Page 84 of Auctioned to the Convicts
“And you’re due for another lesson. Tonight.”
“Then this is settled?” she asked, hopeful. “Good,” she said when no one objected. “I really do like my job. Granted, I know most of the inventory systems, just not the loading procedures yet. It takes a while to absorb the nuances in a new facility, a new group. Like with you four.”
“I’m surprised you’d say that,” Sersie said. “I thought the four of us were doing well. Ky’Li hasn’t threatened anyone in two days.”
“He threatened me ten minutes before you got here,” Ren spoke up. “If you were on time, you’d know that.”
“I guess that means I lose the betting pool,” Sersie said.
“You’re betting on when I’ll threaten the asshole?” Ky’Li replied as Hannah slid his empty bowl out from under him to refill it.
“Hey, no name-calling,” Ren said with his mouth full of food.
“Really, Ren? He threatens you all the time without any type of reaction. Suddenly you’re offended by being called an asshole, which you are,” Vaughn said.
“I don’t need this,” Ren said, tossing his napkin down and pushing his chair back.
Hannah practically dropped Ky’Li’s second helping in front of him as she reached over and cupped the back of Ren’s before he’d had a chance to stand. He practically purred as her fingers sifted through his hair.
“She’s got you by the balls,” Sersie teased.
“Not yet, but soon. Right, Princess? You and me,” Ren added, dreamily with his eyes closed. He didn’t see Ky’Li glaring at him. At her.
Hannah’s hand fell away. “I’ll make it up to you, Ky,” she said softly.
Ren reached back and pulled her hand to his front, where he kissed her wrist, sending a zing through her. She could feel the heat from Ren and the anger pouring off of Ky’Li.
This push and pull between the men needed to stop. She should be allowed to flirt with Ren, figure out their relationship ship naturally, without Ky’Li always threatening him. Then again, Ky’Li had been trying to accept what she’d laid out in no uncertain terms from the start. She’d never given him a choice. Just like she’d never given Ren a choice to be a part of this unit.
“Can we sit nicely and get along for once?” Hannah asked, swallowing back the need to yell at them. Visions of her childhood flashed through her mind. She was starting to understand her mother more and more every day. Unlike her mother, however, Hannah wouldn’t give up. She had to make this unit work for all of their sakes.
“No problem, Princess,” Ren said, sitting back in his chair as if he hadn’t just been goading Ky’Li seconds before.
“That’s it,” Vaughn said, chuckling. “Take it like a man.”
“Like an asshole,” Ky said under his breath.
“I heard that,” Hannah said.
“Good.”
“You’re impossible.”
Ky ignored her and focused on Sersie. “Who’s betting?”
“We all are.”
“All? You mean you let the asshole bet on when he’ll cause me to lose my temper? That’s hardly smart of you and Vaughn. The asshole will adjust his behavior to win.”
“You really don’t think much of me, do you?” Ren asked.
“Nope.”
“Ren’s not betting,” Sersie said.
“So, a private bet between you and Vaughn. Not very challenging with only two betting.”
Sersie, Vaughn, and Ren all turned to Hannah as she placed the platter of fruit on the table. Ky followed their stares.
