Page 64 of Auctioned to the Billionaire Bodyguard

“Why?”

“You know, I could help. Madeline helped me buy a bunch of jewelry for Nadine back in the day, so I’m pretty much an expert now.”

“Really.”

“Yep.”

“No, I think I’m just going to pick out something that makes me think of her. If you could just keep watch for Skeeter…”

“Sure, sure. No problem.”

I watched him as he walked down the sidewalk a little waving at someone. I frowned. This might not be the best idea. But then I caught sight of the two new agents, and I took a deep breath. If I was going to be director of the new headquarters, I was going to have to learn to trust my agents.

I might as well start now.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Jess

I had to admit Byron was right. It felt phenomenal to get out of the condo. I loved the condo and with each passing day was falling harder for Byron. But… the outside world had been kept from me for a long time now, and I was ready to get back out there. For five years, I’d lived within the MC compound and had gone directly from there to Nadine and Reynolds’ place and on to Byron’s.

Ineededsome time outdoors doing fun things with people I loved spending time with. I knew Skeeter could be out there. At some point, I had to open my mind to believing that he’d moved on. I couldn’t believe I was so special that he couldn’t imagine going through life without me. If that had been the case, he might’ve stopped fucking the sweetbutts around the compound. No, he’d have no problem replacing me. He’d be able to find another woman easily.

Not that I wanted to think of anyone being latched onto him. I shuddered. He wasn’t okay. He had a hell of a lot of problems. I could only hope that he’d get help one day. Maybe they’d help him in prison. I knew that’s where he’d end up, either in prison or dead.

Pushing Skeeter from my mind, I followed Nadine into the fanciest spa I’d ever seen.

“We’re getting the works,” she said. “Facials, cut and color if you want it, mani-pedis, mud wraps, massage—you name it.”

“That sounds… heavenly.”

I was excited to see that Jelly, Nora, Nia, Madeline, Glory, and a couple of women I didn’t know as well were already there.

“Get over here, bitches!” Nia called out.

I had to do a double take every time I saw her. She really did belong on the cover of a magazine. She was next-level beautiful. With her coppery-brown skin, ocean-colored eyes, and long, loose curls that weren’t quite brown and weren’t quite blonde, she reminded me of a mermaid or the Sirens from mythology. “Is she really dating the sheriff?” I asked Jelly quietly.

“It’s on and off,” Jelly said. “At first, I really liked him. But now I’m not sure he’s good enough for her.”

I’d seen the sheriff at Cayenne very muchwithoutNia, so I agreed with Jelly’s assessment. Also, he was way too old for her. He had to be at least twenty years her senior. She needed someone young and handsome, like Joaquin or Leo.

“What color?” Startled, I looked up at the nail artist.

“Oh, um, I’m not sure. I was thinking red, I guess?”

“Nope,” Glory shouted from across the room.

I turned to stare at her. “What?”

“She’ll have pale pink. Try this one. It’s called seashell.” Glory walked it over.

“What she said,” I said. I trusted Glory more than myself in matters of makeup, hairstyle, and nail color.

The next couple of hours went by in a flurry of beauty treatments, laughter, gossip, talking, and fun. I’d had a couple of close friends in high school, but nothing like the relationships these ladies had with each other. I’d mainly been working really hard on my grades so I get could a scholarship and get out of Shitty Wilkins. Spa days and hanging out weren’t really part of my normal life.

There was a small break between getting my hair done and getting a massage, so I took the opportunity to go to the restroom. I took my time and admired my new haircut in the mirror. It wasn’t wildly different, but it was still a fun change. I’d gotten a couple of inches cut off and had gotten some highlights in a lighter blonde. I didn’t realize I’d been gone so long until I heard a slight commotion outside. I figured it was some of the girls moving from one area to the next, and it might be time for my massage.

I walked out into the main area and frowned. It was very quiet. Strangely so. I looked around but didn’t see my friends or my sister. Or any staff.