Auctioned Mates Revenge
Chapter 45

Matt's POV

Lucas growled at the sight of Renda walking down the hallway. If he was so excited, and I was almost dizzy with how quickly my blood was rushing south, I could only imagine who else would have such a reaction to her. I almost regretted picking the pink, not that the pink didn't look amazing on her. It was erotic in all the right ways as her pale skin showed through the fabric. When I saw it, I had wondered if it was about the same color as her nipples. Seeing it on her, I was almost certain it was.

People would be seeing her like this and I was the one who put it on her. This was going to play hell on my self-control, but if I was weak to it, so would every other man in the room be and that was the point.

The price of the gown, the quality, and everything she was wearing would set her apart from the women who were in the crowd as party favors. The shade of her hair was complimentary rather than loud and added to her overall allure. She had a good eye for colors.

I wondered if she'd enjoyed art before she'd been sold into prostitution.

From its position in the store, I bet that most of the women who were on the arms of a man of the elite, or a part of Midnight's elite, had seen it. Mordecai's men were probably all in the back pocket of someone else, so the word would have spread that I had bought this dress for Renda. It was an erotic dress, but it was also like a mark of possession.

People knew enough about me to know that I didn't share with anyone, so Renda would be safe from being coerced into any dark, out-of-the-way places while I wasn't looking. The only person I would have to worry about was Mordecai and his ego.

Slowly, I tore my gaze from Renda to Grace as Renda joked and spun her around. It was the perfect color for her. She looked like a proper Lady Luck in her golden nude gown and sexy in all the right ways. Her make-up gave her face a sultry feel that could draw a man in easily.

Mordecai and whoever else had been lusting after her, were going to be drooling all over themselves all night. I planned on using their distraction to my greatest advantage.

Satisfied, I escorted them downstairs to the awaiting limo and took a deep breath.

"Grace," I said. "If you feel uncomfortable at any time, in danger, whatever, signal me somehow. Something innocuous."

Grace laughed, "Like I need to powder my nose?"

Glenda giggled and I shook my head, "Preferably something that would require me to go with you and in theme, hm? Like wanting to get on with our plans for the evening." Grace's cheeks turned pink, "I get your meaning. I will."

I looked at Renda, "The same goes for you. We'll be by the betting tables. It shouldn't be too hard to replace us if we get separated, but I would appreciate it if you stayed within sight." Renda nodded, "I understand."

We pulled up and I stepped out of the car to help Rena out then Grace. They stepped onto the red carpet and light flashed as Midnight's press took photos. With one of them on each arm, we walked toward the front doors of Sinner's Haven. I showed the bouncer my invitation and he stepped aside to allow us entry.

The scent of alcohol and perfume filled the air as I scanned the scene.

People were everywhere, but they were mostly people I recognized from this side of the continent. No one from the Warhammer coast had come. I grabbed a glass of champagne for each of us and continued to search the crowd looking for a place to start when a flash of gold caught my eye.

Whoever she was, she wore her golden dress like she wanted to draw attention and evade it at the same time. It was cut to mold over every curve of her body with a deep plunge in the front that stopped just below her sternum. The plunging back stopped just above her a*s. The gown was floor length with a high slit up one side to her hip, showing off the long expanse of her legs. Her hair was a mass of bouncing dark curls as she walked confidently on Justin's arm.

She was more than arm candy. She was a trophy. At least, that's what it felt like Justin was using her as. If I was right, she was probably his favorite woman attached to Sinner's Haven. The man didn't escort her like she was his wife or his girlfriend as he forced her to keep up with his stride in her towering heels. She didn't heed his stride like a sugar baby either.

She walked at his side like a soldier's march hiding beneath a sultry stride. It was odd to see someone whose disdain for Justin was so engrained into her body that even the layers and layers of compliance she put on to survive could cover it.

Maybe it was just my sense of her moments. Kelly had imparted a lot of good information about how to read people's intentions through their body language.

As I thought of Kelly, I notice the resemblance. Maybe it was her posture and the way she seemed much taller than she was that was giving me the sense, but there was something about her face that was familiar too. I didn't get the sense that I had met her before but like I had seen a photo of her or met a relative of hers.

"Who is that woman on his arm?" I asked Grace.

"That is Chloe," Grace said, her voice a bit faint. "At least, that's the name she goes by. I'm surprised she's here. He must be feeling really good about himself." "Why do you say that?"

"He hardly ever lets her out of his house," Grace said. "I think I've seen her about five times since I heard about her. If she's here then either this opening is more important than we first thought, or he's plotting something."

She'd heard from several sources about the woman that Justin kept all but locked in his house. She cooked meals, poured drinks, and acted like a s***d-up servant, but she was several steps above the other women of Sinner's Haven in the way that she was treated. No one could buy her. The last person who tried had been banned from Sinner's Haven permanently. It was more than Grace could say for Felix. From Grace's sources, she was allowed to go grocery shopping with a guard, visit various salons and other places to run errands, but she was never seen alone or without one of Justin's goons nearby.

The woman couldn't even go to the gym by herself or interact with anyone.

I could only imagine the kind of frustration a woman under that sort of pressure could be feeling. Maybe she'd be a good source of information if I could replace a way to talk to her, or if Grace could replace a way to speak to her. The only question was if she would keep it a secret and if she could be trusted.

"What are the chances that she'd speak to your or Renda?"

She shook her head, "Slim. I don't know what Chloe's goals are, but she has a plan of some sort and she's sticking to it. She's not stupid enough to chance getting caught, and this event is swarming with his people."

I looked around and nodded, "Guess what it would take for her to consider it."

"Freedom," Grace said, "More than just leaving the house more."

"I agree," Renda said softly. "Security. She'd need a guarantee that's tempting enough."

Grace nodded, "Mordecai would be a good source, but she's not his type."

I could only guess what his type was and why Chloe wasn't his type.

Renda lifted her glass, "I'm going to go mingle."

"Don't stray far," I said.

She winked at me with a sultry smile before heading towards the betting tables where we would be heading next. She hadn't been by the craps table for more than a few moments before someone was speaking to her. "Wait until she learns to be sneaky," Grace said, "Then she'll be trouble."

Renda was already trouble, but the thought made me smile.

I got that sense too and smiled down at her, "Well, Lady Luck, let's go ruin Justin's day first."

She nodded and glided through the crowd with me towards the blackjack table. I saw Mordecai stop, turn, and freeze as we passed and barely restrained a smirk.

The whisper that floated through the air was telling. Grace had been noticed and it was the game had begun.