007

Celine tried to back away, the chains holding her fast until the strange Beta could come in and unlock the cuffs around her wrists. She shrank away as best as she could, avoiding his gaze. She expected to be released and didn’t at all predict what the Beta would do first, her eyes going wide when a chloroform-soaked rag was pressed to her nose.

The smell of the chemical was overbearing, stinging her eyes and throat. Struggling was futile as she was still chained up, her vision going blurry as she was forced to breathe in the chemicals, her head drooping as she went unconscious.

Frank popped out of nowhere, a cigarette in hand as he stared down the lackey dealing with Celine. He didn’t have to hang around after dropping off the merchandise but he wanted to make sure that the Omega wasn’t in danger before leaving or he wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.

“A little handsy with Alpha Asher’s property, aren’t you?” He blew out smoke, his eyes hard.

The other Beta had a scar running down the right side of his face, like someone had tried to take out his eye and missed. His lips twisted cynically at his words, taking his hands from the chest of the unconscious Omega to focus on uncuffing her.

Frank didn’t have to, but he hung around until the Omega was handed over to Alpha Asher’s men. His efforts were probably worth nothing, considering that he had agreed to sell her off to one of the devils running the city, but Frank wasn’t a savior.

He stood in a corner of the underground parking lot, a lit cigarette in his face as he watched the Omega be put into a car that was worth more money than he had ever managed to get his hands on, noting with relief that at least Alpha Asher’s men treated her decently.

He knew nothing about her because she had remained unconscious the entire time, only rousing right before she was to go on stage, so she had luckily been spared from a lot. His phone rang as he watched the car drive out - all three Mafia Kings had left the auction a while ago, not bothering to stay till the end - he picked up his phone without looking at his screen, turning around to return to the hall.

Asher had no idea why he had spent so much money on a whim but he didn’t regret it, his overcoat billowing as he made his way through the back entrance of one of his clubs. Going to the auction had been for duty’s sake, it was a way to show the influence and the power he held. Attending important functions like that was vital even if he didn’t plan on bidding, and he hadn’t.

He wasn’t surprised by Nolan and Davian bidding, as well, especially Nolan, that bastard would go out of his way to get something just because he showed interest in it. Asher couldn’t exactly judge, considering that he would do the same but he had no intention of giving up the Omega.

He found himself wondering how she had gotten into her current situation, she looked nothing like the usual set of Omegas that chose to sell themselves, it had spiked his curiosity from the start, and it was why he had bid on her at first. But one look at her eyes and he was completely drawn in.

She had looked so confused, so innocent. With her waves of white-blonde hair and big blue eyes, she looked so out of place on an auction stage… Asher clenched a fist, absently walking to his office and manspreading behind his desk.

There was always a long list of people asking to see him and tonight was no different, so although he would rather see his newly purchased property, he had to play nice and receive visitors.

Asher leaned back in his chair, his usually wild hair slicked back, the fur coat he wore accentuating the width of his shoulders. His office was dimly lit, the chandeliers and decor belying the rough-looking men that hung around him.

A Beta walked in, a pair of shades obscuring his eyes, his expression set grimly. “Mafia King Nolan just arrived.” He quietly informed him, leaning close to speak.

A devilish smile split Asher’s lips at that piece of information, “I’ll see him.” He allowed magnanimously.

His smile didn’t fade even when Mafia King Nolan swept into his office, dark blond hair coiffed, signature cigar between his fingers.

“Can I help you with something?” Asher asked lightly, pouring himself a shot of whiskey from the crystal decanter on his table. He made no effort to offer a glass to Nolan, he had no intentions of underestimating the other although he had shown up alone.

“A deal,” Nolan spoke bluntly, his raspy voice not matching his icy exterior.

Asher narrowed his eyes, neither of the three Mafia Kings were on good terms with each other, not even Davian who preferred to lay low so it was very suspicious for Nolan to show up without warning and demand a deal.

He held out a hand, one of his silent men swiftly placing a gun right on his open palm. Asher grasped the gun and pointed the barrel right at Nolan’s head, “You might want to watch what you say next.”

Nolan looked almost bored, unfazed by the threat although he knew well that Asher was a trigger-happy bastard. He reached accross the table to silently pour himself some whiskey, his shoulders feeling way too light without his gun holsters. “I didn’t come here for a fight.”

“You sitting in one of my clubs tell me otherwise.”

Now Nolan raised both hands in a gesture of surrender, a trail of smoke partitioning his features. “I did mention I came to make a deal.”

Asher was still highly skeptical so he didn’t lower his gun, his aim steady as he waited for the other Mafia King to get to the point.

“I’ll pay you double, so hand the Omega over to me.”