Page 247 of Bound By Her

Rolland put his elbow up, blocking the doorway. His posture was non-threatening, but his body effectively boxed them into the space. Rolland chewed on his toothpick, eyes on Elena.

“I told you, honey, no reason to get chummy with this one,” Rolland said, eyes roaming along Elena’s body, stopping in all the wrong places.

She narrowed her eyes. “And I told you, I can decide for myself. Thank you.”

Bryson did not miss the subtle shift in her tone.

Rolland pushed his way into the room, and Bryson moved to stand up, but his sister’s hand came down hard on his shoulder. Bryson’s knees cracked into the floor.

Rolland’s hand reached out, brushing a red hair from her face, before he leaned in and said, “Mr. Winters kindly requests you back off. He has a buyer in mind.”

What the fuck, this was news.

Bryson assumed his sister would back down. Now that she wasn’t bidding on them, there was no reason to keep up the ruse.

Except that isn’t what Elena did.

His sister stretched her arms into the air, feigning an exaggerated yawn.

“All of this talk about what I can and can’t do. It’s so boring,” she said, sticking her bottom lip out.

Bryson watched as she rolled up the sleeves of her black dress, revealing the color. Lots of color.

Rolland whistled. “Lots going on there, sweety, but I bet you’re a little low on the totem pole to be flexing like that.”

She lowered the fabric of the dress that covered her neck.

Bryson sucked in a breath. Those tattoos established her as second in command. An honor typically not given to wives.

Rolland took a step back, his face ash. Elena pushed past him, moving his body like it was paper.

“Why are you second in command?” Bryson hissed when he was sure they were out of earshot.

She shrugged. “I’m good at it. It’s in my blood.”

Bryson was stunned.

Elena tapped her chin. “What was it Dad always said? Chess is a ruthless game. You have to be ready to kill people.”

She smiled at him. “After I left, Iwasready to kill people. More than ready.”

Now it was Bryson’s turn to pale. What had his sister become?

“You remind Miss Priss about that, will you? Because if anything happens to you three, she will be my first stop.”

CHAPTER 63

NORTH CAROLINA

Bryson watched El leave the building with Eric. Tension melting from his chest with each of their retreating steps.

Back in the ballroom, the guests were being ushered into the back garden, and staff were swarming the area. The layout changing for this evening’s dinner.

And the entertainment.

He tried to stay calm. The evening’s entertainment included him and his brothers performing. Adria hadn’t revealed what they would do, and the suspense was driving him crazy. Additionally, the thought of a hundred pairs of eyes watching him made his stomach churn.

Wanting to tell Kaydon that Elena had left, Bryson made his way back to the party. On his way, a clean-cut kid blocked his path, fixing him with an icy stare.

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