Wicked Liar (Dark Syndicate 3)
Chapter Twenty-Four
Candace
I stare through the windows, looking at the inky black sky.
I’m sitting on the floor with my head and back up against the wall, my hands on my knees.
I'm waiting and wondering what to do now.
I'm now the property of Dominic D’Agostino for thirty days and thirty nights, and my plan couldn't have gone more south.
I did everything I’d never do, came up with a stupid plan to join a human auction to entice a man I'd never be with, and now I’m here.
What now?
Jacques is out of the question, so that places me back at square one, except that now I look like some kind of whore and I'm going to have to come up with a good excuse to tell Dominic.
Something that will work while I try to figure things out, and my way out of this messed up situation.
Footsteps on the other side of the door make me jump.It’s almost been an hour since Dominic brought me up here.
Earlier when he went downstairs I heard Massimo and Tristan’s voices.It’s a given they’d come and talk to him.I don’t know if they saw me on stage too or if they were waiting in the back.I guess it doesn’t matter. I’ve already made myself look bad and worse than a fool.
Although I don’t know what was said I can guess they talked about what was happening, and what’s happening now.
I never imagined Massimo or Tristan would allow Dominic to keep me here and treat me like property.However, the fact that I’m still locked in Dominic’s bedroom refutes that.
Clearly it’s foolish of me to think they would intervene.It’s also foolish because I know what I signed up to.
I remember when Emelia and Isabella were kept under lock and key.I was the one opening the doors on the other side.I was the one doing my best to reassure them that things would be okay even though I knew anything the D’Agostino brothers concocted would be wrong on all levels.Now look at me.
I’m foolish to believe the brothers would think I deserved any other treatment when they condone this type of shit.
The key rattles in the lock and the door handle turns.The door opens and Dominic comes in.
He closes the door, locking it again then looks over at me as he slips the key into his back pocket.
“Ready to talk?” he asks.
“You locked me in here. I have nothing to say to you.”
He chuckles. “Angel, you do know that’s not exactly how you’re supposed to be treating me right?By my records, my fifteen million says we should be naked in bed right about now, fucking.”
I still can’t believe he paid fifteen million for me.Fifteen million dollars and did it like it was pocket change.
“Or, we don’t have to be in bed,” he adds intensifying his stare.
“I’m not getting in bed with you.I want to go home.”
He raises his brows and pulls out a folded piece of paper from his pocket.When he unfolds it recognition makes my stomach sink into the chasm of hell.
I don’t think I could be more embarrassed right now if I tried.It’s the auction’s contract. It’s one sheet of paper with my name and signature at the end.
He strides over to me with those long, powerful legs and stops paces away.Holding out the contract Dominic clears his throat in an exaggerated manner and starts reading.
“I, Candace Elizabeth Ricci wholeheartedly and without prejudice agree to the expectations of the Decadent Auction which stipulates that my buyer have direct ownership of me for the next thirty days andthirty nights. Since payment will be made immediately after the winning bid is declared, I agree to all terms and conditions specifically; that my body belongs to my buyer.As such I will agree to everything my buyer requests, and accept that nothing requested will be off limits.That includes and is not limited to activities such as sexual intercourse, BDSM, anal sex, fisting, sex with multiple partners…” His voice trails off and he looks down at me.Instead of the wild desire he previously exhibited and the air of humor, anger flickers in his eyes.“Do I need to continue?”
“Please don’t.”