I opened my eyes and stared at the soft smile on my lips as I turned the thought over and over in my mind. I was in love—Love—for real this time. A little chuckle bubbled from my throat as I tossed the towels in the trash, then thoroughly washed my hands. I touched up my lipstick, then strolled out of the lounge, humming At Last by Etta James under my breath. I stopped short when my eyes landed on Dalton leaning against the wall next to the entrance to the theater, a wry twist to his lips, his eyes glazed with the effects of too much whiskey. He straightened, thrusting his fists into his pants pockets, and walked stiffly toward me.
“Where’s my money?” he hissed, reaching out and grabbing my wrist.
“Let go of me. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I spat back as I tried to tug my arm free from his grasp. “You accepted Matt’s counteroffer. You got your money.”
“Doesn’t matter.” The words slurred as he visibly tried to focus on my eyes. I suspected he was seeing two or three of me, judging by the toxic smell of alcohol pouring off him. “I want the other ten thousand. I know you’re shacking up with Hawkins. I saw you all over him earlier. You and I both know he has the money.”
“You’re fucking crazy, you know that? I’m not asking Finn for money. In fact, I’m not paying you another cent. You made the deal. Live with it.” I called his bluff as I shook off his hand and stomped back to our table. He wasn’t going to do anything. He clearly had a financial problem and figured I was his cash cow. He was in for a rude awakening.
Sadly, Finn had already been called backstage by the time I got to my seat, so I couldn’t even tell him about my run-in with Dalton. I picked up my wineglass, which had mysteriously been refilled, taking healthy sips as I tried to relax. It was better Finn didn’t know what happened. He’d confront Dalton, who in his inebriated state would make a scene and ruin the whole night. I slowly drank away my bristly mood, settling in my chair as they served dessert and passed out bidding paddles. The lights once again dimmed as dynamic music began to play. The enthusiasm flooded into my now foggy brain, allowing me to shake off yet another bad memory of Dalt.
I was last in line to be sold to the highest bidder. We were all standing around, waiting for Dalton Simmons to show up and take his place as the first bachelor of the night.
“What the hell is taking that pipsqueak so long?” I’d tapped both Matt and my best friend, Victor Salcedo, to help our cause. I didn’t have to ask a second time before he was on a plane on his way to Los Angeles. Even though he didn’t know Dalton was my girl’s ex, he wasn’t impressed with the guy. Couldn’t say I blamed him. He looked like a freckle-faced kid rather than a grown man.
“I wish we could get started without him,” I groused along with him.
“I’m going looking for him. I don’t trust that shady fuck as far as I can throw him,” Matt pitched in, flipping the collar of his jacket up and taking a step forward.
“Seriously?” The Spanish flavor of Victor’s words only heightened my sense of his disgust. Every word was a sneer, whether he meant it or not. Rylee was backstage with us, holding a clipboard and doing her best to keep us in one large herd. Finally, Dalton staggered up, looking suspiciously unsteady on his feet. Rylee squinted at him but was distracted by the sound of Colton’s voice over the loudspeaker, introducing “Bachelor Number One.”
“Go, it’s showtime,” she said hurriedly, pushing him from behind the curtain into the stage’s spotlight. He practically fell on his face as he stumbled over his own feet. Colton took up a cheer, then rambled on with a list of distinguished accomplishments, true and false, all meant in good fun.
One by one, nine bachelors from different types of racing sports strolled down the catwalk, shaking their hips or pretending to flex their muscles, mugging it up for the crowd. Finally, it was my turn. I heard Colton roasting me harder than he had the men before me, but I’d expected no less. Rylee was in front of me with a lint brush, dusting invisible specks off my tuxedo jacket.
“Go knock ‘em dead. I have a bet with Colton that you’ll bring in the best price. That’s why I put you last,” she said as she twirled me around for a last once-over, then shoved my shoulder in the direction of the stage.
The spotlight nearly blinded me as I emerged from behind the curtain. Squinting, I carefully strolled along the path in front of me, trying to make out the faces of people on either side of the ramp.
“Finn ‘The Hawk’ Hawkins,” Colton drawled good-naturedly, “is six foot three inches and two-hundred-sixteen pounds of solid muscle. You may remember him from our earlier video... He’s a Motocross superstar but hasn’t made it to Supercross Championship.”
“Yet!” I shouted back, the crowd enjoying my interaction so much, they called out on my behalf as well.
“Yet!” Countless voices echoed through the hall until suddenly, the sound of someone’s phone began to chime, followed by another, then another. I looked around the room, then over at Colton, who looked back with an equally puzzled expression. He touched his pocket just as my own phone began to vibrate in mine. Before either of us could withdraw them, the screen behind Colton came to life again. Instantly, the image of Kenni’s face, her tawny hair tousled in a freshly-fucked style, smiled drunkenly up at what must have been a mobile phone camera.
“Open up for me, Kenni, baby. You know what I want.”
“No, I don’t want to. I’m not feeling so good,” she mumbled in reply, her eyelids drooping sleepily over her eyes.
“Come on, baby. You’ll do it if you love me.”
“I do love you, but...” Her reply was cut off by the image of the head of a bare penis hovering in front of her lips.
“Open up.”
I reacted without even thinking. I dashed backstage, ripping every cord I could find out of lighting and sound boards. The room’s speakers went quiet, but I could still hear the low sound of a female choking as I realized the video was still playing on dozens of mobile phones in the theater. My next thought was of Kenni. How could I have not run to her immediately? I dashed back out on stage, jumping from it to the floor below, and launched myself in the direction of our table. Just as I neared her, the house lights went up, and my gaze fell on her horrified face as she stared down at the screen of her phone.
“Kenni,” I said quietly as I approached, making her tear her eyes from the phone to mine. She stuffed the phone in her purse as she looked at me, standing so fast, she knocked her chair over into a person seated behind her. I reached out to steady her, but she quickly stopped me with a lift of her hand.
“Don’t!” she cried, her face showing her distress, her eyes wide and filled with tears. “Don’t come near me.”
“Kenni,” I repeated softly, hoping to calm the frightened rabbit in front of me. She shook her head furiously, wheeling on the heel of her shoe, and ran from the theater. I started to go after her, but a familiar brunette stepped in my path, flattening her palm on my chest.
“I’ll catch her and make sure she gets home safely. You go help Colton,” she said, pointing a manicured fingernail in the direction of her husband, who was dragging a struggling Dalton behind him, both Victor and Matt Michaels trailing behind with murderous expressions.
“You think it’s cute to force yourself on a woman, then have the gall to shame her for it?” I heard Colton hiss to him as he shook him by the back of the neck. I wanted to punch him dead in the face, but most of the donors were still sitting in their seats, stunned as they watched the show in front of them.
I stilled one flailing arm with an iron grip, Colton grabbed the other, Victor and Matt grabbing his legs. Together, we carry-dragged Simmons out to the street. As one, we dropped him on the ground, and Victor stopped me from launching myself at him with a hand on my shoulder.
“You don’t want to jeopardize your future, hermano,” he said quietly, his look one of a man who knew what he was talking about. “You’re so close to the final, don’t throw it away now. We’ll deal with him another way.”
/> I stood back, acknowledging my friend’s words, only to have Matt blow right by me and kick Dalt square in the gut. He groaned pathetically as he struggled to stand but never quite made it fully upright due to his severe intoxication. He was out for the count when he finally collapsed, emptying the contents of his stomach in the gutter next to the curb. Colton pulled his mobile phone from his pocket, calling nine-one-one.
“Get his cellphone. I’m sure we’ll find a copy of that video we can share with the police,” Colton pointed to Dalt, who laid shivering on the cold cement, in a puddle of his own vomit.
I ran blindly out of the theater doors, stumbling in my stiletto heels. I tripped but managed to catch my balance before doing a painful faceplant right in the middle of Wilshire Boulevard. I kicked the offending shoes from my feet, lifted the hem of my dress, and kept on running.
He didn’t... he wouldn’t... but he did.
My mind refused to accept the last thirty minutes of my life. My biggest shame was not only on the big screen but everyone’s personal device. Forever, I’ll be that girl who…
I squeezed my eyes shut as I came to a halt, half-gasping, half-sobbing. I wouldn’t think about it. I’d just pretend nothing happened and everything would be okay. My breathing started to slow until one thought burst into my mind.
Finn saw that.
I bent over, gripping my abdomen as the panic descended, robbing me of my breath. The harder I tried to suck in air, the more elusive it became.
“Slow down, Kenni,” a soft but firm voice carried into my ear. A warm jacket fell over my shoulders as Rylee Donavan pressed her hand between my shoulders, forcing me to bend over. “You’re having a panic attack. Try to focus on the sound of the traffic moving down the street. Don’t think, don’t try to breathe, just listen for the hum of the engines.”
Tiny black dots poked at my vision as I tried to listen for any of the street sounds I’d grown familiar with since coming to Los Angeles. I was close to passing out, the darkness crowding my sight, when finally, my brain latched on to the sound of a horn not far off in the distance. I tuned in, hearing it sound once, twice, three times. The cool night air rushed into my lungs as the relief that came from it dropped me to my knees. Rylee helped to ease me into a crouch while I gained my footing. I didn’t move for a full two minutes, sitting there, unconcerned I was practically flat on my ass in the middle of the Mid-Wilshire district, just breathing.
“Thanks, Rylee,” I finally whispered as I moved to rise. Rylee stood with me, then quickly pulled closed the lapels of the suit jacket she’d given me.
“You’re, uh, having a small wardrobe malfunction.” Her knowing look made me wish the ground would open and swallow me up. It seemed I just couldn’t help putting on a show wherever I went. I groaned, then looked down to adjust the neckline on my dress.
“Come with me.” Her arm came around my shoulders, guiding me back the way we’d run. “Don’t worry, the boys are off taking care of... delicate matters.”
I didn’t know whether to hope or fear her cryptic statement meant Finn and Colton were kicking the shit out of Dalton. My stomach pitched as the sound of my drunken voice, and subsequent gagging began to repeat in my ears, making me retch. I felt the urge to run again, but this obviously wasn’t Rylee’s first rodeo. She grabbed my hand, holding it tight, reminding me to listen to the late-night traffic on the street.
“Rylee, I can’t!” I cried, my heart fluttering erratically as Rylee gave our driver Finn’s address.
“Shhh... it’s okay, Kenni. No one’s there. If you want to go to a hotel for the night, I understand perfectly, but let’s get you into something more comfortable first, okay?” She squeezed my hand to reassure me. “Finn’s with Colton, Victor, and your brother. He promised to text me when they finish up with Dalton.”
“They have him?” I stuttered, eyes going wide. I wanted that man to suffer, Lord, I did, but I didn’t want Finn or my brother to get into trouble. They had so much at stake. “Don’t let any of them get in trouble. He’s not worth it. I’m not worth it.”
“Don’t worry, I think they have other plans for him,” she murmured as we pulled into the driveway. “Stay where you are. I’ll help you out.”
The tears fell fast and free as I looked sadly at Finn’s house. I’d only been here a handful of weeks but already had so many happy memories. The thought I was losing it all crushed my heart.
The sound of an engine broke through the quiet of the night, growing louder and louder. The sound of tires screeching on the pavement sounded behind us, a car door opening and slamming. The next thing I knew, my door was wrenched open, leaving me staring up at a very pissed off Finn Hawkins.
“Finn... I know what you must think. I’m sorry, I...”
He leaned into the doorway, his strong arms coming around my back and under my legs to scoop me into his arms. I tried to explain, tried to beg for forgiveness as he carried me to the house, forgetting all about Rylee and Colton standing in the driveway.
“Shut up, Kenni. I’ll do the talking here.” In a magical move, he shifted me easily to a fireman’s carry and marched up to the front door, deftly producing a key out of nowhere. He carried me straight to the armchair in his living room, where he dumped me unceremoniously on the seat. He loomed over me, caging me in, resting his hands on the sides of the chair, and stared me dead in the eyes. I could see the anger crackling in his, which only made me want to wither and die. I cringed away, but his stare held me fast.
“I don’t ever want to hear you apologize. What happened doesn’t change my opinion of you in the slightest, and you didn’t do anything wrong. Simmons really fucked himself by showing that video to everyone. What we saw was video evidence of a sexual assault, not an intimate moment where you trusted someone.”
“What? No, it wasn’t an assault,” I shook my head in confusion. “He was my boyfriend...”
“I don’t give a fuck if he was your husband! You. Said. No. Quite clearly, in fact. He forced himself on you, anyway, at a time when you were clearly vulnerable. The kind police officers who assisted us with removing him from private property agreed.”
“You showed people the video?” I gasped, my hand involuntarily coming up to clutch my throat as my stomach somersaulted. “Where is it now?”
“We only let the uniformed officers who came to assist see it. They wanted to confiscate the video for evidence, but I refused. It’s your decision whether you want to press charges.”
“I still don’t understand...” I furrowed my brow, the waning effects of alcohol and fatigue clouding my mind.
“You need some rest, Kenni. I’m going to run you a hot bath. Your only job is to relax and let me take care of you.”
Something about the raw tenderness in his voice made my heart swell. I’d never seen it before, but the look in his eyes was a mixture of love and admiration, with a restrained dash of desire. I nuzzled his hand when he lifted it to caress my cheek, nodding my agreement with his orders. He leaned in further, kissing my lips gently, then pulled me out of the chair and led me upstairs to his darkened bedroom. Slowly circling me, he pulled the zipper of my ruined silk down, letting it fall from my body to pool around my feet. Blue tinged light poured through the space between the curtains.
“You don’t know it, but you’re so beautiful, Kenni,” he whispered huskily. “Even like this, with your eyes swollen and your makeup streaked, your beauty shines through. I want to spend the rest of my life looking at you bathed in moonlight.”
I began to tremble. I was a bleeding wound, raw and oozing. His words were beautiful, but they couldn’t penetrate the shield I’d thrown around myself. My tremulous smile betrayed me—I wanted to retreat from his attention. I cast my gaze down and away, only to have him turn my chin toward him.
“Come, let me take care of you,” he crooned softly, soothingly. I followed him into the bathroom, squinting as he turned on the overhead light. He moved to turn the taps on the large oval tub that dominated o
ne side of the large bathroom, then turned back to me and knelt before me, drawing my ripped and frayed stockings down my legs. He placed a soft kiss on the top of each thigh before hooking his fingertips into the straps of my thong, then dragged it over my hips. I stood, looking down at him silently, helpless. Any remaining resistance I had to the man fell away like autumn leaves from a maple tree.
“You’re perfect,” he breathed in my ear, rising to his feet and cupping my neck with a firm hand. “I didn’t see this coming... I couldn’t protect you... Let me in, Kenni, and I promise it’ll never happen again. I’ll put myself between you and anyone who tries to hurt you.”
“No,” I interrupted, finally finding my voice. “It’s my fault. There was so much I didn’t tell you. I wanted to... I…”
“You don’t have to tell me, Kenni. I understand. Matt filled me in on the whole story between you and Simmons while we waited for the cops. You don’t have to relive it again. None of this is your fault.”
He turned, shutting off the faucet and flipping a switch that made the spa jets whirl to life. I stood like a naked marble statue, cold and longing for his touch, but I made no move toward him as he poured a healthy dose of bath salts into the tub, then stripped off his tuxedo jacket and tie, then his shirt. His intense stare kept me rooted in my spot.
“Come here,” he beckoned with a lift of his hand. I took one hesitant step toward him, then another before he lifted me into his arms and delicately placed me into the scented water. I pulled my knees into my chest, resting my chin atop them as I watched Finn proceed to strip down to nothing but his boxer briefs. He gestured for me to scoot forward, so he could climb in behind me.
“What are you doing?” I asked, half chuckling despite my misery and shame over the night’s events, glancing over my shoulder and raising one brow. “Why are you wearing your underwear?”
Ride: A Driven World Novel Page 16
