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Chapter 33
Zara
Two weeks later
“Whatishappeningwithpoliticians in our country? That’s two killed in such a short time. I’m not happy with my representatives half the time, but I would never think to kill one of them. And did you hear the guy who supposedly killed the mayor got beat up in prison and died yesterday? The whole world has just gone insane.”
I can’t help but laugh at June’s incredulity as we sit on her couch and watch the news, which is currently covering the mysterious death of Senator Chuck Pratchett. He was found in a cheap hotel where authorities thought he was the victim of a drug deal gone wrong. It had long been rumored that Pratchett had a nasty drug habit.
Somehow, I know Luke is behind it, and it doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it should. The man was evil, and it was unlikely that he would ever see justice. I don’t condone murder for murder’s sake, but I’m also not going to cry for the senator. Nor am I going to stop loving the man who did that for me. Because I know it was for me. As for Oliver Bowden, I’m sad. But he was facing a lengthy trial and his life was never going to be the same. It’s sad to think being beaten to death may have been the better option.
“I can’t believe you’re going home today,” June says, shaking me out of the dark rabbit hole I was about to go down. “It’s been so great having you here for a few days.”
After I handled things in San Francisco, I flew to Chicago, London, and New York and shut down my apartments there as well. Before I went back to Las Vegas, I had to make one more stop to say goodbye and hello to Joe and June. Goodbye as a service provider, but hello as a close friend.
Joe is excited to come to Vegas again, but says he just wants a room with a beautiful view to kick my ass at Uno in. I’m OK with that plan.
Speaking of Joe, he shuffles into the living room where I’m sitting with June, and plops down between us. I lay my head on his shoulder. “Morning, sleepyhead.”
“Morning Zara. I’m sad you’re leaving today.”
I sit up and smile. “Me too. But I’ll be close. You guys can come visit whenever you want.”
He grins. “We will. June wants to see Skylar Cameron’s show.”
“It just so happens, I know a guy who can get you free tickets.”
We all laugh and fall silent again, just enjoying our newly formed friendship. There aren’t any other clients I can think of that I would remain friends with, but I’m grateful for these two.
It seems like I’m walking away from my entire life, but I’m glad to be doing it. There’s a new life waiting for me, and I can’t wait to get started.
And I’m not giving up sex work entirely, just in-person sex work. I wasn’t sure how Luke would take that since we haven’t actually had a conversation about it, but the security detail he sent me out of town with has been keeping him updated and I know that because two nights ago while I was still closing up my place in Chicago, he ordered a video from my website.
The instructions were simple…
Nothing but a closeup of your face while you come.
My face heats at the memory of filming that for him. I didn’t charge him, and just sent it to his phone. But an hour later, he’d deposited ten grand into my bank account like a crazy person. The memo on the transfer just said, “I trust you.”
And that’s how I knew this was going to work.
Three hours later, I say goodbye to Joe and June and head to the airport for the short flight to Las Vegas.
“Tell Luke he’s not allowed to pick me up from the airport. I’ll meet him at the sandwich shop, and we can talk,” I tell one of the bodyguards flying with me.
He looks at me skeptically but shrugs and sends a text.
His phone rings, and he puts it to his ear. I can hear Luke’s loud voice but can’t quite make out what he’s saying. The guard shifts uncomfortably and stares at me as if I can help him.
“Just tell him he promised to trust me.”
He lifts his shoulders and drops them like a teenage boy who doesn’t want to do what his parents told him to but passes the message along.
“I will be so glad to get back to my normal job,” he mutters as the flight attendants tell everyone to put their phones in airplane mode. Luke tried to insist I fly private, but I insisted on commercial flights. He did get his way, and we bought out first class, though. Like Skylar said, relationships with men like him require compromise.
We’re in the air for less time than we were at LAX, and we’re off the plane and heading for a car in record time.
My face splits into a grin when I spot Jeanie waiting for me next to a Limo and I fight the urge to give her a hug since she’s on the clock. I have a feeling she and I are going to be great friends.
