Page 44 of Empire of Ache & Ruin

“I’m sorry,” he murmurs. “It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”

I slap him across the face with all the strength I can muster. I bite my lower lip to keep my anger under control, tasting blood. He could’ve stopped this. He could’ve stopped this months ago and he chose not to.

“Not you. Anyone but you,” I say through gritted teeth. “Do you understand? I will never marry you. I will never spend any amount of time with you.” My voice quavers.

“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice in the matter, Miss Davis. I placed the winning bid. I’m here to collect my prize.” In one fluid motion, he reaches for the back of my knees and lifts me over his shoulder then walks off the stage.

CHAPTER11

DARLING, I ALREADY PAID

Paloma

“Put me down.” I squirm to free myself from the tight hold he has on my legs. I don’t miss the languid circles his thumb draws inside my thigh. “You can’t just grab me like that, like some sort of caveman. Are you insane?”

“The thought has crossed my mind. But no, not yet,” he grumbles, slowing down as we pass my dressing room. After a second of contemplation, he picks up the pace again. “I’ll have someone grab your things later.”

“What?” I push against his back to look up. A part of me hopes someone can see us. How is it possible that he can waltz into the theater, offer an obscene amount of money for me, and then, just walk out with me hanging over his shoulder. If this isn’t the definition of insanity, I don’t know what is. “Put me down.”

“No.” He pushes the door open, and a rush of cold air hits me square on the butt. He lets out a long breath. “You can barely walk.” Without missing a step, he lowers his left shoulder and slides me down so he’s carrying me in his arms instead.

I immediately regret the change in position because now I have a full view of his beautiful profile. The warmth emanating off his chest and his musky scent make me melt into him, even though all I want to do is slap him again.

“You’re not going to get away with this? This is kidnapping. Dad will call the police. He’ll find me.” I’m throwing everything I have at him, hoping he’ll reconsider and see this whole wreck for what it is…. normal people don’t go around buying virgins. “He will make you pay for this.”

“Darling, I already paid.” He glances down at me for a beat. “Twice.”

He finally stops. But I’m too distracted by his words to notice that’s he’s shoving me in the back of a limo. By the time I react, he’s already next to me, and the car is peeling off the curb. I shift my body in the seat, wincing when my toes push against my ballet shoes. I’m still dressed as the white swan. I glance out the window. Time slows down as I stare at the Performance Arts Centre getting smaller and smaller in the distance.

I swallow my tears. This can’t be a goodbye. Soon I will return to my old life, to Dad. Archer can’t keep me forever. I don’t care how much money he paid for me. I stop to inhale as his voice echoes in my head again…. six million dollars. Those three little words magically made Dad’s problems go away. Dad is safe. Dad is going to be okay. He now has the money to pay off his debt and replace the funds he took from his campaign. He’s going to be okay. I repeat, placing my hand over my mouth.

“Drink some water.” Archer hands me a small bottle. “Are you hungry?”

“No,” I lie. “I don’t want anything from you.”

He cuts me a glance. “Drink.”

I look away from him, twist the cap and drink. Slowly, I feel the dehydration dissipate. I normally drink a gallon of water after a show or practice. But with everything that happened as soon as the show ended, I didn’t have time.

“One more.” He hands me another bottle with no cap.

I drink it slower and sit back. I chance a peek at Archer sitting on the opposite end of the back seat with his legs out in front of him. He seems calm and collected as usual, as if he hadn’t just turned my entire life upside down.

“Where are we going?” I shoot a quick glance out the window. We’re still in the city and not heading home. “Where are you taking me, Archer?”

“To a friend’s place. We’ll be there shortly.” He fishes his phone out of his pocket and types a quick message before tossing the device on the seat.

I make a grab for it. When he merely looks at me, I tap on the phone app and call Dad. The phone trills and trills in my ear. He doesn’t answer. I try Chuck next. Again, no answer. Then, I enter Hunter’s number, and he answers right away.

“Hello?” he answers on the first ring.

“Hunter.” Tears flow freely down my cheek as I hold the mobile with both hands, afraid to let go of my only lifeline. “I’m still in the city.” I pause remembering Hunter was also at the theater with Dad. He knows Archer took me out of there after he ended the auction—the one Hunter did nothing to stop. He simply sat in Dad’s box and watched the men on the floor bid on me. “I’m with Archer,” I finally say.

“Everything is going to be okay, I promise,” Hunter says before Archer takes the phone from me.

“Hunter,” Archer says holding the device between us as he taps on the speaker icon. “Whatever you need to say to Paloma say it now. Because after I hang up, you will never speak to her again. You won’t look at her. You won’t even think of her. She’s not your girlfriend anymore. If she ever was. From now on, she’s mine. Do you understand?”

“You son of a bitch.” Hunter’s angry voice fills the space between Archer and me.

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