I tried to run every scenario in my head—some way out that keeps Crush from being on the receiving end of King’s wrath. And somehow keep Crush from hating my guts. But if I said no to King, he'll kill me. If I even get that lucky If I said no to Crush, then I'm just a fucking sociopath. I wanted to follow Crush, to get out, but there was no way King would just let us go. Of all the various outcomes and situations that my mind conjured up, none of them worked. It was a lose-lose situation from every angle possible.
Romeo and Juliet, I thought,meet Crush and Brianna.
For the time being, I decided to go with the flow. But that didn't help soothe the pit of anxiety that had taken up residence in my stomach. And it wasn’t even paying rent. I almost jumped anytime I was at the hospital and someone snuck up on me, or a beep went off. I only felt completely safe with Crush—the times where we were apart, I was a pile of nerves, a lit fuse waiting to explode.
It was Saturday when I got the call from King. A day off from the hospital, and Crush had something to do with the club. I was grateful that he had texted me that morning, but I didn’t respond. I hadn’t seen him for a few days, and I was getting antsier and antsier at the idea that King had gotten to him already. I drove to the Cosmopolitan and tried to waste as much time as possible finding a parking spot.
I got out of the car and tried to walk slowly to buy time to formulate a plan. But that was almost impossible with this weather. The heat in Vegas was almost suffocating, and I walked into the casino to no avail. It was so hot that being indoors was just less hot rather than being a relief and air conditioned. I felt sticky and gross, even though I had been in the heat for less than ten minutes.
Thedingof the gambling machines seemed monotonous, and the cheers of jackpot victories and winnings felt out of place. I walked the route to the private elevator, unescorted. When the doors parted, I realized that I was going to be alone for the whole journey up. And for some reason, I felt like barfing. I pressed the button for the penthouse, and the pit in my stomach grew larger.
When the doors parted, I saw King and his two bodyguards. It felt like déjà vu, and I was reminded of the night when he made that cursed deal that had put me in this twisted position. And my dumb ass just had toacceptthe offer. I felt just as uneasy about this meeting too, and I was still trying to come up with an excuse. King was in his white suit, as always, and he looked at me with his beady stare.
He knows something, I thought, and my heart raced. Whatever it was, I had a feeling it was not in my favor. But more importantly, whatever King knew, it definitely wasn’t in Crush’s favor. I felt faint, and I walked in on uneasy legs. I felt as if I had been put under a microscope by a lunatic, and in some ways, I had.
“Have you exhausted Crush?” he smirked.
My heart shattered into a million pieces—my worst nightmare was coming true. I could feel my chest constricting under the pressure, but I knew I had to say something. King waited patiently, but I couldn't find the words or even my voice. I knew that if I denied it, I would just get in further trouble. So I settled on saying nothing. King smiled coyly at me, and he beckoned me closer to him. My feet felt like lead, and I took an uneasy step closer.
“You don’t have to lie to me, princess,” he crooned.
I still couldn't find the words. The idea of jeopardizing the feelings I had for Crush just made me physically sick. My knees buckled, and I almost crumbled to the ground. The two bodyguards caught me, holding me upright. I couldn't turn Crush in. I was too invested at this point. And Crush was so invested in me.
I tried to fight the grip of the bodyguards, but there was no use. I wanted out, to run to the elevator and call Crush. We could pack up everything and make a run for it. But that was about to be as successful as lying to King would be. The truth hit me like a brick. There was no way both of us could make it out alive, and based on King’s expression, it looked like it would be neither of us.
Finally, King spoke. “As enjoyable as it is to watch you squirm, I don't have all day. I know the truth.”
My eyes locked in on his in a panic, confirming his suspicions. He smiled wickedly. I tried to break free, to run. I would sooner throw myself off the building than verbally betray Crush. There was no way I could live with myself. It was bad enough to have King find out about it anyway, but I would know that I would go to my grave before I gave up the man I loved.
“My own sergeant-at-arms betraying the club. Who would have thought?” King continued. “That's far more than any member you could have probably weaseled out.”
I should have been excited, but all I felt was anger and plain disgust. At myself. At King.
I couldn't rest knowing that I had somehow advertently betrayed Crush. That there had been something, a misstep on my part, to put us in this situation. My head was swimming with all these thoughts, and I was having trouble staying present. I felt nauseous and dizzy, the anxiety that had been in my stomach coming to a head and wreaking havoc.
But King’s words also made me realize that my apartment wasn't the safe haven I always thought it was. The idea that someone was watching—seeing all the things that we did—it made me feel vulnerable. My time with Crush wasn’t intimate and between us, the idea that making love should be between two people. Now knowing that I was being watched made me feel violated in more ways than I could count.
“You should thank me,” King growled after I remained silent.
I couldn't manage much more than a weak, “Thank you.”
He laughed his deep chuckle, the one that always reminded me of every movie villain that ever existed. He motioned for his guards to bring me closer, and I dug my heels in, but it was no use. One of his skeletal, long fingers brushed a lock of my hair away and brought my face near his. I could smell his breath, and I turned away from his stare.
“I know it hurts, darling,” he crooned. “But this is a savage time. And savage times require brutal acts. You'll understand someday.”
With a wave of his hand, his guards let go of my arms. I dropped to the floor, and King stood up. He towered above me, crouching down. He crooked my chin to meet his gaze, and I tried to match him with the most spiteful look I could muster. But it lacked the intensity I wanted. I felt like a fish caught in a net with no way out but to accept my fate.
King didn’t take his cold hands off of me, and suddenly I felt like I was naked. And I knew that look in King’s eye, and I wanted to throw up at the thought. There was only a matter of time before this sick fuck made a move, and I wasn’t planning on being here for when he did. But I had to stop thinking about myself—Crush was in danger.
“So beautiful,” he purred with a smiled. “I wonder, Brianna, what you taste like. But I’m sure I can just ask Crush. When you bring him to me. I’ll be seeing you in an hour, Brianna.”
Wickedly, he smirked and turned his back to me as he meandered back to his chair. I took my chance, scrambling to my feet and rushing to the elevator. My hands shook as I pressed the button. I stayed standing, not wanting to give King the satisfaction of having gotten to me so easily. Once the doors shut, I sank against the walls, and for once, I was grateful to be alone in the elevator. The tears fell down my face, and I felt hopeless.
I had to warn Crush—but how? King already knew. There was a high probability that he was already being tracked. Whatever it was, whatever King planned to do to Crush, there wasn't anything I could do to give him an ample enough warning. There was no way Crush could get out of town fast enough, no place he could go that King couldn’t find him.
I walked out into the hot Vegas air, the humidity sticking to me like a cloak. My phone rang, and I looked down in dismay. Crush. I let the call ring and go to voicemail as I got in my car. I shot him a text:call you later.But I knew I wasn't going to call him back tonight. There was no way I could face him.
But if he had any hope of living, I needed to say something.
