Page 199 of Bound By Her

I won’t.

X: Wishful thinking.

Bryson stared at the conversation, trying to make sense of it. Next to the computer were maps and land schematics. Some were images of the land he and his father had commandeered.

Bryson felt sick. He had brought up the importance of the land to his father. He had noticed its transit properties.

But this new parcel that had just as much potential.

He thought about the name. There was a Vega who worked on the conservation of land appropriation, loosely affiliated with the Galicianfamily. If he owed Adria a favor, that would mean he could change the air transit lines. Making his father’s land worthless, and Adria’s new land the prize.

Land his father had no claim to.

But what would Vega possibly want with them? He wanted them badly enough that he was willing to risk war to do it. Angering the Nine was a dangerous business. Bryson could understand Adria’s hesitation in selling them there. There was no telling the motive.

The gears in Bryson’s mind turned as he sifted through more of Adria’s paperwork, looking for a clue that would help him solve things. Not seeing much, hewas about to give up when a small white envelope peeked out.

Already opened, it was addressed to Adria with no return address. Picking it up, two small photos fell out.

Looking at them, Bryson felt like cold hands were clawing at his chest. Ice freezing his insides, making it hard to breathe.

Like nails on the chalkboard, the image seemed to scream into his mind, and his hand shook under the weight of it. Within the four corners was a younger but unmistakable image of Adria’s father, Ivan. Next to him was another man in a suit. His head just out of frame.

What made Bryson’s hand shake was that below these very grown men on the desk was a naked, bound, and gagged young Adria.

Very young, she couldn’t be more than ten.

With trembling fingers, he turned the photo, reading the handwritten note on the back.

You will always be my little princess.

Bryson felt dizzy as his mind reeled, and his stomach contents threatened to come up.

The second image was of Adria wearing a cap and gown, with a younger Loretta standing next to her.

Adria stirred in the adjoining room, eyelids fluttering.

Heart racing, Bryson dropped the photos and fled from the room.

He was a coward.

CHAPTER 47

NORTH CAROLINA

It was late in the evening before Adria finally pulled herself from bed.

Eric had already checked on her—twice.

The first time, she pretended to be asleep. The second, she’d snapped at him, insisting he leave her alone.

She kept reminding herself how strong Loretta was. She was going to live, there was no alternative. After leaving the hospital, Adria had called the estate. Frances had answered.

The girl was shaken up. Adria didn’t have the strength for it, not really.

But as Frances stammered and cried, Adria found herself comforting her.

The words came automatically. Soothing. Reassuring.

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