Chapter Eighteen
EIGHTEEN
NEVAEH
“Morning, beautiful,” Ethan says as I sit up and take in my surroundings. The last thing I remember is getting a headache and then falling asleep in his car.
“Hey,” I croak out, my voice gravelly from sleep. “What time is it?”
“Nine o’clock.” He closes his laptop and places it on the windowsill before standing and walking over to me.
“In the morning?” I glance out the window and it’s pitch-black.
“No, at night. You slept the afternoon away. How are you feeling?”
“Okay,” I tell him truthfully. The headache is gone, and I’m glad the funeral is over and we were able to get a bit of closure—even if the lie about how he died is all anybody will ever know.
“I hate to do this to you, but I need to go to the club tonight. I’ve recently had some issues with drugs and have done a complete overhaul with employment.
I need to make my presence known so they know who is in charge.
” He runs the backs of his knuckles down my cheek, and I close my eyes, relishing in his touch.
“Can I go with you?” I ask, not wanting to be alone. “I could hang out in your office or whatever. And Rosco could stay with me so I’m safe.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Why?” I sit up and pout. “Why do you get to leave and I have to stay?” I’ve never been one to be so defiant, but the more I’m away from my mom and the church, the more I’m finding I kept my mouth shut too often, not saying everything I wanted to say.
“For one, it’s my business, and two…” He sighs. “My club isn’t the safest place for you.”
“It’s Tuesday,” I point out. “The fights are only on the weekends.” I cross my arms over my chest, and Ethan’s lips curl into a sexy smirk.
“Fine, but you’re staying in the office.”
“Yes!” I jump out of bed and raise my hand above my head in a fist pump. Ethan shocks me when he leans over and smacks my butt. “Hey!”
“Get dressed,” he commands, his tone filled with playfulness, as he walks out of the room. “I’m leaving in twenty minutes with or without you.”
After brushing my teeth and attempting to tame my curls, I apply some mascara to my lashes, a bit of eyeliner under my eyes, and dab on some lip gloss to make my lips appear shiny.
Then I throw on a pair of black skinny jeans, a red V-neck sweater, and finish my outfit off with a pair of black high-heeled boots.
Even though I’m only going to be sitting in the office, I’ve seen all the hot women at that club, and I’m not stepping in there without looking at least somewhat presentable.
Ethan is waiting for me by the door, dressed in his usual sexy I own the world suit. Tonight, it’s charcoal gray, with a black shirt, black shoes, and a checkered black and gray tie.
“Why the frown?” he asks, taking my hand in his and walking us out the door. Rosco is already waiting outside by his own vehicle to follow us to the club.
“You always look so”—I wave my hand toward him—“put together. While I look so”—I wave my hand toward myself—“not.”
“You look sexy as fuck,” he says, sliding his hands around my backside.
He squeezes my butt cheeks and kisses me.
His tongue slips into my mouth and I moan in appreciation.
I love kissing Ethan. He always tastes so good.
My fingers push through his styled hair, undoubtedly messing it up, so I can pull him closer.
My front rubs against his own, and his hard-on pushes through his pants.
All too soon, Ethan ends the kiss and chuckles under his breath. “Let’s go before my resolve snaps.”
“I’m okay with that.” I bat my lashes flirtatiously, and he shakes his head.
“I take it back…you’re not an angel. You’re the damn devil.”
While Ethan drives, Blaire and I text back and forth. She’s worried about me and wants to know when she’ll see me again. Which gives me an idea…
“Can I invite Blaire and her boyfriend to the club?”
Ethan glances over at me and scowls. “You said you would stay in the office.”
“Please.”
He sighs, and I know I have him. I’m quickly learning Ethan is all bark and no bite—at least with me.
“I have actual business to do, so Rosco will be with you. You are not to leave his side, not even to go to the bathroom. Kenny knows not to let Logan in, but we haven’t gotten a face for Felix yet.”
I swallow thickly. Sometimes I forget why I’m here with Ethan—because Logan sold me to a man who buys women to turn into sex slaves.
“I’ll stay with him, I promise.”
I send a text to Blaire, telling her we’ll be at The Warehouse if she and Victor want to come by for a drink. She immediately responds that she can’t wait to see me and they’re on their way.
When we arrive at his club, we pull up to the front, and the valet takes the car. Before we step inside, I look around and notice The Warehouse isn’t the only place around. There are several other businesses on both sides of the club.
“Is that a strip club?” I ask, pointing to the bright neon sign that reads Assets. There’s a line to get in, but most are men.
“Yeah, a friend of mine owns it. It just opened recently. Why? You want to go?” Ethan waggles his brows.
“I almost added strip club to my list,” I admit.
“Why didn’t you?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. “I guess I never imagined a time when I would actually be able to go.”
“So, you only added items to your list you knew you would be able to do?”
“Yeah, I didn’t want to set myself up for failure.”
“Let me see your list.” Ethan extends his hand.
Usually I keep it tucked away in a drawer, but lately I’ve been checking off so many items, I’ve been bringing it with me.
And since Ethan gave me my original one back, I threw away the new one I made, adding the couple new items to the bottom of the list.
I pull it out of my back pocket and hand it to him. He reaches into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulls out a pen and then scribbles Go to a strip club on the bottom.
“There.” He hands me back the list. “Now it’s on there.”
“Nevaeh!” I turn around to find Blaire and Victor walking over to us. She’s dressed in a sexy tight black dress with tall black heels. Her hair is pin straight down her back. She looks gorgeous, especially for being invited last minute.
“I’m so glad you invited us,” Blaire says, pulling me into a hug. “I’ve seriously missed you so much. I know I saw you at the funeral today, but that’s obviously not the same thing.”
“I’ve missed you too,” I tell her, hugging her back.
When we pull apart, Blaire’s biting on her lower lip, her telltale that there’s something she needs to tell me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Well…” She glances back at Victor, who has introduced himself to Ethan. He wasn’t at the funeral today because he had to work and couldn’t get off last minute.
“Tell me,” I push.
“Victor asked me to marry him.” She holds out her hand, and on her ring finger is a beautiful diamond ring.
“Oh my God! Blaire!” I give her another hug. “Congratulations! Why didn’t you tell me earlier today?”
“We were at your brother’s funeral. It was hardly the right time.”
“True,” I agree. “Still. I’m so happy for you.”
“He also asked me to move in with him,” Blaire admits, and now her nervousness makes sense.
“Oh, well, of course he did. You can’t be married and live apart.” I laugh, but Blaire doesn’t.
“You can stay living in the condo however long you want,” she says.
“No, you should sell it. I can find somewhere else to live.” Once I’m no longer on a sex trafficker’s list to kidnap and sell and I find a new job… Which will mean I’ll no longer be living with Ethan. Will we still date?
My eyes meet his, and he smiles warmly my way. When I don’t smile back, his lips turn down into a concerned frown.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, stepping over to me.
“Nothing. Blaire was just telling me she’s engaged and is moving in with Victor.” I make sure my voice is upbeat.
“Congratulations,” Ethan says to her. “Looks like a celebration is in order.”
“We should go to Assets,” I blurt out.
“The strip club?” Blaire asks, confused.
“I added it to my list.” Technically Ethan did, but semantics…
“I’m down,” Blaire says, looking at Victor.
“I’m a man… I’m always down,” Victor says with a laugh, causing Blaire to glare at him playfully.
“Ethan?” I ask.
He groans, but when a half-smile appears, I know he’s going to say yes. “Come into the club and have a drink. Let me handle some business and give the owner a call to let him know we’re going, and then we’ll go over there in a little while.”
“Yay!” I squeal, throwing my arms around him. “Thank you!”
After getting us drinks and demanding I stay put at the table he’s reserved for us, Ethan gives me a kiss and then leaves.
As I’m taking a sip of my fruity drink, I notice Blaire is looking at me weird. “What?”
“Nothing,” she says, shaking her head. “You’ve just… you’ve changed… for the better. You’re different with him.”
My face and cheeks heat up as I think about how different things are with him, and I’m thankful the club is dark and Blaire can’t see… until she gasps and says, “Oh my God! You’ve had sex with him!”
“What?” I sputter. “No!”
“Then you’ve come close. I can see it in your eyes. Don’t you lie to me.” She lifts my hand. “Where’s your ring? The one that symbolizes your promise not to have sex before marriage.” I took it off the night I made the decision to separate myself from my mother and the church.
“Blaire!” I yank my hand back, not wanting to have this conversation in front of Victor and Rosco.
“I’m not going to drop this until you tell me.”
“Fine.” I lean in so only she can hear me over the loud music. “We’ve done… stuff.”
“I knew it! We need to have a girls’ day soon so you can tell me everything.”
That actually sounds really good. Sure, Rosco would have to go, but I could probably get Ethan to have him stand a few feet away so Blaire and I could talk in private… or she could come to the beach house where it’s safe. We could do a pool day.
“Let’s plan it,” I agree.
“Plan what?” Ethan asks, planting a kiss on my cheek.