The auction

**Ivery Clark POV**

Looks like the death has finally hunted me down.

"Took me some time…but here we meet again, ma bella." Alrigo hissed in the most malignant tone, scaring me.

Every node of my body is yelling danger and to stay away from him. But his grip on my arm was death steel.

The heat of his palm is like a raging fire, surging through my veins. Even if I wanted to escape I couldn't.

"Do you know how upset I was, Ivery ? When you fucking ran away from me ?" Alrigo's face distorted into something dangerous.

He suddenly pulled me close to him, making me flinch violently.

"Nobody as in nobody has treated me like that." He gripped my chin with his callous fingers, gritting his teeth.

"I have never been so restless, so mad. You fucking infuriated me so much that all I could think of is dragging you back to me."

He was so close to me, our breathing mingled with each other's. My body temperature rose up, my breathing became heavy. I couldn't bear him being this close to me.

I could see every inch of his flawless skin now. He had aged like a fine wine, and he was probably the most handsome man I have ever seen.

Everything about him screamed richness and power.

"I never had so much urge to catch hold of someone, ma bella. You excite me. You interest me. You make me so hard."

*Oh hell...*

My whole body is burning, his stripping gaze is making me even more exposed, as if I'm sitting bare naked in front of him.

I was literally shivering because the man in front of me was no ordinary. He's the ultimate devil in disguise of a human.

The mastermind behind many gang wars, illegal supplying of goods and what all.

But the majority of the people only saw him as the heir of the humongous tycoon industries Valerie Enterprises. They only saw him how he wanted them to see, because he had the power.

The power of money. The power of influence.

Now seeing him attend the auction confirms...he is a Mafioso. Alrigo definitely had connections here.

"What, are you scared of me now ? You were so brave in the airport." His eyes dilated into something manic, he's scaring the shit out of me.

"Moving that body of yours against mine. You were the one who violated me first." His voice, as deep as an abyss.

"I agree that I was the first one to approach you but there's a misunderstanding —"

"Misunderstanding ? But that doesn't change the fact, you violated me regardless of your situation, ma bella." He cut my sentences harshly.

"Wouldn't this be fair if I do the same to you ? You fucked me up, now it's my turn." Before I could even react, in a second he yanked me out of the car with brute force, my arms almost rattled.

"Mr. King !" I panicked as a pure raw terror surged through me. My heels punched hard through the gravel path as he dragged me with him.

I tried to free my hand but hell, he was way too strong and well - built.

But then my blood went ice-cold, my whole body shivered when I looked at the big mansion in front of me.

*Holy fuck !*

The mansion loomed like a fortress, exuding richness, whispering the stories of those who had walked here before me. The looming whispers of the dead.

I could see some buff guards around dressed in pure black.

As Alrigo dragged me inside and I was enveloped by an atmosphere thick with unshakable power. The marble floors glimmered under the muted light of chandeliers, casting intricate shadows that danced across the walls.

This mansion, with its grand architecture and shadowy allure, was not just a home — it was a living testament to a legacy steeped in darkness.

*No, I have to get out here...*

I looked around in fear and I could feel stares and whispers from workers. My cheeks went bright red, hypervigilant of the surroundings.

I was in a short doll frock for god sake.

"Mr. King..." An old man clad in a tailored tailcoat, moved towards us with an elegance, who looked like a butler of this mansion. He bowed down politely to Alrigo.

"Clean her up..." Alrigo said in an indifferent tone and pushed me forward as if I was some rag doll.

There was another middle-aged lady who stood behind the butler, in maid clothes.

She didn't look at me offensively, rather she gave a polite smile and held my arm to escort me to the bathroom.

In the corner of my eyes I could see that monster Alrigo walking upstairs, removing his coat.

It has just been some minutes stepping here and I already want to sob my heart out.

"I'll give you a good bath and a good makeover, miss. You'll feel good in no time." The lady chimed as we entered the huge bathroom. There were two other young girls too.

Are all people here sick just like people behind the auction were ? Can't they see I'm brought against my will !?

"You know I'm a slave right, who is sold illegally ?" I hissed through my teeth.

Their eyebrows raised as if they were surprised and look at each other's face but then they regained their straight face.

"What the master does has nothing to do with us, miss. We're just following the orders. Please don't make it anymore harder for us." The lady said in an indifferent tone and they started preparing me for the bath.

"Also it's been ages, master has brought a girl to this mansion, I bet you are special to him, miss. You will surely love it here." She gave me a smile and started to bathe me.

I was dumbfounded. I can't believe this. Everybody here is so blinded by Alrigo that they are ignoring the fact, I'm brought here against my human rights.

An unknown fear crept my veins. Nothing was ordinary here. All are crazy, all are perfectly brainwashed.

I wouldn't know what I might face next, what my life would look like in the morning. But I shouldn't give in to the fright.

I have to keep fighting. I need to fight for my freedom.

I need to get out of this place.

As promised, they gave me a good bath. As soon as the young girl started trimming the ends of my hair, I took a chance and snatched the pair of scissors.

I wound an arm around her shoulder and pointed the sharp edge straight at her neck. Everybody screamed in panic.

"Get me out of here, or I'll kill her !" I yelled holding the girl as a hostage.

Some went out screaming, but the middle aged lady stayed, looking at me petrified.

"Miss, don't do this. She's just a child, please don't take a hasty action."

"Shut up ! Don't you understand ? I said, get me out of here !" I yelled and signalled the girl to move along with me.

"What's happening here ?" One of Alrigo's men shouted coming in. Later two-three came in scrambling with their guns.

A fear crept through me when I saw the men but I didn't give in. I pressed the sharp edge on the girl's neck, "Move one inch and I'll kill this girl."

I didn't want to kill her, but I had no choice but to keep her as hostage, because I wanted freedom. I wanted to get out of here !

I moved an inch ahead with the girl, who looked petrified. The men hesitated for a while until I heard a devil's voice.

"What's going on here... ?" Everybody froze, including me because he was here.

Alrigo Valerie King was here.

He walked lazily inside...but then his eyes lit up in amusement as soon as his eyes fell on me.

*Fuck.*

"Oh, it's Miss Ivery." His eyes honed in a bone-rattling way, my throat closed up and I felt like I was about to start hyperventilating.

My breathing shortens despite I tried to regulate it. He looks like he is devouring me just with his gaze.

Alrigo had worn a silk robe which perfectly outlined his muscled broad shoulders, showcased his sculpted, washboard abs.

I hate to break it but he had the perfect body any man could dream of. His eyes travelled over every inch of me and I suddenly felt queasy.

"What's this....I gave you all a simple task — to clean her up and bring her to me. But what's with all this mess ?"

His cavernous voice is drawing nightmares in the back of my head. There's something in his eyes that puts me on high-alert mode.

His eyes, that of a heinous killer.

I gripped the scissors tightly, despite I was shaking internally. I don't want to show he has this effect on me. He should never know. I looked him straight in the eye, acting brave.

"I want to leave. Let me go and this girl will live. Otherwise I'll kill her here ! !" I held the sharp edge close enough to her skin, a drop of blood ran down.

A grave like silence dispersed into the thin air. No one moved an inch. Alrigo had no expression on his face whatsoever, it was scary.

"Kill her..." He said without missing a single beat.

"What ?" I breathed out in disbelief.

A cruel smirk stretched his perfect lips, looking sinister as ever.

"I said kill her." He said without breaking eye contact. A shudder breaks through deep within my soul.

There's so much sadism, so much insanity. He doesn't care if the girl lives or dies.

He doesn't care at all.

None of the others here are speaking anything too, it's as if they have accepted the fate. Accepted this monster's decision.

*All are insane...*

"What are you waiting for ? Kill her." Alrigo said in a dangerous tone that my hand shook, almost losing my grip on the scissors.

He was not even looking at the girl..but me. His sole attention, only on me.

I have made a grave mistake. I shouldn't have associated with him. What did I expect from a Mafioso like him ?

I might have seen my life as black and white but this person in front of me sees and paints the world red.

As red and dark as blood.

He doesn't care if anyone lives or dies. Looks like I just got out of a hell and fell into a much scarier one.

In a second Alrigo was right in front of me, taking me off guard. He pushed me back that I fell hard on the floor.

Pain shoots down my backbone as it meets the floor. A cry escapes my lips as it hurts like hell.

Alrigo lowered his head, his look was anything but pity. In fact he was enjoying this. He was enjoying seeing me in pain.

*What a sick bastard.. !*

"You shouldn't talk about killing when you don't have the guts to do so, ma bella. I knew, a fragile woman like you couldn't even kill a fly, let alone that girl."

His words ignited me. I looked at him with my red eyes.

"Oh trust me...I may not have any intention to kill that girl, but I won't hesitate to kill a bastard like you." I swung my hand which held the scissors but Alrigo dodged it laughing.

"Is it so... ?" His eyes lit with an unhinged excitement. Like he fed on madness, fed on challenges.

Alrigo got up and said in an authoritative tone.

"Everyone leave. Looks like it's time to play with my kitten." He grinned with a sadistic edge.

A full shudder worked through my spine.