Page 161 of Bound By Her

He was confused at first, but when the blood drained from his face, she knew he got the hint.

“He tried to buy us?”

She looked away, suddenly feeling a swell of emotion. “Don’t act like I did you some favor. If I cave into him this time, I’ll have to cave next time. He needed to understand that I don’t bend to him or any man.”

But she had bent; she had bent so far she had broke.

He didn’t have a hand in her business, but she also wasn’t going to be able to run her business.

Adria might not have given Jonathan what he wanted, but he sure as hell took what he needed and left her with nothing.

The bed shifted, and she could feel the warmth of Bryson’s body beside her. He carried the sweet scent of vanilla and pine.

“Whatever happened in that room, you are stronger than it,” Bryson said.

She shook her head. “Don’t?—”

“Adria, shut up. It’s not a compliment, it’s the truth. Jonathan is a coward in every way the word can be used.You are better than him, even on your very worst day. You could murder Eric, myself, and my brothers in our sleep, rape our dead bodies and still be better than him.”

She laughed. It was short, a blunt sound, and when she looked at him, she was shocked at how serious he was.

“Don’t you even think of letting him win. Whatever you have going on, you keep doing it. My brothers and I are in.”

She shook her head. “I can’t; I don’t have the energy. I don’t care anymore.”

“Fuck that. You took responsibility for us. If we aren’t,” he struggled on the next word,“trained, who knows what life will be like for us? Or who will bid on us.” He sat quietly, hands rubbing the outside of his jeans. His traditional cocky demeanor cracking.

“We cannot go to one of my father’s men. I need to ensure more serious players bid on us.Yourserious players bid on us.”

She took in a breath. “What if my buyers are worse than your father’s men?”

“I trust you.”

She laughed. It was hollow. Trust was not something that the Winters family traded in. Even if she had saved his ass, he still had his own agenda. They always did.

And truthfully, they shouldn’t trust her. X had assured her about his buyer’s authenticity in holding up his end of the deal. But frankly, he was a new player. Adria didn’t know anything about him.

“Adria, we need you to get on board with this.”

Was he asking for help?

She could understand where the desperation came from, but she didn’t have the energy anymore. X’s man had made it clear he would bid on them, trained or not, but her mother was counting on her to appease theTriune. If they didn’t deem their performance satisfactory, her safety could be in jeopardy.

Jonathan had taken away the shred that was her life.

Bryson started to undress, taking off his pants. Adria froze in surprise.

“What the hell are?—”

His knees hit the floor, and he prostrated himself in front of her, naked.

She rubbed her face in her hands. He was as stubborn as he was stupid.

CHAPTER 38

NORTH CAROLINA

Bryson’s knees hurt from the impact on the tile floor.

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