foyer.
You okay?
Oh, God, had he hurt her?
How’d I do?
So you are okay.
He swore he heard her snort inside his head.
Did the bastard buy it?
Yeah, he bought it.
He glanced at her, meeting her gaze for a fleeting moment.
You’re doing great.
An odd blush covered her cheeks. He wished like hell circumstances had been different, because he really liked this woman.
But this thought stopped him up short. What circumstances? Angelica was human, and—except for the extremely rare mating between the species, involving love, marriage, and offspring—vampires didn’t date humans.
Beyond that, his background made him about the worst sort of man she should ever get tangled up with.
Moving Angelica into the house proper, he heard her swift intake of breath and watched her eyes skate to the tall ceiling. Massive crystal chandeliers illuminated the space, more for effect than necessity. Vampires could easily see in the dark.
Too bad this was all built on slave blood because it’s a beautiful home.
Yes it is and you’re right, Angelica. This dwelling is a travesty.
As he led her to the top of a large descending staircase, applause began to build through the gathered partygoers below.
Is this because of the auction?
Of course. Again, you’re the star.
I think I’m going to be sick.
Just keep your eyes lowered and stay one step behind me.
No problem.
Reyes knew how to square his shoulders and give a show. His captor, Sweet Dove, had trained him well in a number of different ways, and one of them was the importance of holding an attitude. Most of the women watched him, lusting, as did some of the men.
All around the audience, the slaves were apparent in their usual revealing garb, like Angelica’s, sporting sheer fabrics, chains, and leather. Lots of sequins. A few feathers.
The female slaves, most with naked breasts, often had rows of dots tattooed around their nipples that in turn were stained varying shades of burgundy. Many of the male slaves were also naked and kept in a state of arousal, usually through a variety of drugs.
The room was jammed, some attendees standing around and drinking, others seated in several love seats. Many of the new slaves sat beside their owners, cut up and beaten, eyes glazed.
Reyes repressed the deep disgust that threatened to rise like bile up his throat. There would be time later to punish each and every slaver. For now, he needed to stay focused on doing all that he could to discover the man in charge and take him down.
Scorpion had kept his identity secret from the time Starlin came into existence. Once Reyes found out who the man was, he could begin the process of working his way into his inner circle. Beyond Scorpion’s identity, he needed the documents that detailed every aspect of how the organization worked. After that, he’d know exactly how to destroy Starlin from within, step by step.
As he moved through the room, attention became increasingly focused on Angelica.
When he’d told her earlier that he hated the idea of other men looking at her, he meant it. Some caveman part of him had already laid claim to her, so to have other men openly lusting after her scraped at his nerves.
Angelica’s voice pierced his thoughts.
Calm down. I can feel your agitation like it’s rubbing against my skin.
It shows?
Well, that fist you’re making is at least one clue.
He relaxed his hand and stretched out his fingers.
That’s better.
For the next hour, he greeted most of the members by name, essentially working the room. What wasn’t lost to him was the goodwill that flowed in his direction. He realized that a lot of slavers here liked what he’d done by winning the bid, beating out Engles.
By the time he’d made a circuit of the large, ballroom-like space, Engles waited once more back at the top of the stairs. He gestured for Reyes to join him.
Engles wants us.
Got it.
Once Reyes was standing beside Engles—with Angelica on his other side, though as always
You okay?
Oh, God, had he hurt her?
How’d I do?
So you are okay.
He swore he heard her snort inside his head.
Did the bastard buy it?
Yeah, he bought it.
He glanced at her, meeting her gaze for a fleeting moment.
You’re doing great.
An odd blush covered her cheeks. He wished like hell circumstances had been different, because he really liked this woman.
But this thought stopped him up short. What circumstances? Angelica was human, and—except for the extremely rare mating between the species, involving love, marriage, and offspring—vampires didn’t date humans.
Beyond that, his background made him about the worst sort of man she should ever get tangled up with.
Moving Angelica into the house proper, he heard her swift intake of breath and watched her eyes skate to the tall ceiling. Massive crystal chandeliers illuminated the space, more for effect than necessity. Vampires could easily see in the dark.
Too bad this was all built on slave blood because it’s a beautiful home.
Yes it is and you’re right, Angelica. This dwelling is a travesty.
As he led her to the top of a large descending staircase, applause began to build through the gathered partygoers below.
Is this because of the auction?
Of course. Again, you’re the star.
I think I’m going to be sick.
Just keep your eyes lowered and stay one step behind me.
No problem.
Reyes knew how to square his shoulders and give a show. His captor, Sweet Dove, had trained him well in a number of different ways, and one of them was the importance of holding an attitude. Most of the women watched him, lusting, as did some of the men.
All around the audience, the slaves were apparent in their usual revealing garb, like Angelica’s, sporting sheer fabrics, chains, and leather. Lots of sequins. A few feathers.
The female slaves, most with naked breasts, often had rows of dots tattooed around their nipples that in turn were stained varying shades of burgundy. Many of the male slaves were also naked and kept in a state of arousal, usually through a variety of drugs.
The room was jammed, some attendees standing around and drinking, others seated in several love seats. Many of the new slaves sat beside their owners, cut up and beaten, eyes glazed.
Reyes repressed the deep disgust that threatened to rise like bile up his throat. There would be time later to punish each and every slaver. For now, he needed to stay focused on doing all that he could to discover the man in charge and take him down.
Scorpion had kept his identity secret from the time Starlin came into existence. Once Reyes found out who the man was, he could begin the process of working his way into his inner circle. Beyond Scorpion’s identity, he needed the documents that detailed every aspect of how the organization worked. After that, he’d know exactly how to destroy Starlin from within, step by step.
As he moved through the room, attention became increasingly focused on Angelica.
When he’d told her earlier that he hated the idea of other men looking at her, he meant it. Some caveman part of him had already laid claim to her, so to have other men openly lusting after her scraped at his nerves.
Angelica’s voice pierced his thoughts.
Calm down. I can feel your agitation like it’s rubbing against my skin.
It shows?
Well, that fist you’re making is at least one clue.
He relaxed his hand and stretched out his fingers.
That’s better.
For the next hour, he greeted most of the members by name, essentially working the room. What wasn’t lost to him was the goodwill that flowed in his direction. He realized that a lot of slavers here liked what he’d done by winning the bid, beating out Engles.
By the time he’d made a circuit of the large, ballroom-like space, Engles waited once more back at the top of the stairs. He gestured for Reyes to join him.
Engles wants us.
Got it.
Once Reyes was standing beside Engles—with Angelica on his other side, though as always
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