The Auction

The Auction - A Hannah Todd Story

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental. This work is copyrighted by the author. All characters involved in sexual activity are eighteen years of age or older at the time of portrayal.

This is the continuing adventures of Hannah Todd. I would strongly recommend you read at least some of "The Bridge" and "Badass," which provide the backstory for most of the characters in this story. And if you've been reading me, thank you for your continued support. Your comments are priceless, so please leave your wisdom so I might improve my product.

The Auction - Part Thirteen

Bertha gave me a look like she was going to jump across the kitchen island table and stick her foot in my mouth. Lizzie slammed her hands on the table and said, "I can't listen to this. I'm going outside for a walk. I need some air. Do you need anything from the Greenhouse, Bertha?"

"I was just going there myself. Grab a basket and we can go together."

As the TV went on about what had played out at the venue in Maryland, with the newscasters speculating that this incident ties into the ones that caused hundreds of girls to be released from captivity, Holly just gazed at me with a look with which I was all too familiar. She was certain I was heavily involved. I could just tell. And she wasn't letting go.

"How deep are you into this, Hannah? And is that where Duane was all day yesterday? Give it up. Let me in."

"Yes, I'm involved and so is Duane. We all are. Is that what you want to hear? Now you have the keys to the castle Holly. You gonna slip up and sell me down the river?"

"Hannah, I wouldneverdo that. You know I can keep your secrets. Icanbe trusted."

"But you told Lu about Peace Dunbar. That alone could send me up the river for the rest of my life. I could see the headlines now, Holly, 'Rich woman blows up retired football player.' How's that sound Holl? How about rich woman responsible for the deaths of dozens of people? It's true, Holly, now it's your move."

"Thank you, Hannah. Thank you for coming clean with me. You have only confirmed what I have suspected since the house got hit by those people in April. It's apparently no coincidence that you were super prepared for that to happen. And then all those women being released from bondage over the last couple of months. I know it was you somehow, Hannah. I just knew it."

"Why didn't you say something?"

"I tried to, but you have been so... unavailable."

I approached her and threw my arms around her. I stared straight into her eyes. "I know. It's been a rough couple of months, Holl. I'll try to be straight with you, but give me time. There is so much I have to unpack before I sit down with you and lay it all out."

"That's fair, Han. But don't be so estranged. We can talk about it whenyouare ready, I won't push. And I won't tell. You have my word on it."

At one o'clock Duane came down, dressed in jeans and a Phillies tee shirt. I poured him a cup of coffee and I had my second. When Bertha and Lizzie got back, Bertha made omelets for lunch and we all talked about the kids. No shop talk now. But I had a call to make.

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After lunch I went up to my office with Duane and I put a call into Rhee Spanner. Time for a debrief and to tell her how magnificent her people were.

"So, Hannah. How do you think it went?"

"Splendidly, except my right-hand man took one to the leg, and he's down for the count for the foreseeable future. He's earned some downtime, and I'm going to go see him today. Your people did as expected, both militarily and technologically. Profound performance by Tripper and his people. We would have lost a lot more people had the technology not been in place."

"Any idea how many of them we got?"

"I don't know yet, but I'll be hearing from Russo today and she should know all the numbers by then. We lost a couple from the assault squad, but we will be taking care of their families in perpetuity. But you can't replace a loved one. Not once he's gone."

"Truer words never spoken. We didn't lose any of ours, but we got a few bumps and bruises in the ranks."

"To be expected. They really performed even better than I had imagined."

"And did you fetch Teetotaler?"

"We did, and a plus one. We flew them up here and they are locked up in the safe house with my other guests."

"What are you going to do with them all? You know you're probably going to have to kill them."

"I'm actually going to hire one of them, Rhee."

"Oh? Who?"

"James Butler. I think I'm going to see if I can unleash his talents on Acquisitions. He's perfect for the job. With Lizzie lording over him, he'll be just fine. Besides, I need to free up space at the safe house for Teetotaler and the other guy. He's my key to getting my hands on Simon. My next pursuit."

"That's not going to be easy. We have so little on the guy and he is shrouded in mystery. It ain't gonna be simple."

"I think I have all the elements I need to come to terms with Simon, simple or not."

"Hey Hannah, I just talked to my accountant, and wait till you get my bill on this latest operation?"

"I'm not concerned. I just came into a shitpile of gold. Will you take that as remuneration?"

"I love gold. How much did you recover?"

"Around fifty mill. How's that for walking-around money? I feel like a master thief. And it will be good for paying off any of the off the books people. And bonuses. On top of your bill, I'd like to give you a half a million to spread around to the operators who worked on this job. Techs and soldiers."

"That ought to make Tripper and Arnold very happy. They have already reported back to me and were very pleased to work with you."

"We were pleased to work with them. They were all true professionals. Alright, Rhee, gotta go. I want to go visit with Domingo and make sure my big bear is okay."

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I wanted to see Domingo before his kids came home from school. He and his beautiful bride, Rosa, were there to greet me. They had told the kids that dad had a work accident, but that he would be okay. The doctor had come by this morning just to check on his dressings and to make certain he was okay. He was. At least that's whathetold me.

The beautiful Rosa knows about Dom's work and appreciates that he spends most of his work time as my personal bodyguard. She also understands mission, as she had married him when they were both young and she was his military wife when he was a Ranger.

"Rosa, I'm so sorry this happened. We can't talk about it, but Dom was very brave and insisted on going on this mission."

"There's nothing to apologize for, Hannah. He's a soldier and that is the risk of his profession. Please keep him safe from now on."

"He's a hardhead, so I can't promise he won't be going on any more missions, but I will try to keep him under control."

"Don't worry about me, Queen Bee, I'll be back to work in a couple of days. It's just a flesh wound."

"Right. It went clean through your leg, Domingo. Stop trying to be the hero and take your time off. You've got it, and a nice healthy bonus, coming to you. You have two weeks off, at least. Maybe a month to get you up to full strength. You keep a tight rein on him, Rosa. And I'll be back to see you both in a couple of days. Lots to do."

"Aaah, I'll be fine."

"You just lay low until you are. No walking on that leg until the doctor says so."

"I also took two to the vest, but nothing got broken. Just some bruised ribs."

"All the more reason to stay home and heal. Rosa, you tell me if he's giving you trouble. I'll take him over my knee if I have to."

We all got a good laugh out of that, and Ronnie, who had driven me to Dom's gave his brother in arms a high five and off we went. To the safe house to see Miles Teetotaler. And to give Jim Butler the good news. He's getting theget out of jail free cardand going to be employed by the best outfit he ever worked for. And he'll get to be legit too. Kind of.

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In the spirit of trying to keep all of our 'guests' separated, my guards at the safe house had Teetotaler and the other man locked up in the basement. The accommodations were not pretty, nor were they comfortable, but that was not the goal. We would free up Butler's room and stick Teetotaler there for the time being. The other guy will have to deal with the basement. Before getting to Teetotaler, it would be Jim Butler who I would see first.

Butler was still dressed in his tux shirt and pants from the night before when I entered his room. He was having a sandwich for lunch, and admitted he had not slept after last night's operation. Too keyed up to sleep, he said. Only he knew that we had absconded with Teetotaler to the exclusion of our other guests.

"It's liberation day, Jim. You did real good last night and that is to be rewarded. There is a small apartment building I own where some of my people live. We have reserved one of the units for you and you will be moving in under their watchful eyes. As you know, you've already been chipped, so no matter where you go, I will be able to find you. So, running away is not a very healthy option. Besides, I have a job for you that is right up your alley. I have a small company where we acquire the funds of those we have brought to justice and distribute them to those who have been injured by the miscreants you have formerly worked for. How does that sound?"

"You mean a real legit job?"

"Let's call it semi-legit. Right up your alley. Except you'll be paying taxes."

"I don't know what to say."

"Say you will take the job and that you won't give me any shit. Know that if you run to those who formerly employed you that they won't treat you nearly as well as I have. This is a very real opportunity to get yourself straight. But you will have to earn my trust and the respect of your peers in the process before any of usreallytrust you."

"You humble me, Miss Todd. Without reservation, I accept your offer. Last night I got a taste of what power you have, and I like to be on the winning team."

"Then pull yourself together. One of my people will be dropping you off at your new fully furnished one bedroom apartment with a few free credits to get you started. You'll be working at the Navy Yard, in Philly and will start first thing on Monday. Until then, get used to your new surroundings and don't get any funny ideas. You will be monitored closely."

"No, ma'am. I am on your side now. I won't stray and I won't betray you."

"Alright then. Get out of here, I need the room so that I can interview Teetotaler this afternoon. I don't want to have to do that in the basement."

"Yes, ma'am." And he grabbed his few garments and threw them in a big cloth bag and he was out the door. That's when I had Felix, one of the permanent guards at the safe house, bring Teetotaler upstairs and chained him up in the room Jim Butler had previously occupied.

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"Miles Teetotaler, as I live and breathe. Welcome to my guesthouse. I've long been waiting for this day."

"I don't feel very much like a guest. I've been treated horribly, and I just won't stand for it."

"Oh my. What will you ever do about it, Miles? You don't have any of those baddyguards of yours around to do your bidding. How will you ever cope, knowing a woman has power over you?"

"Who are you? I insist that you let me go immediately. My people will come for me, and they will find me."

"Oh no they won't. Your chip has been located and surgically removed and sent a long way from here. By the time your people activate the chip's transmitter, it will be far gone from any place where your body is."

"Who are you, and what do you want from me? I don't have any gripe with you."

"Oh, but I have one with you, Miles. I just hate traffickers. More than anything I hate the bottom feeders who deal in human flesh. And you, the fucking auctioneer, are the worst of the bunch. I'll bet thousands of poor innocent girls have gone through your hands to who knows where for the vilest reasons. I amtheirguardian angel, and I bring retribution to those who would enslave them. I amyourworst nightmare, Miles."

I sent Felix out to get another guard so that the two of them could undress Miles Teetotaler for me, leaving him exposed and most vulnerable. In the meantime, I continued my monologue.

"We're going to strip you down, Miles, and deprive you of all the pleasures of life you have grown used to. You will crave the simple things that you have taken for granted, such as food and sleep and privacy. Like others before you, you will beg me to kill you, and you will eventually tell me everything I want to know. So far, I'm batting a thousand in that regard, and you are too much of a pussy to resist for very long. You'll see." He was stone-faced and showed no expression.

When the boys returned, they stripped him of all his clothing, and the entire time he stared at me. I saw that he noticed my Glock, and he commented on it.

"I see you are armed. What are you going to do, shoot me?"

"Oh no, Miles. That would be too easy. I'm going to make you absolutely miserable for a long period of time. As long as it takes to get what I want from you."

"And what would that be, Miss..."

"Todd. Hannah Todd. I own you now, Teetotaler. As time passes, you will learn to fear that name and the person it represents. This ismybusiness, Miles, and I take my business very personally."

"I'm hungry. Will you be feeding me or even giving me drink?"

"There will be water, enough to keep you hydrated, but for now, lunch and dinner are off the table. But... they can be earned. In time, you will meet other guests of my house. They will guide you through the process of revealing what I want to know. Until then, enjoy the comforts I will be allowing you right now. They won't last."

Without saying another word, I turned and left the room. Leaving Felix's mate to watch over our newest guest.

My next stop was Deacon Peacock's room, where the man was sitting on his bed and talking to his bird. And the damned parrot was talking back. When I entered, I garnered his full attention, and he placed a sheet over Raven's cage so that the bird might rest. And keep his fucking mouth shut.

"So, Miss Todd; did you attend the auction? Were you impressed with Miles' skill as an auctioneer? Mostly, did you obtain any girls at the auction?"

"That's not what yesterday was about, Deke. It was about retribution and about rescue. We rescued over two hundred girls and women from that auction yesterday, and left this..."

And I showed him a clip from the video taken by the wasp drone located in the warehouse rafters during and after the battle. Mostly he got to see the dead bodies of Teetotaler's army of baddyguards strewn around the floor of the warehouse amongst the collapsed folding chairs and broken drones and ASRs.

"Right now, your compadres are being processed by law enforcement and many who you called friends are now in lock up, along with their personal security and the remains of Teetotaler's army of baddyguards."

"Baddyguards, indeed. And Butler?"

"He's come to work for me now, Deacon. That's what happens when I get full cooperation. He put his ass on the line for me and performed splendidly at the auction."

"And me? Have I not been cooperative? What is to become of me?"

"I'm still trying to figure that out, to be honest with you. I have bigger fish to fry right now, and you may just be the grease I fry them in."

"What have you done with Miles?"

"Oh, don't worry, he's here."

"Wherever here is."

"That's not for you to fret about. You just do your best to maintain your three hots and a cot and your life won't get any worse. For now."

"I live to serve."

"You'd better, if you know what's good for you." And I turned and left the room. Time to go home and spend time with the kids before bedtime.

It felt strange not having Domingo at my side at the safe house, but Juan was standing in for him along with a member of the assault team as my escorts. Felix and others would hold the fort at the safe house, and I was feeling comfortable about that.

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I got home a little before dinnertime, and the kids were swimming. They drew me in, and I went upstairs to change into my Bodyglove tie-dyed one-piece suit. I ran outside and immediately cannonball'd into the pool, giving the kids a wide berth so I didn't hit anyone. I did, however, throw Celeste off her game and she gave me a look that said, 'This is my time; don't mess up my game.'

Herman, who was there with Peggy, just shook his head at me and came very close to scolding me as he watched Celeste go through her routine. So I splashed with the kids, and we talked about the coming weekend, and I just felt like a mom. Just where I wanted to be after the week I'd just had.

Duane made it home for dinner, and Bertha had cooked up a roast that she special ordered for the occasion. Beef for the conquering hero and his little tribe. And a great big pot of Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, that were greenhouse grown and picked by little Georgie and Lizzie, who was at the point of taking up residence. And the gravy... Yum.

After the operation, RFS, Recovery and Acquisitions were on autopilot, with Avi taking control while Duane and Herman took some well-deserved time off. The kids would have Friday off due to an in-service day for the teachers at their schools. The Krasses and Lizzie would be taking them, along with some of their friends, to Longwood Gardens for the day. With a full contingency of some of my best bodyguards.

Duane and I, mostly I, decided that we would spend the night at his place and catch up. If you know what I mean. Time for the Queen Bee to be shaken and stirred, by her favorite cocktail shaker. That's his cock and my tail. My favorite winning combination.

Ronnie and Caroline were our escorts. It gave them a little time together after being apart during the operation. They helped us bring in the gold bars we had taken from the auction and store them with other valuables in the hidden room in Duane's basement. They were two of only five people who knew, other than Duane and I, where the room was located. The other three were Herman, Avi and Lizzie. If only Duane's neighbors knew how much gold was stored in that house, there would be a multi-pronged home invasion. My guess was over one hundred million, although that amount would be depleted shortly after paying Rhee's bill and giving out bonuses and compensation for the fallen warriors. There were also the rescued girls to consider, and I expected much of the newly acquired shiny stuff would be going through Jim Butler's hands in the near future.

It was divine just laying back with my lover, post-mission, and taking care of our pent-up needs. I appeared to have done a good job of removing his game face and replacing it with a broad smile. And his patented shit eating grin. Then his supercell rang. Dammit. Never a minute of peace.

It was his brother. Just what I need right now. The fuckin' F.B.I.

"What's up, Vante? I'm takin' a day off, so let's keep it light. No business."

The Auction Ch. 13

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