Chapter 1
The basement smelled like cigarettes and fear. Ivy pressed her back against the cold concrete wall, her wrists raw from the zip ties. Men in expensive suits sat around folding tables, drinks in hand, eyes hungry. A makeshift stage stood in the center of the room under harsh fluorescent lights.
"You're up next, sweetheart." Her stepfather's breath reeked of whiskey. Dark circles shadowed his bloodshot eyes. "Remember what I told you. Smile. Look pretty. Don't cause trouble."
"Please." The word came out as a whisper. "Don't do this."
He grabbed her chin, fingers digging into her skin. "You think I want to? I owe dangerous people money. This is the only way."
The auctioneer's voice boomed across the room. "Sold! To the gentleman in the blue tie." A girl with tears streaming down her face was led away by a man twice her age. Ivy's stomach turned.
"Next up, we have Ivy. Twenty-two years old. College educated. Clean."
Two men grabbed her arms, dragging her toward the stage. Her legs felt like water. The lights blinded her as they shoved her forward.
"Starting bid is ten thousand."
Hands shot up around the room. Numbers flew faster than she could follow.
● Fifteen thousand.
● Twenty.
● Twenty-five.
She scanned the crowd, looking for any trace of mercy in their faces. Found none. These men saw her as property. Nothing more.
"Thirty thousand."
A voice cut through the noise like a blade. Deep. Rough. Dangerous.
"Fifty thousand."
The room went silent. Ivy turned toward the voice. In the back corner sat a man in black leather. Dark hair fell across his forehead, shadowing eyes that looked like storm clouds. Tattoos covered his arms. A patch on his vest read "Black Vultures MC" with a skull underneath.
The auctioneer cleared his throat. "We have fifty thousand. Do I hear—"
"One hundred thousand." The biker's voice never changed. Calm. Final.
No one else spoke.
"Sold to the gentleman in leather."
The biker stood. He moved like a predator, all controlled power and barely contained violence. Other men stepped out of his way as he walked toward the stage.
Ivy tried to run. The zip ties around her wrists caught on nothing. She stumbled, falling to her knees.
Heavy boots stopped in front of her. She looked up. His face was carved from stone. A scar ran from his left temple to his jaw. His eyes held no warmth, no kindness. Only cold purpose.
"What's your name?" His voice was quieter now, but no less dangerous.
"Ivy." She hated how small her voice sounded.
He pulled out a knife. She flinched, but he only cut the zip ties. Her hands fell free, numb and tingling.
"Get up."
She stood on shaking legs.
"You belong to me now." He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Don't speak unless I tell you to."
He handed a thick envelope to the auctioneer. No words. No hesitation.
"Let's go." He turned and walked toward the exit.
Ivy looked back at her stepfather. He wouldn't meet her eyes. Just stared at the floor, counting money with trembling fingers.
She followed the biker up narrow stairs, through a warehouse, and into the night. Rain fell in heavy drops, soaking through her thin dress within seconds.
A line of motorcycles waited in the parking lot. Chrome and black metal gleamed under the streetlights. Men in matching vests leaned against their bikes, watching.
"Who's the girl, Axel?" one of them called out.
Axel. So that was his name.
"None of your business, Snake." Axel threw his leg over a massive black Harley. "We're heading back."
He looked at Ivy, rain dripping from his hair. "Get on."
She'd never been on a motorcycle. The seat was higher than she expected. She climbed on behind him, not sure where to put her hands.
The engine roared to life beneath them. Axel grabbed her wrists, pulling her arms around his waist.
"Hold tight. Fall off, and I'm not coming back for you."
They pulled out into traffic, the other bikes following. The city blurred past in streaks of neon and rain. Ivy closed her eyes and held on.
She'd been sold. Bought. Like cattle at market. But somehow, sitting behind this dangerous stranger, she felt something she hadn't expected. Safe. The thought terrified her more than anything that had happened tonight.
Because men like Axel Cross didn't buy girls to keep them safe. They bought them for much darker reasons.
The bike turned onto a highway leading out of the city. Behind them, the lights grew smaller until they disappeared completely.
There was no going back now. Ivy belonged to the Black Vultures MC. She belonged to Axel Cross. And she had no idea what he planned to do with her.