The Auction (2026) is a dark romance novel by Sadie Kincaid and the first installment in the Wages of Sin series (a two-book series referred to as a “duet”). Kincaid is a bestselling author known for her mafia romance novels; her background in criminal justice often informs her portrayals of criminal underworlds. The novel follows Imogen DeMotta, a young woman sold at an auction by a clandestine criminal organization called the Brotherhood. The story’s conflict begins when she is purchased by the enigmatic and reclusive billionaire Lincoln Knight.

The Auction utilizes popular dark romance tropes such as a captor-captive dynamic, a charismatic anti-hero, and complex power imbalances, which have gained widespread popularity on social media platforms like TikTok. The narrative explores themes of Deception Undermining Genuine Trust, Reclaiming Bodily Autonomy After Subjugation, and the Necessity of Challenging Authority and Systems.

This guide is based on the 2026 MIRA edition.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide contain depictions of graphic violence, sexual violence, death, sexual content, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and cursing.

Plot Summary

Imogen DeMotta is the granddaughter of Saul DeMotta, a wealthy man active in organized crime, and the daughter of the late Luca DeMotta. Luca was involved in a clandestine criminal organization known as the Brotherhood, where he rose to the status of a Rook (a high-ranking position). During Luca’s time in the Brotherhood, he became close friends with a fellow member named Killian Wolfe. Killian joined the organization at 14, after a difficult childhood. When Imogen was born, Luca made Killian her godfather. However, when Imogen was three years old (and Killian was 24), Killian realized that the Brotherhood was ultimately a force of evil and turned his back on the organization. His defection was spurred by the death of his beloved sister, Olivia, who was killed by the Brotherhood.

Killian’s defection from the Brotherhood led to Luca being perceived as a traitor and killed by members of the organization. Luca died in Killian’s arms, making the latter swear to protect his wife and young daughter (Imogen). However, Imogen and her mother were abducted by the Brotherhood a short time later. Imogen’s mother was killed and her grandfather, Saul, struck a bargain in exchange for her life: Saul would be allowed to raise Imogen until she was 21, but at that time she would be reclaimed by the Brotherhood and sold at an auction to the highest bidder. Among many other illicit activities, the Brotherhood sells girls and young women to wealthy men. Killian believed that Imogen had died along with her mother. The Brotherhood sent their most vicious enforcers after him and one brutal attack caused severe scarring to his face. Killian was eventually able to fake his own death and assume a new identity as Lincoln Knight.

Since the Brotherhood falsely claim that Killian was the one who killed her parents, Imogen grows up hating the memory of her godfather while also believing he is long dead. For his part, Lincoln/Killian’s only purpose in life is to eradicate the Brotherhood. Because the Brotherhood believes him to be dead, Killian/Lincoln can successfully stalk and kill many of their members, but he is not successful at eliminating any high-ranking members of the secretive organization. Lincoln also learns about the auctions where the Brotherhood sells girls and young women. He is shocked when, 18 years after Luca’s death and his defection from the Brotherhood, Lincoln sees that Imogen (now 21) is going to be sold at an upcoming auction.

Realizing that Imogen has survived, Lincoln attends the auction and buys her. He takes her back to his secluded mansion, where they live in isolation accompanied only by Lincoln’s faithful employee, Pierre. She is free to roam the house and grounds but not permitted to leave. Lincoln intends to atone for failing to protect her when she was a child, but he quickly becomes conflicted due to the intense mutual attraction that develops between them. He also conceals his true identity since he knows Imogen would hate him if she knew he was her godfather. For her part, Imogen finds life with Lincoln liberating. Growing up, Imogen’s grandfather and an older woman named Larissa (who acted as a teacher and mentor) trained her to be docile and submissive at all costs. They also kept her in complete isolation. At Lincoln’s mansion, Imogen begins to discover her own preferences and interests.

Lincoln and Imogen develop greater emotional intimacy, occasionally interrupted when he travels on missions to liberate other women who have been sold by the Brotherhood, or to kill members of the organization. Eventually, they begin a sexual relationship, although Lincoln continues to worry that the context of their relationship makes true consent impossible. Imogen insists that she freely chooses to be with him, that she finally feels safe and cherished, and their relationship is mutually pleasurable. Their sexual and romantic relationship deepens as months pass and they fall in love. However, when one of Lincoln’s missions leads to a confrontation with a high-ranking member of the Brotherhood, the man dies while making a cryptic comment that “The Queen is the most powerful piece in the game” (310). Since Imogen has recently made an identical comment, Lincoln begins to worry that she might be loyal to the Brotherhood and secretly conspiring against him.

Lincoln begins secretly testing Imogen’s loyalty, trying to establish whether she will escape if given the chance. Meanwhile, Imogen has learned that Lincoln is actually Killian Wolfe. She is devastated and convinced that her entire relationship with him has been a cruel deception. Without telling Lincoln what she knows, she resolves to escape. Believing that Lincoln is departing for a business trip, Imogen hides in the trunk of his car.

However, Imogen is astonished and confused when the car stops and her grandfather opens the trunk. Lincoln is being held at gunpoint by Saul’s men and believes the Imogen conspired to have him ambushed. Although Imogen tries to tell him that she had nothing to do with the attack, Lincoln is consumed by rage, believing she has masterminded the ultimate betrayal. He vows revenge just before an unnamed ally appears on the scene and disarms some of Saul’s men, allowing Lincoln to escape. Imogen is left with of her grandfather, realizing with horror that Lincoln mistakenly believes she betrayed him and is now going to seek revenge.