AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Eat. Sleep. I’ll be back soon.
Yours always, V
My chest warms at how he’s signed off the note, even as hunger roars in the depths of my stomach. I’m too excited to share my news, so I push down thoughts of food while I dress swiftly in a simple dark green button-down dress and flip-flops.
Feet flying across the floor of the staff quarters and up the waiting staircase, I come to a violent halt, hand poised to knock, when Vaughn’s voice bellows from behind the slightly ajar office door.
“I’mdonebeing patient. He needs to pay for his part in all of this. I pay too steep a price every time I look into Wren’s eyes, dammit.”
The blood in my veins turns to ice as the flutters in my stomach wither and evaporate. Vaughn’s voice lowers, and he continues in less agitation. “I lie by omission every fucking day. I need to make him pay so that when I tell her the truth about her father’s murder, I can at least say the bastard paid for his part.”
My brow is heavily furrowed as I stand stock still, my thoughts racing as I try to quell the rising nausea.
My father wasmurdered?
My breaths are coming in short bursts, the air in my lungs seeming to suffocate me as another voice—Ford’s—responds quietly.
“I have one other thing we can try. I’ll let you—”
His voice cuts off when he yanks open the door, finding me standing on the other side. Vaughn’s eyes look past Ford, finding mine as horror dawns on his handsome face.
“My—my father was murdered…” I trail off uselessly, my eyes, filled with confusion, still holding Vaughn’s. Ford steps around past me, urging me inside to close the door firmly behind me, leaving us alone.
I step farther inside, tilting my head to one side with a deep frown. “Lying by omission? Paying a steep price?” My voice rises an octave with each accusation as my feet carry me closer to the man I love.
My whole entire world feels like it’s been ripped from me as Vaughn continues to stare right into my soul, as though he’s drinking his fill before being sent out into the desert.
“Say something!” My shrill cry fills the space, and Vaughn blinks heavily once, then twice before gesturing toward the sofa.
“Sit, Wren. It’s past time you knew everything.”
* * *
VAUGHN
Following an enigmatic text from Ford, I’d agreed to meet him in my office, leaving Wren fast asleep in what has rapidly becomeourbed.
He’s already in my office when I arrive. “Sit down. You’re not going to like this.”
My stomach churns at his words, and I march around my desk, taking a seat as instructed.
“Nolan Fritz is forming his own sex club.”
“He’ll be behind bars before he can get it off the ground.”
Ford shakes his head firmly. “You don’t understand, V. He’s offering complimentary lifetime memberships to men and women in places of obscene power. Members he met in his time atRavish. And worse, he’s bringing Lucia on board to head it up.”
“Shit.” I pound my hand onto the desk. “We need to move faster. Have him prosecuted before he can become untouchable.”
“I’m trying everything I know. You’ve just gotta be patient a little—”
I cut him off with a wall-shaking bellow. “I’mdonebeing patient. He needs to pay for his part in all of this. I pay too steep a price every time I look into Wren’s eyes, dammit.”
I drop my head, guilt rolling through me in waves. “I lie by omission every fucking day. I need to make him pay so that when I tell her the truth about her father’s murder, I can at least say the bastard paid for his part.”
There’s a buzzing in my ears as images of my time with Wren fly through my head. Time that I’ve stolen. That I’ve taken for myself despite my absolute unworthiness.
And what’s worse is, she’s fallen in love with you, you selfish prick.
