21. Scarlett
Chapter twenty-one
Scarlett
T he Escalade stops before an iron gate at the Alarie family manor in The Hamptons, and Leo sticks his hand out, scanning it before the entrance slowly slides open. He drives the SUV down the long driveway and stops by the stone stairs that lead to the massive doorway. As I open my door, the smell of the nearby ocean crashes over me, eliciting a smile.
The dark double doors of the house open, revealing an elated Maddy stepping outside. “Who’s ready to party?” She double-fists two bottles of champagne, a genuine smile spreading across her face. I step out of the car as she suffocates me in a bear hug. “I’m so glad you came!”
“I wouldn’t miss this.” I center the pendant on my silver chain, falling flat over the white square-neck tank top I paired with navy abstract knotted wide-leg trousers. I figured I would at least try to look The Hamptons’ part today.
Eli rounds the back of the vehicle, and Maddy’s smile falters. The bottles of champagne are lowered to her sides beside her white and deep blue boho-chic dress.
“And may I ask what you’re doing here? This is a girls’ weekend,” she grits out. “I only allowed Leo to come because he’ll go into anaphylactic shock if he’s not by Scarlett’s side.”
She sounds murderous, and I look between them, feeling a wall of tension. Did I miss something?
Eli smirks, jerking his head toward me. “Where she goes, I go. Boss’s order.”
Sorry , I mouth with a slight shrug. If I had known his presence would be a problem, I might have asked Leo to let Eli stay home. But I assumed Maddy would have been excited to see his familiar face.
Judging by her tight features…I was very wrong.
She plasters her smile back onto her face, feigning indifference. “No bother. Two boys won’t ruin—” Her words die out as a familiar black G-wagon pulls up behind our Escalade. “You have to be shitting me.”
The driver’s door opens, and Vin steps out, removing his designer sunglasses. He nods his head in greeting to some of the guards on patrol and then looks around at all of us. “The party has finally arrived.”
The passenger door opens next, quickly revealing a disgruntled-looking Mauro.
“Don’t mind him,” Vin starts, approaching him. “He wasn’t too keen on coming this weekend, but I insisted a weekend away with his siblings was just what he needed.” He displays a broad smile as he squeezes Mauro’s shoulder. “Unfortunately, Alex had some work to take care of and won’t be joining us.”
“No, no, no, no, no!” Maddy drops the bottles of champagne on a nearby table and storms up to her brothers, shoving a finger into Vin’s chest. “This is supposed to be a girls’ weekend! My last weekend of fun before I have to tie the knot!” she complains with a stomp of her wedge.
“Have to?” Eli asks curiously.
She waves her hands around dismissively. “Have to. Want to. Same difference.”
Vin rubs his knuckles over the top of her head, clearly pissing her off more as she shoves him away, smoothing down her hair. “Don’t worry, little sister. We came here to have fun, too. Isn’t that right, Mauro?”
Mauro grunts, shaking his head.
Leo whispers in my ear, “That grunt means I was forced here against my will .”
I chuckle, clasping my hands over my mouth.
“Hey, guys!” A beautiful brunette walks out the front door in a figure-hugging deep purple dress. She smiles, pushing up her black-framed glasses.
Wait a second… Is that?
“Hey, Scarlett.” She walks up to me, wrapping her arms around me as I stand there stiff as a board. “I’m so sorry. I wanted to come see you sooner, but I’ve been swamped with classes and couldn’t get away until now.”
“Alina?” I ask, pulling back to get a better look at her. Alina Fowler lived on the Alarie Estate when we were kids because her father was Charles Alarie’s right-hand man. Maddy told me that before Mr. Fowler retired, he helped Vin transition into the family leader after their father died. But this can’t possibly be the same scrawny girl I remember from childhood with wire-rimmed glasses and acne, who would spend all her free time in the local library. This woman has long brown hair that flows past her waist, big brown eyes that look like they belong to a princess, and a golden tan on her skin that practically sparkles. This can’t be her, can it?
“I know, it’s been too long.” She pulls away, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “Unfortunately, I’m only here for the weekend. I have to go back to school on Monday.” She frowns before looking over at the rest of the men.
“Good to see you again, Alina,” Leo says.
“Couldn’t stay away from us, could you?” Vin teases with a wink.
She smiles until her eyes land on Mauro, and the second she sees him, it’s like no one else in the world exists.
She swallows hard and then smooths down her dress. “Hey, Mauro,” she says while also…signing?
Mauro’s eyes widen as he realizes what she just did.
Does Alina know ASL?
Maddy’s arm winds around Alina’s shoulders, pulling her to her side. “Well, for better or worse, let’s get this girls’ weekend started. Shall we?”
The music pumps throughout the entryway as we bypass the line and enter the newest club on the island, Red Eleven. The only reason the men even considered letting us come here without any complaints is because it’s one of the many clubs they own.
“Are you sure you’re okay coming here? Because we can leave right now,” Leo tells me as we sit at a red booth in the VIP section. His eyes travel around the space, ensuring there are no threats.
I place my hand on Leo’s thigh. “I’m okay.” It’s not a total lie. I can’t say I was as eager as Maddy and Alina were to come here. I would have been completely fine with a glass of wine by the outdoor fire pit, but Maddy was adamant about having a girls’ weekend. So here I am. At a nightclub. Surrounded by people.
Okay, maybe I’m not as fine as I wish I were, but I’m trying.
And besides, I’m here with four of the scariest men I know. There’s no way I could be any safer than I am right now.
My eyes wander around the room, stopping on girls dancing in cages like trapped birds. They’re wearing very little as they move their bodies. Men beneath them stare up in pure lust. But it’s the restraints wrapped around their ankles that make me pause. Are they trapped and held there against their will? My breathing picks up, my pulse booming.
“They’re professional dancers who come on their own free will to work here. We pay them better than anywhere else in the area would.” Leo’s words soothe the anxiety building inside me.
“But…” I look back at the girl closest to me. “What about the chains around her ankles?” My voice comes out so quietly as I get lost in a memory.
The metal digs into my wrists as I pace. The long chain drags behind me as I walk back and forth, trying to think of a way to escape this nightmare. Suddenly, I hear the familiar creak of the metal door at the top of the stairs swing open. All hope vanishes within me.
No. No. No.
I quickly run to the corner, the chain pulling me back, causing me to stumble to the cement ground. My knee scrapes against the rough floor, and my teeth bite down on my lower lip to hold in the scream. As I look up, I find him standing before me, staring down at me with his poisonous green eyes. His masked face tilts from side to side as he silently observes me. He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his knife—the one he enjoys using on me.
“Please, don’t,” I beg in a whisper, tears falling down my cheeks. But he doesn’t listen to my pleas. He never does. He lowers the knife to my skin, and I let out a blood-curdling scream that echoes across the room.
“They’re just an illusion.” Leo’s voice cuts through my vision. Reaching for a glass of water before me, I gulp down a few sips. “The cuffs aren’t locked, and they’re not real metal. They’re plastic and only worn for show.”
“Oh,” I get out, barely remembering what I had asked. The restraints. Right. “That… That’s good, then.”
His gaze on me hardens. I can feel him dissecting every tremble I try to mask. “Maybe this is too much for you, Firefly.”
I shake my head adamantly, feeling anger engulf me. “No. I said I’m fine, so I’m fine. Just drop it,” I grit out. My eyes suddenly widen, surprised by my temper. Shit. I should not have just done that. I lower my eyes, inching away.
“You spoke back to me.” He wraps his hand around my jaw, forcing my eyes on him.
“I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“About damn time.”
My lips part. “What?”
“You’re my wife. Putting me in my place is kind of your job.” He smirks. “And not going to lie.” He reaches for my hand, placing it on the hard bulge between his legs. “It was a turn-on.”
“Me, talking back to you was a turn-on?” I ask, confused, my fingers massaging over his length beneath the table.
He shakes his head, laughing. “No, you, standing up for yourself is what made me hard.”
I bite down on my bottom lip. “Good to know,” I admit, unable to remove my hand.
His lips ghost over my ear. “Do you like knowing your effect on me, wife?”
I nod, feeling his length pulse in my grip. God, why is this so hot?
“As much as I love your fascination with my cock, how about we save this for inside the bedroom tonight when we’re not at a table with my siblings?” He shows a playful grin, and I suddenly feel my cheeks flush, remembering where we are.
“Oops,” I whisper in embarrassment, removing my hand. Thankfully, when I look around, everyone else is too wrapped up in their own conversations to notice us.
“Tonight.” He presses a kiss to my lips.
“Tonight,” I repeat, anticipation growing between my legs.
He throws an arm behind me and then motions for the cocktail waitress, who strolls over excitedly at the prospect of taking our order. Drinks are ordered and served fairly quickly. As the liquid slides down my throat, I feel any previous doubts float away. I let my guard down, genuinely enjoying myself.
“Did you guys receive the invitation to the governor’s dinner?” Vin scoffs, looking between his brothers. “Like I would ever go to that stuffy, boring night of elitists comparing their most recent stock transactions.”
Mauro raises his glass in agreement.
“Yeah, not a chance in hell,” Leo concurs. “He can find his investments from someone else.”
“I heard he has.” Vin eyes Leo over his drink.
“You don’t mean…” Leo’s brow arches.
Vin simply nods.
“Why the fuck would he get involved with him?”
I’m clearly missing something.
Vin shrugs. “Heard they share a similar interest.”
Leo’s hand on the table clenches into a fist, and without a second thought, I reach for it. He turns it palm up, tangling our fingers together. His body relaxes under my touch, and I marvel at the power he’s given me.
“Let’s dance!” Maddy nudges Eli’s shoulder, who begrudgingly gets up so that she can squeeze past him. I don’t miss the way her hand carefully brushes over his that’s resting on the table or her eyes that quickly peek up, locking with his for only the briefest moment before they both look in opposite directions.
What was that?
Maddy stands. Her short black dress molds to her hips, the ones she is resting her hands on. “Come on, ladies!”
Alina downs the rest of her drink and then, taking a very rigid Mauro by surprise, slides herself over his lap. “Excuse me,” she murmurs as his hands land on her waist, helping her across. She jumps out of the booth, settles on her heels, and stands beside Maddy, who is waiting for me.
“Do you want to dance?” Leo’s warm breath cascades over my ear, his nose nuzzling my neck.
My eyes dart around the place, waiting for a man in a mask to jump out and yell, “Surprise,” ruining the night, but I won’t let him. Not even in my vivid imagination.
I nod, so Leo slides out of the booth, allowing me to exit. Maddy grabs my hand. “Girls only!” She drags me and Alina behind her to the center of the dance floor.
It’s easy for the two of them to move their hips with the music, matching the beat as if they wrote this song. But for me, it’s a struggle.
Maddy squeezes my hand. “You can do this, Scar. Pretend we’re in my room like when we were kids, and we used to blast Britney Spears and dance until the early hours.”
I close my eyes and wait for the moment when everything clicks. When it does, my hips begin to sway softly, feeling the rhythm pulsing beneath my skin.
“That’s it!” Alina urges.
I open my eyes and see the two of them smiling encouragingly as the three of us join hands and start dancing in our private circle.
I can feel Leo’s eyes burn on my back, and I know that no man in this place will be able to get within a few feet of me, which brings me peace.
After a few songs, sweat begins to drip down my back. I run my fingers through my hair and can tell by the rough texture that it’s not going to be a pretty sight. “I’ll be right back,” I yell over the music. “I’m just going to the bathroom.” I point to the black door with the restroom sign above it at the back of the room.
“Want me to come with you?” Maddy asks.
“No. I’m fine. Actually, no, I’m great. I just need to throw my hair up. I’ll be back in two minutes!”
“We’ll be here!”
Making my way to the bathroom, I have to squeeze past a few people, but eventually, I get to the door and am relieved to find no line. I walk into the single-use room and lock the door behind me. I groan at the sight of my frizzy hair and mascara smudged under my eyes but immediately begin fixing it with what I have. Reaching inside my bag, I pull out a hair tie, and my phone falls to the floor.
“Shit.”
When I pick it up, I tap the screen to ensure it still works, and that’s when I see I have a new message from an unknown number. Hmm.
I swipe the screen and go into my messages.
My stomach drops as I let my phone slip between my shaky fingers, plummeting to the ground.
All the air leaves my lungs as I collapse to the floor, clawing at my chest for a breath.
It’s him.