The Auction House Deal: Bought by A Billionaire

I sat down on the bed with my brother - whoa, that was weird to say - Martin. In shock, I kept looking at him, examining his face.

"What happened to your nose?" I asked, not able to keep my eyes off of the mark.

"Well, I got this in the army, special forces."

"Special forces? You were in the army?" I couldn’t believe it.

Our father had raised us all to be fairly proper and not at all outdoorsy. However, my father certainly did have a mean streak, which I guess could be useful in the special forces.

"Yep. I left. I couldn’t take it with Dad anymore. Joined the army."

"That’s why you’re so buff."

He smiled and flexed his bicep. I grabbed it and made a goofy face to show I was impressed.

"The scar I got in battle. I can’t really say where we were, but we were part of an operation hunting some really bad guys. We had a little bit of back luck, and suddenly some of the gang was upon us. I had to defend myself, but not before one guy took a swipe at me with a machete." He touched his nose.

I winced. "That sounds pretty bad."

He shrugged. "All part of the job. Honestly, I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve lost a few buddies through the years, but it’s what we signed up for. And most of all, it was a way to escape Court’s house."

"I understand joining the army to get away, but why didn’t you come back? Why did we think you were dead? Did the military make a mistake or something?"

"No, nothing like that. I didn’t know you thought I was dead. This is all news to me," he said.

"Get out," I said. "I can’t believe Dad did that. Of all the things..."

"I’m really sorry. Seriously."

I hugged Martin again, if for no other reason than to make sure he was alive, and I wasn’t dreaming. He felt warm and welcoming. While the army had certainly made him more buff, it hadn’t hardened him too much.

"I still don’t get it, though. You didn’t write to us. Nothing."

Martin hung his head, and I could tell he regretted some of his decisions.

"I’m - I know. I needed to get away from Dad. And then he told me that he disowned me. He was so nasty. After that, he said I wasn’t welcome back. I never planned on returning - ever. The day I walked out that door, I knew it would be my last," he said.

"But surely, you could have reached out to Lori or me," I leaned forward, trying to make eye contact.

"He told me you didn’t want to have anything to do with me, either. That I was disgrace. That I was giving up on my family."

Looking at Martin’s face broke my heart. I would never have felt anything like that. Martin was our champion, but he couldn’t protect us forever. I would have understood why he was leaving.

"No, no," I shook my head.

"He made me believe I was a deserter. That I had not right to be in this family anymore. I couldn’t stand the thought of hurting you, so I made the army my family."

I reached out and put my hand on top of his and squeezed. "I understand. And I don’t blame you. There came a time when we all realized how absolutely wretched our father could be. Your time just came earlier."

He looked up and stared into my eyes. "I didn’t want to leave you. I wish I had protected you more."

I shook my head. "He wouldn’t have let you. You were always butting heads with Dad, sticking up for Lori and me. You couldn’t do that forever."

"But if I had stayed - then maybe..." his words trailed off.

"You can’t blame yourself for how our dad handled things even though after you left, everything got worse. He lost all his money. Got pretty desperate. It was horrible."

"What about Freddy and Edward?" he asked.

"They believed the same thing, I think. But you know how Dad was always grooming them differently. They were taught the business, while Lori and I were just something to be looked at."

Martin chuckled a little. "Yeah, if only he knew about your mean right hook."

I gave him a playful look and punched my fist into his shoulder. "He did get to see some of my skills. I gave a guy a bloody nose once."

"Really?" Martin looked impressed.

I nodded. "I’m sure it was nothing compared to what you had to do. You’ve fought so many battles." I held up my hands. "Not that I see it as a competition. It’s just - I’ve had my own - you know - troubles."

Martin cradled me in his arms. We couldn’t seem to stop giving each other hugs.

I knew he cared about me, even if he had been so far away. But I didn’t just want to talk about all the bad stuff. Since I hadn’t seen him for so long, and I finally realized he was alive, I didn’t want to let in all my negative thoughts.

"Some things are difficult to process," he agreed.

"I’m seeing a therapist," I looked up at him, my head still nestled in his chest. "It helps. You should consider it."

"Maybe I will." He smiled and rubbed my shoulder.

He walked over to the refrigerator and opened the door, looking inside. "I see you ate all the strawberries and most of the bagels. I tried to remember what you liked."

"One thing I don’t like is oatmeal," I said, pointing to the top of the counter. "Yuck. It’s disgusting."

Martin laughed. "Oh yeah," he said, remembering. "That was Lori who would slop up hers and then start in on yours."

I nodded.

"And the clothes?" he asked. "They fit okay?"

I stood up and twirled around for him to get a better view. "What do you think?"

"Ummm, they’re okay I guess?" he said a bit unsure.

"They fit fine, but they’re more appropriate for a twelve-year-old girl." I walked over to the closet and pulled out the pair of tie-dyed leggings. "I mean, 1980 called, they want their tie-dye back."

"I’m a soldier. I usually wear a uniform. Sorry I’m not that up on fashion."

I walked around him looking at his cargo pants and flack jacket. "I’ll say. You could really use a make-over." I pointed to his beard. "You could trim that. Let your hair grow a little," I pushed myself up onto my tip-toes to rub my hand on his head.

"I’ll think about it," he said, watching me from the corner of his eye.

"Lori is really good with things like that. I’m not the best." "How is she?" he asked.

"Can you give me my phone back?" I held out my hand. "I’ll show you."

He searched in one of his pockets and pulled out my phone. I sat back on the bed, and Martin sat next to me, squishing in, our shoulders touching. I scrolled through a series of pictures of me and Lori.

"I started a charity," I showed him a picture of me standing in front of the building. "And here’s Lori. She started a design business. See this outfit?" I pointed out a picture of Lori in a beautifully elegant blue sundress with a sun hat and cute sandals. "She just has such good taste. That’s what I mean. She can make anything beautiful."

Martin smiled. "It seems I missed a lot while I was gone."

I gazed at him. "You did, but it’s nothing you can’t catch up with."

"Who’s that?" he pointed at Lauren.

"That’s Lauren. Roman’s cousin. She’s working with Lori. Together, they have the best taste."

Martin kind of gave me a confused look. "You’re friends with her?"

"Yeah, of course. She’s pretty nice. You’ll like her."

Martin looked unsure, but he shrugged. "So Dad told you I was dead?" he shook his head in disbelief. "I mean, of all the things."

Having my phone back in my hands reminded me of the situation.

"Since you’re not dead, what are you doing scaring me half to death? I mean, kidnapping me from the club and then keeping me here?" I put my hands on my hips, sitting, facing him. "You have some explaining to do."

Martin held up his hand in surrender.

"I’ll never stop looking out for you, Hannah. Not now that you’re back in my life. I know what happened, and I’m here to save you so you never have to go back to that horrible womanizer. I’m so sorry you were sold like a slave. I’m going to protect you and take you away from that horrible man."

He looked in my eyes so serious and earnest. There was so much tension as he sat facing me.

"You mean Roman?" I said, and burst out laughing.