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)
And open legs.
I tug at the hem of my dress, trying to stretch it down over my legs, not wanting to see my own flesh. My stomach twists. I'm a beat away from looking for a bucket. My vision swims.
"I don't mean to be cruel, but do you think he'd be with you if it weren't for the money? Do you think you two are an equal match? You know what I'm saying. I'm sorry, but I want you to see it before it's too late. It'll hurt now, but imagine how much worse later, once they have what they want. I've been to that club more times than I can count, and I've seen Allister. He walks around like he's king of the castle, all those women hanging off him."
"No, you're wrong. He said he was never involved with any. Never involved."
"Do you really believe that in your heart, Leah?"
I shake my head, my fingertips tingling and twitching. My toes have gone to ice.
My eyes go to the clipped-together pages of the story I wrote for him. We were going to read it together tonight when he got back. He said he had a surprise for me, too. But now all I want is to pretend none of this ever happened. "He's coming back here in a few hours. What do I do?"
"I'll help you, Leah. Just like I always have. I've never wanted anything from you. I only want you safe and happy."
"Stop! Just give me a second."
His voice climbs. "I couldn't help you when Simon was here, but now I can, and I want to. If you do what I say, we can stop this before it goes too far."
"No, I can't, I have to think!" My eyes burn. My head spins. The things I feel for Allister can't all be wrong. The unicorn pendant still warm against my skin, the way he says precious like the word costs him something. That can't be a con. But Wilson is right. He's never asked for anything from us. He's always been there when I needed him. "I need some time. Please, this is so much to take in."
"Come with me. We can go to the lake house for the night."
"But what about May? She won't go, she won't understand."
"Let's get you somewhere safe first. You should break it off with him right away. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."
"I can't right now. Just…"
Right on cue, my phone goes off.
Hey, precious. Just checking in. You know I'm always thinking about you. I'll be at the club a few more hours. You feeling okay about being back at the house? It's up to you where we stay. You're where I want to be. The place doesn't matter.
"Is that him?"
I don't answer. Wilson snatches the phone from me and reads it.
"He's trying to control you. Telling you everything you want to hear. Don't you think he should have told you about his criminal past? And the women he's been with at the club? It's a sex playground over there."
My ears are ringing. That word is nails on a blackboard right now. I don't want to hear anyone say it, not Allister, not Wilson. Nobody. There's no way to know if Allister told me the truth about being a virgin. How would I? All I have is his word for it. How could I have been such an idiot?
"Let's go. The lake house, and then we'll figure out what to do. For you and May."
Panic rises from somewhere deep and swells until the pressure pushes against my eardrums. What if Wilson is right? May is married to Decker now, a baby on the way. This is crazy. But… what if he's right? And if he is, May needs me more than ever.
"No. I don't want to leave. I won't leave May. I can't. She's my world." My voice shakes. "And I don't believe you about Allister. I just don't."
Wilson shakes his head. His eyes are wet, but there's something else in them. Something I don't want to see. "Leah, you have to come with me. I wanted you to go willingly. I really tried."
13
Allister
"Fucking hell."
"What?" Decker looks up from the papers he's been signing.
His office is freezing, cold air pumping from the vents. The white walls throw the fluorescent glare back at me until the headache behind my eyes goes near blinding.
"I've called and texted Leah four times. Do you feel this way about May? If I don't hear back from her, I can't fucking think straight."
He grins and nods, then goes back to the papers. "Yes. We have an agreement. It might sound like I'm a possessive asshole, but she keeps her phone on her at all times. And I need to hear back from her within twenty minutes, or I'm coming to look for her ass. Hard limit for me. I have to know where she is and if she's okay."