Page 84 of Buried in Blood
“What?”
“You’re in the auction,” he says flatly. “You’ll be collared and chained just like the rest. And you’ll smile when they touch you. Because that’s what you’re trained to do.”
“No,” I whisper, but the word has no weight. No sound.
“Yes,” he corrects, cruelly calm. “And I’ll sell Brooke too. And I won’t pick her buyer. I’ll let the highest bidder win. The sickest one. I don’t need anyone.”
I shake my head. “You’re lying.”
He grabs my wrist and pulls me forward, forcing my hand against his chest.
“Does it feel like I’m lying?”
I try to pull away. He grips tighter.
“You think you’re in love with Reese?” he grunts. “You think he’ll come for you? That he’ll save you?”
His face is inches from mine now.
“Let him try.”
He kisses me.
Hard.
Unforgiving.
I don’t kiss back. I stand frozen, tears slipping down my cheeks while his hands roam where they don’t belong.
It’s not sex.
It’s not even power.
It’s ownership.
When he finally pulls away, I’m shaking.
He fixes my shirt. Brushes my hair back into place like I’m one of his dolls again. His tone shifts, honeyed and deceptive.
“I’m giving you purpose, Harmony. A stage. An audience. A future.”
“You’re giving me a coffin,” I breathe.
Hesmiles.
Then turns and walks away like nothing ever happened.
The door closes behind him.
And I sink to the floor, sobbing into the silence.
Because I know—
It won’t be the last time.
And next time?
He won’t leave me breathing.
