Page 128 of The Auction Block

"Sorina's parents are at the halfway house. They're going to sell her back to the Taurus."

"We'll meet you there," he calls as I run out the door, heading for the elevators.

This can't happen to her. She deserves a chance, something my parents never gave me. The elevator doors open to the lobby and I jog through it, shouting apologies to the people who get in my way. I jump into the front SUV and take off, not bothering to worry about other drivers.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and call the main number for the halfway house.

"Mason House, this is Julie."

"Julie, it's Agent Williams. Are Sorina's parents still there?"

"Yes, ma'am. They're fighting with Nurse Slybeck."

"Tell her I'm on my way. Don't let them leave there with Sorina."

"Yes, ma'am."

†††

"Te duci înapoi! Destul! Ia-?i lucrurile!" a man yells, grabbing Sorina by the arm.

You're going back! Enough! Get your things!

I stand inside the door, unnoticed, watching the exchange with her parents. Her mother stands, rigid, her face cold as she glares at her daughter. The father has enough anger pulsing from him to set off a box of explosives. Blake and Dresden enter and stand close behind me.

"No Papa, please. I don't want to go. I want to stay here," Sorina begs, trying to pull free of her father's grasp.

"De ce ar vrea ca tu sa stai? Nu e?ti nimic. Nimeni nu te vrea." He sneers at her.

Why would they want you to stay? You're nothing. No one wants you.

I take a few steps forward. "I want her," I say loudly. Their heads whip in my direction, Sorina's eyes as large as saucers. "She's everything, and I want her."

Her father stalks toward me, pulling Sorina next to him. "You know nothing, bitch," he says with a thick accent.

I carefully open my jacket and reveal my guns, hanging under my arms. I point at the badge lying against my stomach. "I know everything. I also know selling her into slavery can earn you a life sentence in prison. The choice is yours. Leave Sorina, or after I beat the shit out of you, I’ll arrest you, and she'll stay anyway."

Her parents exchange a few hushed words in Romanian. After, her father glares at me, pushes Sorina away and stomps from the building, his wife in tow. I sigh deeply. Opening my eyes, I'm almost knocked over, as Sorina wraps her arms around my neck and sobs.

"I got you, kiddo," I whisper into her hair, tightening my arms as she shakes, uncontrollably.

"Did you mean what you said?"

I push her from my arms and stare into her brown eyes. "Yes. I'll figure it out. For now, I need you to stay here. When this is all over, I'll come get you." I pull her back into my arms and hold her until the tears subside.

Lily, you have lost your fucking mind!

One of the nurses stops beside us, glancing from me to Sorina. "Why don't you come rest, Sorina?"

She stands straight, wiping the wetness from her face and nods. I keep my eyes glued to her as she walks from the room with the nurse. Blake's hands press down on my shoulders and I have no idea how to explain what I've just agreed to. He is part of my future, but so is she.

"Once Interpol clears this case, I'll have one of the rooms at the apartment converted for her," he says in a steady, authoritative voice.

I twist around and look up at him. "What?"

"Don't act surprised. I planned on asking you to come live with me too," he says, gently grasping my neck in his hand.

"You want me to live with you?"