[the next evening, auction day]

Author's POV -

A black Range Rover glides to a regal stop in front of the grandest hall in the city. The night is thick with tension as the wealthy elite gather for a secret auction, one that deals in lives rather than art or antiques. As the car's door opens, a dashing, breathtaking figure emerges, standing tall at 6 feet 2 inches. Every eye in the vicinity turns toward him, and a stunned hush falls over the crowd.

It's as if a lord has set foot on sacred ground, and in a way, he has. He is Vincenzo Salvatore, known as Zo, a name that sends shivers down spines and commands respect, fear, and obedience. His very presence has the power to paralyze those in his vicinity.

Beside him, Marco Santoro, his loyal right-hand man, moves with a silent grace, their unspoken communication a testament to their years of partnership. He murmurs, "We have located the girl, Lord. She's in position."

Zo acknowledges Marco's words with a subtle nod. His piercing gaze, cold and calculating, remains fixed on the opulent stage where a row of girls stands, their faces hidden behind delicate lace masks. Each one is a commodity, a pawn in the high-stakes game of the criminal underworld.

They take their seats. "Are you sure that it's her? Is it really her? Otherwise, I care a damn to be here," Zo whispers.

"Yes, Lord. It's her. Chiara DeMarco. That hopeless guy standing over there is her brother. Who has no other choice but to attend his own sister's auction." Marco shakes his head.

There are 100 girls. A few are already sold out. All are undoubtedly hot as their pieces of appeal are enough exposing. But one had captured Zo's attention from the moment she graced the stage—Chiara DeMarco. Her name had been whispered through the hall room's darkest corners, synonymous with defiance and resilience. She was a flame that could not be extinguished, a spirit unbroken by the harshest realities of their world.

Chiara DeMarco.

The auctioneer's voice rings out, his words laden with the weight of a sinister transaction. "Ladies and gentlemen, our next item for bid is Lot 42, the captivating Chiara DeMarco."

As the auctioneer's voice rings out, announcing the next item for bid, the captivating Chiara DeMarco, a shiver of anticipation ripples through the room. The bidding begins, the numbers climbing steadily as wealthy, ruthless men vie for ownership of Chiara's life.

Zo looks around. Maximum guys over here are drooling over Chiara's beauty. She has a mask on her face though it's transparent. The man at the next table is whispering that he wants this girl tonight on his bed and he is not going to leave her until she collapses.

Zo, however, is different. He watches, calculating, waiting for the opportune moment to make his move. The auctioneer's words hang in the air, laden with the sinister weight of a life-changing transaction.

And the auctioneer's voice echoes through the hall, and the bidding for Chiara DeMarco begins. The starting price is set at a staggering one million dollars, and it climbs rapidly as the room fills with the frenzied voices of the wealthy elite.

"One million dollars!" The auctioneer's voice carries a hint of excitement as he calls out the opening bid.

From the shadows, hidden beneath the brim of his black mask, Zo watches the proceedings with a cool detachment. He knows this is only the beginning, a mere warm-up for the bidding war that will ensue.

Two million dollars come from a portly man with a glistening forehead. He leers at Chiara with a predatory gaze, and Zo can't help but feel a surge of contempt for such vultures. But he keeps his emotions concealed behind a mask of indifference.

"Two million dollars," the auctioneer announces, and the amount is met with approving nods from the crowd.

The numbers continue to rise as if they're in a race against time. The room buzzes with excitement, the anticipation palpable. Zo's lips form a thin line as he watches the wealthy elite vie for Chiara's life, their greed, and desire laid bare.

"Five million dollars!" A voice from the back of the room calls out, and Zo's gaze narrows. It's clear that Chiara has captivated more than just his attention. But he has no intention of losing this bid.

With each successive offer, Zo remains patient. He knows that the true battle will be fought in the final moments when the stakes reach their zenith.

"Ten million dollars!" The bidding war shows no signs of slowing down. The atmosphere in the room crackles with a mixture of desire, avarice, and a dark hunger.

As the numbers climb higher and higher, Chiara's face remains hidden behind her transparent mask. Her eyes, however, are pools of defiance, and Zo can't help but admire her strength in the face of such a sinister spectacle.

"Twenty million dollars!" The voice of the portly man with the glistening forehead echoes through the hall. He's determined to claim Chiara, to possess her as if she were a rare and coveted prize.

Zo's jaw clenches. It's time to make his move, to signal his intent. The price has risen far enough, and now it's time to assert his dominance.

Chiara's face remains expressionless behind her mask, but her eyes betray a mixture of fear and determination. She refuses to be a passive participant in this horrifying spectacle. The room seems to hold its breath, waiting for the inevitable climax.

Zo double-clicks on his phone screen, and a face appears on the screen. His eyes well up, but he controls his tears.

Finally, when the price reaches an astronomical figure, Zo raises his hand, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "One billion dollars."

Gasps fill the room. No one has ever offered such an exorbitant sum for a single life. But for Zo, it's a small price to pay for the enigma that is Chiara DeMarco.

The auctioneer hesitates, then nods. "Sold to the gentleman in the black mask."

The gavel strikes, sealing Chiara's fate. She's now the property of Vincenzo Salvatore, the notorious Mafia Lord known as Zo.

As Chiara is escorted off the stage, her eyes lock with Zo's for a fleeting moment. In that instant, he sees a fire burning within her, a fire that he intends to make his own at any cost.

Maybe currently the time is in Zo's hands; however, it wasn't so easy by then when he needed to make a tough decision. Nonetheless, that decision seems to be always with him, forever.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Curious readers,
Now, what's going to happen between Zo and Chiara?
To know, stay tuned.
Thank you all.
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