Who said whores are cheap? In this world, underground clubs are marketplaces, and men spend millions to feed their most unholy desires.
Kendra
I never thought I would find myself on a stage in a high end club in Monaco, getting auctioned off to the highest bidder. But here I was, a nun with painted red lips, standing in a glass box and wearing a lingerie set that barely covered anything.
I was supposed to be at a convent somewhere on the Amalfi Coast but this was my gamble. I was here for one man and it was none other than the man they call Il Diavolo which literally means 'The Devil'. His name was Alessandro De Santis and I was betting everything on him showing up and paying the price to win this auction.
Plastering a smile on my face, I scanned the sea of faces watching me with lust-filled eyes, but he wasn't here yet.
According to my intel, Alessandro was doing business here in Monaco. He was supposed to be here! Every important man in the city was.
Biting down on my lower lip, I forced myself to stay calm. He would come. "Patience, Kendra," I whispered to myself.
Was I nervous? No. Was I playing a dangerous game? Oh, yes.
I could lose my life for daring to mess with a man like Alessandro but I had no choice. This was the only way I could save my brother's life and for that reason, I was ready to risk it all.
"Esteemed Gentlemen!" A familiar voice boomed and I turned to see Lionel, the auctioneer. He was wearing a fancy suit and the fact that he was here only meant that the auction was about to begin.
"This is the moment you've all been waiting for," Lionel continued. "As you can see, tonight's price is a stunning beauty to behold."
I swallowed. "Where are you, Alessandro?" I thought to myself as my eyes darted in every corner of the room.
"Without wasting any more time, let us begin," Lionel went on and the room fell silent. "You know the rules. To take this vision of loveliness home tonight," he motioned toward me, "the bidding will begin at half a million dollars and there shall be no refunds."
Whispers immediately followed. I watched how men leaned in towards each other, chuckling softly, deciding how much they wanted to pay for me.
Lionel's eyes scanned the crowd as he searched for a spark of interest.
"She's going to be worth every dollar you're about to spend," he coaxed and my heart sank.
Was no one really interested?
Just then, a man with a flushed face raised his numbered paddle. "$700,000," he said and Lionel's face lit up with a smile.
"We have seven hundred. Do I hear eight hundred?" He asked. "One million?"
"$2 Million!" A woman's voice echoed and everyone turned to look at her. She was one of the few women present and whoever she was, I wondered what she would do with me if she did win.
Just then, the doors opened and again, everyone's head turned.
This newcomer needed no introduction. He was the man I'd been waiting for and when I saw his face, my heart skipped a beat. Il Diavolo was finally here.
"Ah, Monsieur De Santis! What a pleasure," Lionel greeted from the stage. "Your reserved seat is right here in front."
Alessandro didn't acknowledge him. He just made his way to the front, his female escort shuttling beside him while another man walked closely behind. I wondered how she comfortably sat with a man like that.
Seeing him up close made my heart skip. This was the man who had placed a bounty on my brother.
I watched as he casually lit a cigar, puffing a smoke as the woman next to him whispered something in his ear. I noticed how he didn't react, nor did he pay her any attention.
I stood straighter, hoping he would look up soon because bidding had recommenced.
When he finally lifted his head to look at me, my heart nearly stopped. Alessandro's grey eyes seemed to study me and I hated to admit it, but he was more handsome than any photo could capture. The sharp angles of his face, the dark contrast of facial hair and his aura exuded a power that felt both captivating and terrifying.
My heart was beating faster but I held his gaze and just seconds later, I saw how his thick brows pulled together as recognition flashed across his face.
He dropped his cigar in the ashtray and leaned forward, a small smile creeping up his lips.
He knew. He had finally recognized me as Don Julio Marino's daughter, the woman sold to him by her own brother to save his neck.
"$5 Million!" Lionel's voice reached my ears and I turned to him. "Anyone willing to go higher?"
"$8 Million!" A baritone voice echoed and I tried not to smile when I realized that it was Alessandro.
"Wow!" Lionel exclaimed, clapping his hands, looking very impressed. "I doubt anyone's going higher."
"$8.5 Million," someone else said and I caught Alessandro glaring at him.
"10 Million," the man with Alessandro bid on his behalf and others murmured.
"Ten point five," that woman countered and I feared Alessandro would not be willing to go higher, but he was not a man to give up.
"$12 Million!" He said and Lionel's brows shot up. I also gasped when I realized how much he was willing to bid.
"Incredible," Lionel turned to look at me, grinning from ear to ear. "I think we just broke a record. No bid had gone higher than the ten million mark. Is anyone willing to go even higher? Thirteen million? Fifteen? Going once… going twice…" he paused and with a smirk he announced, "Sold! Congratulations to our winner for tonight!"
A round of applause followed but my gaze remained on Alessandro.
He'd won… just as I had predicted. And now I was moving to the dangerous phase of my plan.
********
Well, I wish I thought this whole thing through. I had thought that I could outsmart Alessandro De Santis, but I was terribly mistaken. And now, he was making me pay.
How did I get here?
Let's go back to how all of this began.