Page 21 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Bodyguard

Nadine was practically vibrating with the obvious desire to attack Jess with sisterly love.

Jess watched her warily while she picked apart a croissant and drank some orange juice. “I’ll be honest. I am feeling overwhelmed. Can anyone just tell me how y’all found me?”

I stepped up. “Of course. We should have already. That note you gave your mom put everything in motion. Your mom remembered seeing Nadine’s picture in the paper when she married Reynolds.” I gestured to Reynolds. “He’s West Bay’s mayor.”

“My sister is married to the mayor of West Bay? Am I still asleep or something?”

I chuckled. “No. Your mom saw her and realized you two must be related. She tracked down Nadine’s mom, called her, and the two of them figured things out. Then we started the rescue mission. First, we got your mom…”

“How? She’s agoraphobic.”

Nadine grinned. “Your mom said you were really smart. I’m so proud of you for being valedictorian!”

“Um… thanks.” Jess smiled at Nadine but was still looking shell shocked by all the information.

“She fought through it,” I said. “She was really strong. And Nadine’s mom got her some anxiety medicine to help her. She’sstaying with her now, and Reynolds has a few treatment centers that can take her for some intensive therapy. He just wanted you to help pick everything out. And see her before she goes, too, obviously.” I took a sip of water. “Anyway, she told us you were staying with the Gray Bones MC and that she thought you might be there against your will. She said you’d always acted happy until you gave her that note. And besides, she didn’t have a clue who would help her save you until she saw Nadine’s picture and put two and two together.”

“I had to get out of there. I stayed so long because Skeeter was taking care of Mom, and… well, I couldn’t leave. I didn’t have a car or money. He took everything I, er, earned at the strip club. I was totally dependent on him.”

Nadine looked pissed. “We might as well kill him.”

Reynolds choked on his orange juice. “We can’t kill him, honey! I don’t think either of us would do very well in jail.”

“I thinkImight. I’ve seen those prison shows, and I make friends pretty fast, so…” she shrugged. “He has to die.”

“Be realistic,” Jelly said, rolling her eyes. “You’re going to make her think you’re crazy.”

Jess held up her hand. “That’s not necessary. The… killing. I just want to get as far away from him as possible.”

To my dismay, I saw that she was near tears. This had been too much too soon. “You know, I think Jess might do best if she got the story in small doses and met just a couple of people at a time.”

“What about the party?” Nadine asked.

“Party?” Jess whispered, going pale.

“I’m planning a party to introduce you to all our friends. The Salazars will all be here, of course, and don’t worry, they act like mafia, but we don’t think they kill people. At least not many, and then all the Cinnamon Girls, and the…”

“I’m not feeling well,” Jess stood up looking nauseous.

Without another thought, I pulled her in my arms and carried her up the stairs. “Thank you,” she said. She sighed and turned her face into my chest, clutching onto me as if she never wanted to let me go. I was okay with that.

“Dammit, Nadine,” I heard Jelly saying. “I told you not to freak her out.”

“I know,” she wailed, “I just got so excited!”

I carried Jess to her bedroom and tucked her in. She looked exhausted, and I had to remind myself of everything she’d been through. She needed to rest.

“Don’t worry,” I said, gently brushing some of her hair off her forehead, “I’ll make sure Nadine cancels the party.” I thought about how hard that might be. I might be making a promise I couldn’t keep. “Or at least postpones it,” I amended.

Jess looked relieved. Her eyelids fluttered, and I knew she was about to drift off. I turned to leave, but she reached out and grabbed my hand. “Don’t leave,” she whispered.

I felt something in my heart click into place as I reached for a chair and pulled it over to the bedside. I held her small hand in mine. “I won’t leave,” I assured her.

She gave a small sigh and fell asleep.

This woman. There was just something about her.

I knew I was in trouble.