyes track over the stage until I see her being dragged off the stage, and I don’t think twice as I take off running. I know Killian will find Peter. All their men pile in as more guns go off, but my only thought is getting to her.
No one tries to stop me as I race across the room.
Brielle is behind the stage with two other girls who look as terrified as she does.
A few guards have them backed into a corner, and I bring my gun up and fire a round into the back of their heads.
Body after body drops to the ground. Two girls run off, barely managing to step over the dead men on the ground, but Brielle doesn’t move.
Her eyes are blown wide as she stares at me. Every time a loud noise booms, she flinches again and again while I close the distance between us. Her whole body is shaking. She doesn’t even blink as she watches me step closer, like if she does, I’ll disappear. Tears fill her eyes, and she hiccups.
“I thought—I... they told me you were dead.” The tears fall free and I pull her into my chest as she sobs.
“I’m here, baby. I’m right here,” I whisper in her ear, hoping it’ll help calm her down. We can’t stay here, though.
“We have to go,” I tell her as I pull back, my hands cradling her cheeks.
“Fuck, Brielle,” I murmur, bringing our lips together.
I can taste the salt from her tears, and I want nothing more than to spend however long with my lips pressed to hers, but I have to get her out of here safely. “Let’s go.”
I grab her hand, and we make our way through the crowd of people rushing outside.
Thankfully, I blend in for the most part, but Brielle does not.
I take my suit jacket off and wrap it around her in hopes it’ll help keep her warm as I scoop her up in my arms, pushing through the doors and step outside.
I see Jasper shoot some guy who had a girl in his arms, and I thank God I found him before we left.
“Jasper!” I shout, but he doesn’t hear me. “Fuck,” I mumble under my breath.
I leave him there and round the building, finding the car Killian told me about. Archer, thankfully, is already back and races toward us when he sees me.
“Oh, thank fuck,” he says, opening the back door for us. Brielle is still feeling whatever effects from the drugs, and I set her in the SUV carefully.
“Brielle, look at me, baby.”
She doesn’t respond at first. Her body is slack against the seat, lashes fluttering like they’re too heavy to lift, and fear tightens in my chest.
I cradle her face, my thumb brushing the dirt and dried tears from her cheek. “I’ll be right back, okay?”
Her eyes find mine, and the panic hits instantly. She jerks forward, fingers clawing at me like I’m already gone.
“No! No!” Her voice cracks. “Don’t leave me, Emris.”
Her chest rises and falls, breathing coming in too fast and shallow. Her grip locks around my hand like it’s the only thing anchoring her to the world.
Fuck.
“Listen to me, baby,” I choke out, my voice cracking.
“I have to get Jasper, okay? I can’t leave him here…
not like this.” My hands grip hers so tight I’m sure she can feel my pulse hammering against her skin.
If she tells me not to leave again, I won’t be able to, but instead, she nods, a tear leaking down her cheek.
“Archer will stay with you, okay?” I whisper as I brush my lips against hers before she can answer. “And I’ll be right back. I promise.”
Archer is already kneeling beside her when he nods at me. Her eyes flutter closed as she leans her head against the seat. My chest aches at the sight, and it takes everything in me to step back.
Outside the SUV, men circle it, making sure to keep Brielle safe as Archer grips her hand, trying to comfort her. I exhale sharply, trying to slow down the panic clawing at my ribs. Now I need to find Jasper.
I don’t want to be away from Brielle a second longer than I have to.