Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58090 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Richie was back on the couch, his companion now stripped down to her panties, on her knees, sucking his cock. Stubby. Old. Just as I thought. At least he wouldn’t be trying to get me alone if he was already spent. I jerked my eyes away from the revolting sight and met Richie’s fierce glare.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Dalton, but Mr. Parkston has already left for the night. Is there something I can help you with?”
Something other than taking the other woman’s place on my knees.
Richie grimaced as the girl kept working him over, and I tried not to throw up in my mouth. Richie reminded me of a scaly creature found in a backwoods swamp. I felt that way long before Bennett filled me in on who he actually was. Now that I knew the truth, my disgust only ran deeper.
“Jake,” he barked, snapping at one of his goons. “Call Parkston.”
I bit back an objection. I knew Reed didn’t want to be bothered, but I wasn’t going to step in the way and deny them the right to call. I could only hope that Reed answered and sorted out whatever grievance Richie had so he would take his pack of goons and go.
As his henchman waited for the call to go through, I backed up and reached for the doorknob.
“Wait right there, Red,” Richie said.
Every alert and instinct in my body told me to run, to bolt while I had the chance, but I forced myself to stay rooted and plastered on a half-smile as I turned back to face him.
Just as he fucking bust his nut…
The grunt and wave of pleasure that rolled across his face made my stomach turn. When he opened his eyes again, he locked onto me and offered a smarmy grin.
“I’ll see you later, Red,” he said, throwing me a wink. “Next time, it’s going to be you.”
Paige and her girlfriends entered the club about an hour after I escaped the red room. I was hiding in the office when Paige came in, giggling with her three friends.
“—told him to trust me, but you know how our men get.”
She stopped short when she spotted me at the desk. “Oh! Avery! I didn’t know you were still here. Meet my friends.”
She interrupted herself to usher them all into the office. “This is Jessie. Olivia. And Joanie. We go way back. I thought I’d bring them by to show them the new rooms upstairs. Any occupants?”
She leaned over the sparse computer, checking the reservations for herself.
“Only the Spire,” I answered on autopilot. My job was to know which rooms were available as many guests would come to the bar to book their private suite.
Paige nodded, flicking through the electronic booking system. “All right. Well, that’s fine. The girls have seen that room before.”
She straightened and when she glanced at me, her brows wrinkled. “Are you okay?”
I swallowed hard and nodded. My eyes were red and puffy from crying, and even in the low light, Paige could likely see the effects. “I’m fine. You guys need anything?”
Paige cocked her head and continued to study me for another long moment.
“Paige, seriously, I’m fine.”
She waved a hand at her friends. “You guys get started without me. I’ll be right there.”
The three women filed out of the office, closing the door behind them. Paige came over and perched on the side of the desk. She reached out with a cool hand and stroked the side of my face.
“What’s going on, Avery? You can tell me. Asshole client?”
The soft look in her eyes pushed me over the edge. It had been so long since I’d had someone to confide in. At least, someone other than Bennett. He understood, more than anyone, what I’d gone through. But I hadn’t had a female friend to confide in for what felt like a lifetime. Not since becoming Avery. It made me miss my mother and the friends I was forced to leave behind when I entered WITSEC. I hadn’t dared to try and call any of them since running away from my handlers. I couldn’t live with myself if my choice to run negatively affected them.
A sob broke free from deep within me. I collapsed forward, and more tears followed.
“Paige, it’s such a mess.”
“What is?” She stroked my hair, her fingertips digging into my thick auburn locks. “You can tell me. I’m an excellent secret keeper.”
“Do you know who Eric is?”
The door of the office whooshed open before she could answer. I buried my face, expecting it to be one of her friends back to grab their purse or ask for a drink recommendation. But when a sharp, male voice rippled through the room instead, I bolted upright.
“Evening, ladies.”
Shit! Richie, flanked by two of his huge men, stood in the office. One of his goons shut the door behind him with just a little more force than was necessary.