Page 43 of Abra's Acquisition
Ryan offers a puzzled look to Zip, but nods in response.
“That’s the name of the guy who sold the jewelry,” Zip says to me.
“You’re him?” Rey asks. “You’re the man who pawned the jewelry to save the life of your wife?”
Ryan’s eyes widen in surprise. “How do you know about that?”
Before Rey can respond, and I have no idea what she was going to say, we hear a commotion at the door. A man in a high-priced suit with slick black hair enters the room. I don’trecognize him, but I feel Rey tense next to me. Before I can ask her if she knows him, I realize I recognize the person next to him. Miguel Costa.
“Well, shit,” I mutter, drawing the attention of my group.
“What?” Hex asks. He follows my eyeline and scowls when he sees the two men. “Who are they?”
“The one on the left is the lawyer, Jasper Benoit,” Rey supplies. “I don’t know who is with him.”
“I do,” I growl. “That’s Miguel Costa. We were right. He’s the one bidding on the property.”
“Where’s Erickson?” Rey asks.
“Maybe he’s not showing up,” I suggest.
“That would be good—one less opponent. Let’s take our seats,” Cleo says. “The other bidders have shown up.”
I glance around the room and realize more people have joined us. Rey sits in front of me and next to Cleo. Hex sits next to me, so he’s behind Cleo. Cleo gestures for Ryan to sit next to her. She speaks to him, and I see the instant shift in his posture. Whatever Cleo said to him has him relaxing. I lean forward to whisper a question to Rey.
“Why is Cleo keeping Ryan with her?” I ask.
“Why do you think? If we win the bid, she plans on making sure he gets his home back.”
I sit back and realize that her comment shouldn’t have surprised me. Cleo is one of the most generous people I’ve ever met. Of course, she’s going to do what’s right for the young man who risked everything for his wife.
Movement in my periphery draws my attention to the back of the room, where Erickson is taking his seat. I lean forward to inform Cleo and Rey. They both glance at him before facing forward with shared looks of determination. They look like warrior queens ready to do battle.
CHAPTER THIRTY: REY
When Abra informs us of Erickson’s arrival, I glance back at the man. He glares at me, but then his attention shifts to Ryan. The expression on his face is a mixture of surprise, anger, fear, and something else that I can’t define. I shift forward to look at Ryan, who seems oblivious to the lasers shooting into the back of his skull.
Camille snags our attention by slamming the gavel down to start the bidding.
I sit back and watch the auction play out. Camille stands at the podium and crisply calls out numbers. Hands rise and fall as the various groups acknowledge their bids. Several bidders bow out early, leaving only three: Cleo, Benoit, and Erickson. Eventually, Erickson sits fuming as the bidding reverts between just Cleo and Benoit. With Camille’s words of ‘going, going, gone,’ Cleo has gained possession of the De Villiers property.
We stand in celebration. I clap as Ryan embraces Cleo. He has tears running down his face. Before he can turn his attention to me, Erickson grabs him by the arm and yanks him away.
“What are you doing here with them?” Erickson demands.
Ryan looks confused as he glances between Erickson and Cleo. “Mr. Erickson, what are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?” Erickson snaps back.
“The Parish planned to auction off my parents’ home. I came here to see if I could stop them, but they said no. That’s when I met Cleo and the others.”
“You should be at work. I don’t pay you to waste time on your personal problems! You’re fired!”
Ryan gapes at Erickson. “I took the day off without pay! Please don’t fire me. I need this job.”
Before Erickson can turn and leave, Abra and his brothers circle our little group.
“What’s going on?” Hex demands, glaring at Erickson.
