Owned (Office Intrigue Book 8) by Nicole Edwards (bill gates book recommendations txt) 📕

Ransom had never told me exactly what he’d done to help Ian and Isaac, but I’d pieced enough together to know it had something to do with the death of a prominent businessman and his son. I never had asked him for details, knowing it was better not to know. It wasn’t that I thought my brother to be a violent person, but I knew he would protect those he cared about at all costs.

My brother stopped walking, turning to face me. He took both my hands in his.

“You had no say in coming here, Brae. I basically forced it on you.” He looked up at the house. “You’ve adapted well, I know, but that doesn’t mean this is the right place for you. For us. Chicago’s always been our home.”

Yes. It had. And at one point, I couldn’t imagine myself living anywhere else.

“You’ve got more options now,” he continued, clearly misreading my silence. “And I’m happy to help you pursue them. Hell, I’ll even go talk to your old boss, tell him I’m the reason you were fired.”

I stared back at him, squeezing his hands. “What about Jasper?”

“What about him?”

I felt my heart sink. “I thought…”

“What? That I love him?” He nodded. “I do, yes. And if he wants to come with me, then fine. Otherwise…”

I couldn’t believe he was saying that. I’d seen him and Jasper these past few weeks. They weren’t merely indulging in one another. They were … I’d go so far as to say they were a couple now. At least that was how it was perceived from the outside looking in. And I had seen Jasper’s face when Trent had relayed the news, mentioned a coming home party. I’d seen his heart in his eyes, along with the fear.

“I do love him,” Ransom clarified, more firmly this time. “I always have, always will. But…” He sighed. “I want what’s best for you, Brae. I owe you that.”

Leave it to Ransom to put me above all else. Even his own happiness.

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“But I do,” he bit out. “You’re the most important person in my life, Brae. I vowed to take care of you.”

“No.” I shook his arms. “Don’t you see that yet? You’ve taken care of me my entire life. You’ve paid your dues. You owe me nothing.”

His gaze bounced over my face as though he was looking for a nuance that would tell him something different than my words.

“I don’t want to go back, Ransom.” I took a deep breath, let it out. “Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.”

Something shifted in my brother’s expression. “So your plan is to what? Work for Talon? Let him divide his time between you and his possessions? How is that fair to you, Brae? You deserve a man who’s going to give you one hundred percent of himself. Not one who’ll get you your own play toy to keep you company.”

I frowned, releasing his hands with a rough jerk of my arms. “Is that what you think he’s doing?”

“I don’t think, I know. I’ve seen it with my own eyes.” He huffed, motioned to the house. “I see him with them all the time. Down by the pool, in the resort. He’s not discreet about it.”

“And he shouldn’t be,” I argued.

“If he feels anything for you, yes, he should.” Ransom shook his head, thrust his hand in his hair. “No. Actually, he shouldn’t be discreet. He shouldn’t be indulging at all. He’s made it clear he doesn’t give two shits about them. They’re at his beck and call for his amusement.”

I huffed a mirthless laugh. “You don’t know him at all.”

“I know he uses them for their orifices. He fucks them because he enjoys it. The control.”

“You don’t see it,” I accused, feeling my face heat with my own anger.

“See what?” He actually growled. “You think he loves them, Brae? If so, you’re delusional. You can pretty it up all you want, but that doesn’t change anything. He won’t give them up for you.”

“He won’t give them up, period,” I snapped. “You might think he doesn’t give a shit, but you’re wrong.” And I knew that for fact. I seriously doubted Talon would even admit it, but I’d seen him with them. He cared enough to punish them when they’d done wrong. He cared enough to give them the safety and security they deserved. And he cared enough not to violate their trust in him. If that wasn’t love, I didn’t know what was.

“You don’t deserve that, Brae. You deserve—”

“Him!” I shouted. “I deserve him, Ransom. All of him. Not just the side he thinks I should see. I don’t want to be protected and sheltered. You of all people should know that. And I don’t want a man who thinks he has to change for me.”

That shut him up, and for a brief moment, I felt guilty for yelling. But it was fleeting because of the truth in my statement. I wanted Talon. The man he was. I wanted all of him. And yes, I wanted his possessions, too.

Ransom swallowed hard, staring at me.

“I’m not going back,” I decided. “I know you’ve got a life there. Friends, a job. What I have … it’s here. Everything I’ve ever wanted is here.”

“You mean that.”

There was no accusation in his words so much as understanding.

“I do. And the same goes for you, Ransom. Jasper’s here. Deny it all you want, but I’ve never seen you happier. You love him. He loves you. Why would you be willing to risk that for anyone? I want you to be happy, too. And walking away from him … that won’t bring you happiness.”

He surprised me, reaching out and jerking me toward him, his arms wrapping tightly around me. I hugged him back, holding firm.

“I love you, Brae. The only thing I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy.”

“I know.” I patted his back. “And I am. I promise.”

“Yeah.” He sighed.