My phone buzzes, a notification from June coming across the top of the screen. I swipe it away and put it with the countless others from her and Simon. I don't want to talk to either of them, and I'm not sure if I ever will. I was drunk last night and flipped out on them, but it doesn't change the very real fact that they lied to me, betrayed me, and attempted to derail my happiness. How dare they think they have that kind of say in my life. If they don't trust me enough to keep their secret, then I want nothing to do with them. I've proven myself to be a good friend over and over, I don't deserve some half-assed friendship in return.
Although, I'd be lying to myself if I said I wasn't pushing them away to make it easier when this shit with Ricardo comes to fruition. I can't have them trying to save me and put themselves in danger. I might be mad at them, but I don't want them dead.
I slip out of Silver's comfortable apartment and type Ricardo's address into my ride-share app and click on the first one that pops up. Three-minute wait, with an estimated time of arrival one minute before Ricardo's demanded meeting time.
Shit.
Hugging my arms to my chest, I tap my foot to the ground and wait for my ride. I press my fingers to my lips and recall Silver’s on mine. He's so fucking sexy and dominant and has an understanding of my body unlike anything I've ever experienced with a man.
Even after he's fucked my brains out, he's gentle and affectionate, taking extra care in bringing me water and cleaning me up. He even got a hot water bottle out for my cramps last night when I barely held my hand to my uterus and groaned. How he can go from talking about killing someone one minute to holding me the next, I'll never quite grasp. I think if we hadn’t been intimate, I’d be afraid of Silver. In a way, he reminds me of Dominic, one of June's partners. He's ruthless and constantly has this severe intensity about him that makes you question how many men he's killed and how many of them he did for enjoyment. They're both older with this sophisticated nature that's equal parts comforting and alarming. I see the way Dom softens for June, and only June, and it's exactly how Silver treats me.
Honestly, I'm surprised he let Alec into his place and didn't kill him just for showing up to check on me. But it's safe to say Silver only did that because he knows it would hurt me if he hurt Alec, and for whatever reason, Silver prioritizes what matters to me.
A grey Acura pulls up in front of me, and a middle-aged man rolls down the passenger window. "Cora?"
"Yeah." I check the license plate and slip into the back seat.
The guy smiles politely in the rearview mirror but otherwise doesn't say another word. I'm grateful for the silence and lack of awkward small talk but it does nothing to ease my nerves as we get closer to Ricardo's house.
I offer him thanks as I exit the car a few minutes later and make sure to leave him a rating and tip before I forget.
My stomach turns with each step toward Ricardo's front door. I swallow down bile and knock on the hard surface with the elaborate golden lion knocker.
A moment later, a familiar, and non-threatening face greets me from the other side.
"Hey," London says and opens the door for me to step inside.
I join her in the mansion and flit my gaze around nervously. "Hey."
"Daddy isn't home yet," she tells me. "But you can follow me back." London takes off, not bothering to wait for my response, her red hair pulled halfway up with a loose braid knotted into the ponytail. It's so effortless and makes me wonder how long it took her to do.
Everything about her screams trust fund baby but not in a completely offensive way.
London leads me into the room where Ricardo had me model for him until he jerked off into a tissue.
A shiver rolls over me as we step inside. Does she know what her dad does in this room? How can she possibly live in the same house as him when he's as disgusting as he is?
My dad merely sold me to hers, and I can't stand to be around him.
I can't imagine having to exist around a man who quite literally tried to kill me and then only decided to keep me alive so he could sell me to the highest bidder.
I guess if that's all she's ever known though, she might be more used to how fucked up the relationship she has with her father is than I am.
"Do you want something to drink?" London stalks straight to the bar at the far side of the room and pulls out two glasses from the silver tray. She pours golden liquid into both and carries them over, handing one to me.
"It's ten in the morning," I tell her but take it anyway to numb whatever it is that Ricardo has planned for me today.
London shrugs. "It's five o'clock somewhere." She sips the drink and settles onto the couch.
And because I want to avoid the one he pleasured himself in, I lower myself next to her, holding the glass to me like it might protect me in some way. It's a stupid thought.
"I like the bag." She eyes the clutch tucked under my arm. "Can I see it?"
"Yeah, of course." I let it fall and set it in my lap. "Actually." I fumble with the clasp until it opens and pull out a hundred-dollar bill. "Thanks for this."
London shakes her head. "That's not necessary, really. Plus, I already replenished my emergency fund."
"Take it," I insist. "Never know if you might find yourself in need." The words slip out of my mouth like some strange foreshadowing of what's to come. I shake off the chilling thought and shove the money into her hand.
