Page 13 of Fallen Dane

“What do you mean?” Her voice goes tight with worry. “Did something happen? Am I going to have to—”

“No, you’re safe. I promise.” I sit on the edge of the bed and try to figure out how to explain this. “Harrison bid on me. But someone else outbid him.”

“Who?”

“Dane Sinclair.”

“Holy hell, Mom. How much did he bid?”

“Does it matter?”

“Mom.” Her tone reminds me she’s too smart for her own good. “I want to know how much.”

“Fifty million dollars.”

She gasps. “Fifty million? Why would he pay that much?”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, baby.”

“You know what I mean.” I can hear her moving around her dorm room. “That’s insane. Harrison must be furious.”

She has no idea.

“Harrison will survive.”

I don’t know what Harrison is going to do. But I have no doubt that I’ll find out soon enough. He covered up my crime with the promise that I would help elevate him. He’s going to expect to collect.

“But what about Victor Ashworth? If Harrison didn’t buy you, then is Dane going to—”

“No, he already promised that you’re free to finish college and marry whoever you want. Within the Society, of course. But you’re not going to be part of any arrangement, Sloane.”

“He promised that? Why would he do that?”

“Because I’m his wife now, and you’re my daughter. I think you might like him, actually. He’s surprising.”

Sloane is quiet for a moment. Then she says, “You sound different when you talk about him.”

My entire body goes tense. “What?”

“I don’t know. Just different. Like . . .” She trails off. “Did you know him before? Before the auction?”

“Everyone knows Dane Sinclair.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Damn. I close my eyes. She’s very perceptive. She always has been.

“I met him at a Ravens event years ago. Before I married your father. We spoke briefly. That’s all.”

“Mom.”

“What?”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not—”

“You do this thing with your voice when you lie.” She pauses. “What happened between you and Dane Sinclair?”