Highest Bidder

“Why? Why am I the one that has to find out stuff for you?”

“Because we have something in common. We both want to avenge the wrong done to someone we love and you seem to be the best person for the job so far. From what I have seen, it looks like he feels some guilt towards you. Which could be why he allowed your initial physical … well, shall we just call it … contact to happen, and why he paid so much.”

I held on to my temper with difficulty. Supercilious asshole. I wanted to kick him in the groin.

Undaunted he went on, “Since there is still a physical relationship between you, I would hazard a guess that he is beginning to grow somewhat … attached to you. We can exploit that weakness. By getting closer to him, perhaps he will drop his guard around you and you can find out all that we need to know.”

“And what exactly do you need?”

All semblance of amusement left his face then as he leaned forward. “I need to find out if he has, or is making any plans to hurt either myself or my mother.”

My eyes widened at his response. I did not expect that.

“A few weeks ago, he came to my father’s birthday dinner and threatened my mother and I. My dear brother has many hateful flaws, but failing to keeping his word is not one of them. He meant every word and now I know that there is a gun pointed at me at all times. I just need to know what type of gun it is and where exactly he has it stationed, so that I can protect my family.”

“Why the hell would he want to kill you?”

“I am sure to an extent you must have overheard the argument between us a decade ago. It’s all related to that. I’m not allowed to tell you anymore so consider this your first assignment. If you’re able to weaken him enough to get him to tell you the history of our family, then I will know for certain you are someone worthy of investing in. If you can’t do that, then you are just a woman who warms his cold bed.”

I gasped at the image his words produced.

“I should be going. Good luck and keep in touch.”

He emptied his cup of tea, and I watched as he exited the restaurant.

Freya

I sat in bed alone that night, completely bewildered.

I didn’t know what to believe. Maybe I was being a sappy idiot, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe that Brent had anything to do with my father’s death. Even the idea made me shake with dread. He was everything to me and I just couldn’t imagine giving him up now.

No, I’d rather trust Brent than Liam any day, and yet Liam had been convincing. As detestable as he was, I knew there was some truth in what he was saying. The problem was which part was true and which part was the lie?

I considered calling Maddie, but I knew she would immediately talk me out of everything, especially out of ever having anything to do with the Lucan family again. I also needed to talk to my mother and get her take on Liam’s accusation, but it bothered me that it would reopen barely healed wounds, and force my relationship with Brent out in the open.

I remained on my bed in the dark, my arms around my knees and my head swirling endlessly with a maddening blend of dread and confusion. A message beeped its arrival on my phone, I looked down to see it was Brent’s long awaited response to my message earlier in the day.

I was occupied. What do you need to ask?

I stared at the message, a couple of questions already coming to mind. Did you orchestrate the entire downfall of my father and family? was at the top of the list and the second sadly, which hurt just a bit more ... was why you purchased me and at such a ridiculous amount?

I dropped my head in my palms and rocked my body slowly. In the end, I couldn’t take it any longer. I picked up the phone and called Maddie. After I explained it all to her, she went into the longest silence I had ever heard. It went on for so long, I literally had to keep asking her if she was still connected.

“I am. Just give me a minute. I’m thinking.” The silence went on again until, eventually she spoke, “Can you forget about everything?”

I sighed. It was just as I had expected.

“Can you forget about it all? About Brent, about his brother and what he told you and about the club? Can you forget about all of this and just move on with your life? Your father is past, Freya. You need to start thinking of your future. And your mother’s. How is helping this guy going to help either you or your mother?”

I answered as best as I could, “I don’t know if I can forget everything and just move on as if nothing happened.”

“If you go forward with this, you will dig yourself even deeper into whatever mess is going on between the both of them. To be perfectly honest, I really don’t like the sound of what Liam is suggesting. He wants you to get involved in something that actually sounds dangerous.”

“But what about what he said about my father?”

“He might have been lying. Even if he produces all the evidence he claims to have right now, how will you be able to prove its authenticity?”

“And what if he’s telling the truth?”

“If he is, then do you want to open that can of worms? Are you willing to fight until the last with him to bring Brent down? And what retribution does Liam get from all of this? From what you mentioned about the past, Brent seemed to have a good reason behind his suspicion of his mother’s death having something to do with his stepbrother. Perhaps he has never been able to do anything about it because he doesn't have the evidence. It doesn’t make his suspicion untrue.”