Secured by the Buyer (Taken by His Alpha #3)

Chapter 12

12

A fresh set of silk pajamas glide against my skin with a robe for added warmth. We had moved from the bed to the couch in the living room.

Now, I sit in Liam’s lap, a movie that was popular two years ago playing in the background while Liam does his best to dull the jagged edges of my broken nails.

It’s all so surreal. Lulled into a false sense of comfort, my attention drifts to the luxurious space. I can’t remember the last time I had a day off or the time for something besides work, chores, or sleep.

The movie fades in and out of my awareness, unable to hold my interest for long. When I get distracted, I turn my head to nuzzle Liam’s throat, inhaling his pheromones, and a pleased rumble resonates from his chest every single time.

Liam’s warm voice brushes against my ear, sending a tingle through me. “Is there anything you want, Milo?”

Confused, my eyes drop to the tray of half-eaten snacks on the coffee table. “Like, for dinner?”

He chuckles. “That, too, but I meant more in general. You don’t have any belongings, and we can’t go to your home for your stuff, but I can buy you new things to replace what you lost.”

I think back to the lumpy mattress in my tiny bedroom and the secondhand dresser I hauled in from the side of the road. The unread paperback books I grabbed from a library close-out sale, gathering dust because I never had the time or energy to open them.

There’s nothing I want to go back for. My dad pawned all our valuables a long time ago. There aren’t even pictures of my mom to miss. He burned them all.

“Um, I’m not sure what I should ask for,” I admit, out of my depth.

Liam rubs his chin against the side of my head. “I’ll buy you anything you want, but we can start with clothes. Would you prefer to shop online? Or would you like me to bring in a stylist?”

“That sounds expensive,” I mutter. “Only rich people hire others to dress them.”

“Money’s not a concern,” he reassures me, proving my point. “Just tell me what you want.”

“Fine, I want a stylist.” If I’m going to embrace my captivity, I might as well make the most of it. “Someone to do my nails, too, because your skills are lacking.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “That can be arranged.”

His easy acceptance both surprises me and doesn’t. I was only half joking, pushing Liam to test his limits. The Alpha claims he’ll treat me right, but I have no idea what the promise means to him or where his generosity ends.

“How about an entire spa day?” Liam suggests when I stay quiet. “Have you ever had a facial?”

I peek at him. “Should I assume you don’t mean the sex kind?”

The amusement fades from Liam’s voice, and his head turns as he studies me. “Have you had the sex kind?”

“I’m poor,” I remind him. “Hookups are my only form of free entertainment. ”

“Well, not anymore,” he growls possessively. “I’ll bring in a team and set up a day of relaxation and pampering in one of the banquet halls.”

“Banquet halls?” Incredulous, I twist around. “What the hell is a banquet hall? Are we in some sort of palace?”

He nuzzles my neck, sending shivers down my spine. “Not quite, but I’ll give you a tour of the estate later.”

Before I can ask what he means by ‘estate,’ a knock sounds on the door.

Without waiting for a response, it opens, and the twins saunter in.

The one on the left stops in his tracks when he spots us snuggled up together, his face morphing with disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me! He stabs you with a fork, so you hand him a knife? Do you have any sense of self-preservation?”

“Fuck off, Damien.” Liam doesn’t miss a beat, continuing to smooth out my nails. “It’s a file, and I’m holding it, not him.”

Caleb snorts, unimpressed by the distinction. “Did you win him over with the power of your dick? Because it couldn’t have been your charm.”

Damien nods in agreement. “This is proof Mom saved all the brain cells for us. No other explanation for Liam treating our murder kitten like a doll.”

Anger flushes my cheeks. “No, he apologized for buying me like livestock and promised to give me a house with a private beach so I can run around like a pretty little pony.”

Damien gapes at me. “Are you serious?”

“Use that one brain cell and look at my complexion.” I pull my hand from Liam’s to gesture at my face. “I’ll burst into flames if I step foot on sand.”

Breath held, I wait for the backlash for mouth running off. Snark like that would have gotten me a smack, or worse, from my father.

Liam strokes my arms, his touch warm against my skin. “Don’t worry, princess, I’ll rub sunscreen on your back.”

My heart pounds as I turn to gauge his mood. “Who invited you to my island getaway?”

Instead of violence, he plays along and pouts at me like a kicked puppy. “Can I at least buy the house next to yours so I’m nearby?”

“Why?” I try to suppress the shakiness in my voice. “So you can perv on me while I’m sitting in the shade?”

Liam grins at me, unfazed by my outburst. “It will be like his and his closets, only with beach houses.”

Damien throws his hands up in exasperation, shaking his head. “What is going on with our family? First Nolan brings home one of his strippers?—”

“Servers.” Caleb shoots his twin a warning glare. “Leo never stripped, and don’t let Nolan hear you even joke about it.”

Ignoring Caleb, Damien continues, “Then Caleb marries a gossip columnist. And now this!” He gestures between Liam and me in utter bewilderment.

I twist toward Liam. “Am I this ?”

Liam’s expression turns sappy. “I think we’re this.”

Damien paces in agitation. “You can’t set up house with this kid!”

I bristle, narrowing my eyes at him. “Why do you keep calling me a kid?”

Damien spins to face me. “Because you look like you’re fifteen!”

Back straightening, I jut out my chin. “I’ll be seventeen in June.”

Damien’s mouth works for a moment before he finds his voice. “Fucking hell! The press is going to have a field day if you knocked up a minor!”

Caleb shakes his head at his twin like he’s lost it. “I’m beginning to agree about the one brain cell. ”

“Calm down,” Liam adds. “He was working at the casino. He’s at least twenty-one.”

Expression solemn, I nod. “That’s what my fake ID says.”

Caleb chuckles. “You’re going to have your hands full with this brat.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Liam snuggles me closer. “Now, why did you guys barge in here and interrupt our movie?”

Caleb lifts the tablet he carries. “Sabastian got us the stills from the security footage from last night. We need Milo to point out anyone he recognizes from the auction so we can add them to the list.”

The comforting bubble Liam created pops, dropping me back into the reality of my situation.

Stomach churning, all of my bravado vanishes, and I shrink against Liam, wanting to wrap his big body around me like a shield. The last thing I want to do is relive that night, the fear and humiliation of waking up naked, the helplessness of having no control.

Liam’s arms encircle me. “Do we have to do this right now? Can’t it wait until later?”

Caleb shakes his head, his expression cold. “If we want to wipe these people from our city, we need to find out who the players are. ”

My breathing quickens, and I shift on Liam’s lap, tucking my head under his chin. I clutch the file in my fist, unsure when I took it but instinct driving me to protect myself.

“You’re safe with me.” Liam ignores the sharp point and cups my cheek, lifting my face to his. “No one here is going to hurt you, I promise. I’ll be with you the entire time, and when it’s over, we can order whatever you want for dinner, wrap ourselves up in blankets, and watch movies for the rest of the day, okay?”

A hard edge enters his voice as he addresses his brother. “No one will interrupt us until morning.”

Caleb hesitates. “I’ll do my best, but Leo’s already caught wind you’ve brought home a bride, and he’s bouncing off the walls with excitement. If it’s a choice between telling Leo to wait and making him cry or breaking down your door, you know which one Nolan will choose.”

“Then bring Oliver here to distract Leo with a pizza party,” Liam orders before his attention returns to me. “Leo means well, but the pregnancy hormones make him bawl at the drop of a hat.”

“I’ll drag Oliver away from his computer,” Caleb agrees, his tone begrudging. “Now that you have this going on, I won’t have to worry about you snatching him away anymore.”

Liam cocks an eyebrow at Damien. “At least I never tried to kiss him.”

“One time!” Damien holds up a finger. “As a test! You were still making your move at the altar!”

My hand tightens, metal digging into my palm as I stiffen. I’m not sure who Oliver is, but I hate him.

“Okay, you’re looking a little too stabby for my comfort.” Caleb wrests the file from me with practiced ease and presses the tablet into my hands. “Focus on this and punish my brother after we’re gone.”

“Hey, what did I do?” Liam protests.

Reluctantly, I force myself to study the pictures, searching for someone familiar. The grainy faces on the screen make it difficult, though, when fear from that night already turned my memory hazy. I recognize the outfits more than the people. The lights had been so bright out on the stage.

“Take your time,” Liam murmurs in my ear.

“I’m not sure.” Hating how my voice shakes, I swipe through the images. “Can’t someone else do this?”

Caleb leans forward, holding my gaze. “Milo, you’re the only one who saw behind the curtain. We need to move fast, or the people who organized this event will slip away.”

I swallow hard, forcing myself to focus back on the photos. As I scroll through them, my fingers tremble against the screen’s slick surface. An acidic taste fills my mouth, memories of fear and desperation clawing at my throat.

Eyes closing for a moment, I will those emotions to go away. When I open them again, my attention catches on one face in particular.

“Her.” I point to a woman in a red dress. “She bid for me.” I swipe to the next picture, this one of a man. “He was her companion. He…I think he handled the money. He told her to stop bidding when the price went too high.”

“That’s good, Milo.” Caleb reaches over to bookmark the two images. “Any more?”

“Yeah.” My resolve strengthens. “I think I recognize a few.”

“Thank you, princess,” Liam whispers in my ear. “You’re doing great.”

With each face I identify, the sense of being a prisoner lightens, like I’m taking back control of my life. It’s a small step, but it’s something.

On the next swipe, a balding man’s face fills the screen, and I freeze as recognition crashes over me. He doesn’t wear fine clothes like the others, but I remember his face, remember the chill of the permanent marker as he priced me for sale.

“This guy. He was there.” My heart thuds hard, echoing the terror I experienced that night. “He was the asshole who decided the beginning bid. I— I puked on his shoes.”

“You did well,” Liam praises, his hand rubbing soothing circles on my back as he focuses on his brothers. “Bugrov is back in town. We find him, we find Tony.”

A bloodthirsty smile spreads over Caleb’s face. “I’ll make him squeal. Then I’m going to enjoy killing him.”