Chapter 3: Unexpected surprise

Argent

              “Okay, so here’s your profile invitation code. As soon as they sent an invitation to this profile, I intercepted it, took the code, and removed the invitation from the actual user’s profile. As long as you give them the code, you should be good to go.” Mateo says as he shows me the information.

              I look through the profile, recording all of the facts in my mind before I look up again. “What kind of party am I going to?”

              “Fortunately, it’s a virgin auction, so we don’t have to worry about anyone getting killed.” He replies.

              I look at the screen to see if there is any more information on the auction, but the little provided is ambiguous.

              “Alright, do I need any kind of money?”

              Mateo shakes his head. “No, but you do need an account number. I took the liberty of creating an electronic account for you in case they ask for it. One of my sources told me that this is an exclusive auction. Hopefully, Sebastian will show up. Take these.” He hands me a jelly tracker that is used by the Confradia. The tracker was innovated by the late Hunter Cohen─a promising confradia tech who died several years ago. The tracker is perfect because it blends in with the skin in my ear. I can also use it to communicate with others.

              I slip on my suit jacket and adjust my tie while Mateo places the tracker in my ear.

              Rogue enters the room a moment later, his face set in a scowl. “Are you sure about this, Apollo? I can go with you if you want.”

              I quirk a brow at his tone. “Do I look like I’m weak, Rogue?” I ask, gesturing down at my muscular frame. I’m six foot four with golden skin, hair, and eyes. I’m also very fit. I work out, and I keep my skills honed. I’m definitely not a weakling.

              Rogue cocks a dark brow and shakes his head. “That’s not it, Apollo. It just that you’re one of the few Confradia directors that I like, and I’m not too keen on the idea of not being there to help you.”

              “I’ll be alright, Rogue. I am furious with Sebastian, but I would never let that distract me from my mission.”

              Mateo steps back and looks down at his tablet. “Okay, so let me give you a rundown on how the night is going to proceed. Along with other buyers, you will be led to a private room where you will be presented with drugs, drinks, and a buffet of women. The auction will happen later in the evening. According to the data that I was able to encrypt from Sebastian’s laptop, a beautiful virgin will be brought out and placed for auction instantly. Once all of the sales are final, Sebastian will show up to collect the money. We will be waiting outside, ready to strike as soon as he appears. We’re just waiting for them to send you the address, which they will do in an hour before the auction. They don’t want to take the chance that you’ll contact the authorities.”

              I frown in consternation. “Don’t they have the authorities in their pockets?”

              Rogue shrugs. “Yeah, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

              “Is there anything else that I need to know?” I ask both men.

              Rogue gives me a wry frown. “Be careful, Apollo. These people are remorseless, and they won’t hesitate to kill you if they find out who you are.”

              That night, I find myself walking into a large mansion near a secluded part of Sao Paulo. I was able to procure the address from the social media site Mateo provided. The mansion is quite impressive. Not as impressive as my home with its large picture windows, airy rooms, and indoor terrace, but it has an attractive veneer. A man opens the door as soon as I walk up to the stairs. After inspecting me for weapons and takes my decoy cell phone, he holds out a tablet to place my digital code in, which I do without issue. Several well-dressed men are sitting around drinking, and there are waiters serving drinks while women in different stages of nudity walking around. The men do not talk to each other. It’s a goddamn bordello. Griding my teeth, I move further into the room, take a seat near a large covered window, and accept a drink.  

              The room is gaudily decorated with red velvet chairs, large velvet curtains, and fragile tables laden with wine and food. I’m approached by a couple of women who offer their wares, but I refuse their attempts. For the next hour, I drink and roam the room in search of Sebastian. Unfortunately, I don’t recognize any of the men, but I take note of their faces and anything else I can learn about them. It’s eerie to see how the men sit there wordlessly waiting for the auction’s commencement.

              Eventually, several men and the rugged-looking woman step inside the room. The woman’s wearing a long ill-fitting black gown and tall boots that make her look masculine. Her skin is overtanned, and her face is weathered. “Boa noite, cavalheiro, e bem-vindo. Por favor, tome seus lugares. O leilão está prestes a começar.” Good evening gentlemen, and welcome. Please, take your assigned places. The auction is about to begin.

              Wordlessly, the men all rise from their seats and walk into another room. They remind me of robots in an assembly line. Eyes narrowed, I follow the crowd of men, surprised to find myself inside of some kind of stage room. The floors are obsidian marble, the walls are covered by thick black velvet drapes, and the ceilings have several rightly placed spotlights. There are velvet seats organized in a circle, and in the middle of the floor, there’s a small, round platform stage. The men who have been anticipating the night’s events excitedly take a seat in the front row with their drinks in hand and reach for a tablet that has been placed in their seat. Following their lead, I do the same.

              After everyone has taken a seat, a thin, gaunt, bald man with crooked teeth and wide-set eyes strides up to the platform. “To those of you who are new to the auction, there’s a tablet in your seat where you will enter your code. Once you do, the auction’s application for bidding will appear. All you need to do is enter your bid and press submit. The screen will show you the other men’s bids and allow you to bid until you withdraw from bidding. The screen will also indicate a winning bid. In just a moment, we will present you with fresh merchandise. The tablet will give you basic information. However, if you have questions, you can ask them after the merchandise is displayed. You can get a closer look at the asset, but you cannot touch it unless given permission to do so. If you do, you will be disqualified. You are also not allowed to communicate with the asset. Once you’ve gotten your fill, you can sit back down, and the bidding will resume. Any questions?” The man asks, running his gaze around the room.

              No one asks.

              After a couple of minutes, the lights dim, and the spotlights are turned on. In the middle of the stage is the most beautiful woman that I’ve ever seen. No, not woman─girl. She looks young. Perhaps eighteen. Jesus! I look at my tablet and place the code. I had no intention of bidding at all tonight.

              However, as I look at the beautiful girl with long brown hair, creamy skin, and blue eyes, I’m mesmerized. She’s wearing a long sheer white dress that conceals nothing of her flawless body. I can see her tight little nipples, firm breasts, flat stomach, and shaved folds clearly. She has long lashes and pouty red lips that make a man think of sensual nights of pleasure. However, what gets to me is the sad expression on her face. She doesn’t look drugged, but it’s obvious that she’s there against her will.

              My jaw clenches with rage when several men rise from their seats and approach the solemn girl. Her eyes remain vacant as the men circle around her and inspect her body. A flush spreads across her body, but she remains stoic, which makes me admire her courage in the face of such a dire situation.

              Rising from my seat, I walk up to the platform and observe the men. Not to sound like an arrogant asshole, but I’m taller than all of the men, younger, fitter, and better looking. I definitely don’t fit in with this crowd.

              That’s when our eyes meet. It’s a natural moment where she’s looking away from one of the men, and her gaze bumps into mine. I don’t know how long we stand there, silently gazing into each other’s eyes. It’s like we’re connected by a magnet. I’m snared by her beauty and innocence. I can see the heartbreak in her expression as the auctioneer tells us her age, height, weight, and that she’s a willing virgin, which I know she’s not.

              Finally, I get my turn to stand in front of her. Anger and excitement thrum through my body as I gaze into her helpless eyes. Through this whole process, our eyes do not stray from each other.

              The auctioneer must notice my concentrated stare because he approaches me and mutters. “She’s perfect, isn’t she? How about a closer look?” He asks before he approaches the quivering girl and lowers the strings of her dress down her rounded shoulders. Her round milky breasts are firm with pink nipples, and her skin looks like silk. The girl’s harsh breathing reaches my ears, but she remains silent.

              The man leans close to her ear and mumbles. “Turn around, sweetheart. Let’s show the man your lovely bottom.” The girl bites her lip and apprehensively turns around without a word as the man lowers the rest of the dress and shows me her perfectly curved ass, which makes my body heat instantly. It sickens me that I’m reacting this way. Not just because I’m attracted to a victim, but because I don’t want to be like the rest of these sick fuckers. But she’s so beautiful that any rational thought scatters.

              I have to resist growling when the man tells the girl to turn around again while giving me a wide, lascivious grin. It’s disgusting. The girl is now looking down at her feet, her body trembling.

              Not knowing what else to do, I back away and take a seat in my chair. The other men do the same as they continue to appraise her nude form. I want to kill all of them for ogling her.

              Soon, the tablet’s screen begins to light up with bids. The amounts change every few seconds as the amount increases. One of the men gives her a suggestive leer before entering another bid, making the girl visibly shudder and look away. Never taking my eyes off her, I lean back in my seat and cross my legs and try not to react.

              It’s an eye-opening moment to see this vulnerable girl be displayed and leered at as if she wasn’t a human being with feelings. The bidding is at two-hundred thousand and slowing down. That’s when I make a choice. I place a bid of five-hundred thousand dollars and wait with bated breath for a counterbid, but none comes. The men look around, searching for the bidder, but I don’t give any indication that it’s me.

              Once the bidding is done, the auctioneer comes out and dismisses each man, leaving me for last. One of the men gives me a killing glare as he makes his way out of the room, which doesn’t bother me at all. Looking like a fragile doll, the girl remains where she is, making no effort to see who bid on the use of her body. It’s as if she had given up all hope that someone would save her. Which, I guess, might be how most girls in similar situations must feel. Once the men are all dismissed, the auctioneer walks up to me and asks me to follow him.

              “Mr. Black, congratulations on your purchase.” I give him a reserved smile and reluctantly take his hand. Mateo gave me the name Mr. Black when he set up my profile. All of the men were named after a color to preserve their anonymity.

              We both stop in front of the girl who is looking at me with fear and wonder. “Now that you’ve made your purchase, we’re going to give you a moment to inspect the merchandise. All we ask is that you don’t have sex until you’ve approved. However, before I go, I recommend that you check her purity. We’ve inspected her ourselves but always prefer that the clients check before they leave. It saves us the trouble of any future issues.”

              He gestures for me to take a seat on a nearby chair, which I do hesitantly. I’m definitely out of my element at this point. I’ve fought in wars, killed men, and put my life in danger many times, but I can honestly say that I’ve never been asked to inspect a virgin. Not seeing a way out of this, I wait for the man to direct the girl to sit on my lap.

              If I was hard before, I could break through granite now. My cock is weeping with need. The girl stiffly takes a seat on my lap, her dress still down her waist, and opens her legs when the man tells her to. Her breasts rise and fall with her rapid breathing as she gazes at me from beneath the fringe of her lashes. I’m sure she can feel my cock poking her rounded ass. There’s no way she can’t feel how aroused I am. I don’t know what to do. Of course, I don’t show my uncertainty.

              Licking my lips, I place my hand on her knee and whisper gently. “Look at me, little one.” Her clear, luminous eyes meet mine with a sad expression. It’s like getting hit by a ton of bricks. At that moment, I want to pick her up and take her out of this hellish place.

              The auctioneer clears his throat, urging me to continue. I know that I have to do something. I just don’t know how to do it without molesting this girl. She must see the hesitation in my expression because she takes my hand and slides it up her thigh until it’s resting above her bare folds. I look down at my hand, then back at her, and slide my fingers gently around her swollen seam. Her breath quickens, and her eyes become dazed at my touch. Leaning forward, I place my lips against hers and slide my finger inside her tight velvet sheath. Her soft moan reaches my ears and echoes inside my mouth. The kiss is gentle yet life-shattering at the same time. Her lips taste like berries, and her soft little tongue hesitantly meets mine. Her molten walls wrap around my finger tightly, which makes my cock throb at the thought of sliding inside of her. As soon as I feel the thin barrier that marks her as a virgin, my mind halts, and my body freezes.              

              Without another thought, I slide my hand from between her thighs and stop kissing her. She’s not the only one who’s breathing like she has run a race. My heart is beating like a drum inside my chest, my eyes are dilated, and my lips are swollen with pleasure. I realize at that moment that if the situation hadn’t been so sinister, I’d have enjoyed fucking this girl. Probably more than enjoyed.

              The man gives us both a satisfied smile and gestures for us to rise. “Are you satisfied with your purchase, Mr. Black?”

              I nod my head and clear my throat. “Yes, I am.”

              “Good.” The man mutters with a pleased clap. “Very well, a bedroom has been set up for you upstairs. There are drinks, condoms, and anything else you’ll need at your disposal. Please, let me know if there is anything else you require.”

              I nod my head as I take the girl’s hand to lead her to the room. This is a completely mad moment. I’m so out of my element with this situation that all I can do is watch the man close the door behind us.

              The room is large with a big king-sized bed. It looks like something you’d find in Victorian times with its lavish interior and mosaic walls decorated with painted men and women in various states of dress. There’s a wine bottle, glasses, a tray with condoms on a nearby table, and what looks like drugs.

              The girl strides up to the bed and stands beside it with a nervous expression. “How would you like me, master?” She mutters in a breathy yet husky voice that makes every part of me vibrate with desire.

              Holy shit! What the hell is happening to me?

              I know that I’m not going to have sex with her, but my body is not in agreement. “What’s your name?” I ask in hopes of distracting myself from my arousal.

              Rogue should be letting me know as soon as Sebastian walks into the house. The girl bites her lip and gazes anxiously into my eyes. “My name’s Penelope Varela. Please…please, can we just… can you just…do it.” She asks desperately. But it’s not the desperation of someone who wants to have sex. It’s more like she wants to get it over with, which makes no sense.

              “How did they get you, Penelope?” I ask as I slowly approach her.

              Penelope’s eyes widen with fear, but she doesn’t cower as she gazes into my eyes. “I…I…I don’t know what you mean.” She asks with a false tone. She flinches when I reach my arm out to her and sighs with relief when I raise her dress up her chest and slide her arms back inside the strings.

              “I mean, why are you so calm about what just happened when it’s obvious that this is not what you want? Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you for being honest with me.” I ask in a calming voice.

              Instead of putting her at ease, my words make her eyes widen with panic. “Please…” She cries softly, her lips trembling and her eyes glistening with tears. “Please, I have to do this. Don’t give me back.” She ends with a mournful cry. Before I can say more, she removes her dress, rises to her toes, and kisses me. My traitorous body instantly responds to her aggressive move. My hands wrap around her naked waist and pull her firm body close to my chest of their own volition. Our tongues meet in a desperate yet delightful duel.

              We kiss for several minutes before I can find the strength to pull away. “Wait…listen. How did you get here?” I ask as I try to evade her pleading lips.

              The girl shakes her head and kisses my neck, her hands opening my shirt. “I can’t tell you. Please, just take me. I want you to. You’re handsome and gentle.” She whispers desperately.

              Struggling in her hold, I manage to make some distance. Her brow furrows in disappointment as she backs away and whimpers hollowly. “You don’t want me. You’re going to give me back.”

              I shake my head. “That’s not it. You’re beautiful, but that’s not why I’m here.”

              Her clear eyes jump to mine, staring intently at me as if assessing mine honestly. “They’ll kill us if I tell you. Like they killed that poor man in the streets.”

              I shake my head and pull her close, caressing her jaw to soothe her. “No. No one will hurt you. No one can hear or see us in this room. I made sure of it.” I mutter gently.

              Penelope’s eyes plead with mine.“Who are you?” She asks carefully.

              My jaw ticks, and my nostrils flare at her fearful question. “Let’s just say that I’m here to make sure these men never do this again. I’m not here to hurt you.”

A stray tear slips from the corner of her eye as she opens and closes her lips. “Please, if I don’t please you, they said they’d kill us. I have to please you.” She croaks out in a mumbled sob.

              I wipe the tear and caress her cheek, feeling my jaw clench with my escalated fury. She looks so lost, and now I know why.

              “It’s alright, little one. No one is going to hurt you.” I ask. “Where’s your friend?” Penelope gestures to the door. “She’s being sold.” I nod my head, glance around the room, and press the communicator behind my ear. Mateo’s voice instantly responds. “What do you need, Apollo?”

              I look at Penelope before I reply. “There are at least twenty men in the building. Some of them are armed with weapons. There are also women. Tell the men to be careful. I’m going to search around, so tell Rogue to keep an eye out for Sebastian. If he finds him, bag him.”

              I didn’t realize until that moment that I replied in English. Penelope’s brow furrows. “You speak English? Are you speaking to the police?” She asks in perfect English.

              “No, I’m talking to my men. Are you American?” She nods her head. “Yeah, we came here because I was offered a job working with indigenous botanical plants in Brazil. I’m a Botanist, and Lyria is in Grad school. They kidnapped us two days ago” She sobs out miserably.

              I don’t know what to say. Thankfully, I’m saved from this conversation when Mateo comes back on the communicator. “Sebastian has been spotted. The men are going in.”

              I sigh with relief. “Kill every man. I’ll meet you outside.”

              Without another word, I remove my knife from a hidden sheath in my jacket. The man who checked me at the door wasn’t very good at searching for weapons. I didn’t push it through, which means I have to procure a gun as soon as I get out of the room. I don’t care if my men kill these men. They all signed their death sentences the moment they walked into the house.

              Penelope silently watches as I search the room. “I just talked to my men. They’re about to raid this house in a minute, which means the whole place is about to explode into pandemonium. I need you to remain with me. Here take this.” I hand her a bottle of wine. “It’s not a very good weapon, but use it if you need to.” Penelope takes the bottle off my hands and holds it up by the neck.              

              As carefully as I can, I open the door. A man is standing in front of it, his back to me. Before he can turn, I wrap an arm around his head and break his neck. The man drops like a stone. I don’t wait for him to die. Instead, I take his weapon, toss his dead body inside the room, and close the door.

              “Come on,” I mutter as I make my way down the hallway. Just then, the sound of gunshots echoes down the stairs. Men are shooting at us. How did they know I was here? Unfortunately, there’s no more time to think about it. Right now, we have to survive.

              Shooting back at the men approaching me, I hear the sound of loud voices below. My men are in the house. Penelope flinches in panic, but I hold up a finger to silence her cry. Just then, two other men step out of the room in various states of dress, and four armed guards run down the hallway. I kick at a few men who move to attack and continue to move. I can feel Penelope following behind me as I slowly stride down the hall. One of the guards stops in front of me and aims his gun at my chest, but before he can, I grip the gun, break his hand, and headbutt him. The man falls to his knees on the floor, holding his broken nose, and moves to get up, but I punch him in the head and stab him in the neck before he can make another move.

              Holding the gun, I shoot another armed man and throw my knife at another one. The knife embeds in the man’s shoulder with a thump. Moving forward, I kick the man’s stomach, elbow him in the back of the head, and shoot him. Another man runs at me, weapon drawn and shoots. Using the dead man as a shield, I shoot at the man until he falls dead too.

              Penelope’s panicked cry erupts from her lips, distracting me for a moment. To my surprise, I find her bashing another man over the head with the wine bottle. She looks like an avenging angel with her hair flowing wildly around her as she pounds the man until he’s unconscious.

              Breathing wildly, she looks up at me and nudges her chin to the room where she was auctioned. I give her an admiring look, then turn around and continue down the hall. The upstairs is nearly empty at this point. Screaming girls are milling around, and I can still hear the sound of gunshots coming from down the stairs, but my path is clearer than it was a minute ago.

              Once we reach the door, I carefully pry it open. The door’s frame breaks apart from the impact of a bullet striking it. Before it can hit Penelope, I cover her with my body and drop down to the floor. The shots keep coming, muffling the mournful cries of the girls in the room. Without another word, I kick the door open, crab crawl into the room as I avoid getting hit by bullets, and find shelter behind a turned-over chair. I see two men from my peripheral vision, but I don’t shoot. I don’t want to hit the women. One of the men moves forward but quickly recoils when I shoot him in the chest.

              Using a shard of glass from a broken mirror, I check to see the other man’s position. The coward is standing in the corner of the room, holding the other girl in front of him as a shield. The girl’s face is red with tears, her mouth gaping open. I look towards the door to see Penelope.

              The man isn’t stupid; I’ll give him that. He’s standing there, gun poised and ready to shoot me as soon as I show my face. His beady eyes are bouncing back and forth from the corner of the chair that I’m hiding behind to the door. Not wasting another moment, I bounce up and shoot him between the eyes. I would have preferred not to kill anyone in front of these innocent girls, but I couldn’t chance that he wouldn’t try to kill any of them during the shootout.  Watching as the man’s body falls to the floor, I approach the girls calmly. Penelope rushes past me and enfolds her friend in her arms, making calming sounds as she rocks her in place.

              I turn, ready to shoot but lower my weapon as soon as I see that it’s Hex. “We’ve cleared the house. The other women are downstairs, waiting for further instruction. Rogue heard that Sebastian was nearby and ran after him. He’s in pursuit as we speak.”

              Hex’s eyes hone in on Penelope and heat up as soon as he sees her near-naked body, which makes a spark of jealousy ignite inside of me. I don’t know why, though. Penelope is not mine. In fact, she’s probably closer to Hex’s age than mine.

              Turning back, I take off my suit jacket and wrap it around Penelope’s shoulder. “We need to leave,” I mutter evenly.

              Penelope nods her head and leads her friend out of the room. Both girls keep their faces averted but have difficulty walking out the door due to all dead bodies.

              Approaching both women, I clear my throat and mutter. “Hex, help..?” I look at Penelope’s friend in question.

              Penelope answers my unspoken question. “Lyria. Her name is Lyria.”

              I nod my head with a respectful bow and continue. “How about we help you ladies get out of here?”

              Lyria gives her friend a wild look. “It’s okay, Lyria. He saved you and me. He’s a good guy.” Penelope mutters reassuringly.

              Lyria warily looks at me but reluctantly nods. Without hesitation, Hex pulls her close and leads her away. Penelope leans close to me, tucks her head under my chin, and lets me lead her too. She should not be here. This girl should be at home with her friends. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t work that way. I just hope it doesn’t affect them.

              Penelope walks silently beside me, keeping a wary eye on her friend as we make our way down the stairs. There are young women huddled together in the middle of the entrance’s room, clinging tightly to each other and crying. Most of them look as young as Penelope or younger. I look at Hex and my other men, who stand and wait for my next order as I usher Penelope to her friend, who instantly jumps into her embrace.

              We spend most of the night and morning trying to sort out what to do with the women. Some tell me that they have family nearby, and others refuse to say a word. Thankfully, we have counselors who help those women.

              Lyria and Penelope are the only ones left. “I wanted to thank you.” She mumbles shyly. Her silken hair falls like a curtain around her face as she gazes into my eyes. “You saved our lives, and I don’t even know your name.”

              I nod my head in consensus. “My name’s Argent. Argent Storm. Is there anyone we can call for you?” I ask Penelope.

              Penelope shakes her head. “There’s no one. We’re both alone.”

              My heart breaks at her hopeless tone. “Okay, how about we do this. I’ll have my men acquire your belongings so we can get you on the next flight to…”

              “We were from Las Vegas.” Penelope answers. “But we don’t live there anymore. I’m supposed to start work next month, and Lyria is supposed to start her first term at the local university. We were renting a house near Rio while Lyria freelanced her photographs to earn half of our rent.”

              I think for a moment. It would be a mistake to do what I’m thinking, but they need help. “Alright. How about you both stay at my home until everything is settled. Hopefully, it will only be a day or two.”

              Penelope gives me a watery smile. “Thank you, Argent. That’s very kind of you.”

              That night we head to my home. I live in a large, traditional, Spanish-style mansion with an indoor terrarium. Isadora, my housekeeper, her husband, Lauro, and their son, Gio, live in their own home within the property. However, they spend most of their time in my home, where my most trusted men are always coming in and out all of the time.

              Mateo practically lives here. I always find Gio playing football in the backyard and will sometimes even play with him.

              Gio usually wins.

              Before we arrived at my home, I called Isadora and informed her of Penelope and Lyria’s circumstances. Being the sweet, compassionate woman I know, Isadora instantly took action by getting them a few things to wear and whatever they needed.

              Lyria cleaves to Penelope the entire way to my home. Neither of them says a word or cries. They simply sit there in silence. Thankfully, Isadora is very warm and welcoming. She feeds both girls, who hungrily eat every bite. Penelope told me they were taken two days ago. I imagine that they ate very little during that time. Lyria remains silent, but I can feel the fear radiating off her. I imagine that what has occurred has scarred her emotionally. Penelope tries to be comforting and keep things light, but you can tell that the weight of her friend’s despair weighs heavily on her. 

              Once the ladies are fed, Isadora shows Penelope and Lyria to the guest room. They both take a bath and change into a fresh pair of nightclothes that Isadora gave them. Penelope is wearing a flannel jumper short set, and Lyria is wearing t-shirt pajamas. I hover near the door, observing them as Penelope lies next to her friend on the bed. It’s heartbreaking to hear their silent tears. From what I gathered, Lyria was not raped, but according to Penelope, she was always the fragile one.

              As soon as I see that they’re settled, I head to the parlor. The house is large with high ceilings, amazing architectural features made up of natural wooden floors, neutral colored walls, and a large social area in the home center. The surrounding area has a large dining room with a large rustic table, wall-to-wall windows with sheer curtains, a simple Asian-inspired kitchen, and a study. Upstairs, there are five large bedrooms, including a large master suite with a large ensuite contemporary bathroom and guest lavatories. The best part of the house is the indoor garden behind the kitchen. Unfortunately, the garden has been neglected for nearly a year. My gardener, Carlos, passed in his sleep one night. He was ninety years old.

              I’m sitting in my parlor waiting for an update from Rogue and having a sip of Cachaca when Penelope walks in. She looks beautiful with her string floral, flannel romper. Her long, firm pale legs and slim body look tempting. Clearing my throat, I take another swig of my drink in hopes of calming my libido. For christ’s sake, she’s a child, and I have to keep reminding myself of this matter.

              Unaware of my lecherous thoughts, Penelope steps hesitantly into the room, twists her fingers together, and bites her bottom lip, which makes me groan inwardly. “Argent. I…I wanted to thank you for all that you’ve done. I don’t know what I would have done if it hadn’t been for you.” She mumbles softly.

              I nod my head and cross my leg across my knee in hopes that she won’t notice my erection. “There’s no need to thank me, Penelope; it’s what I do.”

              Penelope nods her head and gestures to the seat across from mine. “May I?” I nod my head and stifle another groan when she takes a seat. Her long brown hair falls in straight waves across one creamy shoulder. “You’re not American or Brazilian, yet you have sort of a British accent. Where are you from?” She asks with a curious frown.

              I shake my head. “No, I’m neither of those things. I was born and raised in South Africa. Are you originally from Las Vegas?” I ask evenly. I don’t want to upset her.

              “No, I’m not. My mother, is─was part Brazilian. She was an anthropologist. She died years ago, and I moved in with my uncle until he died last year. It’s just Lyria and me. We were celebrating my twenty-fifth

              I lean back in the chair with a quirked brow. “You’re twenty-five. I would have thought you were much younger.”

              Penelope shrugs her shoulders, loosening one of the strings as it glides haplessly down her arm. “I told the woman who took us that I was eighteen after I overheard her saying she wanted young, innocent girls. Have your men found her?”

              I shake my head. “Not yet, but they’re searching for her. It shouldn’t be long before they find out where she is.”

              Penelope’s face falls. “How could someone do that? Just sell people without a thought?” She mutters grimly.

              “Unfortunately, the world has its respectable people, and there are immoral ones. All we can do is make sure that the good outweighs the bad. Is there anything else that you remember?”

              “No, the woman kept Lyria and me locked inside an old rickety house before she moved us to the mansion. I only saw her, her men, and the doctor who inspected us, Dr. Xao.”

              To my surprise, Penelope rises from her seat, stands in front of me, and takes my drink. I have to say I’m impressed by her ability to drink it down without an effort. Her eyes gleam with an untold emotion when she hands the empty glass back to me and takes a seat on the coffee table in front of me. “I saw you as soon as you walked into the auction room, you know? You didn’t look like the other men. I even hoped you’d bid on me.”

              I cock a brow at her words. “Did you?”

              She nods. “Yeah, I know that it sounds shallow, but all I thought to myself was that at least you were handsome. I didn’t think I could take it if one of those old men touched me. I didn’t even care if you were some psycho. You must think that sounds stupid?” She mumbles absently.

              Leaning forward on the table, I reach for the bottle beside her, pour another drink, and hand it back to her. “I don’t think you’re stupid, Penelope. I think you were trying to keep yourself from falling apart. Even if it meant thinking that I was handsome to get through your ordeal.”

              I have to resist the urge to take her in my arms when she bites her bottom lip again. “Will we ever be okay again? Will Lyria be okay?” She asks somberly.

              Taking her hand, I gaze intently into her eyes. “You will. It’ll just take time. As for Lyria… well, she’s got an amazing friend who’d do anything for her. I think with some help, she’ll get past all of this.”

              Penelope entwines her fingers with mine and lowers her gaze to them. The heat of her small fingers caressing my large scarred ones burns through my senses. It reminds me of how good it felt to feel her tight sheath. Fuck!

              Ripping my hand from her grip, I sit back and mutter. “Listen, Penelope. I want to apologize for touching you so intimately at the auction. It was out of line, but I couldn’t blow my cover─.”

              Penelope places her index finger against my lips to stop my words. Closing my eyes, I try not to react to her silken caress, but every part of me is screaming to touch her.

              “Don’t, Argent, there’s no reason to apologize. You saved us, and that’s all that matters.”

              I’m about to refute her claim at that moment, but before I can, Penelope slams her lips against mine. Unlike the kiss earlier, this one is filled with heat and passion. I know that I should resist because she’s vulnerable and fractured, but I can’t. Penelope’s looking for something to make her feel better after dealing with so much trauma, and I’m attracted. Unfortunately, my body has a mind of its own. A gasp escapes my lips when Penelope straddles my lap and swivels her hips against my thighs with a pleasurable moan. Wanting to touch her, I wrap my hands around her waist and deepen the kiss as she grinds her warm core against my zipper.

              Penelope clings tightly to me as she slides her tongue inside my lips and curls it around mine. My chest heaves with every touch of her rounded breasts and stiff nipples. Moving my hands down her small waist, I envelop her rounded ass and pull her closer.

              I don’t know what I would have done if my phone hadn’t rung at that moment. It’s as if a bucket of ice-cold water was poured on my head. Pushing Penelope gently away, I breathlessly rise from my seat and reach for my phone. My heart is beating wildly, and my body is raging with frustration. Swallowing hard, I run my fingers through my hair and face Penelope. Her eyes are glazed with lust and confusion, her chest is rising and falling erratically, and her hair is tousled.   

              My phone rings again, but I don’t answer it. “I’m sorry, Penelope. We should have never done that.” I mutter grimly as my chest rises and falls with my heavy breaths.

              Penelope’s face flushes with embarrassment, which makes me feel doubly ashamed about my behavior. Before I can say another word, she rises from her perch and rushes away. Shit, I embarrassed her. Damn it!

              My phone rings again, startling me out of my guilty thoughts. “Rogue?” I answer.

              “It’s not Rogue, Apollo. It’s Mateo. I’m calling you on Rogue’s phone because he was shot. One of the men found his vehicle near one of the private hangars. He was beaten up and shot in the chest. We took him to the Confradia hospital as soon as we found him. The doctors are working on him as we speak.”

              “Did he say anything?” I ask.

              “He was pretty out of it when we found him, but he was able to tell me that Sebastian was taking a flight out of the country. We checked with the private airport’s office, and they confirmed that a man matching Sebastian’s appearance flew out twenty minutes before we arrived. He was heading to the US. Should I call Ares and Hades to let them know?” He asks.

              I take a deep breath and pace in place angrily. Goddamn, Sebastian wounded one of my best men and got away. The bastard is playing me, and I don’t like it. I’m going to kill him as soon as I get my hands on him.“Yes, and send them all of the information you have on Sebastian. I want them to contact me the moment they get any information on his whereabouts. Sebastian’s mine!”

              Mateo disconnects the call a moment later, leaving me to my thoughts. Unfortunately, my thoughts turn back to Penelope and how good she felt in my arms. Yet, however good it felt, it can never happen again. Someone as sweet and innocent as Penelope is not for me.