Chapter 1

While Orion fought to keep his organization from falling apart, I was at an auction, eyeing an expensive pink diamond necklace.

I lifted my paddle without a second thought. The socialites in the room all knew I was Orion's woman, so no matter how badly they wanted it, none of them dared bid against me.

But when it was time to pay, the card reader let out a warning beep.

The auction assistant tried the card again and again, his smile growing stiff. "Ma'am, your account has been frozen. Would you like to try another form of payment?"

Orion had opened that account just for me.

I'd used it to buy yachts, a beach house, and jewelry, and it had never been declined.

With the frozen card still in my hand, I called Orion, but he didn't pick up.

Until then, Orion had always answered within three seconds, whether he was in a board meeting or taking a break.

This time, it just rang and rang.

A socialite glanced at her phone and laughed. "Breaking news. Orion's organization is about to get swallowed up by the other West Coast crews."

She gave me a pointed look, then glanced at the necklace on display. Her voice dripped with mockery. "Looks like Delilah isn't getting that necklace after all."

The woman beside her laughed. "That ruby necklace Delilah's wearing must be worth a fortune. She should sell it while she can and take the cash. If Orion really goes broke, he won't be able to support her anymore."

When the auction assistant heard that, the polite smile he'd been giving me vanished. He turned to the socialite and said warmly, "This pink diamond is perfect for someone of your standing."

I frowned. "Didn't I already win this lot?"

The assistant avoided my eyes and gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm terribly sorry, ma'am. We need to verify that you can pay for the item."

The words were barely out of his mouth when the woman swiped her card and paid for it.

I watched the pink diamond that should have been mine go to someone else. My expression hardened, and I turned and left the auction house.

When I got back to the estate, everyone in the organization looked grim, and the air was heavy.

One man muttered, "I can't believe Leon betrayed us. He gave our private routes to Rhys."

Another added, "The other West Coast crews are already grabbing our territory. We've lost too much this time, and the boss is badly hurt..."

The men had been with Orion for years, and I'd never seen them look so defeated.

When I heard Orion was hurt, I froze.

I'd assumed that, as capable as he was, this would be only a temporary setback.

Orion was one of the top bosses on the West Coast. Rhys had lost to him before, yet he still had the nerve to come after him.

But what did any of this have to do with me?

After all, I was just his pampered trophy girlfriend.

I'd barely reached the door when Diana, Orion's assistant, stopped me.

She glared at me with open hostility. "Delilah, you don't deserve to be Orion's girlfriend. He's out there in a gunfight with his enemies, and you're off at an auction?"

I glanced at her and said offhandedly, "Something went wrong at the auction. Somebody else bought the necklace I wanted."

"All you care about is that necklace? Do you even have a heart?!" Diana shouted, raising her hand.

"Stop." Before her slap could land, someone caught Diana's hand in a tight grip.

Orion had appeared just in time. His shoulder was wrapped in bandages, with blood seeping through, and one side of his face was scraped raw. He pressed a hand against his stomach. His wounds had clearly just been treated, and he could barely stand.

But even so, the first thing he did was step in front of me.

My chest tightened, and I looked him over.

He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and said calmly, "Don't worry. It's nothing serious."

I paused, then hugged him and pouted. "You have to find a way to get me that necklace!"

"Okay. But it'll take a few days."

I nodded like a good girl.

Honestly, I knew Rhys's attack was no accident. If I chose to step in, he and his allies wouldn't stand a chance.

But so what?

As long as Orion was there to protect me, whatever storms raged outside weren't my problem.

After all, men willing to be that good to me didn't come along every day.

Nobody in the organization slept that night.

I slept soundly until morning and came down just as one of his men was reporting to him. "Rhys has seized Sea Route A, too. He took cargo worth almost one hundred fifty million dollars, and he's rallying the other crews to go to war with us."

Orion looked more serious than I'd ever seen him. He ran his thumb over the ring I'd given him. "Sea Route B is still safe for now. Get our last boat ready and send Delilah out."

I stared at him, and my heart gave a hard lurch.

At a time like this, Orion should have been figuring out how to save himself and his organization. I'd even thought he might be forced to dump his trophy girlfriend.

I never expected that, when things got desperate, I'd be the first one he protected.

His whole organization was hanging by a thread, and all he could think about was getting me somewhere safe.

An unfamiliar feeling fluttered in my chest. I quickly pushed it down and lowered my eyes. I still didn't want to reveal who I was or get dragged into my family's power struggles.