1. Tori
TORI
Tearing my eyes away from Stefan’s cold glare, my hand scrabbled for the door knob behind me.
I burned with rage at the sight of my husband standing there beside my father, both of them completely impassive despite my horror over the explosive, dark secret behind KZ Modeling’s business—a secret I’d just revealed that I had figured out on my own.
“Tori,” my father began.
“Just—don’t.” I shook my head, fury making my voice tremble. It was almost like I was watching the scene from outside my body. My logical mind had retreated, gone somewhere else. I had never felt more betrayed in my life.
My gaze shifted between my father and Stefan, the reality of the situation still sinking in. How could they have known about this, been a part of this? And god, all those women. Scores of women. Degraded and discarded by powerful, careless men who used them for their own gain.
I was disgusted with the men standing before me, but I was also disgusted with myself. For trusting them. For trusting Stefan. For falling in love with him. I felt sick.
“You’re not my father anymore,” I choked out.
My father shook his head at me gently, his expression disapproving. As if I was merely a child throwing a temper tantrum, instead of a grown woman whose father had married her off to a family that used its employees as sexual playthings to be bought and sold.
“I’m going to the authorities,” I said, finally regaining some control, my voice like ice.
They exchanged a glance.
“I’m afraid that won’t go well for you,” my father said. “And you have zero evidence.”
That stopped me cold. He was right. It would be my word against his, against Stefan’s, against the entire Zoric empire.
I knew what I had seen with my own eyes, what I had heard from Konstantin’s mouth, but would any of the models agree to back up my story and tell the truth?
Would they testify if there could be retribution, if they could lose their jobs or be harmed for talking?
Could they find strength in their own numbers?
“I have witnesses,” I bluffed. “They’ll stand with me.”
“It won’t work, Tori,” my father said, his voice like steel.
“You’re not outside the law,” I spat. I glared at my husband. “And neither are you, or your father, or the whole fucking KZM agency. I’m going to burn all of you to the ground.”
I took out my phone, my hands still shaking, but neither of them looked concerned.
“I could call 9-1-1 right now,” I said. “Tell them everything.”
“You’re welcome to try,” my husband taunted me. “See how far that gets you.”
“It would be best to avoid any embarrassing scenes,” my father tsked. “I’d hate to see this on the news later…Senator Lindsey’s daughter making a frantic emergency phone call, raving about delusional scandals and international crime rings. Her mental health called into question.”
He was disgusting. They all were. I lifted my phone, but I couldn’t get my fingers to move. What if he was right? What would I say? What would the authorities do? Anything at all?
“Keep her in her place,” he told Stefan, a warning note in his voice.
My “place”? It was the last straw.
I turned around, flung the door open, and slammed the door behind me before storming toward the bank of elevators.
I wasn’t sure if I could stand to see either one of them ever again.
But when it came to my husband, I didn’t have a choice—because before the elevator could close, Stefan thrust his hand between the doors and stepped inside with me.
I didn’t want to look at him, let alone be in a confined space with him. And still, I hated the way my pulse leapt when he looked at me. The way my body responded as he moved closer.
“Don’t touch me,” I warned as his hand came up to reach for me.
Thankfully he listened, his hand hovering between us for a moment before he let it fall at his side. “I can’t let you leave here alone,” he said. “I won’t let you process this by yourself.”
I scoffed. “Really? Pretty sure I just heard Senator Lindsey tell you to keep me in my place. So if that’s what you’re here to do, forget about it. I’m calling the cops. If I were you—”
He grabbed my shoulders and slammed me back against the wall, not hard enough to hurt but hard enough to shock me into shutting my mouth.
I couldn’t read the expression on his face as I looked up at him, but what else was new?
He was just as inscrutable as ever. But at least he wasn’t wearing the same smug look my father had been.
“The thing is…” he said, his body pressing against mine, “my father and your father both have friends on the force. High up in the force. You understand? Calling the police won’t work.”
“I’ll go to the FBI, then,” I shot back. “You won’t get away with this.”
He sighed. “Tori, listen. KZM is operating under the knowledge—and protection—of people in the highest levels of law enforcement in the country.” He paused a moment, letting his meaning sink in.
“No matter where you turn, you won’t find a sympathetic ear.
And you won’t be helping any of those girls, either.
If anything, they’ll be endangered. I can guarantee you that my father wouldn’t bat an eye at making them disappear. And I’m worried about you, too.”
“Is that a threat?” I asked. I tried to sound tough, even though I was scared.
“It’s a promise—and a warning,” he said. “You know how my father is. You’ve seen it with your own eyes. You’ll do more harm than good trying to blow a whistle. So don’t try to play the vigilante, please. You won’t be safe. I swear to god, I’m telling you the truth.”
And god damn it, but he was. I could tell that much.
The elevator dinged and Stefan stepped back.
“I want to be alone,” I said, walking past him and out into the lobby.
I needed a chance to process this information, to figure out what my next move was.
I wasn’t going to just let this stand, but I had to come up with a plan.
Flying off the handle in a hot rage like this wouldn’t help anyone.
Not those women and definitely not me. My own father was against me, and Stefan was right about Konstantin as well—he was a dangerous man.
I felt helpless and hopeless. I was just one person up against a huge and evil corporation that had a powerful politician—and the law—in its corner. What could I do? Who could I trust?
Back on the street outside, I tried to hail a cab, but Stefan grabbed my hand.
“We’re going back to the apartment,” he told me, punching a text into his phone.
I glared at him. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“You need to grow up,” he snapped. “Did you listen to anything I just said? These women’s lives are at stake.
And if you threaten KZM’s livelihood, you threaten theirs too.
So you’ll keep your mouth shut and accept the reality of the situation.
” He looked around and then lowered his voice.
“Because if you don’t, we’re all fucked.
Their careers, the families they care for, our income and apartment, my job, your education, your father’s Senate seat—”
“I can’t believe you’re on their side,” I said, fighting back tears. “How could you?”
“You have to understand, Tori—everything is on the line. For all of us.”
Stefan’s private car pulled up to the curb, and the driver got out and held the door open for us. With a scowl, I slid into the backseat. Stefan climbed in beside me.
As we pulled into traffic, he leaned close, his voice hot in my ear.
“This is how it has to be,” he told me. “You’ve known from the beginning what your life would be, what this agreement would be—so stay in your box.
Your role is to go to college, play nice at social events, and at the end of the day you come home and suck my dick every night.
You can’t dwell on the men’s business. This is the only way you’ll be safe. Understand?”
I stared at him, unable to speak. How could this man be two completely conflicting people at the same time? Kind and caring one moment and cruel beyond belief the next?
“Just keep your head down and be the obedient wife you were raised to be,” he went on. “You know your place.”
I didn’t say anything, just stared down at his hand wrapped tightly around my arm.
“Tell me you understand, and that you’re not still thinking about endangering yourself or anyone else,” he demanded, his green eyes blazing.
I managed a nod, even though my heart was breaking into a million pieces. Finally Stefan released me. I turned away to stare out the window at the Chicago streets flashing past us. I could feel my pulse finally start to relax, and I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly.
As much as I loathed to admit it, he was right.
His life, my life, and the livelihoods of these women depended on KZ Modeling and its success.
So until I came up with a brilliant plan that would keep us all safe and see justice served without interference, I would have to bite my tongue and play the part they all wanted me to play. I’d be the obedient wife Stefan wanted.
The thought of doing so nearly killed me, but I knew that I had no other choice—not yet, anyway. Not with Konstantin keeping an eye on me, not with the law in his pocket, not with my own father willing to stop at nothing to keep me silent.
But I wouldn’t stay silent forever.