Given: Highest Bidder

by Willow Winters

  I don’t even realize he’s picking the lock until I try to shove him away. I just need to get to her.

  I can feel it in the pit of my stomach. He’s hurting her. He has for years, but now it’s personal. I stand there watching Charles shoving the pick into the lock and twist it slightly before I hear a muffled scream.

  The blood drains from my face, and ice replaces my blood as Charles’ eyes meet mine.

  “Open it,” I mouth the words to him. My hand slowly travels to the cold steel of my gun. My reddened vision becomes focused. Adrenaline is bringing life to the hatred burning inside of me.

  The door clicks and slowly opens, and I move in front of Charles. He doesn’t stop me as I move through the house. The floorboards are creaking loudly under my weight. I don’t stop, all I can hear is that scream, her pain. It compels me to go to her, a pull so strong, so violent that nothing can stop me. Nothing will keep me from her or save him from death.

  She screams again as I come to a stop in the narrow hallway to a heavy door with an old steel knob. I test it and the knob turns easily, her scream louder as I creak it open.

  My heart pounds in my chest as I hear the swish of a whip and the crack of it against her skin. The lights are dim as I move down the stairs, my gun held out in front of me.

  Time slows as I see her, hanging there from the chains with him behind her. Pure hatred shines in his eyes as he pulls the heavy whip back over her shoulder, ready to strike her again.

  It only takes two shots. Bang! Bang!

  He wavers on his feet, staring down at his chest where the small holes in his chest seem to vanish, but quickly blood seeps through the fabric and spreads along the woven threads.

  I keep my arm up, the kick of the gun still traveling up my arm as he falls to his knees first, his head tilting back up to me, his forehead pinching and his hands moving to his chest. It's not long before he falls forward, his face slamming against the ground, his body lifeless.

  My feet move down the steps, going closer to him. I don’t take my eyes off of him as I empty the gun into his skull. Bang! Bang! Bang!

  I keep pulling the trigger even after it’s empty. His dead eyes are open and staring back at me as blood pools around his disfigured face.

  It’s only the sound of her whimper that tears me away from him.

  “Don’t touch her!” I scream at Charles, making him flinch as he puts both his hands up.

  There’s so much blood. Lashes mar her back, her shoulders, her thighs. Everywhere. He tore her flesh open. I don’t hesitate to pick her small body up, relieving the weight that’s pulling her wrists against the metal cuffs.

  “Zander,” she says and her voice is so weak as her head droops to the side.

  “It’s alright,” I tell her quickly as Charles works on the locks at her wrist. He must’ve found the key somewhere, because they’re off in an instant. Her arms are falling like dead weight and making her face twist in pain.

  She cries out as I turn her body, cradling it and feeling the warmth of her blood soaking into my shirt and against my arms.

  “Here,” Charles says and passes me a white sheet. I question using it for only a moment before wrapping it around her body, not tightly. Every small movement makes her wince with pain.

  “Talk to me, Arianna,” I tell her. Her eyes look as if she’s staring far off into the distance. “Arianna,” my voice cracks as I say her name.

  I’m too late.

  “We need to get out of here,” Charles says as he looks around the cellar. My shoes have traveled through the blood, tracking footprints wherever I’ve been. “I need to call for clean up.”

  My heart races as I realize what’s happened. What I’ve done.

  “Hopefully there’s time,” Charles says so softly I’m not sure if I was meant to hear him.

  My body shakes as I hold her closer to me, carrying her weak body up the steps and letting Charles lead the way. “I’ve got you,” I whisper, kissing her hair. “It’s alright,” I tell her even though I’m not sure it is. My body is so cold, so numb.

  Sirens scream in the background as we walk away from the house.

  “We should have gotten the silencer,” Charles mutters beneath his breath, opening the car door for me.

  We would have time to clean up. Time to hide the evidence if we had stopped to get his equipment like he’d told me to.

  Arianna groans with pain in my arms, the blood seeping through the thin white sheet.

  But then my sweetheart might not have survived.

  Chapter 30

  Arianna

  I groan softly with the twinge of pain as the doctor works on mending my back. My hands fist the comforter and my head thrashes from side to side. I’m on pain meds, but the prodding and stitches bring sharp pains that won’t go away. I’m alive though. “Zander,” I croak, barely able to force the words from my lips. I try to be still, feeling the cool air sting my open wounds, but it’s hard. It just hurts. I’ve never felt so much pain in my life.

  In the background, I hear heavy footsteps softened by plush carpet, coming toward the bed. As the footsteps get closer, I lift my head to see Zander, his face a tortured mask. But my movement proves to be a mistake as horrible pain runs up and down my back. I suck in a sharp breath through clenched teeth, trying my best not to cry out. I don’t want him to see me like this, but I need him here. I just want him to hold me.

  A large but gentle hand touches my shoulder where there aren’t any wounds.

  “Don’t move,” Zander says, his voice low and sounding like a soft rebuke.

  It hurts me to hear that tone in his voice. “I’m sorry,” I tell Zander quietly, my face pressed against the mattress, my lips mashed together. I’m sorry I ever left. I’m sorry I couldn’t fight harder. I’m ashamed. I brought all this on Zander. And now Danny’s blood is on Zander’s hands. Guilt mixes with anxiety in my stomach, making me feel sick.

  “It’s alright,” I hear Zander reply, his voice softer now. Even through my pain, a warmth flows through my chest.

  “I should’ve listened to you,” I say remorsefully. And none of this would’ve happened.

  “It’s going to be alright,” Zander repeats. He crouches down so his eyes are level with mine.

  My heart skips a beat at his handsome face so close to mine, his masculine scent calming me. His gaze pierces through me, his heavenly blue eyes clouded with emotion.

  I attempt a smile as Zander leans in, pressing his lips against mine, his hand cupping my jaw while his thumb rubs soothing circles on my cheek, causing my skin to warm from just his touch alone. But he murdered someone. I heard what Charles said. There wasn’t time to hide anything. They’re going to know. They’re going to come for him. I’ll tell them everything. They can’t blame Zander. They can’t… I can hardly breathe, and the reality makes me dizzy with agony. “Is it going to be okay?” I whisper against Zander’s lips, my heart in my throat, my eyes shut from the pain. Please tell me that it is. Please tell me that everything is going to be okay.

  “Everything’s going to be fine,” he says softly.

  My eyes flutter open and I see his piercing blue eyes gazing at me. His jaw is clenched, his expression conflicted.

  I look back at him, my heart still in my throat. I have the sudden urge to tell him that I love him. That I want to be with him forever. He really saved me. I truly owe him my life.

  But I can’t find the strength to speak the words as I watch the look in his eyes change.

  Deep down, I know that he’s lying to me.

  Everything isn’t going to be okay. And it’s all because of me.

  Chapter 31

  Zander

  I wish I could just pause time. If only it were possible. The soft sounds of Arianna sleeping peacefully are the only sounds I concentrate on. If I don’t, all I can hear is the bang of my gun. The thud of his body hitting the floor. The sound of her scream.

  I close my eyes, wishing the image would go away. It’s not the
blood from the bullet holes spilling onto the floor that makes my stomach turn with sickness, it’s Ariana’s blood stained on the cement under her and caked on her back.

  I grit my teeth, my hands fisting the sheets as I try to contain the anger.

  A soft moan makes me open my eyes as Arianna twists on the bed, nestling closer to me and giving me a warmth I’m in desperate need of.

  Her small hand meets my chest, and instantly her body relaxes and she moves closer in her sleep as I put my arms over her waist.

  Her simple touch calms the anger inside of me. I feel raw and powerless with her next to me. I’d do anything for her. She turns me away from everything I’ve ever known. It means nothing compared to her touch.

  I’ve sacrificed it all; I already know I’m going down for this. Charles messaged me this morning, there’s too much evidence. Video surveillance from the gala, her blood, his blood.

  We both knew it as I stood over Brooks’ dead body. There was no going back. No hiding it. I’m only biding my time until they come for me.

  If only I could pause this moment and stay with her forever.

  “Mmm,” Arianna’s soft voice brings my eyes to hers. They flutter open and she yawns, covering her mouth with her hand. As she moves her arm, she winces, a reminder of the pain from the wounds on her back.

  I wish I could do more for her. I feel like I failed her. In so many ways I have.

  “How do you feel?” I ask but my voice croaks and I have to clear my throat. I haven’t slept, and that’s evident in my voice. My eyes feel heavy and my body is begging for me to let go, but I can’t. I know I only have a few moments left with her. I won’t waste them sleeping.

  “Okay,” Arianna answers me, her hand moving to the stubble on my jaw. I take her hand in mine and kiss her palm, making that sweet smile form on her face. I love that smile. It should always be there. She deserves that happiness.

  “Do you need any more meds?” I ask her, my eyes automatically flashing to the clock. It’s nearly eight, she can’t have another dose for two more hours.

  “I’m fine,” she says with the soft smile still there. “Really,” she leans forward and hides the pain that’s clearly there to kiss me on the lips.

  I don’t waste the moment, I pull her closer to me, holding on to her small body carefully and gently and deepening the kiss. I part her lips with my tongue, slipping it along the seam and then stroking her tongue with mine. Our tongues mingle in a dark dance of desperate need. Her moans fill my hot mouth as she pushes herself against me. Her breasts press against my chest, and her leg brushes over my knee.

  I nip her bottom lip and look down at her. Her dark eyes look up through her thick lashes and her lips part. Our hot breath fills the air between us.

  A moment passes with a spark igniting between us. Not lust, something stronger. So much stronger. Her lips part and she almost has a chance to say the words, but I don’t let her. I push my lips against hers, muffling anything she could say and putting every ounce of passion and need into my touch.

  I can’t bear to say it, knowing how this ends, but I hope she can feel it. That’s all I need. As long as she can feel it, it’ll stay with her forever.

  As I break the kiss, I hear the banging on the front door. My heart freezes, but it's not from knowing that I’m done. That I’ll be in jail soon and on the stand for murder. It’s not the threat of life behind bars, or the death penalty that makes my heart stop. It’s the look in Arianna’s eyes and the way her nails dig into my arm as I pull away from her.

  “No,” Arianna whispers, her head shaking as I move off the bed, ignoring her attempt to keep me with her in the safety and warmth of the comforter.

  “I have to,” I tell her with my back to her. I’m not going to run. I know that’s not an option. I take in a breath as the bed groans and Arianna grabs her sweater off the floor, throwing it on and ignoring the pain she must be feeling and running through the hall to catch up to me. Her bare feet pad on the floor as a voice says through the door, “Zander Payne, open up! We have a warrant!”

  “Go back to bed, Arianna,” I command her, but she doesn’t listen.

  I clench my teeth as the banging of a fist on the other side of the door echoes in the foyer.

  “Zander,” Arianna pulls on my arm, begging me to look at her. She swallows thickly, looking at the door as the banging continues.

  “Sweetheart,” I tell her with the semblance of a smile on my face. “It’s okay,” I lie to her. It hurts to do it. “Just go back to bed,” I say and my voice cracks. I brush the hair away from her face and cup her chin.

  Bang! The knock at the door sounds so much louder.

  “Coming!” I call out and at my voice, Arianna hunches forward, tears falling down her cheeks.

  I lean down and kiss her lips, tasting the salt before resting the tip of my nose against hers. “You’ll be alright," I tell her in a soft voice. It’s meant to comfort her, but it only forces a sob from her throat.

  She cries quietly behind me in the middle of the foyer as I unlock the door and open it, stepping aside. Each beat of my heart seems slower.

  Four cops stand at my doorstep, the first pushing the door open wider as he steps through.

  “Zander Payne?” the man asks. He has dark skin and dark eyes to match. Tall and broad shouldered, his voice doesn’t match the intimidation of his presence. The man is deadly, that much is obvious, but his voice is calm and level. Professional even. “I’m Officer Richter, and this is Officer Lawson.”

  I nod my head, meeting his eyes and waiting for the arrest.

  The man behind him, Officer Lawson, comes in with cuffs already out. “Turn around sir, we have a warrant for your arrest.” The second officer speaks this time, a much shorter man, with tanned skin but lacking the same forceful presence as the first man. His voice still echoes authority though. And I listen, turning around and putting my hands behind my back.

  I don’t ask what I'm being arrested for, maybe I should. I should have prepared this better. But the truth is, she was never a part of my plans. None of this was supposed to happen.

  “Zander,” Ariana's voice is full of pain as the metal brushes against my skin. It’s cold and the clinking of the cuffs is loud as the metal closes around my wrists. A strong hand rests on my shoulders as I’m pushed against the wall. My cheek is flat against the drywall as the man pats me down.

  “You have the right to remain silent. If you do say anything, it can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have a lawyer present during any-”

  “I did it!” Arianna calls out. I can’t see her with my face still pressed against the wall. My eyes pop open, and my heart races as her words hit me. I try pushing back against the man holding me, but his hold is unforgiving.

  “I killed Daniel Brooks. I did it!” Ariana shrieks and runs forward, toward the cops. I can hear the commotion behind me. I push against the man holding me, and this time I’m forceful. “I shot him. I can tell you everything. Please don’t take him.”

  “Keep quiet!” I yell at Arianna, whipping my body around. I’m so off-balance I fall over, tripping over the cop’s boot as Arianna’s being turned around by Officer Richter.

  “Don’t say anything!” I wrench my head around, craning my neck as I lie awkward on the floor with the cuffs tight on my wrists, the cold metal digging into my flesh and shooting sparks of pain up my shoulder, begging her to look at me as I scream out. “Arianna!”

  “Take 'em both,” Officer Richter tells the other cops.

  I stare at Arianna’s back, watching as they cuff her.

  “Don’t touch her!” I scream out so loud my throat hurts. “She didn’t do it!” I shout at them.

  “If I were you, I’d wait for your lawyer,” Officer Richter tells me as one of the cops ushers her away. My heart is beating so loud; the sound is deafening.

  “Arianna!” I scream for her as I’m heaved off the floor and shoved against the wall as I try to run to her.
“Stop!” I scream out. My face is shoved against the wall, and the harsh crack bruises my cheekbone.

  “She didn’t do it,” I breathe out the words. “Leave her alone!” The sounds of them walking her out of the house mixes with the blood rushing in my ears. “Arianna!” I scream again, but she doesn’t answer me, instead I’m left with silence. Only the two officers and myself remain, alone in my foyer.

  “She confessed to a murder, we have to take her in,” Officer Lawson says close to my ear. His breathing is ragged from dragging me up and keeping me still against the wall.

  “I’ll repeat what I said, Mr. Payne.” Officer Richter comes into view. His tall frame hovers over me as he tells me, “You should wait for your lawyer.”

  “She didn’t do it.” I look him in the eyes, letting him feel my conviction and the truth in my words. She never should have said anything. What was she thinking? My heart twists with a pain that’s indescribable.

  “She’s hurt,” I tell them as the man behind me spreads my legs. “She’s-”

  “She’ll be alright, Mr. Payne.”

  “She didn’t do it,” I tell him again. I plead with him to let her go, she can’t take the fall for this. I won’t let her. “She’s not feeling well, and she-”

  “It doesn’t matter. You need to let the law handle this.”

  The fight that’s been absent since I brought my sweetheart home comes back. I won’t fight for myself. I’ll take the punishment I deserve. But I won’t let them touch her. She’s innocent. She’s always been innocent.

  I look him square in the eyes as I tell him, “I need to call my lawyer.”

  Chapter 32

  Arianna

  I rest my head on the interrogation table, letting out a heavy exhale. I won’t tell them anything. I don’t care what they say. Or what they do. I refuse to talk. The table is so cold. It makes me want to sleep. I’m so tired. So exhausted. Anxiety twists my stomach as my heart pounds. I assumed they would lock me up right away, toss me in a cell, and throw away the key. But instead I’ve been left in a room. I don’t know how much time has passed. There isn’t a clock in here. Nothing. I’m just alone.