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I didn’t know what to say, so I kept quiet, spinning my own drink as I fought back my own crazy stress levels.
He hadn’t acknowledged me. Not even a word. Just a freezing cold stare that had conveyed plenty enough about his thoughts on finding me there.
I could have been sick. The thought of the sixty-day lifeline slipping away from me was enough to set the world spinning.
“Oh fuck,” Rebecca muttered, and put her face in her hands. “I’m so messed up. This is so messed up. I need him so fucking bad.”
Need.
I felt that too.
I needed him so fucking bad. Worse than bad.
Just as bad as my sister needed me.
“You need to forget about the absolute prick,” Carolyn said, and it was clear this wasn’t a new conversation for them. “You’re done with him. Finished. Pay for therapy. Pay for a holiday. Pay for anything you need to get that piece of shit out of your head for good.”
I was still reeling hard from the sight of him, just for those crazy few minutes, so fuck knows how Rebecca was feeling.
The decent overhead lighting had proved him every bit as perfect as the dull streetlights had alluded to. Chiselled and sculpted and dressed immaculately.
His jawline was hard, his cheekbones were high. His eyes were dark and deep enough to suck your soul right out of you.
His hand in her hair had given me shudders. Strong and brutal and possessive enough that I’d wished it was me on my knees in front of him. Owned by the man who demanded everything.
Yep. Rebecca and I were clearly fucked up in the same vein.
“What’s his name?” I asked without thinking.
Rebecca shook her head. “I can’t… he said not to talk…”
“She hasn’t even told me his name,” Carolyn said. “Just as well, since I’d have probably called the fucking police already.”
“Calling the police wouldn’t do shit,” Rebecca said. “His contacts are insanely powerful. It would never get anywhere.” She sighed. “Not that I’d ever testify in a million years if it did. He’d take everything from me long before that.” Another sigh. “Not that I’d even want to.”
“You can’t seriously think he’d be able to take his money back from you?” Carolyn countered.
“He’d be able to take whatever he wanted however he wanted,” Rebecca said. “Like I said. His contacts are insanely powerful. He knew we were here, didn’t he? He knows everything.”
My senses prickled. “How do you think he knew we were here?”
Rebecca shrugged. “It wasn’t from me. Carolyn asked me in person in her bedroom.” Her eyes met mine. “Which means it must have been through you.”
“Through me?!”
She looked around us, twisting herself to do a full 360. “Has he been watching you already? When does your time with him start?”
“I don’t know…” I told her. “He said he’d let me know…”
“Have you been using your phone?” she asked. “Talking about him?”
“No…” I said, then remembered the texts to Carolyn. “Not about him, but about tonight, sure. About the donuts…”
Her smile was hazy. “He’ll know all about you. Believe me. Nothing is sacred. Not your phone, not your medical records, not anything. Whatever he wants, he takes. Body, soul, mind, whatever. He probably knows your entire life history by now.”
“He didn’t say a word,” I said. “Didn’t even acknowledge me. For all I know the sixty days aren’t even on the cards anymore.”
“Good!” Carolyn exclaimed. “Great news if they’re not. You’ll have a lucky escape!”
But it wouldn’t be a lucky escape. Not for me.
I was chilled all over. Heart pounding. Mouth dry with worry even after another sip of cocktail.
I wondered if he was still on the beachfront. If I could catch up with him at a sprint and beg him to still take me.
“Jesus Christ above,” Carolyn said. “I can’t believe you’re both actually into this fucked up guy. What the holy fuck?”
Was it that obvious?
My cheeks burned afresh under my makeup.
“I just… it’s the opportunity,” I lied, and she laughed a horrible laugh.
“Like hell it is. You’re both batshit crazy about him. I just don’t fucking get it.”
I didn’t believe her that she didn’t get it. The guy was gorgeous enough to spin the world off its axis, her included. She shifted in her seat. As confused under the rage as the rest of us by the power of his presence.
I’m sure even the goddamn waiter would have bowed down at his command.
“We shouldn’t stay here,” Rebecca whispered. “He’ll be watching, or someone else will be. I don’t want to make him any more angry with me than he already is.”
Another shiver down my spine. Watching.
“So much for donuts,” Carolyn sighed, and grabbed her bag from the floor at her feet. “Let’s get away from here. I think we need sister to sister chat. Sorry, Paige. This isn’t exactly what I was hoping for.”
