Page 97 of Auctioned

The longer I’m on the phone, the more territorial I become. The worse the pressure in my head is turning into.

“Be a good son, Topher,” I say, my rage barely contained. “Bemyson. When you remember how to be that person, you can call me back.”

“You’re right.” He sighs. “You’re right. Talk later.”

“Goodnight.” I end the call.

I stay in the den a while longer. But I’m not here to look at the oil paintings hanging on the walls. I don’t pick one of the books on my bookshelves. The folders I have, which hold incriminatingphotos, contracts, and emails on my heavy wooden desk, I ignore just the same.

What I do—despite my better judgment—is place an order. A gift for both Ophelia and me.

The confirmation that it’ll be here first thing in the morning comes through, and I return to my bedroom.

Where Ophelia is sound asleep, exactly how I left her. I get under the covers, fold her into my arms, press her back to my front.

Despite fearing me, she knows this one thing.

This is where she belongs.

For now. At least for now.

19

JAMES

I’m lying here in my bed. Staring out the windows at the trees in my backyard.

Ophelia’s sleeping in my arms. Sometime over the night, I moved to lie on my back and brought her close to me. She’s so soft, so sweet. Her leg is draped over mine; her hand is resting on my heart. Claiming me.

For the first time in my life, I’m genuinely perplexed.

No idea where to go from here. What to do with her.

Wait, I do. I know.

She’s mine. I’m keeping her.

She’ll be pregnant by next month. She’ll stay right here, even after our child is born.

I’m done lying to myself about it.

Moreover, after Topher called and forced me to face the truth.

I have feelings for her. Deeply rooted ones.

She’s not going anywhere.

My hand runs through her soft hair. I look down at her. The sunlight golden on her skin. Dark eyelashes on rosy cheeks.

The woman who drives me insane. Who complicates everything.

It should’ve been simple. Eliminating the Morgan men. Sending the virgins and the would-be mothers off to unknown destinations. Tearing everything down.

Starting anew, just me and Topher. Or just me.

Now I need to consider how I’ll handle this new situation. When I was obsessed with Ophelia from afar, I thought I could let her go. Those days are gone.

She’s mine. She’ll be safe here.

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