Owned (Office Intrigue Book 8) by Nicole Edwards (year 2 reading books TXT) 📗

steps to keep from agitating my injured feet, but I managed. When his hand pressed against my lower back, I inhaled, praying it wasn’t as loud as it sounded.

We stepped out of Talon’s office and back into the bedroom. That was where I saw Talon’s two submissives—Auberon and Rolphe, I believe he’d called them—kneeling on the floor, heads lowered, hands resting on their thighs.

They were both shirtless, tanned skin glowing in the low lights. It took effort to look away, but I forced myself, continuing toward the door with Talon still at my back.

Clutching the robe, I let him steer me toward the back of the plane, the hallway narrowing somewhat.

“Right here,” Talon said, motioning toward the left.

I stopped at the closed door.

“When you’re finished, you can rejoin me in my office, or you can return to the living room we were in earlier.”

I wasn’t sure why I’d expected him to come with me, but I nodded, grateful to have a few minutes alone with my brother. The fear I’d felt earlier had returned with a vengeance, and I felt the cold seeping into my bones once more.

Talon must’ve sensed it, because he leaned in, cupping my face and meeting my gaze.

“You’re safe, Braelyn,” he stated, his voice low and sensual. “I won’t let anything happen to you or your brother. I promise you that.”

Again, I believed him.

To my shock, Talon leaned forward and pressed his lips lightly to mine. It was a quick movement that left me no time to prepare, but even as he was strolling away, my lips tingled and that warmth returned, effectively chasing away the chill.

The first thing I thought as I watched him stroll back the way we’d come: this man was too good to be true.

It wouldn’t be long before I learned just how true that statement really was.

NINE

RANSOM

Admittedly, I was no stranger to people who had money. Many of those I associated with were wealthy. I, personally, was not.

I didn’t live paycheck to paycheck, no, but I wasn’t rolling in dough. I’d managed to squirrel away a little in savings, but nothing to write home about. What I did have wouldn’t go far, certainly not far enough to ensure my sister was taken care of in the event something happened to me, but that was what I worked toward. I didn’t want for much; therefore, I saved every penny I could for her.

Except for wanting to ensure Braelyn was provided for, I’d never really worried about money, either. It wasn’t something I fretted over. As long as I had a roof over my head and could provide one for Braelyn should she ever need my help, I considered myself lucky.

At least I had. Right up until I hobbled onto this enormous jet that screamed wealth and privilege. This thing … this was some serious shit, and having just seen a small portion, I got the feeling Talon was wealthier than pretty much everyone I knew combined. Based on his company offices, his attire, this plane, and the staff who were at his beck and call, I’d say the man was well into ten digits in the net worth department.

I wasn’t envious. Like I said, money had never meant all that much to me.

Granted, there wasn’t a piece of furniture in my house quite as comfortable as this leather recliner onboard this enormous plane, so maybe I didn’t know what the finer things in life really were. It was quite possible I was missing out. Hell, the bed that wasn’t two feet away was likely nicer than the one in my house. As for the secondary apartment I rented, yeah, the bed was far nicer than the cot I’d added just so I’d have a place to lay my head. I would’ve tried it out if it weren’t for the fact I didn’t figure I could get back up once I lay down. The recliner seemed a lot more stable.

I heard voices coming from somewhere, but I didn’t bother to get up. I was too damned tired to move. My body hurt and rightfully so considering the events of this evening. Based on the fragments of memory that continued to come back to me, the car had imitated an accordion upon impact with that whopper of a tree, trapping me inside while my lungs filled with the powdery substance from the exploding air bag and the fire that had ignited under the hood.

It could’ve been worse, though. I could’ve taken a dive over that embankment without the benefit of having Zion Sisk on my tail. Talon’s right hand had appeared at the exact right time, almost as though he’d expected me to be trapped inside a burning car on a backroad leading away from my house. Although he hadn’t offered any details, aside from assuring me he’d taken care of the goons responsible for the crash that was likely meant to end my existence before coming to my rescue, I knew it hadn’t been a coincidence.

Which meant Talon had been tracking me. I should’ve been pissed and would’ve been if it weren’t for the fact Zion had no doubt saved my life.

“When you’re finished, you can rejoin me in my office, or you can return to the living room we were in earlier.”

I recognized Talon’s deep voice, but I wasn’t sure who he was speaking to.

It was another minute or so before I found out. The door opened then closed with a soft click.

“Ransom?”

The sound of my sister’s voice had me sitting up straight, wincing as every bone and muscle in my body protested. The pain lingered mostly in my shoulder, the bones seeming to grind together in a way they weren’t meant to. Nothing was broken, I knew that much, but I would be dealing with whiplash and a plethora of aches and pains in the coming days.

When Braelyn stepped around in front of me, she gasped.

“Oh, my God. What happened?”

If her horror-filled eyes were anything to go by, I looked