Page 14 of Hayes
Of course, she is. I know how Peter operates. Everything is in the contract. It’s how he controls the women who agree to this.
Fucking Retribution Kings. If I didn’t have issues with them before, I would because of this alone. We should be protecting women—letting them into our ranks, teaching them how to fight, to lead. Instead, we kill their breadwinners and then force them to sell their bodies in order to survive.
Sick.
“Usually, these events only last the weekend, but I suspect this will take a lot longer. I’m not going to put a timeline on it—it will take as long as it takes.”
I don’t like the sound of this.
“But before I go into the details, I want to introduce to you the woman you all came here for—Lilith Hart.”
Peter holds out his hand, and Lilith takes it as he parades her around the room like she’s cattle about to be sold at auction.
I study the men in this room. Some already have wives. Some are older than Peter. Some are sick fucks who like to hurt women. Very few would be acceptable for Lilith to be with in any way.
But as she walks around the room, she doesn’t show any disgust. She doesn’t show any fear. She looks like she’s judging all of us, looking down on us as if we’re the ones who need her and not the other way around.
And then she walks past me. Her eyes narrow at me with consideration, trying to figure out what I’m doing here.
Trust me, I’m asking myself the same question. This is going to be the ultimate torture for me. She can never be mine. Even if I win her, she won’t be mine.
My stomach sinks and twists into tight knots.
Peter stops their circling, ending up back in the same spot they started. I glance around the room and see every man panting at her, determined to make her theirs, at least for one of the auctions.
Bile rises in my throat at how many times I’m going to have to watch her sell different parts of her over and over again, until someone makes a final offer she accepts and becomes their wife or mistress.
I’ve never seen so many men at an auction like this, never seen so many high ranks in the Retribution Kings. There is no mistake that Lilith is beautiful. If you ask me, she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. But them being here has to be more than that. Peter didn’t even send a photo around when he sent the invite—as if he knew her name alone was enough to get them to come.
But who is Lilith? What don’t I know? And why does my heart already belong to her? Why would I toss her into my car and drive off, hiding with her the rest of our lives, giving up my family, my mission, and my dreams all for her? What is this power she holds over me?
Peter smiles slyly, knowing exactly what he’s doing. He’s practically salivating at the thought of his huge commission for Lilith’s auction.
“As you all know, Lilith has agreed to sell her body over and over until someone makes an offer that is high enough that she agrees to be theirs forever. We offer the tastes of her so you can sample the goods before buying forever.”
Sick…sick, sick, sick. I’m not a murderous man. I’ve killed plenty of times in my life. I’m not afraid of bloodshed, but I usually only kill when others order me to or when the man in question has wronged me. Peter Anderson is going to die for this, and I’m going to be the one to kill him. But I know I’ll have to wait for the right time, or I’ll ruin everything.
“However, the rules will be slightly different here because Lilith Hart is a virgin.”
This isn’t the first time we’ve had a virgin at one of these events. So why is this different?
“She’s a virgin in all ways. She’s never been fucked, brought to orgasm, touched inappropriately, or even kissed. We are going to take our time enjoying her and selling all of her firsts.”
Her firsts?!
Fuck me.
But I know it’s a lie. I’ve already stolen her first kiss, and I almost took a whole lot more. Maybe if I did, I could have saved her from this. Now it’s too late, and we’re both about to pay for my mistake.
Chapter 8
Lilith
“She’s a virgin in all ways. She’s never been fucked, brought to orgasm, touched inappropriately, or even kissed. We are going to take our time enjoying her and selling all of her firsts.”
Peter’s words play in my head. I already knew he would say those words, revealing some of the closest kept secrets of my soul to every man in this room, but I still feel my cheeks blush. After all, I’m a twenty-one-year-old woman, and I’m a virgin. Never been touched. Never been brought to orgasm. Never been fucked. And up until the other night, never even been kissed.
But there hasn’t been much time for romance between juggling multiple jobs, planning a way out for my family, and plotting my revenge. It is the Retribution King way to spend your entire life planning revenge, even if you don’t succeed or ever accomplish it.
