Page 76 of The Auction
“Fuck you,” he spits, but he takes the phone and steps aside, answering the questions coming at him to start the transfer.
I pace between them and the women, hands on my hips, keeping myself between the threat and what’s mine.
It takes Ben a few minutes to get Dominion calmed enough to lead him off the trailer and back into his stall. “I’ll move my truck,” Ben says. I give him a short nod but keep my eyes on the assholes. My blood’s still hot and I don’t trust them for a second.
The man tosses my phone back and hauls his buddy up by his good arm. Ben joins me, both of us locked on them, not ready to breathe easy until they’re fully out.
Since Ben is here too I turn back to Cassidy—and before I can say a word, she’s on me. Practically jumping in my arms, holding on like she’ll drown if she lets go.
“Jax,” she sobs into my shoulder, squeezing me tight.
A million emotions slam into me all at once, so strong my body shakes with them. I keep replaying seeing her hit the ground, the pain on her face. The way she curled in on herself when she couldn’t breathe.
“Shhh,” I wrap her up, my arms locking around her just as fiercely. “It’s okay now,” I murmur into her hair, squeezing my eyes closed and pressing my face into her neck.
She’s trembling. So am I.
“Don’t let me go, Cass,” I tell her low, just for her. “Don’t let me go or I’ll go kill them.”
Her arms tighten, her face tucking against my neck like mine is to hers. I shift us just enough to keep them in sight.
“Okay,” she whispers back. “Don’t leave me.”
I exhale hard and hold her tighter.I don’t fucking plan on it, Cricket.
Their doors slam. The truck roars to life and pulls away. Ben trails after them, making sure they’re gone.
The tension starts to bleed out of me, but I’m nowhere near calm.
I palm the back of her head, threading my fingers into her dark hair and breathing her in like it’s the first clean air I’ve had all day.
Two thoughts stick in my mind and won’t leave.
I’m never leaving her alone again.
And I need to have a talk with my friend.
Cass checks on the horses, running her hands over their necks like she needs to feel for herself that they’re still here. Dominion’s still edgy, ears flicking back, but he’s breathing easier now. Saving Grace noses at her pocket, searching for treats, and Cass rubs her velvety muzzle, whispering something I can’t hear.
I scoop her mom up without a second thought. She’s light—too light—and I can feel the way she leans into me like the last hour drained her completely. There’s no way she could walk all the way back to the house.
As we’re crossing the yard, she pats my cheek weakly. “Thank you, Jackie. You’ve always been brave.”
I glance down at her. “Not sure brave is the right word for what I just did.”
She smiles faintly. “It is. You were always like that—even when you were a boy. Remember that awful goose you saved me from at the county fair?”
A short laugh escapes me. “I’ve never met a goose that could best me.”
That earns me the smallest chuckle, which is good—her color’s still pale. Cass trails beside us, watching her mom like she’s afraid she might shatter if she blinks too long.
By the time we get back to the house, her eyes are half-closed. I lower her onto the her bed gently. “Should we make her something to eat?” I whisper, glancing over my shoulder at Cassidy.
She smirks, and it’s the first real sign of her usual self since all hell broke loose. “Might be safer if we don’t. You almost burning your penthouse down trying to make eggs.”
I huff out a laugh. “That was a one-time thing.”
“Mm-hm,” she says, clearly not buying it. “She’ll want to sleep. We can just go.”
