Page 37 of Secured By the Buyer

Liam cocks an eyebrow at Damien. “At least I never tried to kiss him.”

“One time!” Damien holds up a finger. “As a test! You were still making your move at the altar!”

My hand tightens, metal digging into my palm as I stiffen. I’m not sure who Oliver is, but I hate him.

“Okay, you’re looking a little too stabby for my comfort.” Caleb wrests the file from me with practiced ease and presses the tablet into my hands. “Focus on this and punish my brother after we’re gone.”

“Hey, what did I do?” Liam protests.

Reluctantly, I force myself to study the pictures, searching for someone familiar. The grainy faces on the screen make it difficult, though, when fear from that night already turned my memory hazy. I recognize the outfits more than the people. The lights had been so bright out on the stage.

“Take your time,” Liam murmurs in my ear.

“I’m not sure.” Hating how my voice shakes, I swipe through the images. “Can’t someone else do this?”

Caleb leans forward, holding my gaze. “Milo, you’re the only one who saw behind the curtain. Weneed to move fast, or the people who organized this event will slip away.”

I swallow hard, forcing myself to focus back on the photos. As I scroll through them, my fingers tremble against the screen’s slick surface. An acidic taste fills my mouth, memories of fear and desperation clawing at my throat.

Eyes closing for a moment, I will those emotions to go away. When I open them again, my attention catches on one face in particular.

“Her.” I point to a woman in a red dress. “She bid for me.” I swipe to the next picture, this one of a man. “He was her companion. He…I think he handled the money. He told her to stop bidding when the price went too high.”

“That’s good, Milo.” Caleb reaches over to bookmark the two images. “Any more?”

“Yeah.” My resolve strengthens. “I think I recognize a few.”

“Thank you, princess,” Liam whispers in my ear. “You’re doing great.”

With each face I identify, the sense of being a prisoner lightens, like I’m taking back control of my life. It’s a small step, but it’s something.

On the next swipe, a balding man’s face fills the screen, and I freeze as recognition crashes over me.He doesn’t wear fine clothes like the others, but I remember his face, remember the chill of the permanent marker as he priced me for sale.

“This guy. He was there.” My heart thuds hard, echoing the terror I experienced that night. “He was the asshole who decided the beginning bid. I— I puked on his shoes.”

“You did well,” Liam praises, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back as he focuses on his brothers. “Bugrov is back in town. We find him, we find Tony.”

A bloodthirsty smile spreads over Caleb’s face. “I’ll make him squeal. Then I’m going to enjoy killing him.”

13

Morning sunlight filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the suite, and I stretch my limbs, blinking away the last remnants of sleep.

A few days have passed since Liam brought me here, and while I’ve enjoyed the luxurious pampering, I can’t deny that restlessness has crept in.

After working every day of my life, being confined to this bubble of comfort is making me stir crazy. Especially with Liam out most of the time, hunting down Bugrov and the others involved in the auction.

The scent of coffee makes my nose twitch as Liam sets a mug on the nightstand before leaning over to kiss my forehead. “Ready for the grand tour?”

My pulse quickens, but when I reach up for him, he straightens, turning away.

I scowl at his broad back. The stupid man pleasures me daily, but still refuses to fuck me. If he didn’t get hard every time he glanced my way, I’d question his sincerity in wanting to be my Alpha.

Kicking back the covers, I stretch with my arms over my head and back arching.

Satisfaction fills me when Liam groans. “What happened to the pajamas I left out for you?”

I went to bed nude hoping to entice him last night, but he stayed up working. If he slept at all, he did it on the couch in the office.

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