The following morning, after the incidents and occurrences at The Auction House, I woke a little after nine AM to find Hannah’s side of the bed empty. I rolled out of bed, showered, and dressed before I made my way downstairs. I could hear chatter and laughter from the kitchen before I even got halfway up the corridor. When I stepped into the doorway, I raised my eyebrows in surprise. I couldn’t rember the last ti that so many people were casually gathered together in my ho. Ed and Marcus were both leaning against the kitchen island. Marcus was telling a story to the group of won gathered at the breakfast nook.
"I told Ed to stay ho that day since he wasn’t feeling well," Marcus was saying, "but he didn’t want to miss the raid. He didn’t tell that he was sick with stomach issues."
"You don’t have to tell this story, Marcus," Ed told him.
"Maybe you should tell us an embarrassing story about Marcus," Lori said to Ed, but Lori was smiling at Marcus, leaning forward with rapt attention as Marcus had been speaking. Lauren was seated across from Lori listening to Marcus’s tale. Kristin said sothing to Hannah, and Hannah’s laughter rang out in the kitchen, reminding how much I loved seeing her happy and smiling. Hanna’s laughter made smile. Ed finally noticed standing in the kitchen doorway and he greeted with a wave. Lauren saw Ed wave and glanced over at as well.
"It’s about ti you showed up," Lauren comnted, and now all eyes were on .
"Good morning, everyone," I said, eting Hannah’s gaze. "I don’t an to interrupt, I’m just here to steal my wife for a mont." Hannah stood from the breakfast nook table with an amused expression as she joined . I took her hand and guided her out of the kitchen.
"What am I being stolen away for?" Hannah asked . I turned to face her in the corridor and wrapped my arms around her.
"For a kiss of course," I said before lowering my lips to hers. We shared a gentle, slow, passionate kiss before I pulled away. "Why didn’t you wake this morning?" I asked her.
"I figured you could use the extra sleep since you were so busy out and about last night," Hannah said to .
I nodded. "You’re still upset," I said to her.
"A bit," Hannah said. "No one likes being lied to, Roman. I forgive you, but that doesn’t an I’ve forgotten."
"I can’t ask you to forgive and forget," I said. "I know that what I did was wrong, and I deserve your disappointnt."
"I’m glad you agree," she said.
"I see you t Kristin," I said to Hannah.
"She’s certainly a character, but she seems to be a good person," Hannah told . "She’s been through a lot, but her heart is in the right place if not a bit misguided."
"I know what you an," I said. "Being rescued from a human trafficking hub just to run right back to it is pretty extre."
"Ed certainly gave Kristin an ear full when he saw her this morning," Hannah told .
"I can only imagine that it was similar to the tongue lashing that Marcus gave her after we left The Auction House," I said. "He tried to convince her that what she did was asinine, but she either ignored what he said or tried to argue her case."
"That’s pretty much exactly what went down," Hannah confird. "She sounds a lot like my hard-headed husband."
"I deserved that," I said with a smirk. Hannah gave a quick kiss.
"Let’s get back in there before everybody breaks up to go do their own things," Hannah said. She was leading back to the kitchen and I slapped her ass, making her turn and glare at playfully before we stepped into the kitchen. Lauren was standing, gathering her purse and phone to leave as we entered.
"Headed out?" I asked Lauren as Hannah took her place at the breakfast nook table.
"I’ve overstayed my welco," Lauren said, giving a quick hug. "I have so things to take care of."
"I know you don’t truly believe you’ve overstayed your welco, Lauren," I said to her as she made her way to the kitchen door. "You’re always welco here." Lauren pulled a face and blew a kiss before she left the kitchen. I slid into the breakfast nook next to Hannah to join the conversation.
"I see Lori is still flirting with Marcus," Hannah whispered to . Lori was smiling and giving Marcus her full attention.
"He’s not a bad-looking guy," I said to Hannah, "if you’re into that hardened military look."
Hannah shrugged. "She could do much worse," Hannah said. "He seems to be doing pretty good for himself and enjoying his work."
"Marcus is a good guy," Kristin said to and Hannah. "He cares a lot about what he does, and the people involved."
"I could tell from your conversation with him in the car last night," I said to Kristin.
Kristin smirked. "Sotis he cares a little too much," she said. "He thinks just because I’m not a cop or an agent that I can’t help them take those bastards down. You helped them." Kristin pointed at with a flick of her wrist. "They think I’m too young or too weak."
"I don’t think that’s the reason," Hannah said. "I lucked out when Roman cared enough to bid for at auction, but he told how close I had co to being used and abused by one of those n."
"I’ve lived it," Kristin said. "I’m well aware of what happens. I’m glad you got out of there safely before you were forced to experience it. I’ve lost friends to those monsters."
It was hard to listen to Kristin share her pain, and although I couldn’t grasp why Kristin would choose to put herself back in that situation, I wanted to know more about The Auction House and how big of an operation it was. "Where are won coming from that are sold at auction?" I asked Kristin. "I doubt that all those won are the mistresses or daughters of wealthy n." Hannah rubbed her arms when I said this, undoubtedly rembering what her father did to her. I placed a hand on Hannah’s thigh to be close to her and let her know that I was there to support her.
"The Auction House operation spans the globe," Kristin said. "They buy and sell won from many countries."
"Auction houses usually work together," Ed said, seating himself at the breakfast nook table while Lori and Marcus continued their chat. "Even if they don’t directly work together, they usually know of each other so that they can cover one another in case sothing goes down."
"So, if we take this auction house down, they’ll let the others know to close shop and move on?" I asked Ed.
"Most likely," Ed told .
"Then how do we stop them?" Hannah asked.
"We bring in as many of the top guys as we can," Ed said. "The owners and the guys moving the won around."
"It’s so hard to realize that we can only do so much," Hannah said.
"That’s why they need us," Kristin said. "Normal people who care enough to help take as many of them down as possible."
"What are you guys talking about?" Lori asked us.
"Taking down the people who sold and your sister," Kristin said, "and we have a limited ti to do it."
"She’s right," Marcus said. "Once the owners and patrons catch wind of what’s going on, they’ll close up shops pretty quickly."
"What’s the next move?" I asked Marcus.
"We’re planning a raid on Bernard Sullivan’s ho," Ed answered. "We have enough evidence against him, especially after your encounter with him at The Auction House."
"This is so fascinating," Lori said, her attention on Kristin now. "Is there anything I can do to help?" I was surprised that no one responded imdiately. Hannah and I shared a look before glancing over at Marcus and Ed who were looking at us expectantly. Kristin also looked to and Hannah to answer, knowing that it wasn’t her place to invite Lori to help with such a dangerous task.
"If it cos down to needing your help, Lori," Hannah responded to her sister, "then we’ll talk about what you can do, but until then I think it’s safe to say that we’ll act as backup."
"I agree," I added, supporting my wife’s decision.
"Well said, Hannah," Marcus comnded her. Lori seed to accept Hannah’s answer.
"Now, if only we could get Kristin to play by the rules," Ed said, staring at Kristin pointedly.
"Don’t be so controlling and maybe I’ll comply," Kristin said to Ed.
Marcus rolled his eyes. "There’s no use arguing with her," Marcus said. "We still need to work on getting you out of that bulls**t contract, Kristin. You’ve got three months before they’re expecting you to be back there."
"Hopefully we can take them down way before then," Kristin said.
"I think Bernard will be a good start," I added. "He’s too comfortable at that place."
"Ed and I think so too," Marcus said. "We may be able to get a good deal of information out of him." I could feel my excitent about taking Bernard down rising to the surface. This was it; Marcus and Ed were beginning plans to move in on The Auction House. The fact that they were starting with Bernard couldn’t have made happier. I couldn’t wait until he was behind bars.
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