by Eden Summers
He’d seemed to ponder her words as his gaze raked her body in a way she’d never experienced before. He was sizing her up, determining something she couldn’t or didn’t want to understand. “I didn’t want to scream. I had already started blaming myself. If I hadn’t gone there, this man wouldn’t have had the wrong impression of me. He thought I was an easy lay, and I wasn’t. I tried to talk him down, assuring him I wouldn’t be going back into the main room.”
His eyes had been vacant, icy-blue irises that reflected an empty soul. The first step he’d taken toward her had made her realize she needed to act. It finally sank in. He was a threat and she needed to get out of there. “I’m not interested.” She’d raised her chin and glared at him as her head had begun to pound with too many thoughts to comprehend what to do. Did she try to hurt him? Did she run? Was T.J. right outside the door like he’d promised, or had something happened to him too? “I’ll scream.”
“Hey.” Zoe’s hand came to rest on Cassie’s back again, rubbing in soothing circles. “You’re safe now.”
Cassie tried to shake away the nightmare, but he kept approaching. “It didn’t go much further.” She didn’t want to relive the way his hand had lashed out, climbing under her loose skirt to tear away her G-string before she could scream. “I called for help, and T.J. was there in an instant. My husband was unrecognizable, his expression contorted in anguish and rage as he threw the guy to the floor and started pounding his fists into the man’s face. Again and again and again. More people entered the room as the bastard on the floor stopped fighting back.”
Cassie met the distraught features of each woman in turn, both of them riveted by her story. “They had to drag T.J. off him.” He’d been rabid. Crazed. “He was yelling as they hauled him from the building. His voice was so loud, demanding they let go, shouting for them to get their hands off me as they yanked me along after him. Their greedy palms touching me in places I wish I could forget.”
She didn’t remember how they arrived back at the apartment, and the memories after that were like photographs. Snapshots. She’d sat on the shower floor, hugging her knees to her chest as the water cascaded over her body. The darkness of the room as she lay in bed, while the sound of T.J. vomiting carried from the bathroom. The muted plane ride home. And the silence they’d both shared for the weeks that followed.
“He wanted to call the police. That night, he even drove to a nearby police station. But I couldn’t do it.” She squeezed her eyes shut briefly. “There were too many reasons to keep my mouth shut. I’d placed myself in that position. I’d been stupid. I know it doesn’t excuse what happened. I just couldn’t risk public scrutiny either. My family would’ve been devastated. I would’ve lost my job or been pressured to quit from the nastiness of others. But the determining factor was Vault of Sin. T.J., Leo and Brute are loyal men. I didn’t want them to contemplate abandoning their plans for the private part of the club to spare my dignity. So, I told T.J. I didn’t want anyone knowing. Not the police, not family and definitely not our business partners.”
They’d never discussed what happened with anyone. T.J. had barely mentioned the night in the last twelve months. Yet, she refused to feel guilty about opening her mouth now. If it meant saving her marriage, she’d disclose every last detail, her pride and reputation be damned.
“That asshole deserves to be shot,” Shay seethed.
Cassie inclined her head. “Yeah. It wasn’t the best experience I’ve ever had. Then again, I was lucky T.J. saved me. It just wasn’t enough for him. He blames himself, and I think what happened destroyed him more than me. I never truly got him back after that night.”
He hadn’t been able to look at her for weeks. He couldn’t touch her without his eyes glazing as he lost himself to hindsight. In his mind, the blame over not researching the club rested solely on his shoulders, with him unwilling to let her take any responsibility. He considered it his own weakness for succumbing to the temptation of exposing her to something new. He thrived on broadening her sex life and wouldn’t forgive himself for rushing in unprepared.
“A month passed before he started sleeping on the couch, claiming he didn’t want to keep me awake with his restlessness. That night turned into every night until I started noticing the spare bed was being slept in. Six months later, he moved out.”
“I need to clear my head. Just a few days. Maybe a week.”
He’d been exceptionally agitated the day he’d walked from their home. As if the months of guilt had collided, and she’d had no desire to hurt him more by making him stay.
“I don’t know what to say,” Shay whispered.
Cassie met her gaze and winced at the sorrow shining back at her. “There’s nothing to say. I didn’t want to believe he was serious about the divorce, but after tonight, I think it’s clear he can’t get over the past. He’s never looked at me in anger before.”
She sipped her wine, uncomfortable in the silence with these women who were practically strangers. The chatter of people in the distance was all she could hear until footsteps echoed up the Vault staircase, the pounding getting louder.
“Quick,” Shay blurted. “Put the wig back on. The mask, too.”
Cassie’s heart throttled to high speed. Although T.J. knew she was here, she didn’t want anyone else to find out.
As Shay straightened and Zoe turned to face the stairway, Cassie hitched the fake hair back into position and slid the mask into place. She was still straightening the stray strands of hair sticking out at odd angles when the footsteps stopped.
“Ladies.” Leo’s honeyed tone filled her belly with nerves. “There seems to be a misunderstanding that I need to get to the bottom of.” The pounding of his shoes against the floor sounded again, getting closer and closer. “T.J. is under the impression someone paid an escort to seduce him.”
What? Cassie’s gaze snapped to Shay, hoping to gain some understanding while she kept her back to her business partner.
“I thought you said he knew you were here,” Zoe muttered under her breath.
He did. T.J. had whispered her name as they’d kissed. Right before he’d demanded she leave.
“Shay.” The name was a deeply masculine growl. “Please tell me you don’t know anything about this. I assured T.J. my adorably sweet girlfriend wouldn’t be stupid enough to risk her job by getting involved.”
Shay released a nervous chuckle. “Honey, you say the nicest things, but your tone implies you don’t think I’m that sweet.”
“Yeah,” he grated. “I should work on that.”
Shay strode around the bar and sauntered toward Leo. Cassie swiveled in her stool, keeping her face shadowed by her hair as Shay stopped in front of her boyfriend and leaned to whisper something in his ear.
As the faint hint of her words drifted forward, Leo’s scrutinizing gaze snapped to Cassie. His frown deepened, the wrinkles increasing with each passing second until Shay stepped back.
“What’s going on here?” Leo approached, shoving his hands in his pockets in a vain attempt to appear nonchalant.
Zoe scooted to the side of her stool, turning her knees into Cassie. “If you want to leave right now, no questions asked, just tell me. I’ll escort you out. You don’t need to speak to him. We can go somewhere else and talk about this.”
We. Such a simple word, yet the friendship behind it brought an explosion of warmth through Cassie’s body. “Thank you, but I think he deserves to know why I caused the scene downstairs.”
Zoe inclined her head. “It’s up to you.”
Cassie removed her mask and checked her reflection in the mirror across the bar. There wouldn’t be any beauty awards heading her way in the near future, and even without the mask, she was still barely recognizable.
She pushed from the stool and straightened her shoulders as she faced Leo, a man she’d met numerous times but didn’t claim to know well enough to anticipate how he’d react. She gave him a sad smile and pulled off her wig, exposing the blonde ha
ir beneath.
He squinted at her, his gaze raking her face, then lower, all the way to her high-heel-covered toes.
“Fake nails.” She placed the wig on the bar and wiggled her fingers. “Fake tan.” She indicated her body with a wave of her hand. “Contact lenses.” She pointed to her eyes. “All of it’s fake.”
“Oh, shit.” His voice was barely audible. “Cassie? Is that really you?”
She gave a regretful nod. “Hi, Leo.”
“Jesus Christ.” He massaged his forehead and began to pace. “I need to tell him.”
“No.” Cassie scooted forward, her heels tapping frantically along the floor. “Wait.” She grabbed his arm as he turned to leave. “What did you mean when you said T.J. thinks someone paid an escort?”
“I mean exactly that, Cass. He’s down there, almost coming to blows with Brute because he thinks the woman he was making out with was a hooker.”
Cassie shook her head. “He said my name. He knew it was me.”
Leo peered down at her, seeming to read her thoughts when she couldn’t even understand them herself. “You can interpret it however you like, but he’s down there thinking he cheated on his wife. He has no clue you’re here.”
“He doesn’t?” She felt like a parrot, repeating the words in her head over and over again. But if he didn’t know she was here, why had he said her name? “He must have been thinking about me.” A smile tilted her lips. A weak, almost useless smile that filled her aching heart with hope.
Then whiplash had her straightening. He may have been thinking about her. However, to his knowledge, he’d been kissing someone else. He’d cheated on her…with her.
“Cassie, I’m sorry, I know you’re hurting.” Leo stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “But you have to leave. I can’t be a part of this, not only because he’s my business partner. He’s my friend above all else.”
“And he’s my husband.” She swallowed over the dryness in her throat and dropped her hold on his arm. “I’ll do anything to get him back.”
“We’ll figure out another plan together,” Shay offered.
“Shay,” Leo warned. “I don’t want to hear this.”
“Then run along, sweetheart.”
His ocean-blue irises darkened with contempt. “You don’t understand. T.J. is going out of his mind. He’s beside himself. I’ve never seen him so distraught.”
“That can only work in Cassie’s favor.” The sound of Zoe’s footsteps approached. “If there’s still emotional attachment, surely there has to be a way to stop the divorce.”
“You both need to stay out of it,” Leo grated. “We won’t stand for drama in the club. No matter who’s involved. Tonight has been bad enough. The only saving grace for you, Cass, is that he has no clue it was you.”
Drama hadn’t been her intent. She hadn’t even planned to seduce him. That was a bonus. One that would’ve kicked her in the balls if she had any. “I’m sorry for the stress I caused. I just can’t let him go. I know he still loves me.”
Leo inclined his head. “I know that, too.”
Wait. What? “You do?”
“Yes.” His tone was comforting even though a scowl creased his forehead. “You don’t understand what’s going on downstairs. I’ve just spent the last ten minutes holed up in the bathroom with him. He’s spilling secrets and losing his shit. It’s obvious he loves you.”
This was the first true glimmer of hope. Doubt had started to whittle away the certainty of T.J.’s affection. Now her confidence was renewed. “He told you about the other club.” It wasn’t a question. She could see understanding in his eyes.
He nodded and gave her a somber smile. “He mentioned it. Among other things. And to be honest, I understand his reasons for the divorce. Maybe it’s for the best.”
The meager glimpse of hope shattered, leaving her chest hollow. It wasn’t Leo’s words. It was the pity in his expression. The complete lack of belief for any happiness in her future.
“How?” Shay accused. “One bad decision shouldn’t end a marriage. How could he leave her after what had happened? If anything, he should be ashamed for not sticking by her. He’d walked out when she needed him the most.”
Leo inclined his head. “He has a lot of regret. But this isn’t about one mistake. There are ongoing issues that led to his decision.”
“Ongoing issues?” Cassie reached out a hand, needing grounding, needing something. Anything. Then she let her arm fall back to her side. “Tell me. If there’s more, I deserve to know.”
“I’m not willing to get involved. Not any more than I already have.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I won’t.”
Searing pain seeped into Cassie’s heart. The harder she pushed for answers, the less clarity came. There couldn’t be more reasons to the divorce. She refused to believe that. They’d been happy. Hadn’t they? Or had she taken steps along the contented path on her own?
“Well, maybe there are things I’m no longer willing to do for you either,” Shay cooed.
Leo turned to his girlfriend, hitting her with a confident stare that spoke of his disbelief. “You need to stay out of it.”
Shay crossed her arms over her chest. “While I’m staying out of it, there’s something you’ll be staying out of, too.” A feral smirk tilted her lips. “My pussy.”
“Thanks for the clarification, sweetheart. I wouldn’t have figured out what you meant otherwise.” He rolled his eyes and turned back to Cassie with a shrug. “Look, this is your life and your marriage. I’m not going to dictate what you should do. But I need to respect T.J.’s decision.” He grabbed her hand, kissed her knuckles and released his hold just as quickly. “I hope you can work it out.”
He walked away, his heavy steps echoing through the club before he disappeared behind the door leading downstairs.
“So, where do we go from here?” Shay stepped into Cassie’s vision, shattering her concentration.
“We don’t go anywhere.” These women were lovely. Without encouragement, they’d befriended her and helped to pick her up after the humiliation downstairs. “Thank you both for being so kind to me. I appreciate it.”
It was time to leave. Her mind was filled with fog, her heart torn in two from the emotional blows too numerous to recall. She needed to get home and lick her wounds. To see if she could pick herself back up and return to the battlefield when she now had no clue who or what her enemy was.
“Don’t listen to him.” Shay waved a hand toward the doorway Leo had fled behind. “Whatever happens, he’ll get over it.”
“Shay, maybe you should stay out of it.” Zoe came to stand beside Cassie. “I can help where possible.”
“No.” Cassie strode for the bar and snatched the wig off the counter. She tugged it back on and stared at her reflection in the mirror, instantly wanting to scratch the itch from her scalp. “Both of you should stay out of it. The last thing I want to do is undermine T.J.”
She turned and gave them a fake smile. “I’ll be fine.”
Zoe approached and helped position the wig back in place. “Do you have a plan?”
Cassie shook her head. She didn’t have anything. Apparently, she didn’t even have the real reason why T.J. wanted a divorce. “I have determination. And for now, that’s all I need.”
Chapter Ten
Three days later, Cassie was still numb as she drove home from the supermarket. She’d spent every waking moment trying to figure out what could’ve caused the need for a divorce if it hadn’t been the assault in the sex club. There was no answer. Not even a clue. And even worse, she didn’t have a plan to win T.J. back either.
At least she was eating again. Her lack of appetite had fallen prey to the need to binge, and she currently had a car full of junk food.
Soon she’d need to accept that her husband wasn’t coming back. No matter how much he still loved her. His stubborn streak was going to win, and she was going to end up alone.
She turned onto her street and eased
off the accelerator at the sight of an unfamiliar car parked in her driveway. She wasn’t prone to fits of apprehension over foreign vehicles, but after T.J. had surprised her with the divorce, she was skeptical of any strangers that came to visit.
Her fingers skimmed the garage clicker and she pressed the button to open the door. As she passed the vehicle to her left, she glimpsed long dark hair. A woman. Great. Maybe today’s surprise would be sponsored by a pregnant mistress or jealous girlfriend.
Pulling the car to a stop, she grabbed her handbag and yanked it to her side in a vain attempt for comfort. She fled the vehicle, her chin held high, her limbs heavy from exhaustion. As she pasted a smile on her lips, she came face-to-face with a gorgeous brunette at the trunk of her car.
The woman’s features were shaded by the Sinner baseball cap she wore, her loose T-shirt and short shorts exposing an enviable figure.
“Shay?” Cassie squinted into the sun.
“I look different with my clothes on, don’t I?” Shay smiled, resurrecting the comforting friendship from Thursday. “So do you.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m not really here. I’m at the gym.” Her smile widened. “I wanted to see how you were feeling after the other night.”
Cassie winced through the painful reminder and chose to deflect. “Do you want to come inside for a coffee?”
“Love to.”
Cassie ignored the bags of groceries on her backseat and ushered Shay into the house. The woman was gorgeous, her face brighter in the daylight. The gleam of mischief in her eyes sparked an unnerving sense of foreboding.
“What’s the plan of attack?” Shay rubbed her hands together and rested back into the dining room chair.
