Chapter 3: Into the Unknown

At Lincoln's command, Sercei’s confident smile faltered, just for a moment, before she recovered. She leaned back on the couch, crossing her legs with a deliberate air of control. “Lincoln,” she purred, “you’re a man of good taste. Ninety thousand is a fine offer, but surely you can understand the value of… exclusivity.”

Her voice dripped with calculated charm, and I felt my stomach twist. I hated how she turned everything into a negotiation, even me. Especially me.

Lincoln didn’t respond immediately. He stepped closer, his tall frame casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the room. His presence was magnetic and dangerous, like a predator bidding its time. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and calm—but there was steel beneath the surface.

“I don’t like games, Sercei,” he said, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. “We agreed on a price. I don’t renegotiate.”

Sercei’s smile tightened, but she didn’t back down. “And I don’t settle for less than I deserve. Ninety-five, and she’s yours.”

The air in the room grew heavier, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, each beat like a drum echoing in my ears. I didn’t dare move, didn’t dare breathe.

Lincoln’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “You’re testing my patience.”

“And you’re underestimating her worth,” Sercei shot back. She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “A man like you? I’m sure you know how rare it is to find someone like her. She’s not just another pretty face.”

Something shifted in Lincoln’s expression. It was subtle, but I caught it—the way his jaw tightened, the flicker of something dark in his eyes. He straightened, his gaze never leaving Sercei.

“Enough.” His voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a whip. “You’ve already been paid more than she’s worth to you.”

Sercei opened her mouth to protest, but Lincoln silenced her with a look. “You can take my offer and walk away with dignity, or I can make sure you regret pushing me further.”

A chill ran down my spine at his words. There was no threat in his tone, no raised voice or dramatic gesture. Just quiet, absolute certainty. It was the kind of confidence that didn’t need to be questioned.

Sercei hesitated, her fingers twitching slightly. For the first time, I saw something flicker in her eyes—uncertainty. Fear.

“Fine,” she said through gritted teeth. “Take her.”

Her words hit me like a slap. She made it sound so simple, so transactional. Take her. Like I wasn’t even a person.

Lincoln stepped forward, his presence filling the space between us. He didn’t touch me, didn’t say a word, but his unspoken command was clear. Follow.

I glanced at Sercei, hoping—foolishly—that she might stop this, might change her mind. But she didn’t even look at me. She was already reaching for her drink, as if I’d ceased to exist the moment the deal was struck. The three men didn't even move. It was like they never existed as they stared daggers at my buyer.

“Let’s go,” Lincoln repeated, his voice softer now but no less commanding.

My legs felt like lead as I stood, but somehow I managed to follow him out of the room. The hallway was quieter than I expected, the muffled sound of the music below a distant reminder of the event we’d just left.

“Keep up,” he said without looking back.

I stumbled slightly, my steps uneven as I tried to match his long strides. My mind was racing, a thousand questions colliding in my head. Who was this man? Why had he bought me? 

We reached the elevator, and he pressed the button without a word. The silence between us was heavy, but I didn’t dare break it. Not yet.

The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped inside. He pressed the button for the ground floor, then leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. For the first time, I noticed the way his shirt stretched over his broad shoulders, the way his jaw clenched as if he was deep in thought.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, trying to make sense of him. He was nothing like the men in the suite. They had been all smooth words and calculated charm. Lincoln was raw power, quiet but undeniable.

“You’re quiet,” he said suddenly, his voice startling me.

I looked up, meeting his gaze for the first time. His eyes were dark, almost black, and they seemed to see right through me.

“I don’t know what to say,” I admitted. My voice sounded small, even to me.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he replied. “But you should start thinking about what you want to know.”

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. He stepped out first, and I hurried to follow him. The club’s lobby was a blur as we moved through it, my mind too busy processing his words to notice the curious stares we drew.

The black sedan was waiting for us outside, the same driver from earlier standing by the door. He opened it as we approached, and Lincoln gestured for me to get in.

I hesitated, glancing back at the club. This was my last chance to run, to escape whatever this was before it was too late. But where would I go? Back to Sercei? Back to the life where I was nothing but a burden?

“Jane,” Lincoln said, his voice firm but not unkind. “Get in the car.”

I swallowed hard and obeyed, sliding into the backseat. Lincoln followed, sitting so close that I could feel the heat radiating from him. The door closed with a soft thud, and the driver started the engine.

The car was silent as we pulled away from the club, the city lights blurring past the windows. I sat rigidly, my hands clenched in my lap as I waited for Lincoln to speak.

“You’re not just anyone, Jane,” he said finally, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

I turned to him, my heart pounding. “What do you mean?”

His lips curved into a faint smile, but there was no humor in it. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

The car hit a bump, jolting me forward slightly, but it wasn’t the movement that made my heart drop. It was his words. Whatever they meant, I knew one thing for certain: my life was no longer my own.