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“Because I don’t want to speak to you.”
“I thought, well, maybe—”
“Didn’t you hear my friend? I’m with someone.”
She laughs, and it’s like blades across my skin. She doesn’t think I’m capable of anything but fucking? “You?”
“Yes, me.” I look past her, seeing Danny watching, the brunette getting dangerously close to him. She must have zero social awareness, because Danny’s fuck-off vibes are reaching me all the way over here. “This friend of yours who works here, who is it?”
The awkwardness staring back at me tells me she’s bullshitting. What the fuck is she playing at, and how the fuck did she know I would be here?
“So who is the lucky girl?” she asks, bypassing my question.
I don’t bother telling her it’s the blonde I found in my apartment the last time I was seeing Beth and her husband out. Why the fuck am I even entertaining this shit? “That is none of your business, so if we’re done?” I go to stand, but both her hands land on my thighs, and I drop back to the stool. She gets to her feet, moves in closer, pushes her mouth to my ear. My skin crawls, every muscle tenses.
“I want you to bind me,” she whispers, licking the shell of my ear, “gag me, and fuck me black and blue.”
I clench my eyes closed and grit my teeth to deal with the unbearable closeness as I push my mouth to her ear. “Fuck,” I whisper, “Off.” Taking her forearms, I push her firmly but gently away. The indignation staring back at me amps up my anger. That anyone thinks I would even consider betraying Beau, whether they know her or not, riles me. “Goodbye.” I turn on my stool, away from her, facing the bar, and only breathe easy when I feel her move away. I look out the corner of my eye and find Danny wandering back over, looking toward the entrance, watching Beth and her friend leave.
“She was a bold one,” he says, perching on the stool. “Good job she’s gone, because Beau’s on her way.”
“What?”
“Rose just called. She’s managed to get Beau out of bed and they’re coming here. I agreed, since I assume you want to encourage her leaving the house.”
“She’s coming here?”
“Yes.”
My phone pings, and I look down at the screen, inhaling, taken aback by the woman staring back at me. It’s my wild, free-spirited, baggy-jeaned girl, but today she’s in a dress, cowboy boots, and a denim jacket. Little makeup, hair piled messily up. She looks out of this world, smiling but clearly nervous, looking almost shy. Will she understand why I’ve done what I’ve done? Will she accept it? I don’t know, so I won’t be telling her. Not until I’m sure.
Rose put her up to this picture. I need to thank her.
For helping her out of her darkness too.
14
BEAU
“He’ll love it,” Rose says from beside me in the back seat.
A man of many words, I think, as I look down at my cell, waiting for a reply. He’s clearly speechless, and I can’t blame him. From zombie to party girl in a few hours flat. I look across to Rose and smile, taking her hand and holding it. She looks gorgeous in a gold long-sleeved body-con dress. “You look amazing,” I say, my eyes resting on her little bump.
“Not just fat?” She wriggles in the seat, pulling at the fabric around her waist.
“Shut up.” Fury pulls up at the front of the club. The line outside is long, clients, mostly males, waiting to be granted entry by the two mountains on the door. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
Neither of us get out, not until Fury opens one of the doors after no doubt running a quick check and probably calling for extra men to assist. Rose steps out first, and I shift along the seat, stepping out too, just as two more suited men exit the club. I want to say it’s unnecessary. I can’t.
We stand and wait for them to sort their positions, Rose reapplying her lipstick, me... not. Instead, I look at the line of dozens of people and wonder just how many there are inside. My heartbeats increase as a result, and I start the same old routine, practicing controlled breathing. I will not be pushed back in that element of my life. This Icancontrol.
“You okay?” Rose says, placing a hand on my arm.
“It’s busy.” My thoughts tumble from my mouth without instruction, telling Rose where I’m at, so I rush to reassure her. To play down my threatening panic attack.James is in there. I just need to make it to Ja—“Oh,” I yelp, being knocked a few steps back.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” a woman says, her purse falling to the sidewalk, her things scattering. She crouches, and Fury moves in, prompting me to put my hand up.
