Page 259 of Bound By Her

5.1

Kate Johnson

5.8

Annabelle Jorgenson

6.99

Adria scanned through five pages of bids. Some were on the higher end of what she was used to. Other than Teo, she had three other “outbids” meaning they were willing to outbid the highest bidder.

Alert Kate Johnson that she is the winner. Arrange for transport first thing tomorrow.

. . .

The three dots appeared and disappeared several times. Frances no doubt struggling with whether to question her decision. Finally, she replied.

It’s done.

Good girl.

Adria’s body sank into the couch. A peace coming over her. She had promised Bryson she would sell the three of them to Vega, Teo’s buyer. But the three of them would be safest with Elena, whoever she was. The boys were trained, the auction night had proven that. Her mother was safe.

Getting her mother back, weakening the Nine. None of that would be worth it if any of them were hurt in the process.

Maybe someday she would see her mother, maybe she wouldn’t. Adria wasn’t as sure as she once was. But one thing she was certain of, she would never forget the time that she had spent with the three of them.

Lust was consuming. You rise into the sky trying to feel more, moving closer and closer until you’re left burnt and falling apart.

But she wasn’t falling.

For the first time in her life, she felt whole.

The boys hadn’t taken from her. They had given. Just like she had given herself to each of them.

And she didn’t regret it.

She didn’t get anything she wanted, and yet she felt like she had everything.

CHAPTER 67

NORTH CAROLINA

Warm sunlight greeted Bryson as he woke up. He was alone in Adria’s bedroom, but even her absence couldn’t dampen the warm glow filling the space.

Her room, just like the rest of the house, was a work of art.

“Gorgeous?” he called, knowing the truth.

She was gone.

Bryson wasn’t delusional. Even after a night as magical as the last, there was no easy ending for them. Adria knew that, and so did he.

His brothers gave him a look when he came down for breakfast, but neither of them asked or said anything. The three of them ate in silence. The unsaid and unacknowledged words and thoughts filling the spaces around them. It was such an odd feeling, knowing they were leaving today. Knowing how different tomorrow would be, but having today be so the same.

After breakfast, three suitcases awaited them at the front door—the same three they had arrived with. Eric stood nearby, wearing a solemn expression as he saw them off.

Kaydon grabbed his shoulders, looking at him with glassy eyes. “Be seeing you.”

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