Magnus walks back to my father’s study without a backward glance and then suddenly I’m all alone. Everyone is in the ballroom enjoying their evening with drinks living lives they control. The guards don’t care about me anymore. Why should they? My signature is on the contract and I’m an asset that will be picked up in a week. It’s a done deal in their eyes. Fuckers. All of them. How the hell do they sleep at night?
A clock chimes the hour. I have eight minutes while the guards change out and the camera feeds reboot.
I hear a gasp from the top of the stairs. “Persia, dear. Are you alright?”
I look up to find my mother watching.
I flick away her feigned concern. “Are you happy? Is this what you wanted?” I can’t keep the hurt out of my voice. The betrayal she has committed against me stings far further than anything my father has done against me. I clench my teeth and force myself to stop talking. It’s a waste of time without someone who only worries about her social standing among her socialite friends.
Undeniable truth sinks into my bones, heavy and unforgiving. Dread steals my soul as she does nothing but stare down at me like I’ve ruined her life.
I look at her for one long moment and then turn for the front door, my shawl firmly in place like a shield against the hatred burning into my back as I flee.
Four
Persia
Urgency pushes me into the nearest car I can find. Whose? Who cares? Someone stupid enough to leave the keys in the ignition, for sure. Too bad for them when my father finds out.
I shove the ends of my dress in and peel out of our driveway. I won’t get far before my father has his enforcers drag me back. I can’t go into hiding with no money. I can’t go to the police. My father has all the dirty cops in his pocket. I have no friends. Not ones that can help me out, anyway.
I slam a fist down on the wheel.“Fuck!” I roar into the cabin and do it again and again until I can breathe without a band of steel locking my chest closed.
“I need a fucking drink.” Breaking every written law there is about speeding and traffic, I point my stolen car toward the center of the city. Horn blare and there are a few people who think this is New York City and lean out their window to let me know their true feelings about my driving skills. I hit down on the window button and shout my reply with a middle finger salute.
One more turn and I pull up to where I know my friends will be. The valet opens the door and I pour out with all the tons of my dress.
He takes in my smudged mascara and my lipstick. No doubt smeared from Magnus’ assault.
“It was one helluva party,” I manage without crying for the tenth time tonight and toss him the key fob. “If you want it, you can have it.” I’ve got about twenty minutes before my father’s goons are on my ass. I’ll be lucky if I’m let out of my room between now and the time Magnus ties me to his bed, much less need a car.
The cute valet boy who looks to be a year or two younger than me cranks his head toward the slate gray Beamer and then to me, his confusion morphing into immeasurable awe.
“No way, man. For real?”
“Yeah, for real. Enjoy.”
I turn on my heel and head for the elegant entrance to the Redthorn building when I mentally kick myself. I turn back and raise my voice. “Hey, just make sure you get it out of here in ten because my father will be here in twenty.”
“Oh yeah, who’s that?”
The guy beside him nudges the younger boy’s shoulder while he takes in my expensive dress, the revealing V cut to the neckline of my dress and then finally my face. It took him a good minute.
“Yo man, she’s the Governor’s daughter. Don’t be stupid.”
I offer a now blushing teen a kind smile and back up the other guy’s words with, “What he said.” Leaving it at that, I turn back to the entrance. As suspected nobody dares ask me for proof ofID or card me as I head for the elevators that will lead me to the exclusive Scarlet Thorn night club.
Thirty-five seconds later, I’m in an elevator heading up to the very last place I ever thought I would be on the night of my engagement. I was one of those stupid girls who thought I would fall in love, have all the pretty flowers and parties celebrating the love and then live a happily ever after with the man I love.
Man am I stupid or what?
Soft music plays from overhead speakers. I take a look at myself in the reflective walls around me and try to fix my hair and lipstick the best I can.
I glide to a slow stop and when the door slides open to reveal white marble flooring, elegant gold chandeliers and a host waiting with a pen in front of a thick leather-bound book.
“Miss. Welcome to Scarlet Thorn. May I have your signature and then a hostess will be here to escort you to the floor of your choosing."
A man who looks every bit the gentleman he sounds like, produces a fountain pen. I take it and put my initials in the guest section given I’m not a member.
