Highest Bidder Collection - Lauren Landish Page 0,311

ask as the driver’s door opens and Marcus slips in. His eyes flash to mine for a moment in the rearview mirror.

“She is. Is everything-”

“Bring her to the front… please,” I ask him quickly, grabbing a few tissues from the side compartment as I feel a bit of blood trickle from my nose. I resist the urge to slam my fist against the door. Against anything. The anger is coming back. I shouldn’t have left him like that. He deserves so much worse.

“Of course,” Lucian is quick to agree, a serious note in his tone.

“Thank you,” I barely get the words out, feeling in that moment that I’ve failed her.

Every muscle in me is wound tight, my heart beating chaotically. I’ve never done something so fucking stupid before in my life.

“To the entrance, Sir?” Marcus asks and I clench my jaw, nodding my head as his eyes meet mine again in the rearview mirror. My heart slows, and I reach for the whiskey as the limo pulls out slowly. I grab the glass and ice out of habit and pour two fingers into the glass. I sway slightly as we drive around to the front.

I’m able to down the glass before he stops the car and gets out, the cold ice clashing against my teeth. I don’t even realize she’s waiting for us until Marcus gets out and opens her door.

I run a hand down my face and put the cup back as she climbs in, her dress bunched in her hands.

My chest feels tight and my heart clenches as I watch her step carefully in and settle next to me. I’ve made a fool of myself. And her. All because of Brooks.

Next time, she doesn’t leave my side. Not for a moment.

“I’m sorry,” I choke the words out, reaching for her with my left hand, the one without the torn knuckles as Marcus closes the door. I’m so fucking ashamed. She deserves better than this.

She shakes her head easily, her brows pinched and her mouth parting as she takes in the sight of me. “Zander,” she says and my name is barely a whisper on her lips.

She reaches up in an attempt to touch my face. From the look in her eyes, it must be bad. They’re full of questions. But she doesn’t ask them. She already knows the answers. I snatch her hand in mine before she can touch me.

“Don’t,” I tell her. At first, hurt flashes in her eyes, but I’m quick to add, “Just...” I trail off and take in a long inhale, not knowing what to say, or what to tell her. But I don’t have to. She lays down, not waiting for me to finish as the limo pulls ahead. Her hair spills over my leg as she rests her head in my lap. Laying her cheek against the designer pants.

I slowly pet her hair, moving it from her face and smoothing it out. She lets out a comfortable sigh. As she nestles her head into my lap, looking aimlessly into the cabin of the limo, her small hand wraps around my knee. Her thumb rubs small circles. “Was it Danny?” she asks me.

“Yes,” I answer her easily.

“Are you okay?” she asks me in a cautious breath.

“Fine,” I reply and I’m short with her, my voice hard as I continue. “You’ll never go back to him.” Her finger halts in its rhythmic path as I say the words with authority, as if I can command her. For now, she may be in a contract, but I’m not a fool, I can’t force her after the thirty days are done. She doesn’t owe me a damn thing, and what’s more is that I don’t want to force her.

She doesn’t answer me, and her body is stiff, but I continue to pet her hair and then run my fingers down her shoulder to the dip of her waist and back up.

“I don’t want you to.”

Her cheek rubs against my leg as she nods her head, but she still doesn’t answer me.

She has no idea what I feel for her. She may think she’s still just a pawn and a bargaining chip.

But I’ll be damned if she ever sees that asshole again.

I’m never letting her go.

Chapter 20

Arianna

“You should really let me take a look at your eye,” I say to Zander once we step inside his estate and make our way to his bedroom. I’m following behind him, not even taking in his house as he leads