Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 41143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Heat climbs my cheeks, but there's no denying it now. Decker pieced it together at the hospital days ago, and May isn't upset. She looks happy, just annoyed she's the last to know.
Decker grins and nods at Allister. "I'll get her settled, then we can head out."
"Sounds good, boss."
The two of them have a long night ahead, the fires at the clubs on top of everything else, and Decker handing Allister the reins, so he can finally retire with May.
Decker and May head inside, and Allister turns to me. "Sorry, Leah, but there's no use denying it any longer."
"It's fine." I shrug. "I thought May would take the change harder, all of it happening so fast, but when you're happy, not much can touch you." I fight the grin spreading across my face, but it's a battle I lose. "I think I know how she feels."
"Come here." He pulls me into a hug. "I wish I could stay longer, but there's a lot I need to sort out."
"Really, it's fine. I understand." My phone buzzes with a text from my sister, and I smile. "Besides, May and I have some girl talk to do."
May will be up any minute, and we'll talk for hours. She's taking longer than I expected. Allister left forty minutes ago. And that means Decker did, too.
I've texted to ask where she is, but there's no reply.
"Leah?" Wilson pokes his head around the door.
"Yes?"
"May just called from a payphone in town. Forgot her phone, left it back at Decker's. Said she'll be back in a couple hours."
"Oh." It doesn't make sense. Where did she go? And why? "Okay, thank you. That's not like her."
"She said not to worry. Everything is fine. Hey, listen." Wilson steps into the room, his face gone dark. "I don't want to tell you this, but I have to."
"What is it?"
"It's Allister."
"Allister? What about him?"
"Look." He licks his lips. "I used to drive Victor to that club. Spent enough time there to know some of the staff. I'm still friends with one of the dancers, nothing like that, just a friendship. Anyway, the thing is, Allister has a problem, Leah. You should see for yourself."
Wilson hands me his phone. Photos fill the screen. I flick through a couple, and my stomach turns. Drugs. No, it can't be true. Anything but that. Tears sting my eyes.
"I'm sorry, Leah. He's also got a conviction for it. I didn't want to tell you, but he's getting his hooks in you, and I know it's all about the money. It always is with these people."
"No, this isn't right. It can't be. I don't understand."
"Keep flipping. There's a copy of his criminal record, too."
The photos cut into me.
"How did you get these?" It comes out accusatory, and I don't mean it to, but I'm clutching at straws. I want it to be a lie.
"Desiree. One of the dancers. He has her bring them over and store them. Then he sells them. The ones he doesn't take himself, at least."
The shots of his office are clear. Behind a shelf of books, an open cabinet, bottles and bottles of pills. The close-ups catch the labels, a different woman's name on each, all of them narcotics. I don't know much about drugs, but I know enough.
There is a ripping inside my chest. Not a tightness, not anything I can name. A tearing open, like something inside me splits down the middle. I've known so many kinds of pain in my young life, but this one is new. Take every one that came before, set them on fire, add a poisoned arrow, and shoot the whole thing into my chest. You still wouldn't come close to how I feel right now.
I'm burning hot, and I'm freezing.
"I'm sorry." He stuffs his hands in his pockets. "I only want to protect you. Everyone wants something from you, and now it's even worse. At least in his own way, Simon protected you. A layer of defense between you and the vultures."
He says Simon protected me, and something in me recoils, because Simon kept me on a leash with pills forced down my throat. "This can't be true. It can't. I know Allister. I know he wouldn't do this."
"I know you feel that way, but how long have you known him? And even May with Decker? I know he signed that pre-nup, but think about it, Leah." His voice thickens with sadness. "They work together. They came after both of you together. Decker got May, made her feel safe, signed the pre-nup to prove he's a good guy. And now, what a coincidence, here comes his best friend, just as good, and he's after you?"
I hate the accusation in his voice. But I think the only reason I hate it is because he’s right.
"I'm so stupid." I shake my head. In the mirror across the room, a naïve idiot stares back, a girl who let herself be made a pawn again. No, not 'let.' I didn't just let it happen. I invited it with open arms.