Page 21 of The Auction (The Black Ledger Billionaires #4)

S he’s been buried in that studio I put together for her since the day she opened the door. I’d like to say I’m annoyed she spends so much time in there, but the truth is—I love that she loves it.

Whatever’s on that massive canvas, it’s got her whole attention. She won’t let me see it, won’t even give me a hint. Says she never shows anyone her paintings which makes me want to walk in there even more.

A knock comes to the door, and my building concierge carries in a package. “For Miss Hayes,” he says.

Shanae told her about it earlier this morning and she said she’s pick it up in a few days. I sent someone from the building to get it for her.

When I carry it into the living room, she looks at it, then at me. “That seems like a waste,” she says, taking the box.

“Do you know how much I pay to live here?” I arch a brow. “They would literally help me commit murder if I asked with a Will there be anything else, Mr. Kane? when we were done.

She shakes her head, smiling faintly, but when she looks down and sees some fancy crest on the side of the box, her expression changes. Tightens.

It’s from her brother.

Her stomach visibly sinks, and that puts me on alert immediately. I watch as she opens it, pulling out neatly folded shirts, a necklace, all marked with the same crest.

“Is this Jon’s new business partner or something?” I ask, already feeling the itch of curiosity.

Her answer is short. “Or something.”

I study her. “Why do you two got beef all of a sudden?”

Her gaze flicks up to mine, and there’s a hardness there that wasn’t before. “This isn’t new. He’s always been an asshole to me.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask the question carefully knowing I’m pushing into territory she’d like to keep me out of.

Without answering, she dumps everything back into the box, carries it to the kitchen, and drops it straight into the trash.

“I’m going into the studio,” she says, already walking away.

I let her go for now. But I’m not done.

I send off a text to Jon to see if he can talk, then I drive fifteen minutes to the gym where Lucian is already on a bag like it owes him money.

Lucian is owner of The Black Ledger, king of his own empire, and one of the only people I’ll get in the ring with for fun.

Eve’s here too, sitting in a chair and rubbing both breasts.

“Ew?” I hold one hand out in confusion. The other clutches my gym bag.

“What? My nipples hurt,” she announces the second she sees me. “Just got them pierced.”

“Oh, well hello to you too, Judas ,” I say dryly. “We’ll file that under: Things I didn’t need to know.”

“Hello, you salty bitch,” she fires back. “Still pouting from the auction?”

“From being stabbed in the back by my friend ? Yes.”

“You’ll get over it. I’m sure your billion-dollar lot will kiss it and make it better for you.” She winks.

Lucian chuckles from the ring, tossing me a pair of gloves. I climb in, and we start warming up—easy jabs, controlled footwork. We both like taking our frustrations out in here on each other. We’re evenly matched, which means no one’s ego gets too bruised, and we both know it’s never personal.

I’ve known Eve a few years now. Lucian just as long.

The Ledger girls are practically part of my payroll, but I’ve never had a sexual contract with one of them. Just to accompany me to events to keep hordes of social-ladder-climbing women from approaching me.

I know what the press says about me having a new girl on my arm every week, but I don’t give a shit as long as I can keep my peace and privacy.

Lucian gives me a look between swings. “You’re in a good mood. Has something to do with your auction lot?”

I shrug, though there’s no point in denying it. “Maybe. Cassidy’s… different. Been different a long time now but it’s bothering me—why she did this in the first place.”

Eve cracks two first aid cooling packs and sticks them in her shirt, holding them to her breasts. “Oh, that’s so much better already.”

“This is horrendous by the way.” I throw a jab at Lucian, and he moves out of the way with a chuckle. “Just in case you wanted to know if you were traumatizing your friends.”

“Just hack her.” She doesn’t even acknowledge me, leaning her head back and closing her eyes.

Lucian winds up a spinning kick and I move out of the way quickly. “Come on old man. I saw that coming from last week.”

“Keep it up.” He dishes back to me. We both know Lucian could break my neck and I’d be dead before I hit the ground.

“I don’t want to invade her privacy.” I get back to Eve’s suggestion.

“That’s rich, coming from you,” Lucian mutters.

“I want her to come to me and tell me because she wants to,” I say, throwing a quick combo at Lucian, which he blocks mostly. I land one hit. “Not because I snooped around and forced it out of her.”

Lucian grins like he knows something I don’t. “You ready to do this, lover boy?”

I narrow my eyes and he smirks knowing it’s time to stop holding back and try to beat the shit out of each other.

A n hour with Lucian did the trick like usual. He mentioned a fight in a few days and I’m usually game to throw my name in the ring but I’m not sure if that is Cassidy’s scene.

Back and the penthouse and showered, I push the fact Jonathan left me on read to the back of my mind. I’ve got better things to do.

Like take Cassidy out.

I didn’t like how that package from Jonathan dimmed her mood, so I tell her she’s coming shopping with me.

She tries to block me at the studio door before I can get a look at the canvas she’s been working on. “Full u-turn. Out of here.”

I try to look around her, but she moves with me, using her hands to block my line of sight. I saw a little but not enough to figure out what it is.

“You do know this is my house.”

“And this is my… imagination.”

“And I want to see it.”

“Never. It’s not for seeing.”

“Is it of me? A nude portrait, probably,” I wiggle my eyebrows up and down. She laughs and pushes me against my own hallway.

“Not in your life.”

“I’d be happy to pose for you. You could draw me like one of your French girls.” I play with my chest in mock seduction, but she can’t stop smiling and that’s all I want. “Just make sure you get my giant coc?—,”

“You’re the worst person I know.” She claps her hand over my mouth to stop me from finishing a sentence that would be sure to make her cheeks turn cherry red. More than they already are.

I laugh against her hand and have to physically stop myself from pulling her against me. She rolls her eyes and comes with me without another fight.

We end up at one of my favorite motorcycle shops. The woman behind the counter—tattoos, piercings, perfect red lipstick—grins when she sees me. Cassidy’s shoulders go just a little stiff.

“This her?” the woman asks, eyes flicking to Cassidy.

“Yeah,” I say easily. “This is my girl.”

Her heart might not say it out loud, but I see how those words land.

Kady already has a few things pulled for her. She’s nice, but Cassidy’s watching her too closely, like she’s trying to figure out if we’ve ever fucked. I don’t bother explaining yet because I love watching her squirm.

We get Cassidy fitted for riding gear—her own boots, jacket, gloves, helmet. She’s nervous, but I can see the excitement in her eyes. She’s been on horses her whole life, but never a motorcycle.

And God, she looks fucking amazing in gear.

By the time we check out, she’s practically bouncing. The total hits the thousands, and I don’t even blink. Not when I threw down three hundred million to save her horses. Not when I paid enough to buy a small country for her at the auction.

“You’ll let me take you riding?” I ask leaning against the counter.

“Yes!” she says, bright-eyed, smiling—and I match it without even thinking.

Then she asks how I know Kady, and there’s a little tension in her voice that I can’t miss. Is my little Cricket jealous? God, I hope so. That would make my day.

“She’s the owner,” I tell her. “Been shopping here for years. Met her wife by coincidence a few months ago—did a job for some architect friends.”

“Wife?” That eases her instantly.

“That’s her—Frankie.” I point to a framed photo on the wall of Kady with her arm around another gorgeous pinup glam type. “Didn’t even put two and two together until I came back here for a new helmet.”

She tilts her head. “Why did you need a new helmet?”

I grin. “Would you still come riding with me if I told you I crashed?”

“Jaxon!” she scolds, smacking my arm.

I laugh, pulling her into a hug that feels… easy. Natural. Flirty in a way that makes it hard to let go. “I’m just playing. I just wanted a new one.”

Her laugh lingers in my head long after we leave, and I know one thing for sure—this girl belongs on the back of my bike, and right next to me.

Forever.