I looked away quickly, but Alex had already caught the loaded glance between us.
"You know her?" he asked, sounding more surprised than he probably meant to.
I gave a dry smile. "Who doesn't?"He rolled his eyes.
"She looked back at you, dummy."I tilted my head slightly, pretending to search the spot she'd just vacated.
She was gone—left with that man.
Not that I cared.
At all.
"You're a nobody, Rowan," Alex continued. "There's no way she looked at you like that for no reason. I swear, I could feel the spark—like when the main characters meet in a movie—"
"Cut the theatrics, Alex." I kept my voice low, but firm. "There's no 'spark.' It's a look. People exchange those. It doesn't mean anything. And why the hell didn't you tell me she'd be here?"
He shrugged like it didn't matter. "I didn't know. Besides, I think she's one of them. Her fiancé's knee-deep in it, so she must be too. Too bad he didn't show up tonight."
I didn't reply right away. Mostly because I didn't trust myself not to say something that sounded too… interested.
"She doesn't seem like someone who'd be in on it," I muttered.Alex raised a brow.
"Didn't you just say you didn't know her?"
I exhaled sharply. "I'm saying she doesn't fit their type. Doesn't look the part."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "If there's one thing this whole mess has taught us, it's that looking 'the part' means nothing. You should know that better than anyone, Rowan." He clapped a hand on my shoulder.
"I need a refill. Don't go falling in love while I'm gone." He walked off, one hand in his pocket like he didn't have a care in the world. I watched him go, jaw tight.
Why do I act like I know her? I don't. A few chance encounters, some carefully chosen words—none of that is real. She could be anyone.
And people like her? They hide in plain sight.They don't wear their crimes like name tags.Doesn't matter. If she's one of them, she goes down with them. I drained the last of my drink in one clean motion.
"You don't exactly strike me as someone who can hold his liquor."
The voice was smooth and familiar, amused. I turned.
Rhea.
She stood there like she belonged to a different world—one where nothing could touch her. There was that same unreadable smile on her lips.
I met her gaze and let the corner of my mouth lift.
"I like surprising people. Keeps things interesting."
"Oh, I was very surprised to see you," she said, tilting her head slightly. "I came to this party on my fiancé's behalf. Didn't think I'd walk into… you. But now I don't think it was a wasted night."
So she was here in his place.For some reason, that mattered. Too much.
I didn't let it show. Just held her gaze a second longer than necessary and said.
"Guess we both have a knack for being in the wrong places… at exactly the right time."
"My friend invited me," I said casually, glancing over my shoulder to see where Alex had gone.
Of course—he'd vanished into thin air.
Typical.
"Oh, your friend," she echoed, that sly smile still playing on her lips. "Well then, I'll leave you to it. Enjoy the party." She turned, but something in me reacted before I could stop it.
My hand reached out and caught her wrist. She stopped mid-step. Whipped her hair back with just enough force to make her earrings shimmer. Her eyes locked on mine—cool, unreadable, curious.
"It's…" I hesitated. "Does the outing still count?" She studied me for a beat, then gave a slow, knowing nod.
I let her go.She walked away. Good.
The less time she spent here, the better.
Less mess.
I turned and made my way toward the back of the mansion, where the real filth lived. The music faded behind me, replaced by hushed moans and muffled whimpers. Doors open. No shame.
Naked women sprawled across velvet couches, bent over marble tables, kneeling before men in designer suits with dead eyes and full wallets.
Eyes rolling back in pleasure like demons in tailored skin.I wrinkled my nose. The stench wasn't just physical—it was spiritual. Rot.
They didn't even bother hiding it. Why would they? These were the VIPP—the very important predators and perverts. All paid for in full.
This wasn't some dark secret the host was oblivious to.No. He knew. They all did.Forced prostitution. Sex trafficking.
And they just didn't care.I turned to leave, jaw clenched tight——and bumped into a girl.She froze like she'd touched fire, bowing so low I thought she'd collapse.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't see you…"
"It's fine," I said quietly.
Still, she flinched. Like she expected pain.And when none came, she scurried away, probably confused, probably thankful she'd slipped through this one moment unharmed.
Her eyes were glass. Dead.
Trauma like that doesn't hide well.
I looked back at the hallway. My fists clenched before I even realized. We had to end this. Soon.
These girls deserved to go home.To live.
"Alex, where are you?" I muttered into the comm.
"They've started. Where the fuck are you?" he shot back.I was already moving.
"Where was it again? The ballroom?"
Silence.
"Who are you talking to?"A stranger. Tall, smug, and far too curious.
I gave him a half-smile. "Isn't it obvious? I like talking to myself. Keeps me company."
I brushed past him before he could respond."Anyway, I've seen enough. Sending others in. See you on the other side."
He stared at me like I was unraveling.
Maybe I was.But not now. Not yet.I found it.A gold-plated sign that read: BIDDING ROOM.
Two bouncers at the entrance. Thick-necked, dead-eyed.I didn't hesitate. Flashed my access card.
They let me in.The room swallowed me whole.No one turned to look.
Their attention was glued to the front.I made my way to Alex, slid into the seat beside him.He exhaled like he'd been holding it forever.
But I couldn't look at him.Because in front of us stood ten girls.
Naked.
Eyes blank.
Barely human.
Aged maybe eight… to twelve.
On display like cattle.The crowd murmured numbers like they were bidding on antiques.I didn't blink.
A man stood in the center of the ring with the girls, microphone in hand, a bloated smile stretched across his face.
"First of all," he boomed, "let's give it up for our host, Mr. Dominik. What a gracious man, preparing such a gift for us tonight. We're all looking forward to more surprises in the future."
A few chuckles rippled through the crowd.Then he added, "The highest bidder takes this girl home—to play with, however you like."
The room erupted with laughter.
Gifts? Play?
I felt my fist curl around the bidding fan in my hand. Alex placed his hand over mine, a silent warning. His eyes said don't blow it.I stared at him. How the hell did he keep it together? How had he sat through this again and again without losing it?
The man pushed one of the girls forward.
"We've trained them to submit completely to you, their owners. This one's a pretty thing, too. Starting to grow," he said, and winked like that made it better.
"Starting price: $6,600."
The fans went up instantly, like this was some kind of art auction.
"$7,000."
"$8,000."
"$9,000."
"$15,000," I said, lifting my hand slowly.
Heads turned. Silence swept through the room like a breeze.They stared at me like I'd lost my mind—and one by one, the fans came down.
The man grinned. "Sold, to Mr. Ashford."His voice dripped with slime.I wanted to wipe that grin off his face with my fist.
It wasn't about the money.These people didn't think she was worth it.I was just lowering my hand when another voice rang out.
"$20,000."I turned slightly.Mr. Dominik.His gaze locked with mine, calm and polite.A challenge.
"$25,000," I said, no hesitation.Alex gave me a look—'Are you insane?'Didn't matter. We weren't actually paying. Not with how this night would end.
"$30,000," Dominik countered.The announcer looked like he was about to kiss his own reflection.
"$35,000," I said coolly, still not looking at Dominik, but catching the way his smirk twitched in irritation.
Silence.
And then—
"Sold. Mr. Ashford wins again."
Applause. The kind that made your skin crawl.
I stood. "May I visit the bathroom?"The man waved his hand, too pleased with the night's profit to care. "Of course, of course."
I exited fast."Naomi," I said into the comm, keeping my pace steady.
"We've got enough. Move in. Get the kids out first. There's a girl in the hallway. Maid uniform. Looks dead behind the eyes. She'll probably be alone. Help her out, too. I couldn't risk drawing attention."
Naomi didn't respond.She didn't need to.I knew she heard.
Dialed the police, fed them everything.
Names. Location. Evidence, the voice setting on my phone would make them think a girl was speaking, making sure to give them the impression I was a maid there.
By the time I slipped back in, they were bidding on the second girl.That's when the door burst open.
Our team swarmed the room—armed, precise, relentless.
I snatched Alex's glasses off his face, making sure the camera was intact.
"Hey," he muttered, scratching his nose. "A little heads-up next time?
"Sorry, I hyperventilate,"
They wouldn't risk implicating Alex—because admitting his involvement meant admitting everything.And trust me, they'd try to pay their way out of this.But this time, it wouldn't work.
As our agents raised their weapons, the men in the room cowered—rich monsters curling into themselves like rats.
Even I dropped my head, playing the part.
Alex followed.
"Go now," Naomi's voice came through.
One of the agents moved fast, collecting the children one by one, ushering them to safety, no questions asked.
No girl left behind.
Then—chaos.
The second our team pulled back, the shouting started.
Accusations. Confusion. Panic.
Mr. Dominik stormed toward me and threw a punch. It landed hard.
"You. It was you, wasn't it?"
I staggered just slightly, then straightened, spitting blood on the floor like it offended me.
"How would it be me?" I said, my voice cold.
"This is my first time here. Didn't realize your security was that pathetic."
I turned to leave."And now my plaything's gone. I was humiliated, Dominik. In front of everyone.
Do business with you? Never again."
Alex chased after me, playing the role of the concerned lackey.
Dominik stared after us, confused. Paranoid.
Alex paused at the door and turned.
"I'm disappointed, Dominik. Deeply."
Then he followed me out.The moment we got into the car, police sirens lit the air like fireworks.
Officers swarmed the mansion.We drove off, quiet.Exhausted.I took a deep breath.
"Naomi. The kids?"
"They're safe."
Finally, I let the tension slip from my shoulders.
"Good."Because tonight, we didn't just infiltrate a monster's den.
We burned it down.