“What the hell do you mean?” I snarl past the buzzing in my ears.
“We pride ourselves on the island to fulfill your deepest fantasy, Mr. Kidwell.”
She stares back at me, my deepest fantasy, my darkest dream. And she’s afraid.
CHAPTER THREE
Briana
Leaving Curtis and Mr. Knapp in our private cabin, I kicked off my sandals and made my way out onto the sandy white beach. As the sea breeze fluffed the skirt of my sundress, my toes sank into the soft sand, yet I didn’t feel the warmth. With the sun streaming down, I wrapped my arms around myself and lifted my face to the sky. No amount of tropical grandeur could make up for what was about to happen. Sun rays, no matter how intense, couldn’t bring heat to my chilled skin.
My hands trembled as they had since seeing Cameron Kidwell.
How was he here?
My mind scrambled with the realization that Curtis’s brother was not only here, but Mr. Knapp had invited him to the auction.
Closing my eyes, I replayed the conversation Curtis and I’d had before I agreed to this ridiculous escapade.
“Bri, I have it worked out. It’s a show.” Curtis gently pushed a stray lock of hair away from my face. “You’re beautiful. I’ve been talking to Booker Knapp. He has the answer for our financial woes.”
“I-I don’t know.”
His expression turned solemn. “You know what Andros Ivanov will do to me if I can’t make this payment.”
I shook my head and swallowed my response. I wanted to say it wasn’t our financial woe. I wanted to recommend Curtis speak to one of the Sparrow men from Chicago. I knew getting a direct line to the kingpin, Sterling Sparrow, wasn’t easy, but I had a connection, albeit distant. As a fashion buyer for a charming boutique in Sterling Heights, I had spent the last few years trying to acquire the license to sell an exclusive brand of women’s fashion, Sinful Threads. It so happened that my contact—Louisa Toney—was a good friend of the wife of the kingpin, Araneae Sparrow.
I wasn’t sure how it all worked, but it seemed better than Curtis’s proposal.
“Is that what you want,” he asked, “to identify my body?”
“You know it isn’t.”
“It’s one night. Like I said, it’s a show. The bids are taken electronically. It’s not like I’m the only man—”
“What the hell?”
“Bri, it’s one night, and if Booker can work out the particulars, it won’t really happen.”
“It? The transaction? Being bid upon and sold?” My voice was getting higher with each statement. “I’m not sleeping—”
“Of course you’re not. Yes, there’s an auction. You’ll stand before a group of people. The bids will come in and Knapp will keep it going until the price is what we need. Then, he’ll announce the winner. It’s staged. They do it all the time.”
“I don’t understand how you get the money if I don’t...end up...” I couldn’t make myself say the word—sold.
“The patrons of Malaking Kuta drop a lot of money to be there. Knapp will spread the word that he has a special auction. I’ll get the cut from what he makes. At the end of the night, you will be back with me in our cabin. We’ll make love to the sound of the waves, and the bidders will be none the wiser.”
“People go there to...?”
“Everything from business to debauchery. That doesn’t concern you. No one will know you.”
“Bri,” Curtis called from the large front porch. “Booker needs to go over a few items with you.”
I didn’t move.
A statue in the sand with the warm waves lapping my toes.
Perhaps if I stayed where I was long enough, the tide would take me out to sea.
Anything was better than what I’d heard.
Cameron’s voice was a snarl, a growl. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
My words barely formed. “Curtis brought me.” I was paralyzed from his stare.
In seconds Cameron had gone from shocked to enraged, yet it was Mr. Knapp who spoke. “She’s going to be at auction tonight.”
My stomach twisted as my circulation settled.
“What the hell do you mean?”
Swallowing, I lowered my eyes as Mr. Knapp replied, “We pride ourselves on the island to fulfill your deepest fantasy, Mr. Kidwell.”
“Bri.” Curtis appeared behind me, reaching for my hand.
I spun toward him, my volume low and words sharp. “How. Could. You?”
“Baby, you’ve got to believe me, the last person I expected to see here was Cameron. Fucking wannabe. He’s probably down here as Gabriel Miller’s errand boy.”
“I don’t care why he’s here. He’s here. You said no one would know me.” I tipped my chin toward Mr. Knapp standing on the porch. “He invited Cameron, for some sick game...” I let out a long breath. “I refuse.”
Curtis’s hand teased the length of my chestnut hair. “Remember, it’s only a show. They can’t really sell people. That’s not legal.”
“I have the feeling that legality isn’t the rule of this island.”
I reached for Curtis’s hand. “Listen, I’ll call Louisa. Remember, I told you about her. I’ll get a connection to Mr. Sparrow—”
With his free hand, Curtis placed his finger on my lips. “Stop it, Briana.” His tone cooled, returning the chill to my skin. “I’m not exchanging one mob’s money for another’s. How fucking hard is it for you to understand this? Hell, I’d stand up there myself if I could make the money, but I can’t. You said you would do this. We signed on the dotted line. There’s no turning back now.”
Letting go of Curtis’s hand, I lifted my chin high and walked to where the porch and sand met. “Mr. Knapp. How much money are we trying to raise?”
His thin lips curled. The way he was looking at me made my stomach turn. “Little lady, I am confident that the right price will be reached.”
I knew it was a stretch, but if Curtis wouldn’t ask for the Sparrows’ help, I would. I stood taller. “I don’t understand how any of this works, but I want you to know that no matter what the winning bid is, I will not only match it, I’ll exceed it.”
“Briana,” Curtis said my name as a reprimand.
Mr. Knapp’s smile grew. “My, she’s a feisty one.” He looked to Curtis. “Yes, I have no doubt that your goal will be obtained.” Before I could speak, Booker turned to me. “Little lady, I’d suspect if you indeed had that kind of expendable capital, you wouldn’t be where you are at this moment.”
I refused to look away. “I can get it.”
He turned to Curtis. “I’ll have a dinner brought to your cabin. Have her fully prepared. There is a cape hanging in the closet.” He turned to me. “Wearing anything else is your option. Just know, once you’re on display, everything will be removed. Our buyers want to get a good look at the merchandise.”
“I’m serious,” I said. “I have a connection. I can get the money.”
The slime winked.