Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Amelia’s POV                       

A weak whimper left my lips when I was thrown roughly to the floor. I immediately scooted back in fear, my eyes darting around to take in my surroundings.

To my dismay, I wasn’t the only one abducted. There were several girls my age here too. The only difference was that they were dressed in slutty outfits, while I still wore the crop top and jeans I’d had on at the club.

I swallowed hard as a tall woman approached me. She might have been pretty if not for the heavy makeup caked on her face. As she got closer, a shiver crawled down my spine.

She stopped in front of me and grabbed my chin, pressing my cheeks between her fingers. The rough calluses against my skin made me realize—this wasn’t a woman at all. It was a man dressed as one.

“Bring another dress for her. She can’t be auctioned this way,” she announced. One of the men exited the room immediately.

At first, I didn’t fully grasp the danger I was in—until her words sank in.

Auctioned.

They were planning to sell me.

Oh God, please let this be a nightmare.

“Do you know where you are, darling?” she asked. I shook my head, fighting my tears.

“Good. The less you know, the better. Get dressed and follow them. Don’t cause a scene or you’ll regret it.” She let go of my chin.

I wasn’t going to cause trouble—at least, not yet. I’d play along until these cuffs were off. I didn’t know where I was, but if I could get outside, maybe I could escape.

There was no way I was going to sit here and let them sell me when I hadn’t even done anything wrong.

A man walked in with a bag, dropping it in front of me before stepping aside.

“Dress up,” he ordered, turning his back.

When I didn’t move, he turned again, smirking when he realized I couldn’t put the dress on with my hands chained—and I couldn’t call for help with the gag in my mouth.

“You, come over here!” he barked at one of the girls standing in the corner. She hurried over.

“Dress her up,” he commanded.

The girl nodded timidly and got to work, unlocking my cuffs with the key the man handed her.

“I know what you’re thinking, but don’t do it,” she whispered. My eyes flicked to hers.

Her bloodshot eyes and the bruises covering her skin told me she’d been beaten. I silently thanked God they hadn’t touched me—yet.

“If you try anything, they’ll kill you,” she murmured, slipping the black dress over me. It was short, with thin straps that tied behind my neck.

When she was done, the man shoved her aside and chained my wrists again. I glanced at her, but she shook her head. She’d been here long enough to know better, so I stayed quiet.

Soon, we were led out into a massive colosseum-like room. Rows of chairs faced a podium where some girls stood with their backs to the crowd.

I gasped when someone pinned something to the back of my dress. A woman moved from girl to girl, attaching papers with numbers.

I peeked at mine—102.

How many girls are here? I couldn’t help but wonder.

I was pushed onto the podium, standing at the far end with my back to the audience.

The stares prickling my skin made every hair on my body stand on end.

“These are top materials—submissive and clean,” a man announced.

I couldn’t see their faces, but I felt their disgusting eyes all over me.

“500,000!”

“700,000!”

“900,000!”

How could they be selling humans like sacks of potatoes?

“One million!”

“Fifty million!”

“One hundred million!” a voice called out. The room fell silent.

The men holding me cheered. Clearly, they were thrilled with the price.

“One hundred million. Is that final?”

My eyes widened. God, no. The bidder was an older man with crooked teeth. There was no way I could end up with him.

“Two hundred million!”

The cold, deep voice made my breath hitch. It sounded… familiar. But he was seated at the far end of the room, and I couldn’t see his face.

“Sold! Sold!” the auctioneer yelled in delight. I was led off the podium. The mean-looking “lady” from earlier whispered something to one of the men.

A black cloth was tied over my eyes, plunging me into darkness. They led me away, walking for what felt like forever before a door slammed.

Cold wind kissed my skin, raising goosebumps. We had to be outside. A car horn blared nearby.

I was shoved toward the sound. I nearly stumbled, but someone caught me.

“Don’t tell me this bitch is still stoned?” an irritated voice said.

“I don’t know. Just hand her over so he doesn’t blow your brains out—you heard what he did to Alex,” another voice replied.

I was still wondering if I was safe when a car door opened. I was pushed inside, landing on a smooth surface.

The scent of leather and cigarette smoke told me exactly where I was.

“Thank you for doing business with us, Mr. Trevor.”

“Drive,” a cold, masculine voice ordered.

I flinched. Up close, that voice sounded even more familiar.

But that wasn’t my biggest problem.

I had just been sold.

And I had no idea what my future would be.