Page 98 of Playboy’s Purgatory

Before I can ask any one of the millions of questions swirling around in my head, Diesel comes barreling through the door like his ass is on fire. He’s sweating and his eyes are wide as he waves an envelope around.

“Lola left a note.” He shakes the envelope more vigorously before handing it over to Ryker.

Our Prez looks at it and then hands it directly over to me. My road name is written on the front. I look up at Ryker who gives me a nod without saying a word.

I already know that whatever it says is going to piss me off and be full of lies. That is who Lola is. Now that the mask has been ripped off, her tricks only disgust me.

Playboy,

By the time you read this, I’ll already be gone. I’m sorry that I couldn’t say goodbye to your face, but I doubt you’d be willing to talk to me anyway. That’s okay, I understand why you don’t want anything to do with me.

This time, the plan worked too well. My heart paid the price.

I know it won’t matter anymore, but I really did fall in love with you. You’re sweet and kind, even if you don’t show it to everyone. You listen and you see the worth in people, no matter what their standing is. Those are qualities that matter. I hope you don’t lose them after this.

You deserve to know the truth.

I did steal from the club, I won’t try and pretend I didn’t. Money was always the goal and now it’s time to start over somewhere else.

The last thing I want to do is leave you, but this was always the plan. Lara wouldn’t let me back out and threatened me if I didn’t follow through.

I’m sorry I deceived you. It’s my biggest regret.

Everything that happened was part of the plan. I moved to Dogwood Ridge first and established myself with the club. Lara came to town with Vanessa right on time and I started whispering in your ear about her. I didn’t know you’d feel the need to protect and defend me, even if none of it was real.

I think that’s when I fell in love with you—the first time you defended me. Not like it matters now.

The sister drama, the stories about how I ruined Lara’s life over and over again, the ‘truth’ behind Vanessa, and Lara’s hatred for you were all scripted. Vanessa believes I abandoned her because it’s the story we told her. Lara has always been the better person to take care of her, that part is true, so we crafted a story we could use when it helped the con.

When we sought out Dogwood Ridge with a plan, I knew my role was to be the basket case, the whore, the person overlooked. What I never expected was to meet you. I wanted to call the whole thing off. I begged Lara, but she refused.

I tried to get her to back off, but when she found out that I would sometimes overhear things I wasn’t supposed to, and how valuable those secrets could be, she told me to never bring up backing out again. This was supposed to end months ago; we should have been long gone by now.

But Lara wanted more. More secrets. More leverage. More insurance. She said it would protect us in the future, but I just wanted to get out.

I’ve never wanted to get out before.

This time, it was only because of you.

I’m sorry.

Lara has the other half of the club’s money. She’ll deny it. She’ll tell you just how horrible I am and how I’ve always done this kind of thing. Maybe now, with the truth, you’ll be able to see through her performance.

I hope, one day, you no longer hate me for my role in this. Maybe we can meet again in another life because I know you’ll never forgive me in this one.

Goodbye.

I leave a piece of my heart behind with you,

Lola

I stare at the letter for a second after I finish reading before my face twists up in disgust. My eyes snap to Lara as I slap the letter against Ryker’s chest without looking at him. I’m only looking at her.

Her mask is firmly in place, and I want to rip it off.

Ryker reads the letter out loud, but I don’t look away from my woman’s blue eyes. The kitchen of Bunz Out is silent for a second once he’s done reading.

“Everything Lola wrote is bullshit,” my tone leaves no room for any other conclusion. I shake my head firmly, knowing to the depth of me that Lara would never do that.