Page 77 of Taking Chances

I wanted to open my mouth and tell her to hell with that. It was like trying to hold two opposite ideas in my head that I couldn’t seem to square. I trusted her, I loved her, but that was the exact reason that the idea of sitting back as I lost her, as she was subjected to fuck only knew what, that was impossible.

“Okay,” Vance said.

I swung my gaze over to Vance, about ready to ask him what the hell he was thinking, when he went on.

“How many times have we asked you to trust us? To believe in us? You’ve put yourself in our hands so many times when you had no reason to believe in us. The least we can do is to offer you the same. I’ll agree to follow what Kenz wants. This is her choice—I’ll trust her.”

Tor knocked the table with his knuckles, then nodded when we looked his way.

Char cursed under his breath, the words vulgar enough to impress any sailor. After his string of curse words, he nodded. “You’ve proven yourself time and time again. I’m not going to lie and pretend I’m good with this—because I’m sure as fuck not okay with it—but I’ll sit down and shut up and trust that you can make your own choices. If this is what you want? I won’t get in the way.”

The agreement of the others forced my hand, made me think about what they’d said, about the reality. Kenz had risked a lot to put herself here, to save us, and she’d known what the results might be. I hated it with everything I was, but if I ignored her wishes, how was I any different than Lorien? I drew my hands into fists, then looked at Bradley. “I agree to do as she asks but let me make myself clear. If sheeverreaches out to us? If she asks for help? If she needs anything? Neither you nor anyone else will be able to stop me from doing whatever I have to for her.”

Bradley smiled in return, no signs of anger or annoyance at my response. In fact, he seemed rather pleased by it. He really was a mystery, wasn’t he? “Fair enough,” he answered. “Lorien?”

Lorien’s gaze darted around the room, no doubt going through it all, looking for another option, a new path to what he wanted. If he wasn’t what he was, I might have almost pitied him. After having been so assured of himself, of his abilities, he’d lost time and time again.

“The next words out of your mouth will determine what happens to you. If you want to fight me on this, you will not leave this building alive. So if your life or future means anything to you, I suggest you remain quiet and accept your place,” Bradley threatened.

Lorien’s face flushed, the anger obvious, but he said nothing. That impressed me more than anything else, because it was damn clear what he wanted to say.

“Go get the winning bidder and bring them in,” Bradley ordered one of the guards. The man nodded and exited the room, leaving all of us and a hell of a lot of tension behind.

After another few silent minutes, the door opened, and the person who walked in made me sit up straight.

What the fuck?

Chapter Twenty-One

Kenz

“You’re bidder 9260?” Bradley asked, and I didn’t even bother to turn around.

I didn’t need to. I had absolute faith. I’d been let down so many times in my life, had people fail me, but it hadn’t jaded me. Instead, it had taught me an important lesson.

I hadn’t learned not to trust anyone—I’d learned to figure out who to trust.

And I had zero doubts that I could trust Jarrod, so when he answered, “Yeah, I am,” I smiled.

The men had their eyes opened wide, clearly wondering what the hell was going on.Just hold on a little longer.

“And you are?” Bradley asked. “I don’t recognize you, and I know everyone who could afford such a bid.”

“You got your money, so clearly I can.”

“Fair enough.” Bradley tilted his head and tapped his finger against the top of the table. “So, can you tell me who the new owner of this young lady is? I don’t normally ask much about our buyers, but this is a case I feel a special connection with.”

Jarrod smiled, the expression familiar to me. It was sharp, and would likely worry others, but to me? It felt safe. “I’m merely an intermediary, bidding for a third party who was unable to attend in person. All the required paperwork has been submitted for me to bid by proxy.”

“And the person who you were bidding for?”

I turned around to face Bradley and smiled brightly. “Me.”

I would have preferred a bigger reaction, for Bradley to appear shocked, even for some widespread gasp. After all, this had been apretty goodplan, right? However, the subtle lift of his eyebrow would have to do. “Excuse me?”

“Jarrod Fox worked under my order, bidding in my place.”

“We are clear that the money must come from the bidder.”