Page 160 of Bound By Her

His voice was so irritating.

She rubbed her face, trying to get her bearings. Without Eric to back her play, she was in no position to force Bryson to do anything. Mentally, she could barely muster the strength to talk.

Her eyes flew open, vulnerability dawning on her.

Bryson was at the end of the bed, between her and the door, his eyes assessing.

“Easy there, princess,” he said, putting his hands in theair. “If I wanted to hurt you, I could have done it already. In fact, if my brothers and I wanted to up and leave, I think we had our chance.”

She looked around the room. How close was she to her nightstand?

“If you’re looking for this—” He flashed the switch blade that she kept in the upper drawer next to her bed.

She flinched, but he tossed it next to her. She put her fingers around it, the familiar object easing the tension in her chest. She held it close, but didn’t lift it.

He exhaled. “Now we are getting somewhere.”

Bryson sat in a chair near the corner of the room, maintaining eye contact. She didn’t like how he analyzed her. Treating each breath, every eye movement, like it had meaning.

“This deal has been sanctioned by the council. You would be putting your brothers in danger if you left prematurely. So don’t come in here and preach altruism to me,” she said, hand resting on her forehead, trying to shield the light.

He leaned forward, his hands steepled. “You stepped in and protected Kaydon.”

Whatever she was going to say died in her throat. She had stepped in. At the time, she hadn’t given it a second thought. It was instinct to protect him.

“And with me, the play was different.” He shifted in his seat.

She nodded.

“Why?”

Because I saw you.

Because I needed it.

You needed it.

We needed it.

“I thought he would be less likely to meddle in your sale,” she lied.

He shook his head. “Explain.”

“We have interested parties in Mexico. Jonathan wanted to block them from attending the auction. I thought if he was threatened by you, Mexico might seem like a viable option.”

Bryson looked out the window. “In other words, you have someone who will owe you a favor if they get a seat at the auction.”

She swallowed, mouth dry. “Yes. “

He looked at her. “Something to do with the Brazil property my father brokered?”

She looked away. What did he expect her to say?

“It’s just business,” she replied.

He rubbed his chin. “What happened with Jonathan?”

“At the end of the day, I decide where you go.”

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