Warren exhales slowly. Painfully. Like something is being carved out of him. I can see the moment he makes the choice. He turns to me. And it hurts more than anything Toni could’ve said.
“Lee,” he murmurs, his voice rough. “Just do it.”
My chest tightens. “Warren—”
“I know,” he says quickly, lowering his voice. “I know. But if you don’t, this doesn’t end here.” His eyes flick to Toni, then back to mine. “I won’t let anyone touch you. I swear it. I’ll watch every second.”
Humiliation burns hot behind my eyes.
“You’re asking me to strip on a beach,” I whisper. “In front of three men. One of which I don’t even know.”
“You just need to show him you’re safe.”
“Why?” I hiss, “What have you got me involved in?”
“Nothing,” he snaps, “But you asked too many questions of the wrong person, and now here we are.”
“My men will be here any minute,” Toni chimes in. “If you want, we can wait for them.”
Warren bristles, his eyes burning into me. “Do it,” he says, with a warning tone to his voice. “Or I will.”
I inhale sharply, tears stinging my eyes. I take a deep breath and slowly lift my dress over my head.
Toni is watching, Warren is close, his eyes on the sand, and Anthony has his back to us.
“The rest,” Toni mutters, sounding bored.
I shove the dress hard against Warren's chest and he grips it, his knuckles white.
I unclip my bra, dropping it to the sand. Toni sweeps down to pick it up, examining it like its spy equipment. Then he glances up, satisfied, before moving his eyes to my knickers.
I huff, ignoring the heat creeping up my chest as I slide them off and stand before him completely naked, humiliation burning me. He gives a stiff nod, “Okay,” he mutters, holding out my bra.
I snatch it and he turns his back, just as three men round the corner. He holds up a hand and they stop; their eyes fixed on me.
“Turn around,” Warren yells, and they do.
He holds my dress against me, trying to cover me up as I slip my underwear back in place. ‘Thank you,” he murmurs, trying to look me in the eye. I avoid it, my anger boiling steadily under the surface as I pull my dress on.
“Now that's done, why don’t we go back to the terrace and have some food?” Toni announces, like we’re all friends.
I scoff, snatching my heels from the sand and shoving past Warren.
“Leoni, wait,” he calls.
“Fuck you,” I yell over my shoulder.
Warren
I watch her storm away down the road toward the villa. It’s at least an hour’s walk, maybe more, but when I call her name, she doesn’t even slow.
“I’ll be in touch once I’ve reviewed the documents,” Toni says, holding out his hand. I hesitate, then shake it. “No hard feelings,” he adds smoothly.
I tell Anthony to get the car and take off after Leoni, bracing myself for the explosion waiting for me. But when I finally catch up, the anger hits differently.
She’s crying. Silent, brutal tears slide down her cheeks and soak into the cotton of her dress.
“I’m sorry,” I say, and it’s the truth, even if it’s not enough.
