Billionaire Auction by Brynn Paulin

Chapter Seventeen

Moriah rolled into Kendrick and smacked her face into his hip. She groaned then fell over onto her back and opened her eyes.

“Why aren’t you asleep?” she mumbled, staring up at him where he say beside her, his back propped against the headboard, his tablet in his hand.

“Morning, sweetheart,” he chuckled. Why was he up and working and so damn cheerful? He’d kept her most of the night—not that she was complaining about that. But how could he look so wide awake? “I’m just working on a few things before we start our day. You should go back to sleep. No need to get moving for a couple hours yet.”

He smiled tenderly down at her, his fingers stroking through her hair. The slow, repetitive movement, along with the security and warmth of having him right there lulled her back to sleep. So it was a shock when she popped awake in the sun-flooded room totally alone. A glance at the clock showed it was after eight.

She sat up, looking around. Kendrick wasn’t in the room and through the open bathroom door, she could see he wasn’t in there either. Total silence weighed heavy throughout his home, broken only by the distant hum and occasional honk from the traffic on the street well below her.

After climbing from bed, she padded down the hall toward his office, thinking he’d decided to get in some work there while she slept. Empty. Brow furrowed she headed toward the kitchen. Empty. The open floorplan revealed he was nowhere in the common space. For good measure, she peeked out onto the patio surrounding the pool. Empty.

Moriah didn’t bother checking the other rooms. Instinctively, she knew. A leaden weight settled in her gut as she realized he was gone. It was Monday morning. It was over. The weekend was over. Why had he said all those things to make her believe he wanted more than the past couple days? It was like some sick joke!

Breathing deeply, focusing on pushing air in and out through her nose, she covered her mouth with her hand and closed her eyes. She wouldn’t panic. She wouldn’t start sobbing. Yes, Kendrick was gone, but she had to look at the bright side of things.

She was completely free. Free of obligation. Free of her father. Free of her virginity. Free of her sappy, intact heart.

Yeah, that was shattered all over Kendrick’s home. Every place he’d taken here. Every place he’d touched her. All the places he’d kissed her, commanded her, owned her… They all held parts of her heart.

Okay, the bright-side thinking wasn’t working.

Now, it was time to leave. That seemed pretty clear since he’d snuck out on her, not even saying goodbye, not giving her a chance to beg for more. Obviously, he wanted to avoid a ugly situation. Of course, he did.

Fine. Time to go.

Fighting tears, Moriah headed back toward the bedroom. She dressed in a pair of peach-skin-soft jeans and a silky pink blouse. Beneath it, she couldn’t resist wearing the blush-pink La Perla she loved so much when she’d explored Kendrick’s purchases yesterday. She’d never wear it again without remembering his face when she’d modeled it for him before church yesterday. Or how he’d bent her over the bench in the walk-in closet, almost making them late for the service.

Her body heated at the memory, a discordant contrast to the hollowness that filled her as she looked around his bedroom one last time. This was where she’d belonged to him. She didn’t want to forget a detail. She pressed a hand to her chest. Pain radiated where her heart should be. Though she felt the beat there, it was of a ghost. She was leaving it behind when she stepped out the door.

Her eyes burned, but she refused to cry. Kendrick had given her exactly what she’d asked for. It had been a fantasy weekend, and nothing more was required of him.

A tiny voice inside her whispered that was a lie. Kendrick wouldn’t lie to her. Kendrick wouldn’t play with her emotions that way. She refused to acknowledge part of her consciousness. The proof was in his absence, wasn’t it? Hope had no place in her life. Now, she had to be pragmatic and do what she must to take care of herself and her sister. She didn’t need foolish love—oh, she loved Kendrick, even now when he’d disappointed her. She didn’t know that she’d recover. No matter; she wouldn’t have time for stupid emotions while she raised Jade.

This stolen weekend was over. Reality waited.

Tears streamed down her face as she headed toward the living room. Standing in the center, she looked around and realized she had no idea how she’d get home. She didn’t have her purse, money or her phone, and therefore had no way to pay for a cab.

Great. Okay. She took a cleansing breath. She was resourceful. She’d figure this out. Think, think, think—

The sound of the door opening startled her.

“Oh good, you’re up.” Kendrick said. “I just got a call from—” He abruptly stopped speaking and set the tray and bag he was carrying on the counter. Appearing concerned, he rushed over to her. “Kitten, what’s wrong? What happened?”

“Y-y-you were g-g-gone,” she stammered, losing grip on her tightly held control now that he was here. “And I thought…I thought…”

He closed his arms around her and rested his cheek atop her head. “And you thought you couldn’t trust me just like you haven’t been able to trust anyone else in your life,” he said quietly. It wasn’t a question; there was no recrimination in his tone. “I should be angry that you can’t trust me yet.”

“I want to,” she mumbled into his shirt, breathing his heady male scent and the light woodsy smell of his bodywash.

“We’ll work on it. Moriah…” He leaned back slightly and lifted her chin with his fingers so she had to look at him. “I promise you that I will always tell you the truth, even when it’s difficult—unless it’s some happy surprise I’ve planned for you. I’m reserving that right.”

She smiled at that. She suspected she looked like a watery hot mess.

“But,” he continued and her heart stuttered, “one thing you should never ever doubt is that I love you with all I am and you’re mine. I am never letting you go.”

“That’s more than one thing,” she whispered, barely daring to tease him.

“It’s all wrapped up together. Just like my whole world being wrapped up in you.”

“I love you, too. I’m sorry I freaked out.”

He nodded then brushed his mouth over hers, still holding her chin with his fingers. The kiss was all too brief before he straightened. “Come. Let’s eat breakfast before we go deal with the unpleasantness, once and for all.”

“Yay,” she said dryly.

“Look at it as the doorway to the rest of our happy lives. One final flaming hoop to jump through.”

“We’ll probably have to go to court.”

“Aren’t you Suzy Sunshine this morning,” he laughed, guiding her toward the kitchen island. “Yes, we might have to see him in court, but Jof won’t be free to hurt you or steal from us anymore.”

“You’re right. I’m just nervous. Everything just seems so…” She shook her head, unable to explain how dread seemed to crush her from all sides as they readied for their confrontation with her father. She’d thought it was the fear of everything being over with Kendrick, but he was here with his reassurances and terror still loomed ahead of her, as if she was foolish to hope for the best because something horrible was yet to come. The only other time she’d felt this way was when her mother had died. She’d seemed to be making a rebound, stronger than been in months. But Moriah had known. She’d woken that morning with this same oppressive, heavy cloud of trepidation over her. Her belly was full of tight knots and she couldn’t take a deep breath.

She tried to convince herself she was overreacting, but nothing she told her self and none of Kendrick’s reassurances calmed her.

Trying her best to act normal, Moriah pasted on a small smile and ate the donut and banana he’d brought her. She barely took more than a few sips of her coffee. The beloved beverage churned in her belly, the threat of vomiting all-to-real.

Kendrick glanced at his watch. “Ready?”

She shrugged. “Let’s get this over with.”

The elevator ride to the ground floor seemed too quick, and they walked through the building’s lobby without anyone stopping them, even to say hello. Frank waited at the curb with Kendrick’s town car. Of course, his bodyguard-driver-assistant-whatever would be coming along.

“Why didn’t Frank come with you to the auction?” she asked, realizing for the first time that the man hadn’t been there. It seemed odd to her now that Kendrick would have entered such a situation without him nearby.

“I wanted as few people as witnesses as possible. I didn’t want him to…”

See her naked. Like everyone else there. Okay… “You’re kind of a caveman about me.”

“Get used to it. He was around though. He scoped out the place then waited on the plane—under protest. He was in the cockpit with the pilot during the trip.”

“Ma’am. Sir,” Frank greeted them as they approached and he opened the back door for them.

“Frank,” Kendrick replied with a nod while she gave the bodyguard a small smile. She was too nervous for much more.

Once inside, Kendrick gave Frank directions then gathered her close to his side. “Relax. It’s going to be okay,” he assured her.

She had to get it together. She had to be strong, do what the cops said then take Jade out of there.

“I talked to Jenkins this morning,” he said, pulling out his phone then dialing. “We’re about twenty-five minutes out… Okay… No, we won’t go in alone… Okay, right. Understood.” He squeezed her shoulder, reassuring her. Hanging up, he turned to her. “The warrant’s already been processed. They just need to arrest Jof. Cops are meeting us there. And a team from the FBI will be with them, as well as social services.”

“Social Services?” she asked in distress.

“Because of Jade. Don’t worry. Senator McKenzie’s already smoothed things over for the transition. I spoke with her people this morning, too.”

And she’d slept through that all. And when she’d woken, she’d thought he’d abandoned, yet all the while, he’d been working on her behalf.

As promised, the cops were at the end of the drive, out of sight from the house, when their car arrived. Frank pulled in then several cars followed.

“Stay outside,” Kendrick told him.

“Boss, you remember I was Special Forces?” Frank argued.

“I remember I’m your boss, you took a near-fatal round to your thigh and I don’t want you in there. I still don’t agree with Moriah going in. I need you out here, ready to cover her if I send her running.”

Though Kendrick didn’t like it, the plan was for Moriah to let them into the house so there would no commotion to tip off Jofre and give him a chance to run or cause a problem. Then she’d stay in the foyer with him, out of the way while they led that fucker away in cuffs.

Jenkins and Jones hopped out of their plain blue vehicle and met them on the front stoop, while the woman from social services and four other officers waited on the walkway.

Silently, Moriah led the detectives into the mansion then held the door open for the other five law enforcement officers. Kendrick stayed close by her side. The house was silent, save for the ticking of the grandfather clock to the right side of the grandiose entryway. It made everything seem eerie, revving up Moriah’s already overwrought nerves.

When a maid Moriah vaguely recognized came into the entryway, the woman’s eyes went wide, but anything she would have said was forestalled by the shake of Moriah’s head. Wisely, the servant disappeared in the direction from which she’d come —thankfully, the opposite way from Jof’s home office.

A moment later, Mario, their butler hurried in, no doubt sent by the maid, and the officers reached for their weapons. The manservant held his hands in front of him to show he wasn’t a threat, and Moriah beckoned him closer.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“He’s been embezzling. Millions. And…worse,” she added, not wanting to reveal it all and pretty sure she wasn’t allowed to do so anyway. “They’re arresting him.”

Mario appeared mildly surprised, but in his true butler fashion, he didn’t display much emotion. She knew he did his job here but had never been much of a Jofre fan. He’d only stayed on because of loyalty to her mother.

“He’s in his office?” she asked.

“Yes, Miss.”

“And Jade?”

“She’s at the library with her nanny. They’re due back in a half hour.”

“Thank you. And Mario,” she said, before he turned away, “stay away from that wing of the house, and let the others know what’s happening. The officers will be searching the house for evidence, so the staff needs to keep out of the way. In fact, you can send them home for now.”

“Also, tell them I’ll make sure you’re all well taken care of,” Kendrick said, squeezing her hand. She felt stronger with him beside her, though mostly she felt numb. She’d probably break down later, after Jade was asleep.

“Yes, Miss. Sir,” Mario said with a small smile. Uncharacteristically, he patted her shoulder. “Your mother would be proud of you.”

Then he disappeared, and she pointed the way to Jof’s office. Looking around, this home seemed completely unfamiliar to her. Of course, she’d spent most of her formative and college years away at school, so she hadn’t spent a ton of time here since she was a child. Jade would have a better life than she’d had, with no fears or worries because of her unpredictable parents.

“Are you ready?” Jenkins asked as he and Jones prepared to head into Jof’s office while she stayed in the foyer. The four other officers stood off to the side, ready to follow. The woman from Social Services moved to wait with Moriah and Kendrick. He rubbed Moriah’s back, silently giving her his strength and support. It wasn’t until then that she realized she was shaking.

“I’m ready,” she whispered, praying everything went as planned and the feeling of dread knotting her stomach was nothing.

“You don’t need to say anything to him,” Jones said. We have everything we need, along with your statement on record, Mr. Bergana’s statement and evidence, and our warrant. Once he’s in custody, we’ll begin our search for more.”

“Okay.” She didn’t think she could speak coherently with her nerves choking her. Kendrick pulled her tight into his embrace, tipping his head over hers as if trying to shield her from what was happening.

“It’s going to be all right,” he murmured, rocking her slightly.

Moriah wrapped her arms around his waist, squeezing his and pressing her face into his chest as a commotion started down the hallway. Her father yelled, and she heard the deep, calm voices of the cops as they addressed him then announced their reason for the arrest. Then her father bellowed, and it sounded as if he were throwing things.

She closed her eyes. There was a louder thud then she heard Jenkins reading Jof’s Miranda rights. It was almost over.

“I’ll sue your asses off for this,” Jof screamed as they led him toward the front of the house.

Suddenly Jof broke free, and dashed for the grandfather clock, reaching behind it and pulling out a revolver. He spun and aimed at her.

“No,” Kendrick yelled. He shoved her behind him as shots were fired, then he was falling. Everything moved into slow motion as her pulse roared past her ears. She collapsed to her knees beside her lover, horrified by the blood covering his chest, the stain spreading. Vaguely aware of her father being tackled, of the chandelier shattering with another shot, she pressed her hands to Kendrick’s chest sobbing.

“No,” she screamed. “No!”

Kendrick weakly lifted his hand and touched her face as she bent over him. “It’ll be all right,” he whispered. “Be all right.”

Then his eyes closed, and her scream turned to sorrowful wails.