AVA'S POV
Sophie sat down hard on her own bed, staring at me like she didn't recognize me. "And now these same people are threatening you again?"
"They want more money. Fifty thousand dollars by tonight." I checked my phone. "Which is in three hours."
"Where are you supposed to meet them?"
"Some warehouse downtown. They said they'd text me the address."
"And you're just going to go? Alone? With a bag full of cash?"
"What choice do I have?" I stood up, pacing to the window. "They have Elise, Sophie. They said if I don't show up with the money, they'll hurt her."
"This is crazy. You need to call the police."
"And tell them what? That my sister owed money to loan sharks and I paid them back with money I earned at an illegal auction?" I shook my head. "They'll arrest both of us."
"Then call your professor. Gabriel. He seems to know about this world."
"I can't trust him." The words hurt to say out loud. "He's been lying to me about everything. He has connections to the auction house, maybe to these people too."
Sophie was quiet for a long moment, processing everything I'd told her. Finally, she looked up at me.
"You're really going to do this, aren't you? Go meet these dangerous people by yourself."
"I have to."
"Then I'm coming with you."
"No!" I turned away from the window. "Absolutely not. I won't put you in danger too."
"You don't get to make that choice for me." Sophie stood up, grabbing her jacket. "You're my best friend, Ava. I'm not letting you face this alone."
We argued for another ten minutes, but Sophie was as stubborn as I was. In the end, she agreed to stay in the car while I went inside, but only if I promised to text her every five minutes.
The warehouse was in the worst part of downtown, surrounded by empty lots and abandoned buildings. My phone buzzed with the final address just as the sun was setting.
"I don't like this," Sophie said as we pulled up outside. "This place looks like where people go to disappear."
"Stay in the car," I told her, grabbing the bag of money. "If I'm not back in thirty minutes, call the police."
"Ava—"
"Promise me."
"I promise."
I walked toward the building on shaking legs. The door was propped open, and I could see light coming from inside. My phone buzzed with a text: Come to the back room. Alone.
The warehouse was mostly empty, just concrete floors and metal beams. My footsteps echoed as I made my way toward the light at the back. I could hear voices – at least three men, maybe more.
When I reached the back room, my heart stopped.
Elise was there, tied to a chair, a piece of tape over her mouth. Her eyes were wide with terror, and when she saw me, she started making muffled sounds behind the tape.
"Right on time," said a voice behind me.
I spun around and found myself face to face with three men. The one in the middle was tall, well-dressed, with perfectly styled blond hair. He looked familiar, but I couldn't place where I'd seen him before.
"I brought the money," I said, holding up the bag. "Fifty thousand, like you asked. Now let my sister go."
The blond man smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm afraid there's been a change of plans."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we did some research after our last conversation. Turns out you were paid significantly more than fifty thousand for your little performance." He stepped closer. "One hundred and twenty-five thousand, to be exact."
My blood turned to ice. "How do you know that?"
"We know a lot of things, Ava. Including how much you're worth to certain people."
That's when it hit me. I knew where I'd seen him before.
"You were at the auction," I whispered. "You were bidding on me."
His smile widened. "Very good. I came in second place, if you remember. Lost out to your professor by quite a margin."
"You're the blond man. The one who kept raising his paddle."
"Among other things, yes."
"What do you want?"
"Originally? Just the money your sister owed us, plus interest for the inconvenience." He walked over to Elise and ran his hand through her hair. She flinched away from his touch. "But then we realized what a unique opportunity this was."
"I brought you the money—"
"You brought me sixty-two thousand." He held up his hand when I started to protest. "Yes, we know exactly how much you received. But that's still not enough to cover what we're owed now."
"What are you talking about?"
"Interest, Ava. Compound interest. Plus fees for our time and effort tracking you down." His voice was perfectly calm, like he was discussing the weather. "We figure you owe us the full hundred and twenty-five now."
"I don't have that much!"
"No, but your boyfriend does." The blond man's eyes lit up with something predatory. "Professor Gabriel Thorne. Quite wealthy, from what we've discovered."
"He's not my boyfriend."
"Isn't he? You're living with him. He paid a fortune for you. Sounds like a boyfriend to me."
I was shaking now, understanding dawning on me. "This was never about the money Elise owed you, was it?"
"Oh, it was at first. But then we realized who you were, where you came from and the fact that you're dear to Professor Thorne." He leaned against the wall casually. "Also, I've been thinking about you since that night at the auction. Wondering what it would have been like if I'd won instead of your professor."
"You're insane."
"Am I? I don't think so." He gestured to his associates. "I think I'm a businessman who sees an opportunity. And right now, that opportunity includes taking both you and your sister."
My legs gave out. I sank to my knees, still clutching the bag of money.
"So here's what's going to happen," the blond man continued. "You're going to call Professor Thorne and tell him to bring the rest of the money. And while we wait for him, you and I are going to get better acquainted."
He nodded to one of his men, who moved toward me.
"After all," he said, his smile turning cruel, "I never did get my turn with lot seven."