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

“They’re bringing him to the airstrip.”

Evidently, I was supposed to be satisfied with that, because he turned his attention to his phone, tapping out a message.

“Did my brother put you up to hiring me?” I prompted when I finally got tired of the strained silence.

Talon’s head slowly turned, his gray eyes scanning my face. “Do I look like a man who does something he does not want to do, Miss Bishop?”

“That did not answer my question,” I countered.

Talon didn’t respond.

I made a face, looking away as I mumbled, “I don’t know you. Perhaps you are,” under my breath.

His laugh was deep and rich and sent a frisson of warmth along my spine. I found that my anger had dissipated mostly, but my fear for my brother’s safety was still there, still churning.

“Zion’s with him,” Talon said softly when my eyes once again met his. “He’s safe.”

I briefly wondered if the man was a mind reader. “Would you lie to me, Talon?”

He never looked away. “Only if I had no other choice.”

I wanted to be angry at that admission but found his honesty refreshing. Everyone lied, no matter who they were or what they said. Lying was as natural as breathing, and eventually everyone did it. Even if it was simply by omitting information they felt would hurt someone else. So the fact that Talon admitted as much had me relaxing.

“Is your back against the wall now?” I asked, once again staring out the window.

“No.”

I believed him.

“Who’s Zion?”

“He works for me. He’s one of the few I trust implicitly; therefore, you can, as well.”

The formality in his words had me curious as to who this man really was. I’d deduced only a few things, but I had the sneaking suspicion I would only know what Talon was willing to let me know.

Recalling his command for Tiegan to have my brother delivered to an airstrip and his mention of him taking us to an island, I could only assume that was where we were heading now.

“This island? Is that where you live?”

“Yes. Along with several others.”

“Tiegan mentioned a private jet.”

Talon smiled. “Of course she did.”

“I’ve seen a private jet before, Talon,” I informed him, hopefully my tone relaying the fact I wasn’t impressed.

“Not like this one, you haven’t.”

I burrowed into the warm coat and smiled, glancing over once more. “Is that arrogance I hear in your voice?”

“Don’t mistake pride for arrogance, Miss Bishop. I work very hard for my money. Luxury is something I can afford; therefore, I spare no expense.”

A few minutes later, I learned just what that meant.

When I heard the words private and jet in the same sentence, I expected something relatively small with custom seating and some additional elbow room, where people weren’t smashed in like sardines. Clearly, I was disillusioned, because this was not one of those simple, private puddle jumpers that got someone from point A to point B.

No, this was a full-sized airliner that had been modified for comfort. Extreme comfort.

“Do you live on this thing?” I mumbled, ogling the furnishings and decor.

“Let’s just say I travel quite frequently. Make yourself comfortable,” Talon instructed when he led me into what appeared to be a living area.

This space was as opulent as any mansion I’d ever seen pictures of. It was a sea of white with plush carpeting, luxurious leather seating, power everything. Even a large panel television and artwork designed into the lacquered walls.

I was almost worried I wouldn’t want to leave once I did settle in.

My teeth chattered as I hugged the coats closer, feeling suddenly too tired to stand. Despite the dry socks, my feet were still frozen, which was probably the reason they didn’t hurt too badly.

The concern on Talon’s face surprised me when he stepped forward, his big hands cupping my shoulders. “We need to get you warmed up.”

I wanted to tell him it was just the adrenaline waning, but I was suddenly too cold to argue. However, I didn’t want to be the puny woman who appeared too weak to take care of herself.

The extremely attractive man who was shirtless because I was in possession of his coat and wearing a stainless steel collar around his neck with the word Owned artfully engraved came to stand beside Talon. He didn’t speak, but his full attention was focused solely on Talon.

That collar… It meant… This man was Talon’s submissive.

I didn’t get the opportunity to say a word before Talon bent down, slid one arm beneath my knees, the other behind my back. He lifted me as though I weighed nothing, and I found myself wrapping my arms around his neck and burrowing into his warmth.

“I’ve got you,” he said softly as he moved with purpose in the opposite direction.

He did and I felt safe in his arms. Safer than I had in a long, long time.

“Get the shower running,” Talon instructed.

Shower? On a plane? Why was I surprised?

The shirtless man who’d been lingering nearby walked ahead of us.

“I’ll be okay,” I told Talon, but the words sounded pitiful because I was now shivering deep down to my core.

Because I was curious, I watched where we were going.

“How big is this thing?” I said under my breath as we continued along a wide corridor that spanned one half of the jet and continued for a good distance.

Granted, the only thing to remind me I was even on an airplane was the rows of windows that lined the outer walls of the fuselage. Without those, it would’ve been easy to get confused, believing one was in someone’s luxury home.

“Big enough,” Talon responded as though it had been a serious question.

Talon stopped just inside a set of white wooden doors. “Holy crap.”

With gentle movements, Talon set me on my feet. I held tight to the coats, praying my knees wouldn’t buckle as I admired the masculine decor. The other man was making his way across the decent-sized bedroom, disappearing into what looked to be a bathroom.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Talon said,