Page 41 of The Auction Block

"Almost everything," she says in a low, sad tone.

Fuck me.

"Have you told anyone?" I grit my teeth.

"Of course not, and I won't. I promise."

"My ass you won't. She's only twenty-seven! Are you kidding me?" Dresden snaps.

"It's none of your business, Dresden." The anger floods my veins.

"The fuck it ain't. Twenty-seven, huh? We've been with you for ten years, Lily. We trained together for a year before our first assignment. That means I helped put a seventeen year old in an auction. The hell it isn't my business!" Dresden says, his voice rising.

I open my eyes, raking my fingers in my hair. I glance around the room, praying for something to calm me. Blake's hand gently squeezes my shoulder. My body calms.

What the hell is he doing to me?

"My life, and how I came to Interpol, is no one's business but mine. Yes, I was young, but Jax lying for me saved my life. If he hadn't, I would've killed myself the first chance I got. That's all you need to know," I say with finality.

"Does Hyde know?" Vlad asks, stepping forward, glaring at Jax.

"Of course not. Don't be stupid. Interpol never would've approved, had they known the truth," Jax says, rolling his eyes. “As far as they know, she was twenty when I recruited her and twenty-one when the team became active.”

Dresden gets in Jax's face, and they stand nose-to-nose. "You should be in jail. What kind of man does that to a fucking kid?"

"The kind who's trying to make a difference. Lily understands this world better than any of you ever will."

"I'm calling Hyde." Dresden spins around and moves toward Sammi's desk.

I grab his arm, fear taking over. "Dresden, please, don't."

"Are you kidding me right now?"

"You won't just ruin his career. You'll ruin mine. Please."

"Lily, this isn't right."

I sigh, squeezing his arm. "Please. I'm begging you. Let this go. What's done is done."

He growls low in his throat, clenching his fists at his sides. "Fine."

My team stares at me, each face showing confusion and horror at the admission of part of my past. I'm not ready for them to know, not yet. Reaching up, I pull Blake's hand from my shoulder, but entwine my fingers with his, my hand shaking slightly.

"Do you want to go finish this event, or would you prefer to go home?" I ask as nicely as I can manage.

"I think my apartment would be the safer bet at this point," he says tightening his grip on my hand.

I nod. Walking toward the exit, I stop next to Jax. He glances down at my hand, still firmly in Blake's grip. "Ten years . . . I've done everything you've ever asked. This is what I get for it? You're unbelievable, and you lied to me."

Jax's mouth drops open, taking a sharp breath. I shake my head, and glide from the room, Blake right on my heels. Halfway across the lawn, Blake pulls on my hand and I spin around to face him. I stare down at the grass, trying to still my anger.

"Look at me." His voice melts all my tension.

I glance up through my eyelashes and he steps forward, putting his body flush against mine. My heart pounds in my ears.

"Twenty-seven, huh?"

"It’s only a four-year difference than what you originally thought."