Chapter 12
Leah
It's been a few days since the hospital scare. May glows, Decker's arms around her from behind, his hand patting her belly. They're out of honeymoon hibernation, all of us back at the mansion, and the way she keeps looking between me and Allister, she's finally worked it out.
Her voice rises as she turns to Decker. "Did you know about this?"
"Hey, if someone else can find their happiness, more power to them."
Heat climbs my cheeks, but there's no denying it now. Decker pieced it together at the hospital days ago, and May isn't upset. She looks happy, just annoyed she's the last to know.
Decker grins and nods at Allister. "I'll get her settled, then we can head out."
"Sounds good, boss."
The two of them have a long night ahead, the fires at the clubs on top of everything else, and Decker handing Allister the reins, so he can finally retire with May.
Decker and May head inside, and Allister turns to me. "Sorry, Leah, but there's no use denying it any longer."
"It's fine." I shrug. "I thought May would take the change harder, all of it happening so fast, but when you're happy, not much can touch you." I fight the grin spreading across my face, but it's a battle I lose. "I think I know how she feels."
"Come here." He pulls me into a hug. "I wish I could stay longer, but there's a lot I need to sort out."
"Really, it's fine. I understand." My phone buzzes with a text from my sister, and I smile. "Besides, May and I have some girl talk to do."
May will be up any minute, and we'll talk for hours. She's taking longer than I expected. Allister left forty minutes ago. And that means Decker did, too.
I've texted to ask where she is, but there's no reply.
"Leah?" Wilson pokes his head around the door.
"Yes?"
"May just called from a payphone in town. Forgot her phone, left it back at Decker's. Said she'll be back in a couple hours."
"Oh." It doesn't make sense. Where did she go? And why? "Okay, thank you. That's not like her."
"She said not to worry. Everything is fine. Hey, listen." Wilson steps into the room, his face gone dark. "I don't want to tell you this, but I have to."
"What is it?"
"It's Allister."
"Allister? What about him?"
"Look." He licks his lips. "I used to drive Victor to that club. Spent enough time there to know some of the staff. I'm still friends with one of the dancers, nothing like that, just a friendship. Anyway, the thing is, Allister has a problem, Leah. You should see for yourself."
Wilson hands me his phone. Photos fill the screen. I flick through a couple, and my stomach turns. Drugs. No, it can't be true. Anything but that. Tears sting my eyes.
"I'm sorry, Leah. He's also got a conviction for it. I didn't want to tell you, but he's getting his hooks in you, and I know it's all about the money. It always is with these people."
"No, this isn't right. It can't be. I don't understand."
"Keep flipping. There's a copy of his criminal record, too."
The photos cut into me.
"How did you get these?" It comes out accusatory, and I don't mean it to, but I'm clutching at straws. I want it to be a lie.
"Desiree. One of the dancers. He has her bring them over and store them. Then he sells them. The ones he doesn't take himself, at least."
The shots of his office are clear. Behind a shelf of books, an open cabinet, bottles and bottles of pills. The close-ups catch the labels, a different woman's name on each, all of them narcotics. I don't know much about drugs, but I know enough.
There is a ripping inside my chest. Not a tightness, not anything I can name.
A tearing open, like something inside me splits down the middle.
I've known so many kinds of pain in my young life, but this one is new.
Take every one that came before, set them on fire, add a poisoned arrow, and shoot the whole thing into my chest. You still wouldn't come close to how I feel right now.
I'm burning hot, and I'm freezing.
"I'm sorry." He stuffs his hands in his pockets. "I only want to protect you. Everyone wants something from you, and now it's even worse. At least in his own way, Simon protected you. A layer of defense between you and the vultures."
He says Simon protected me, and something in me recoils, because Simon kept me on a leash with pills forced down my throat. "This can't be true. It can't. I know Allister. I know he wouldn't do this."
"I know you feel that way, but how long have you known him?
And even May with Decker? I know he signed that pre-nup, but think about it, Leah.
" His voice thickens with sadness. "They work together.
They came after both of you together. Decker got May, made her feel safe, signed the pre-nup to prove he's a good guy.
And now, what a coincidence, here comes his best friend, just as good, and he's after you? "
I hate the accusation in his voice. But I think the only reason I hate it is because he’s right.
"I'm so stupid." I shake my head. In the mirror across the room, a na?ve idiot stares back, a girl who let herself be made a pawn again. No, not 'let.' I didn't just let it happen. I invited it with open arms.
And open legs.
I tug at the hem of my dress, trying to stretch it down over my legs, not wanting to see my own flesh. My stomach twists. I'm a beat away from looking for a bucket. My vision swims.
"I don't mean to be cruel, but do you think he'd be with you if it weren't for the money?
Do you think you two are an equal match?
You know what I'm saying. I'm sorry, but I want you to see it before it's too late.
It'll hurt now, but imagine how much worse later, once they have what they want.
I've been to that club more times than I can count, and I've seen Allister.
He walks around like he's king of the castle, all those women hanging off him. "
"No, you're wrong. He said he was never involved with any. Never involved."
"Do you really believe that in your heart, Leah?"
I shake my head, my fingertips tingling and twitching. My toes have gone to ice.
My eyes go to the clipped-together pages of the story I wrote for him. We were going to read it together tonight when he got back. He said he had a surprise for me, too. But now all I want is to pretend none of this ever happened. "He's coming back here in a few hours. What do I do?"
"I'll help you, Leah. Just like I always have. I've never wanted anything from you. I only want you safe and happy."
"Stop! Just give me a second."
His voice climbs. "I couldn't help you when Simon was here, but now I can, and I want to. If you do what I say, we can stop this before it goes too far."
"No, I can't, I have to think!" My eyes burn.
My head spins. The things I feel for Allister can't all be wrong.
The unicorn pendant still warm against my skin, the way he says precious like the word costs him something.
That can't be a con. But Wilson is right.
He's never asked for anything from us. He's always been there when I needed him.
"I need some time. Please, this is so much to take in. "
"Come with me. We can go to the lake house for the night."
"But what about May? She won't go, she won't understand."
"Let's get you somewhere safe first. You should break it off with him right away. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."
"I can't right now. Just…"
Right on cue, my phone goes off.
Hey, precious. Just checking in. You know I'm always thinking about you. I'll be at the club a few more hours. You feeling okay about being back at the house? It's up to you where we stay. You're where I want to be. The place doesn't matter.
"Is that him?"
I don't answer. Wilson snatches the phone from me and reads it.
"He's trying to control you. Telling you everything you want to hear. Don't you think he should have told you about his criminal past? And the women he's been with at the club? It's a sex playground over there."
My ears are ringing. That word is nails on a blackboard right now. I don't want to hear anyone say it, not Allister, not Wilson. Nobody. There's no way to know if Allister told me the truth about being a virgin. How would I? All I have is his word for it. How could I have been such an idiot?
"Let's go. The lake house, and then we'll figure out what to do. For you and May."
Panic rises from somewhere deep and swells until the pressure pushes against my eardrums. What if Wilson is right? May is married to Decker now, a baby on the way. This is crazy. But… what if he's right? And if he is, May needs me more than ever.
"No. I don't want to leave. I won't leave May. I can't. She's my world." My voice shakes. "And I don't believe you about Allister. I just don't."
Wilson shakes his head. His eyes are wet, but there's something else in them. Something I don't want to see. "Leah, you have to come with me. I wanted you to go willingly. I really tried."