Page 61 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 4

“And my sister Maisie and brother Zach?”

“Zach has been hospitalized a few times. Mostly broken bones. Once for internal bleeding and a head wound from a car accident. All four of them were seen for various injuries after that accident. Says here your mother was driving and didn’t realize how sharp the turn was.”

“That’s impossible. Damon would never have let her drive. She didn’t even have a license or a car, otherwise she’d be able to leave him. Mom was forced to ride the bus or wait for Damon to come home to even do the grocery shopping. She wasn’t allowed to have a bank account or her own phone. That’s why we used the convalescent hospital to check in with each other.”

Anger coiled in my stomach like a venomous snake ready to strike. I couldn’t wait to take down this motherfucker.

I flipped through her records, noting Lena’s name wasn’t listed on the single SUV that was registered to Damon Burke. No insurance account for Lena either, only Damon.

“Mom has nothing in her own name. That’s why I had to enter the auction. Secure enough money to ensure I could restart all of our lives.” Her bottom lip trembled.

I squeezed her hand. “I understand completely, and you no longer have to worry about money or finding a proper residence. We’ll have your mom and siblings move to California with us. They can live in the guesthouse for as long as they like. It’s three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a small kitchen, living room, laundry room, and its own entrance. They can stay forever if they want. Whatever your family needs, we’re going to provide for them.”

Maia gave me a small smile, and it settled the snake hissing within my gut. Nevertheless, I hadn’t shared the worst of it. The next part was going to destroy my beautiful fiancée, and I despised being the one to have to share this news with her.

“What about my sister Maisie?” she asked.

“Maybe you’ve had enough for one day…” I tried to spare her the ugliness, protect her from the pain I knew was coming.

Maia stood up and cocked her head. “What aren’t you telling me, Rhodes? I know that look. You’re more than upset, which mean it’s bad.” Her voice shook as she hugged herself.

I swallowed down the sour taste threatening to make me vomit all the food I’d just eaten.

“What happened to my sister, Rhodes? Did he beat her too? Was she hospitalized for more than broken bones?”

“No broken bones.” I cleared my throat. “Uh, last year, Maisie was admitted into the hospital for an elective surgery.”

“Elective?” She rubbed her arms as though she were cold. “What type of surgery?”

“She received an outpatient procedure, a D&C.”

Maia’s arms dropped, and she bent forward, bracing them on the back of her chair. “A D&C on a twelve-year-old girl… No…she, she couldn’t have…”

“She had an abortion, Maia. File says she was eight weeks along.”

“What!” she screeched.

I held out my arm. “Come here, baby.”

“My baby sister had an abortion at twelve years old,” she croaked, tears falling down her cheeks so fast I wouldn’t have been surprised to see a puddle of water at her feet. “My stepbrother Derrick did this,” she hissed through her teeth, her eyes wild. “He hurt her. I fucking know it was him!” she sobbed. “I hoped since they were blood-related, he wouldn’t touch her in that way, but that sick and twisted motherfucker did it anyway! Oh my god, Maisie!”

“Maia.” My own voice was hoarse as I put the file down, got up, and pulled her into my arms. Her face went straight to my chest as her body convulsed, the pain flooding through her body like lava. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” I chanted over and over as she broke within the safety of my arms.

“I’m going to kill him. I don’t know how, I don’t know when, but I’m going to kill him,” she swore against my chest.

For the rest of the afternoon, Maia stayed huddled up in the hotel bed, alternating between crying and asking more questions about her family’s history.

Eventually, she asked about the disgusting piece of shit also known as her stepbrother.

“Where is Derrick now?”

I scanned the information we were given on Derrick Burke, and my stomach dropped to the floor. Sweat beaded on my forehead, and my hands became clammy.

“Rhodes?”

“Uh, it says here he graduated from Colorado State with honors in Physical Education. Fucking hell…” I cursed and then breathed through my need to be sick or punch this man in the face until there was nothing left but an unrecognizable mess of gore and bloody pulp.

Maia pushed up into a seated position, her back against the headboard. “Just tell me.”

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