Page 179 of Auctioned

The white glow of two headlights slices through the darkness of the night. A black Mercedes approaches.

The gates to the mansion open.

And a large arm hooks around my middle.

“Nicely played,” he whispers in my ear. “But you’re not going anywhere. You belong here. You’ll stay here. I’ve got you.”

“Let me go.” A shiver runs up my spine. “I’m doing this for you.”

Oliver’s car. It’s here, driving slowly past the gates.

“Stay with me. That’s the only thing I could ever want. Only thing I need. For you to be a good girl.” James pulls me tighter into him. Warm. Protective. Furious. “Follow my lead, Sonnet.Remember that no matter what I say or do, I have you. I’m never letting go.”

36

JAMES

Ophelia is filthy. Dirty. A masterpiece.

Sweet too. So very sweet.

And she loves me.

She ran off to spare me suffering and pain.

Her emotions have been out in the open for days. They’re there, on her face. In her voice. In her touch. Her words.

In her actions. In this little escape attempt.

She thinks she’s protecting me.

I’ve seen this little selfless act coming from a mile away. The way her face twisted when I told her I’d kill the rest of the world if it meant that she could live.

She withdrew into herself. While I fucked her.

Now she’s here, in an attempt to save my son. Our relationship.

Sweet.

Yet unnecessary.

It might sound cruel that I don’t care if he lives or dies. It might go against every law of nature for a father to be willing to sacrifice his offspring.

But I don’t need Topher.

I care about him. I wish he weren’t my father’s replica. That he weren’t hell bent on taking what’s mine.

Unfortunately, this is what it’s come down to.

His life or Ophelia’s.

It worries her that I might regret choosing hers over his.

See? She’s sweet.

She also worries over nothing. I wouldn’t regret killing him if it meant saving her. Ever.

“Let me go,” she hisses. Adorable, how she still thinks she has any say in this.

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