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I straighten my spine and put on my Anton smile before heading to the open window. But I halt as soon as I realize Cameron’s in the driver’s seat.
“Get in,” he orders.
I check behind me, making sure no one’s watching us. “No. They’ll hurt you. Just go.”
“Get in the car or I’m contacting Tony.”
The threat in his voice is enough to get me in the car. It’s not that I’m worried about Tony punishing me again; it’s that I don’t want Cameron talking to him. I don’t want him or Parker anywhere close to him.
He doesn’t wait for me to fasten my seatbelt before he’s pulling away from the curb, headed for uptown. I tuck my hands under my thighs so he can’t see them shake. I know this isn’t about me. This is about Parker.
I swallow and turn my stare to the windshield. “I’m sorry.”
“I know you are.” The words are heavy and tired.
“Is Parker okay?”
“Yeah. He knows where I am.” Cameron glances over at me. “You look like hell.”
“I know.” I’m not going to tell him where all the bruises came from. He already knows.
Neither one of us speaks again until he pulls up to a nice hotel. I’m glad we’re meeting outside of Parker’s apartment so if Tony checks the tracker, it won’t have his address.
Cameron hands the keys to a valet, then takes my elbow, steering me through the lobby and into an elevator. We’re not the only two in here, so I don’t say anything. He stands silently next to me, fingers flexing every now and then around my elbow.
When we get off the elevator car, we come out into a hallway with thick carpet that muffles our footsteps as we walk. Cameron still doesn’t let go of me. Not until we reach a door, and he knocks sharply on it.
Only a few seconds pass before the door is thrown open, and Parker stands in the opening. He looks different than the last time I saw him. Dark bags line underneath his eyes, and his shoulders seem heavy. A couple days’ worth of stubble line his jaw.
I open my mouth to apologize, but I don’t get the chance before he reaches for me and pulls me into the tightest hug I’ve ever been given by someone who isn’t my parents.
“Where the hell have you been?” he demands, pulling me inside. Cameron follows and closes the door behind us. “I was worried about you. You said you’d come back.”
“I’m sorry. I got into trouble, and it was best if I didn’t see you again.” My voice is stiff. I didn’t sound like this even on the night we met.
Parker’s voice softens. “What happened, Rhys?”
“Tony was angry with me.”
“For what?” he presses, reaching for my hand. He squeezes tightly, and I try not to focus on how good it feels.
I should lie to him, but I don’t have the will in me right now. I just want to get out of here. “For seeing you. When I’m with someone, I’m supposed to get paid for it. And he didn’t like that I was seeing you without working.”
“How would he even know that?”
“You think he doesn’t have a way of tracking me?” I laugh bitterly and lift my free hand to run my finger along the collar around my throat. “This tells him exactly where I am and how long I’m there for. It alerts him if I try to take it off.”
“Rhys—”
“So, I need to go.” I start to turn away, but Parker’s hand is a death grip around mine.
“No.” His voice is fierce. Determined. “You’re not leaving again.”
“Parker—” Cameron starts, but Parker pushes on as if his brother never spoke.
“He’s going to kill you,” Parker says, squeezing my hand. “Don’t you get that? Just let us help you.”
“No. He’s watching Jack. He’s watching my brother. I can’t let him get hurt.” Just the very idea of it turns my stomach. “I’m not going to let my brother get hurt because I don’t want to be with Tony anymore.”
