Page 85 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

“Sign here and here,” she pointed at her clipboard then handed it to Christophe. He scribbled his name and handed it back to her.

It didn’t take long for Christophe and me to be released into the care of a pair of police officers who took us back to our estate.

There were guards milling about everywhere the eye could see. The tree lines. The gates. Around the perimeter of the house.

I clenched my teeth and waited until Christophe exited the car, offering me his hand. I took it, barely able to stand as exhaustion made every step feel like I was walking in cement shoes. Before we could even take the first step toward our front entrance, the door flew open and a whirlwind of gold and pink came flying down the stairs.

Emily crashed into me, almost knocking me over. Thankfully, Christophe was at my back and kept me from falling.

“Are you okay, Auntie?” Emily’s concerned gaze looked up at me, while her arms were locked around my waist.

I cupped her cheeks. “I’m perfectly fine,ma douce.”

“She wouldn’t rest in bed until you both came back,” Rhodes shared as he walked down the stairs. Maia followed closely behind.

“You guys look beat,” Maia frowned. “Aurelie made crepes and a whole host of other things. I think she’s nervous-cooking because there’s enough to feed an army.”

“Maybe we should offer it to the guards? I’ve counted ten,chéri.” I eyed Rhodes.

“There’s actually sixteen and it’s nonnegotiable. Four will remain inside the house, monitoring the entrances and exits. The rest will patrol the estate. I’m taking no chances until our flight leaves tomorrow evening after our interview with the authorities.”

I’d expected nothing less from the concerned father. Rhodes was a man of action. He didn’t rest on his laurels, waiting forsomeone else to make the tough decisions for him. I respected that side of his personality.

“I understand. We’ll catch you up on everything before we rest.”

For the next half hour, Aurelie set Emily up in her room, and we went over everything that had occurred with Rhodes and Maia. By the end of it, I was barely able to keep my eyes open.

Together the four of us made our way quietly up the stairs. Rhodes and Maia to check on Emily, and us because our suite was upstairs. When we were about to pass Emily’s room, Aurelie exited.

“Emily’s asking for her dad and Maia,” she said.

“Merci, Aurelie. We’ve got it from here.” Rhodes smiled weakly.

Our house attendant bypassed us silently and dashed down the stairs.

“You good?” Rhodes asked me.

“Not even close, but I will be.” I gave him a half-hearted weak smile.

He leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “We’ll figure this out.”

“I hope so,” I whispered, tears welling up and stinging the back of my eyes. I pushed it all down and took my husband’s hand.

Rhodes opened the door. “Hey, baby girl, you need us?” I heard him say as we watched them enter Emily’s room.

“Will you both lay down with me?I’m scared,” Emily said in a small, frightened voice I’d never forget for as long as I lived.

I’m scared.

I’m scared.

I’m scared.

The two words spun violently within my mind as I let go of Christo’s hand, raced down the hall and through my bedroominto the bathroom. There I fell to my knees and vomited. I heaved over and over until there was nothing left but an empty stomach and a shattered heart.

Christophe helped clean me up, and waited patiently as I brushed my teeth and washed my face in a daze. He brought me into the closet where he removed all my clothing. I stood there stark naked and completely numb as he put me in one of my warmer satin pajama sets. I dutifully allowed him to dress me and followed his direction until he too had changed his clothes and put on a t-shirt and satin pants. Then he led me to our bed where he pulled down the covers and I crawled all the way to the middle. As expected, he entered behind me. Once the covers were over us, I turned around and flattened myself to his chest.

For a few long minutes we just lay there breathing, safe within one another’s arms.

---