Page 51 of Virginity Sold

She looks so frail lying in the bed, and I notice her wince as she tries to move.

“Do you need anything?” I ask.

“I’m good. I’m sorry, but I don’t remember your names. I guess you know that, though.”

“I’m Killian, this is Kyrian, my brother, and that’s Liam, our uncle. We’re new friends, so it’s okay. We were getting to know each other better, building a relationship with each other.”

“Like together? The four of us?” She raises her eyebrow.

Kyrian lets out a loud roaring laugh as he moves over to her bed, sitting in the chair beside it.

“You were building a relationship with each of us individually, not like all of us together. I love my family, but I’m not in any way attracted to them sexually.” Kyrian gives her a wink.

“Oh. Okay.”

She’s quiet after that and that’s all right. We can do this. I start the conversation with something small: favorite foods. Then we move to other random topics until we’re asking her questions about herself. Using this opportunity to learn more about our girl, things we may not have known, while also hoping it helps jar her memory.

Elena also asks questions about us and we answer the best we can, not wanting to mention the auction to her. She doesn’t need to know how we met just yet.

I watch as she and Kyrian gravitate toward each other and smile. I’m not jealous, not even when he makes her laugh. Instead, I’m happy. Seeing my brother smile means everything.

Liam’s phone rings, and he excuses himself, stepping out of the room to take it. I notice how Elena’s eyes follow him as he goes.

She adjusts herself again and winces.

“Are you okay, Cookie? Do you need some more pain medication?”

She tilts her head, furrowing her brows. “Cookie?”

“Yes, it’s my own little name for you. But you didn’t answer my question.”

“It’s starting to hurt more and I’m tired.” Her eyes droop and I could kick myself in the ass. Instead of letting her rest, we’ve been bombarding her with questions.

Reaching over, I push the button for the nurse. When they don’t answer quickly enough, I do it again, multiple times, until an annoyed voice comes through the speaker.

“Yes?” One word, but you can hear how pissed off she is.

“My girl needs some pain medication,” I bark, giving Elena a wink.

“I’ll let her nurse know.”

“Make sure she hurries up. If my girl has to wait long, hell’s going to rain down.”

They know who our family is, so they best know that’s a promise, not a threat.

Uncle Liam steps back in the room, and I can tell by how his jaw is clenched and the wrinkles marring his forehead that something’s up.

I give him a knowing look and he gives a slight shake of his head.

“Something has come up at work. Killian, can you come with me to handle it? Kyrian, please stay here with Elena.”

“You don’t have to ask. I’m not fucking going anywhere. I’m going to have them bring me a cot to sleep on tonight, so can you bring me back some clothes, please?”

“You don’t have to stay here,” Elena’s weak voice says.

“I know I don’t have to. I want to.” He reaches out and takes her hand in his, squeezing it gently. I almost expect her to pull away, but she doesn’t.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t envious of him. I’d give anything to be the one holding her hand.

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