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“Doesn’t belong here how?” Wint asks in a carefully measured tone.
“They’ve all been vetted, right?” Frost asks, ignoring Wint’s question entirely. I start to tremble. It’s getting hard to breathe again – like my windpipe has shrunk to the diameter of a straw.
“Of course. Our team is exceptional and no one passes through our doors without us examining every skeleton in their closet thoroughly beforehand.”
I’m someone’s skeleton. Their dirty little secret locked away only to be uncovered by the best of the best. Or maybe I’m his biggest accomplishment. His greatest conquest. His best brag.
“I’m going to throw up.”
I push past them both and sprint out into the thankfully quiet bar area, crossing the space and making a beeline for the staff restrooms as quickly as I can without drawing unwanted attention.
As I burst through the door into the opulent restroom, I’m crippled with fear. The bright lights overhead cast shadows on the walls which have somehow become sinister in my panic. The shadows arehis.The erratic beat of my heart is his drunken footsteps stumbling along the corridor, coming to get me.
I sink to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest as I try to steady my breaths and make myself as small as possible. I know it’s useless, he always found me.
My mind is racing.
How did he find me? Is he here for me? I’ve done everything I can to hide, so how has he found me? And now, with the truth out in the open, what is going to happen to me?
I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t hear the door creak open, and I jump when a hand clasps my shoulder, a strangled, terrified scream leaving my lips.
“Fuck. Bambi, it’s just me. Are you okay?” Frost’s voice is soft this time, and I can hear the concern lacing his tone.
I nod my head, too scared to speak. Frost sits beside me and rubs my back in a soothing motion.
“It’s going to be okay,” Frost reassures me. “We’ll figure something out.”
I shake my head, tears springing to my eyes once more. There’s nothing to figure out. I’m trapped. I’m stuck here serving drinks to my abuser and his friends.
“I can’t do this, Frost. I can’t.”
The words tumble out of me, my fear and desperation overwhelming. Frost’s arms wrap around me, holding me close as I cling to him.
“You don’t have to do this alone,” he murmurs softly. “I’ll help you. We’ll get you out of here.”
I look up at him, my heart swelling with gratitude for this guy who’s been nothing but a prick to me since my first day. Why is he being so kind all of a sudden? And does this mean he believes me or is he just saying what I want to hear?
I draw in a deep breath that actually helps ease some of the tightness in my chest. “Thank you, Frost.”
He brushes a tendril of hair away from my face, his eyes locked onto mine. “Anything for you, Bambi.”
His lips meet mine in a soft, gentle kiss, and I’m floored. Frosthatesme. Why the hell is he kissing me?
But as his lips move against mine, it feels like my whole world is shifting on its axis. His kiss is soft and warm, and affection seeps through into every fibre of my being. I forget everything else. The fear, the looming threat of my abuser and the suffocating weight of my past, all of it fades away into the background, leaving only me and Frost.
When he pulls away, I’m left breathless and dizzy, my heart pounding in my chest. I want to say something, anything, but the words are lodged in my throat.
“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice thick with emotion. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
My stomach plummets at his declaration but no words of my own come.
We’re saved from the mounting tension and awkwardness by a soft rap at the door. Wint comes in, looking apologetic.
“Who is he, Candy?”
I shake my head. I don’t want to talk about this.
“I need a name. Give me that and he’s gone.”
