Page 108 of Born for Starlight

It was some kind of huff of breath.

Then a gurgling sound.

My hand clamped over my mouth.

“That was five. He’s done for.” It was Jase. He’d just slit someone’s throat.

I shuddered. My big brother had just killed someone, and I heard him do it.

“Six is down,” Billy said. His voice was rough.

“Taking seven to the container,” Vargas said. He was panting.

How many more?

I mouthed the question to Bruno.

He held up one finger.

Again with the quiet. I paced around the office. This time Bruno didn’t bother trying to get me to sit down.

It felt like forever. I went over to Bruno. He looked up at me. Good, he looked anxious too. But then it was gone. The bastard had gone stone-faced again. I hated him. Hated all of them.

“That’s eight,” Billy said.

Eight. Pedro had said eleven. That left three in the room with Matthew.

“To the back entrance,” Simon ordered. “We’ll go in on my command.”

I listened as everyone agreed.

“Bruno, I’m going to need you,” Simon whispered.

I winced. Then watched as my brother pushed up from the chair he’d been sitting on.

Chapter Thirty-Four

I was surprised they opened the double doors. It was a rookie mistake. I hadn’t expected that. But the way they searched me wasn’t like rookies. Not even Alberto got as familiar with the family jewels when he was fitting me with a suit, as this monkey. I looked over his shoulder and did a quick headcount. Twenty-nine men and three women. Thirty-two buyers were currently seated. I would be the thirty-third.

Besides the guy wanding and groping me, I saw two other guards. That meant there were eight outside for Simon.

“You’re good.”

“Of course he is,” Costa said impatiently. The guard looked properly chastised.

“Take any seat you would like. Our hostess, Layla, will get you whatever kind of drink you would like. We have a very well stocked bar.” Costa was laying it on thick.

I took a seat behind all of the other buyers so that I could watch everyone, but it was still close enough that I would still be able to see the stage. Layla immediately sidled up to me. She bent down and whispered in my ear so that no one else could hear.

“What the fuck, Matthew?” she said in English.

“Blanton’s. On the rocks,” I said in English. “When will the auction start?”

“Soon,” she said.

I saw Pedro with a cigar box open for one of the women and she was choosing what she would like. When she had made her selection, he moved to the left of the stage, where I assumed the bar and staff were. Meanwhile, Layla left me and walked up the five steps up onto the stage, and then disappeared behind the curtain.

So much for my bourbon.