Page 36 of Secured By the Buyer

My heart pounds as I turn to gauge his mood. “Who invited you to my island getaway?”

Instead of violence, he plays along and pouts at me like a kicked puppy. “Can I at least buy the house next to yours so I’m nearby?”

“Why?” I try to suppress the shakiness in my voice. “So you can perv on me while I’m sitting in the shade?”

Liam grins at me, unfazed by my outburst. “Itwill be like his and his closets, only with beach houses.”

Damien throws his hands up in exasperation, shaking his head. “What is going on with our family? First Nolan brings home one of his strippers?—”

“Servers.” Caleb shoots his twin a warning glare. “Leo never stripped, and don’t let Nolan hear you even joke about it.”

Ignoring Caleb, Damien continues, “Then Caleb marries a gossip columnist. And now this!” He gestures between Liam and me in utter bewilderment.

I twist toward Liam. “Am Ithis?”

Liam’s expression turns sappy. “I thinkwe’rethis.”

Damien paces in agitation. “You can’t set up house with this kid!”

I bristle, narrowing my eyes at him. “Why do you keep calling me a kid?”

Damien spins to face me. “Because you look like you’re fifteen!”

Back straightening, I jut out my chin. “I’ll be seventeen in June.”

Damien’s mouth works for a moment before he finds his voice. “Fucking hell! The press is going to have a field day if you knocked up a minor!”

Caleb shakes his head at his twin like he’s lost it. “I’m beginning to agree about the one brain cell.”

“Calm down,” Liam adds. “He was working at the casino. He’s at least twenty-one.”

Expression solemn, I nod. “That’s what my fake ID says.”

Caleb chuckles. “You’re going to have your hands full with this brat.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Liam snuggles me closer. “Now, why did you guys barge in here and interrupt our movie?”

Caleb lifts the tablet he carries. “Sabastian got us the stills from the security footage from last night. We need Milo to point out anyone he recognizes from the auction so we can add them to the list.”

The comforting bubble Liam created pops, dropping me back into the reality of my situation.

Stomach churning, all of my bravado vanishes, and I shrink against Liam, wanting to wrap his big body around me like a shield. The last thing I want to do is relive that night, the fear and humiliation of waking up naked, the helplessness of having no control.

Liam’s arms encircle me. “Do we have to do this right now? Can’t it wait until later?”

Caleb shakes his head, his expression cold. “If we want to wipe these people from our city, we need to find out who the players are.”

My breathing quickens, and I shift on Liam’s lap, tucking my head under his chin. I clutch the file in my fist, unsure when I took it but instinct driving me to protect myself.

“You’re safe with me.” Liam ignores the sharp point and cups my cheek, lifting my face to his. “No one here is going to hurt you, I promise. I’ll be with you the entire time, and when it’s over, we can order whatever you want for dinner, wrap ourselves up in blankets, and watch movies for the rest of the day, okay?”

A hard edge enters his voice as he addresses his brother. “No one will interrupt us until morning.”

Caleb hesitates. “I’ll do my best, but Leo’s already caught wind you’ve brought home a bride, and he’s bouncing off the walls with excitement. If it’s a choice between telling Leo to wait and making him cry or breaking down your door, you know which one Nolan will choose.”

“Then bring Oliver here to distract Leo with a pizza party,” Liam orders before his attention returns to me. “Leo means well, but the pregnancy hormones make him bawl at the drop of a hat.”

“I’ll drag Oliver away from his computer,” Caleb agrees, his tone begrudging. “Now that you havethisgoing on, I won’t have to worry about you snatching him away anymore.”

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