Page 45 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

“Do you understand?” he asks louder, making me jolt in surprise. “Answer.”

“I understand,” Hunter finally says. “Where are you taking her?”

“Is that all you want to say?” Archer looks up at me. When Hunter says nothing, Archer continues. “Good. Because she can’t talk to you anymore. She needs to get ready for our wedding.”

“The fu?—”

Archer kills the call.

“Our wedding?” I echo his words. “Now I know you really lost your mind.”

“Did you not read the contract? The buyer is required to marry Paloma Honor Davis upon completion of the transaction.” His intense blue gaze lifts to meet mine. “I’m the buyer, Little Dove.”

Heat rushes to my cheek. I can’t tell him that I didn’t know about the marriage clause because I didn’t read the contract. Dad asked me to trust him, and I did. He said he had handled everything, that our family was going to be okay. That in a few months everything was going to go back to normal. And all I had to do was sign the paper in front of me. I signed thinking the contract was for six months. I’m an idiot for believing my life could ever go back to normal. That I could sell my body and come out unscathed.

I take the phone again and call Dad.

No answer.

I’m alone in this.

“Here we are.” Archer leans forward to survey his surroundings.

I do the same, and my stomach drops. We’re back at the Crucible where I signed that horrible contract. I spent hours in the private garage waiting for Dad to get the money he needed. Only for him to return with a contract for a virgin auction. I was shocked that Dad knew that about me. I’m twenty-five years old. How can he assume I’d never had sex with Hunter? Did Dad ask Hunter to keep his hands to himself?

Now it makes sense why Hunter would only kiss my hand or my forehead. One time I tried to get him to make love to me. But all I got from him was an icy reaction. He was repulsed that I would even think to ask him for sex. Though I could read the lust in his eyes. I was so confused and deeply hurt by his rejection that I never brought it up again.

“Let’s go.” He offers me his hand. “I’ll carry you upstairs where you’ll be able to change out of those shoes.” He helps me out of the limo, and then, swoops me into his arms.

I do my best not to melt into him. I’m still mad at him. Every time I think of the auction, of all those men ogling me, my stomach drops. The memories of that moment literally give me vertigo. And I can only blame Archer for it.

“I hate you,” I say to his profile.

“I’m okay with that,” he deadpans.

“You could’ve prevented all of this. If only you had helped us when I asked.” I press my lips together to keep the last scrap of self-control I have left.

“Have you ever considered that your father could’ve stopped this too?” He strides toward the small lobby with a brilliant chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting a warm glow around us. “He could’ve made a different deal, hell, he could’ve not gambled with campaign funds, made better investments.”

“He had no way of knowing his investments would go belly up.” My counter argument is weak at best, mainly because I don’t know exactly how Dad lost so much money in such a short amount of time. “You could’ve helped him. Chuck is your friend.”

“Like I said, when you first came to me, Little Dove, I’m sorry if you were under the impression that I’m running a charity. Your father has received all I’m willing to give to his cause.”

“But now you paid for me.” I inhale his scent. “Why?”

“Because I had to.” His jaw clenches.

As soon as he reaches the elevator bay, the doors slide open. “Good evening, Mr. Archer. Mr. Valentino is expecting you.” The bouncer looking guy nods at Archer and doesn’t even bat an eye at the fact that Archer is carrying a woman in his arms dressed as a fucking swan.

The car rattles quietly as it begins its ascent. It’s humiliating to be in his arms like this. “You can put me down now. I can walk from here.”

“No,” he simply says, not even slanting a glance at me.

His coldness hurts me for some reason. The desire in his eyes is still there. Is that what he meant when he said he had to buy me? He couldn’t have me before, so now this was his chance. Lust is all he feels for me.

I try to picture our future together. I’m too young to be married. Though I always assumed that after my ballet career was over that I would find a husband and have a family of my own. I longed to be part of something as good as that. To be important to someone like that. But not like this.

Archer bought me like I’m some sort of prized pig. My whole-body quavers when it dawns on me that before the night is over, Archer will take me to his bed. He will claim his prize and finally appease his lust for me.

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