Page 50 of Auctioned to the Convicts
A wave of nausea passed through her as she rose to chase after Ren. Vaughn’s hand around her arm stopped her.
“I didn’t mean to insult him.”
“He’ll be fine,” Vaughn said.
“Not all wounds are obvious,” she said as she shucked Vaughn’s hold and made her way down the few steps to where Ren stood halfway between the house and the gate. Hands on his hips, he stared up at the stars.
“I’m sorry, Ren.”
“Didn’t I tell you never to say that? It makes you sound weak, and you’re far from weak. Who was the man who attacked you? And don’t you dare think of lying to me.”
“Why not? It’s what we do around here.”
How arrogant she’d been to think she could make their unit a family. None of them even wanted that from her, with her. Her nerves were frayed, and she couldn’t stop shaking. She felt like she was ready to jump out of her skin.
“You think we lie to Sersie because we want to?” Ren clenched and unclenched his fists, as if he needed to punch something. “Vaughn and I agreed to do whatever we can to keep Sersie from stressing out while we’re in this unit. He’s vulnerable now, which makes all of us vulnerable.”
Ren made the unit sound temporary. Maybe to him, it was.
“I know.”
“Do you?” Ren challenged, his face hard with doubt.
“What makes you think I don’t?”
“He said he walked you to the railcar today, and that you kissed him.”
“Ren, this isn’t the time,” Vaughn said from behind.
“What happened was between Sersie and me,” she shouted back. Why was she shouting?
“No, it’s between all of us.”
She felt so defeated. “I’m not doing a very good job at this unit bit, am I?”
“Are you in charge now?” Ren laughed. “How very Company of you. Seize control when you spy a weak asset. And here I thought we own you.”
“You do.”
“Really?” Ren spun around, surprised. “Because the woman who stood up to me, who stood up to Ky’Li when I attacked her, gave me the impression no one owned her. Was I mistaken, Hannah?”
“I. . . I’d like you to see me as an equal,” she said, her voice not nearly as strong or loud as she wanted it to be, but Ren was rather intimidating when he was riled up.
“Then start acting like it. Stop hiding from us. Stop using Sersie,” Ren said, getting so close his breath warmed her face.
“Enough, Ren,” Vaughn warned, slipping an arm around her shoulders.
“Using? Seriously?” she bit back, shrugging Vaughn off.
She couldn’t possibly fight back with Vaughn’s touch calming her. She needed to fight Ren on this, or he’d see her as the very pushover he warned her not to be.
“You think I’m using him? How?”
“He’s willing to do anything for you. You’re all he talks about.”
“I’m just getting to know him. I’ve been watching over him, trying to help him get better.”
“Help him by leaving him alone. You put him in danger today. It’s hard enough being in a unit with a female and having everyone knowing it without you flaunting that fact in public. You’ll get him beat up or killed.”
