Page 65 of Risking it All

I zoned out as she introduced me and read out my credentials as if I were a show dog. My father stood just a few feet away from the stage, watching me with rapt attention.

“The opening bid has been adjusted, although we do have a goal in mind. With that being said, we will open the bid at two hundred and fifty grand.”

Shock sent an electric current through me as I watched a hand shoot into the air. Things were moving so quickly that I didn’t even see half of the men bidding.

“Remember, fellas, you’re gonna have to dig deep if you want bloodline access to the Morgan Family Mafia and all it has to offer.”

Lonnie Jefferson, one of my dad’s oldest friends, blew me away when he nodded his head, promoting the woman to move higher in the bid.

“We have a million. Can I get one point two five?”

A finger shot up.

“A million and a quarter. Do we have a million five?”

“Miss Smith, we have an offer submitted from the Black Family Cartel,” a man announced from the back of the room.

“Excuse me?” my dad asked, whirling around to look in their direction. The man hurriedly rushed to the stage and whispered in the auction attendant’s ear. She cleared her throat before speaking into the microphone.

“Ok, guys, we have a bid for five million dollars!”

“Is this a joke?” my father roared. “The Blacks haven’t attended an auction in years. Who is even eligible? Neither of their sons are in the business. Where the hell is Timothy Black?” he asked, looking around as if he were appalled.

“He sent a representative, apparently,” the woman stated.

“The Blacks weren’t even invited. Somebody better tell me what the hell is going on right now!” my father demanded.

“Apparently, their people only arrived moments ago.”

“So not only are they here uninvited, they submit a bogus bid and had the nerve to show up late to my auction.”

The crowd shifts, gradually parting to make way for the intruder. It felt like my knees would give out any second as the energy in the room changed with each breath I took.

“Come here, mama. Get down from there,” Sawyer ordered, extending his hand to me.

My feet felt like lead, but both my heart and head were screaming for me to go to him.

“Sawyer,” I mouthed.

“Who the hell is this clown?” my dad yelled.

“Aye, shut the fuck up with all that hollering. I submitted a legitimate bid, which has been verified by your own people. Zenia is mine. Now either I take her the easy way or the hard way. I really want you to say the hard way. Please say the hard way.”

“Mr. Morgan, we have in fact verified the legitimacy of their submission.”

“I don’t give a damn about legitimate. This man was not invited. The Blacks have not participated in these auctions for over a decade, and now all of a sudden, I’m supposed to believe this is not some kind of scheme cooked up by my conniving daughter!”

“Zenia, you didn’t hear me talking to you?” Sawyer asked, returning his attention to me.

Finally, I was able to will my feet to move, but my father yelled out, causing me to halt my steps.

“Don’t you fucking dare. No one goes anywhere until this auction is finished.”

Sawyer moved so fast that I barely had time to blink before he pulled out a gun, cocked the hammer back, and put it in the center of my father’s forehead.

“Come to me, mama. You don’t have to be afraid of this asshole anymore.”

This time, I managed to get the lead out as I scurried to the steps on the side of the stage and down to the floor. As soon as my feet hit the floor, one of my father’s men grabbed me. I didn’t have time to react before his head flew back and blood spattered on everything behind us. My eyes ballooned as Sawyer pointed a second gun at the crowd.