“If he purchases me, yes, but there’s always a chance⁠—”

“Oh, you know he’ll take the bait,” she said with a giggle. “I mean, come on, putting your sweet ass in front of him is like throwing raw meat at a starving wolf. He’s gonna eat you alive.”

I sat back in my chair, a new weight on my shoulders that was getting heavier by the second.

“Yeah, I know that too.”

Piper sensed the shift.

“You know what, maybe it’s too dangerous. He’s fucking crazy. Did you hear about the last company he bought? The CEO and treasurer are in jail now. One even tried to kill himself. He’s not someone to mess with. Let me just lend you the money. It’s not too late⁠—”

“Please.” I raised my hand. “Let me do this. Yes, I need the money, but it’s way more than I’d feel comfortable asking you for. And that’s not the only reason I’m going.”

The same feeling was back in my stomach. Fear. Anxiety. Doubt.

I can do this. I know I can. I need to.

I was stronger than I’d been back then. Before, I didn’t know what pain was. What suffering was. I was afraid to even break a nail.

But I’m not that little girl anymore.

“I get it,” she said and grabbed my hand. Just don’t hesitate to ask me for anything, okay?”

I nodded, and then an idea popped into my head.

“Actually, there is one thing…”

4

ADDISON

“Deep breaths, A,” Dante said as he took me backstage. He gave me that warm smile he was known for, and for the first time all day, the tension in my shoulders eased just a tiny bit.

I took a deep breath for him but was unable to give him a smile because of the nerves.

If he doesn’t bid on me…

I couldn’t let myself think of what would happen.

He would. I knew he would. The offer was far too tempting.

The hushed murmurs from the crowd on the other side of the curtain swam around me. I tried to brush them off, but a few of the crasser comments were harder to ignore than others.

I heard it’s Mercer’s daughter!

No way, really? That’d be a fucking million-dollar cunt, and her profile says she’s down for anything!

She wouldn’t have the balls to show up here after what her father did. No one would pay that much for a washed-up whore anyway! Her mother was the same.

I clenched my fists, my newly manicured nails digging into my palms. Dante’s hand was on my back, steadying me.

“You’ll fucking kill it, A.”

I took another calming breath and nodded. With one last look, he left me alone with the only thing separating me from the wild animals—the thick, black velvet curtain.