Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 168121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 841(@200wpm)___ 672(@250wpm)___ 560(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 168121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 841(@200wpm)___ 672(@250wpm)___ 560(@300wpm)
Tony’s rigid profile appeared ahead. As Charlee drew near, she didn’t detect anything different about the guard’s stance, but the look in Tony’s eyes flooded her with dread. She knew that look, saw it in the faces of Jay’s friends when they’d learned about her past.
Standing in front of Tony, she squared her shoulders and met the Marine’s gaze. “Who’s room is this?”
“Ella’s.”
Her shield surfaced, an internal reaction, one she hadn’t experienced in years. It spread over her body and shrouded her heart. Beside her, barely-restrained rage fumed from Nathan. She’d deal with him in a moment. “Is he high?”
Tony didn’t blink. “Yes, ma’am.”
The shield wavered with the cracking twinge in her chest. Disappointment rocked her body. She dug the heel of her bare foot into the carpet, a subtle thing, but it rooted her. “Do you know who gave him the drugs or when he took them?”
“No. I watch his surroundings. It’s not my job to notice a sleight of hand between friends.”
Maybe one of the roadies, then. Forget it. The how or who wouldn’t undo the damage. She just hoped…what? That it was a mistake? That there was another explanation? That he hadn’t shit on the trust she’d given him. Again. What a fool she was.
The door to Ella’s room glared at her. She knew she was stalling. She had to go in there, but it might destroy her.
Tony shifted her weight. “It’s against my contract to dictate where he goes. I can only advise.”
“But you called Nathan so I would know.”
Her face softened. “It’s the best I could do. I’m sorry, Charlee.”
“Me too.” She stood taller and faced Nathan. “I’m going in there alone. No punching on Jay, unless it’s defensive.”
He gave her a reluctant nod, his chest puffed out, muscles seemingly ready to ignore her.
“I mean it. No drama, okay?” Fuck, was she strong enough? How would she survive this? A clog of heartache choked her voice.
Tony swiped a card key and turned the handle.
Charlee wasn’t sure how long she stared at the crack in the door. Her armor quivered around her, her blood seemed to have drained from her body. Tingling and numb, she walked through the door.
82
The scene that greeted Charlee locked her limbs and stole her breath.
Jay lay nude on his back, his erection glistening with the saliva stringing from Ella’s mouth. She glanced up, naked and straddling his legs, then leaned down, lips parted to resume her ministrations.
“Get off of him. Now.” Charlee’s calm tone was at odds with the turmoil shaking her body. Oh God, oh God. Keep it together. This was not happening. He was not allowing this.
Ella licked her lips. “Now darlin’, that’s up to him.” She gestured at the man between her legs.
He stared at the ceiling, moaning and bucking his hips.
The urge to run from the room and give into the tears burning the back of her eyes was overwhelming. She straightened her back and moved toward the bed. “Get the fuck off of him.”
The bitch dropped her head and wrapped her mouth around his dick.
Charlee swung, and the back of her hand crunched into the bridge of Ella’s nose.
Screaming, Ella fell off the bed, cupping her face. “He begged me to fuck him, you jealous cunt.”
Jay clutched the bed sheets, eyes closed, hips thrusting the air.
Her words hurt. Hurt so fucking much as they splintered inside her, shredding her to a million useless pieces. “Did he call you Charlee?” Her reedy voice echoed in her ears.
Ella dropped her hands and climbed to her feet. “Yes.” She smirked. “I hear he calls us all Charlee.”
It was a punch in the gut, one that stole the last of her composure. She unleashed her fist and caught Ella’s nose in the same place.
Blood spurted over her wailing mouth. She wiped at the mess uselessly, panic flaring her eyes.
Charlee stretched her fingers and curled them again at the sight of blood staining her knuckles. “Get out before I start punching on your underdeveloped tits.”
A sharp inhale interrupted the woman’s sobs. She gathered her clothes, tugging them on as she ran to the door.
She balled her fist and turned toward the bed.
Eyes squeezed shut, his hand wrapped around his erection, hips pumping manically. A groan rumbled low in his throat.
Her stomach turned and her feet carried lead weights as she trudged toward him, fighting back tears. “Jay.”
His eyes flashed open, roamed over the ceiling, and his hand fell to his side. “Charlee?”
She closed the final few feet and sat on the mattress beside his hip, placing his erection outside of her periphery. “What did you take?” She waded through what she’d read in the file he’d given her. What drugs increased libido? “Was it ecstasy? Meth?” Neither of those had been starred in his list.
Could Roy have orchestrated this? Drugged him somehow? Jay only drank bottled water during his shows. And Roy’s drugs would’ve knocked him unconscious, not sent him into mindless arousal. She knew the effects of Roy’s concoctions too well.