Page 74 of Palace of Betrayal

A hand on his chest made him turn to her. “It’s fine.”

Leo dipped his head, not trusting himself to answer when his whole body screamed for him to take her and run. Every instinct he had was on fire telling him that something was amiss here in a big way. Could Atticus have played them and set them up? Had The Collector figured out they were onto her? So many things could go wrong, and he had the woman he loved in the middle of it.

“Just concentrate on winning the auction and I’ll cover our backs.”

A man with a moustache and glasses stepped up to the podium and a hush came over the room as anticipation built.

He pressed something to his ear and seemed to nod, evidence he was being fed instructions. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll shortly begin the auction for item seven-nine-three. Please take your seats and we’ll begin.”

Leo led Bebe to a seat on the outside of the room near the back. He wanted them close to an exit if the shit hit the fan.

He found himself seated next to a Chinese billionaire he knew from his appearance in multiple issues of Vanity Fair. Neither man made small talk, only one task on their minds but for very different reasons.

“Let us begin.”

The auctioneer went on to describe in detail what the program for sale could do. With every word out of his mouth, Leo was more determined to win. If this got into the hands of any of the people here it could cause a global catastrophe costing millions of lives.

“Shall we start the bidding at two million dollars?”

Leo watched a hand go up but kept himself out of the bidding war between the mafia don and the Chinese billionaire beside him. As the price rose to near on six million dollars, other bidders came in and some dropped out. As it hit seven million only two men were left. Leo held off, holding his nerve and waiting for one to drop out of the race before he came in and scooped the prize.

When the man beside him dropped out, Leo placed his bid. A man he recognised as an Egyptian he’d done business with turned to him and blinked in surprise. His heart rate rocketed as he realised he’d been recognised.

Turning back to the auctioneer, he focused on winning. His identity coming out would be a concern for after they got out of here.

At eight point five million the Egyptian conceded, and Leo won the bid.

“Congratulations. Will you please make your way to the exit to the back left? Everyone else, please remain in your seats until you’re told you may leave.”

Leo felt some relief, but he wouldn’t truly relax until they were back home in Soflye, and this nightmare was over.

The auctioneer left using a door behind him, and Leo and Bebe followed the man with the tablet who’d ushered them inside. As the doors closed behind them, five men began sealing them with chains.

Leo looked at Bebe who seemed as alarmed as he did by the new development.

“This way.”

Leo tried to get a closer look as he was ushered away and saw masking tape and large rolls of plastic being fitted over the doors. “What’s happening?”

The man, who was of average height with a Fabergé egg tattooed on the side of his neck, scowled. “I suggest you stop asking questions and follow me.”

He motioned with the semi-automatic in the direction of the front office they’d passed on the way inside. A laptop and a ratty desk with a broken office chair were the only things inside.

“Please complete the payment.”

“I want to see the program first?”

“It’s coming, just make the payment.”

With the goon waving the gun around he had no choice but to do as he was told. The last thing he needed was to get Bebe hurt because he was being mouthy.

Logging in he made the payment and was handed a USB Drive.

“The only copy of the program is on that drive.”

“How do I know you haven’t copied it?”

The man smirked. “You don’t.”