Page 147 of Auctioned

Their photos are in the thick file Ophelia went through today. They wait there patiently. Just until Oliver isn’t on high alert anymore. Until I decide it’s the right moment to strike.

Soon. Any day now.

I’m tired of waiting. Being a sitting duck is sickening.

Cowards wait.

“Hmm.”

Ophelia.

Her breasts are warm against my body. Her nipples peaked. Her fingers roam over my chest.

She’s up.

Bam. Bam. Bam.

My body goes on high alert. I sit up, my eyes narrowing. My ears perk up to listen.

Someone’s at the door, knocking on it. No, slamming their fists on it.

That leaves me with only one person. Only one man can get past the gates and materialize on my doorstep.

My staff isn’t allowed to come back for the rest of the week. They wouldn’t dare be here against my orders. Even if they had come, they would’ve buzzed the doorbell. Called me to let them in.

They wouldn’t have banged on the door like entitled pricks.

My son would.

He grew up here, after all.

But this isn’t his home anymore. I changed the locks and alarm codes everywhere except at the gates once he left. He can park outside, but getting inside? Fuck that.

Bam. Bam. Bam.

My phone flashes. A call from him. Of course it’s him.

It gets on my fucking nerves too that he’s shown up here unannounced.

I get out of bed, pulling on my sweats and T-shirt from the armchair. Go over to my closet to get what I need to keep her safe.

“James?” Ophelia is beautiful.

The pale glow of the phone highlights her arresting features. Her eyelashes flutter as she focuses on me.

On the roll of duct tape I hold in one hand, then on the two ropes in the other. I brought it up here last week to play with her. Our sex games will have to wait.

This isn’t a game.

“You can’t be serious.”

Bam. Bam. Bam.

The banging is louder than before. Louder than the rain and the wind.

She scrambles to sit, jerking the covers up and over her breasts. “Who’s out there?”

“Topher.” Ignoring the other questions in her eyes, I climb on the bed and toss the ropes next to her.

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