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But Adrian… he never stopped wanting me. I can’t say for sure that what he felt for me was love over the years, but hechose me once before, then he chose me again. So long as he always chooses me, I’ll choose him right back.

And I’m just about to tell Jack that when he grabs the blood oath and rips it in half.

I gasp. “What are you doing?”

“I’m done playing these games, little girl. I paid Desmond St. James more than your worth so that you were out of Adrian’s reach. I can’t let you distract him, not when he’s the one keeping the Order running behind the scenes. So that leaves only one alternative.”

It hits me then why Adrian is so important to his uncle. It’s not this sense of loyalty to his family, or even this grand idea of pairing up the proper Offering to a high-ranked Owed like his nephew. He tried to give Haven to Adrian precisely because he didn’t want her. Without any feelings for his Owed except a sense of duty, he’d be free to do whatever Jack required of him.

The books. It all comes down to the books. The laundering scheme that keeps the Order in charge, and the money coming in. Then there are the copies of ledgers, all written in Adrian’s hand, lists of secrets and blackmail material he’s gathered since he was a teen to make himself untouchable.

No, I think, remember what he said.

To makemeuntouchable...

I rise up from the seat. “I don’t think so, Mr. Collins. In fact, I think I’m going to head down to the twentieth floor and go see my husband.”

Jack clicks his tongue. “No. I don’t think that will be possible.” Raising his voice, he calls out, “Luke?”

The blond bully who dragged me up here after tricking me into leaving my home must have been waiting just outside the door for Jack’s signal because he shoves in the door, stepping into the office almost immediately.

“Take Ms. Dougherty down to the basement. We have an auction starting at three.” The speculative look he gives me, coupled with the ominous wordauction, has shivers coursing down my spine. “I lost enough on her already. Might as well get some of my money back.”

What?

In less than twenty minutes,I’ve been corralled into an elevator, taken to the lowest floor of this skyscraper, and nearly shoved down a flight of stairs when I got the nerve to finally fight back a little.

It was useless. Luke was too strong, and I was too scared. The word ‘auction’ kept running on repeat in my panicked brain, and when he grips my bicep, marching me through a tight, dim, smoky basement dwelling, I realize it’s exactly what it means. Especially when Luke leaves me with a bigger enforcer who tells me to strip down to my underwear so that, when I go on the makeshift stage, the men will know what I have to offer.

Because it’s an auction all right. Where women who won’t be missed get sold to men with no ties to the Order or Harmony Heights.

There are worse things than being Used…

Sophie was right.

It’s beingBought.

That’s exactly what Jack plans on happening to me, and Adrian has no idea.

My husband will never let me go? When I’m bought and sold and trafficked… he might not have a choice.

TWENTY-SEVEN

THE BASEMENT

ADRIAN

Dallas is waiting for us on the sidewalk outside of the Fortress.

Order members have priority parking along the street. I let Bas pull his bike into the spot closest to Dallas, then double-park again to save time. I already wasted precious minutes trying to talk him out of coming with me. Bas ended the argument by throwing a hundred dollar bill on the table, grabbing his helmet, and running for his bike.

I owe him too much to get him involved with Jack’s bullshit when we all know my uncle’s been gunning for the Reynolds family for years. If he’s decided to target Loni, my blood oath allows me some protection. Not like that matters. I killed once for my wife, and I’d go after Jack in a heartbeat if I had to. But Bas…

As we jog over to Dallas, I try one more time. “You don’t have to do this.”

“The fuck I don’t. Dallas said they moved Loni to the basement. If Jack knows you’re here, he’ll never let you down there. But if I go up and distract him…”

I know. Iknow. “He’ll salivate at finding a reason to boot you from the Other at last,” I finish.