Chapter 61
I toss it into his lap like it’s contaminated, because well it is, with his stupid cum “Ugh. You are so disgusting p>
He rolls his eyes, then folds the handkerchief carefully into a neat square and slips it back into his pocket. “It’s a joke, Elaine p>
I snort, still staring out the window. “I didn’t think you knew the meaning of the word or is capable of that kind of humor p>
“You are only going off the evidence you have gathered since we met p>
That almost gets a laugh out of me. Almost.
Silence settles again. The car hums beneath us, steady and fast. I wipe my face with the heel of my hand and force my breathing to slow
After a moment, he speaks again.
“Did you know him p>
“Yes, I do ” I say.
He doesn’t push right away, which surprises me.
“How,” he asks finally.
I shrug one shoulder. “Before… a long time ago p>
His jaw tightens, just a little. “It didn’t look like he recognized you p>
“No,” I say. “He wouldn’t p>
Another stretch of silence.
“I should have been there sooner,” he says
I turn to look at him then. His gaze is fixed straight ahead, jaw set, hands resting on his thighs like he’s holding himself still by force.
“You were there,” I say. “That’s what matters p>
He exhales through his nose. “He put his fucking hands on you p>
“Yes, more than once p>
“That doesn’t happen again p>
There’s something final in the way he says it. Not just a promise.
I look away because I don’t know what to say to that. I don’t know what to do with it, with him, with the fact that he showed up at all and how he knew I where I was.
I stare straight ahead for a few seconds,my jaw starting to hurt from how tight I was holing it with my fingers digging into my palms
“How did you know I was there” I ask finally not able to hold in my curiosity anymore.
Zane doesn’t answer at me right away. His gaze locked straight ahead.
“One of my bouncers recognized you,” he says.
One of “his” bouncers? The fuck does he mean. I turn to him slowly. “Recognized me how, what do you mean p>
“As my wife”
I scoff softly and look back out the window
“That fast, huh”
“He called me the second he saw you enter the club with that friend of yours.” Zane continues. “Big guy by the bar near the private rooms. Ex-military, he doesn’t n scare easily”
My throat tightens. I remember passing by the man now. The fucking snitch, which I guess I should thank him for informing Zane, he kinda saved my ass.
“So you own it, the club that is.” I say
“Yes”
I turn fully this time facing him. “You own a freaking sex club?.” I don’t bother hiding the surprise in my voice.
He finally looks at me just a glance, then back to the road. And boyyyyy he looks angry, what the fuck is he getting pissed at, not like I need his permission to leave the house or to do anything at all.
“I own several”
I let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “Why am I even surprised”
“You should be,” he replies. “It’s not what you think”
“Oh really” I say. “Because from where I was standing, it looked exactly like what I think it is “
He exhales slowly, irritation clear in his voice when he speaks. “It’s private okay?. Membership only, your friend probably got you guys in because she has her membership card. There’s no trafficking in there, no coercion and no drugs pushed on people who don’t want them. Everything is monitored and very consensual, everyone that was there was there because they wanted to be there p>
“That doesn’t make it less fucked up,” I mutter
“It’ don’t need your opinion on things I do,” he says immediately. “Which is the point”
I shake my head. “You’re telling me you own a place where people go to fuck strangers for fun out of some moral obligation”
“I’m telling you,” he says, voice hardening, “that those places exist whether people like it or not. I’d rather control one properly than pretend they don’t”
I don’t respond right away. I lean my head back against the seat and close my eyes, exhaustion settling deep into my bones
“And you just happened to be there ” I say quietly
“No,” he replies. “I got a call that my wife was there. That was enough”
That word again. Wife
I swallow and turn my face toward the window so he won’t see the way it hits me
The rest of the drive passes in silence,
The car slows as we approach the house, the gates sliding open.
When we stop, Zane gets out first. He opens my door before I can reach for the handle.
I hesitate, then I take his hand and let him help me out.
Inside, the house is dark and still. Just the echo of our footsteps as we move through the space.
I’m halfway toward the stairs when his voice stops me.
“Little spitfire p>
I turn.
He’s standing a few feet away, shoulders squared, his expression unreadable.
“You don’t leave the house without telling me where you’re going,” he says. “Do you understand p>
My spine straightens. “You don’t get to police me p>
“No but I have to keep you safe p>
“I didn’t ask you to p>
His eyes harden. “You didn’t have to p>
The words hang between us.
I shake my head, too tired to argue properly. “I’m going to bed p>
He studies me for a long second, then nods once. “Tomorrow, we talk p>
I don’t answer.
I walk upstairs, every step heavier than the last, my body aching now that the adrenaline is gone.
When I reach my room, I close the door quietly behind me and lean against it, eyes closed, breathing through the tightness in my chest.
I made it through the night.
That’s all I have the energy to think about before I finally let myself slide down onto the bed, fully dressed, and stare at the ceiling until sleep drags me under.