Ethan stood over the two fallen guards, breathing hard, the silence in the room now deafening save for the hurried whispers of the remaining bidders evacuating. He looked directly at the stunned auctioneer and the few remaining guards.
"I said: Where is the woman you took away?"
"Easy there, Mr. Blake."
A new figure appeared from the shadows behind the podium. This was Ross Bailey. Unlike the rougher Axhel, Ross was a middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache and long hair tied back in a queue, giving him the refined air of an old-world gentleman.
Ethan turned and faced Ross. "Hand over Samantha, or I will have to demolish this entire place," Ethan said, his voice laced with venom.
Ross smiled easily. "I suppose Axhel screwed up again. Let me guess: the young woman is also an acquaintance of yours, and you came looking for her, correct?"
Ethan looked around. Everyone had been swiftly evacuated; only about six or seven guards and Ross remained in the gallery.
