Page 30 of Wicked Pursuit

I look around, even though I know there’s nothing to see. “Who are you, Wolf?”

He’s silent for a beat. “You’ll find out at the auction.”

My heart skips a beat. “What?”

“Come on, baby. You didn’t think I’d send you to the auction and let someone else take you, did you?”

Honestly, I hadn’t been sure what to think. I settle back in the seat, telling myself I’m seven different kinds of foolish for being comforted by his words. He hasn’t given meanything. Trusting him is downright suicidal. “And here I thought you were serving me up to whoever you work for.”

“You’re mine, Ruby.”

I jolt at him saying my name again. Not baby. Not Red.Ruby. I clear my throat. “Why all the song and dance? You already had me. Thoroughly.” I don’t know why I ask. He’s held his information close from the first moment we started interacting. There’s no reason for him to be explicit now.

“Because you’re mine,” he repeats. “And it’s time everyone knows it.”

Oh.Oh. “So this is you pissing on my foot.”

“No, baby. This is a declaration of intention. After I take you in the auction, everyone who’s worth a damn in our world will know who you belong to. No more sneaking around. No more games. No pretending you’re just a good girl who’s been forced into being bad.”

My chest feels too tight. “My parents are going to find out. You know that, right? It doesn’t matter what youintend. They’ll string you up and skin you alive.”

Wolf, the bastard, chuckles. “Then I guess I better make you fall in love with me so you’ll intervene on my behalf.”

The rushing in my head almost convinces me that I misheard him. Lust, yes. But he’s asking forlove? Maybe I should have seen the writing on the wall with how possessive he is, how jealous. This was only going to end one of two ways—with one of us dead or with us together.

It’s still outrageous that he’s just saying this shit. “I haven’t even seen your face. We’ve barely had a single conversation. You can’t honestly expect me to fall in love just because you’re good at getting me off.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, baby. We don’t need all the pussyfooting and small talk. Weseeeach other.” There’s a sound in the background, and he clears his throat. “Don’t fuck with the Concierge. They won’t find your mouthing off as cute as I do.”

“Wolf—”

“See you soon.” He hangs up, leaving me spinning out. Nothing about this experience has been what I expected, but looking back, I can admit that my short-sightedness is to blame. I’ve been reacting to him in the moment, when it’s clear he had a plan from the beginning. I wonder what he would have done if I hadn’t slept with Rafe that first night. I’d bet good money he had a different angle of approach.Bastard.

The car turns off the main road, and I stare at the sprawling estate. We have money, but this opulence is on a different level. The place is obviously a private residence, but it’s easily two or three times the size of my aunt’s estate, and the grounds seem to stretch forever. I even catch sight of a boathouse in the distance, perched on the edge of a large lake.

We bypass the main entrance and circle around to the side, just like Wolf instructed. The driver doesn’t speak a word as they hold the door open for me and set my bag on the ground next to the door with the skeleton key knocker. I’m still deciding if I’m supposed to thank them when they get back in the car and drive off without looking back.

“Well, I guess that answers that.” There’s no going back now. I march to the door and knock.

10

The door doesn’t lead to a foyer, but to a narrow hall. I don’t bother trying to get a better look. Not when all my attention is taken up by the Concierge. They’re a tall white person wearing an expensive three-piece suit that’s been tailored to their lean body. I can’t quite figure out how old they are—somewhere between forty and sixty: old enough to have fine lines on their smooth skin, to look seasoned in a way people in their twenties can’t quite pull off, but not old enough to be affected by age in the slightest.

I can’t begin to guess their thoughts as they look me over. “This way, please.”

The room I’m led to is luxurious and lovely... but there’s a lock on the outside of the door. I’m also divested of my phone and bag. It’s enough to make me doubt, yet again, what I’ve decided to do.

This is beyond playing cat and mouse with a stalker. The first rule of safety is to not go to a secondary location, and I voluntarily boarded a plane and allowed this concierge to lock me in a cell.

“Please sign this.”

I stare at the contract. “Fuck.” It’s huge. Too huge to read through in one sitting, even if my eyes didn’t immediately cross when I had to wade through legalese. We have lawyers on staff for a reason.

The Concierge is unsympathetic. “We cannot move forward until you sign.”

I’m tempted to ask them for a CliffsNotes version, but there’s no reason to trust they’d be telling the truth. “I need to read this.”

“By all means.”

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