39
Lia
“Let’s get you into that dress.”
It’s the day of the gala and I’m a nervous wreck, but the last thing I want to do is admit it to Logan.
Before I can protest or try to do it myself, Logan pulls the red dress down over me.
It’s very form-fitting, and I grimace when I catch sight of myself in the mirror over the sink.
I probably should’ve worn a bra. My breasts have never looked fuller, but they don’t have much perkiness left to them. After two kids, they definitely sag.
“You look beautiful,” Logan murmurs in my ear, leading me into the living room and parking me in front of a full-length mirror.
“Oh, Logan, I can’t wear that…”
I blush, turning away from the woman in the mirror whose appearance makes my face flame.
As I’d feared when Logan first showed me the dress, the fabric hugs every one of my curves.
And my rolls of fat. It’s tight around my waist, keeps me from being able to hide the softness of my stomach, and I can just tell it’s made my thick ass look positively obscene.
A fact Logan confirms the very next minute when he flips me around so I can turn my head and see it.
And then, for good measure, he grabs onto my butt cheeks and… jiggles them.
“You need to stop doing that,” I groan. “It’s so embarrassing. It makes me feel fat.”
He takes me by surprise by apologizing. “Okay. Sorry. I don’t want to make you feel fat. You’re the sexiest girl I’ve ever laid eyes on, and I’m glad Everest forced me to bring you to this stupid gala so I could see you in that dress.”
“I didn’t realize he’d forced you,” I taunt him. “I didn’t think anyone could force you.”
“Forced in a manner of speaking. I knew I’d never hear the end of it, about how you were miserable and I was an asshole for keeping you locked up, and yada yada…”
“Well, he’s right,” I mutter.
“Hmm. I have a good mind to keep you here, after all, in that sexy red dress, and…”
“And make me come?” I ask hopefully, because he’s definitely not overly generous with his orgasms. He seems to prefer edging me.
He smacks my ass. “Well, one of us would come, that’s for sure, but it wouldn’t be you. I’d keep you on your knees all night long, using that sexy mouth of yours, and never once letting you…”
Making a face, I cut him off. “Thanks, but I’d rather go to the gala.”
He huffs out a sigh. “Fine. Come on.”
_
On second thought, I probably would have preferred staying in Logan’s apartment and getting edged all night long.
I feel pretty overwhelmed as we enter the large ballroom in Mrs. Everton’s home. It’s packed with socialites, politicians and businessmen. For a relatively small town like Astley, there sure are a lot of them.
It’s a painful reminder of how trapped I’ve been since high school. Any social skills I once had are long gone, and even in high school, I probably wouldn’t have been able to handle this glittering, stifling environment.
Logan comes across as perfectly chivalrous, his arm bent, his hand resting over mine where it loops through his. His hold is as firm as steel, though, and at first, I’m thankful for it. I lean on him, letting him do all the talking and socializing.
And damn, does he do that well. A layer of shiny veneer has smoothed out the rough edges of the hard mafia guy, and it feels like only I know the cruelty he’s still capable of.
More than ever, I struggle with the jealousy that’s been sitting with me ever since I saw what he’s built for himself in my years of absence. There’s no doubt about it, he’s the most important man in the room, and I don’t know if I feel proud or want to cry.
He’s thrived without me, while I’ve… stagnated.
He’s powerful and free… I’m trapped.
A little thrill courses through me when I realize he’s deep enough in conversation with a group of businessmen that I can slip away unnoticed.
I hurry to the other end of the room, grabbing the first drink I find at the bar—a bright red cocktail with a Maraschino cherry—I eat that first, then down the glass hurriedly.
He’s still on the other side of the room, fully engrossed in his conversation, unaware I’ve slipped away.
The little thrill deepens, and nervous exhilaration overtakes me as I suddenly realize I’m free...
even if it’s just for a few moments. I grab another drink and choke that down too, and then, my head buzzing a little, I stand awkwardly in the center of the room, wondering what the hell I’m supposed to do now.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Mrs...” a woman a bit older than me stops in front of me, smiling.
“Oh! Uhm...” I cough. “Lia. Lia... Cabello.”
“Lia Cabello,” she repeats, smiling politely. “Nice to meet you. I don’t remember...”
“And who are you?” I ask, wincing at the blunt-sounding question.
“I’m Mrs. Everton,” she says.
The wince turns into a full cringe when I recognize her name—she’s the person giving the gala. “Ah. Sorry about that. I’m, uhm, new here.”
“So I see. Who did you come with, Mrs. Cabello? I can’t seem to remember seeing your name on my list, but then, we invite so many important people that sometimes, it’s hard to remember the names of the lesser, I mean...”
She chuckles condescendingly as she glances around the glittering room, and I’m overcome with the sudden urge to punch her.
“I’m with him,” I say, waving my hand vaguely at the group Logan’s standing with.
“Ah, Lia Colt!” Her brow clears. “Of course. I’m so glad you could join us. You know, Logan and I go way back...”
“Really?” I ask, wishing I had something else to drink.
“Yes, I’ve known him since the very beginning. I was the first person to back him. Invested in his early endeavours. Not to brag, of course, but it’s safe to say I’m the reason he’s as successful as he is.”
“I see.” The polite smile plastered on my face is starting to hurt.
“Of course,” she continues, “you’ll remember that, won’t you?
What I’ve said, I mean. I think my son is around somewhere—I’d love to have you meet him.
His name is Jack. Maybe you could just mention to Logan, in passing, what a good student he is...
very ambitious, plays football... he’s at Devil College, you know, and... ”
I nod, trying and failing to keep up with her flow of words, and heave a sigh of relief when a boisterous voice cuts in.
“Ah, so you’re Logan Colt’s new girl?” I turn around to see a chubby little man walk up. “I’ve heard all about you. So glad he brought you out.”
“Oh, uhm... thank you.”
“Heard all those cage stories, too, haha! Hey, Logan! I’m surprised you didn’t bring her on a leash, eh?”
The man calls out to him from across the room before I’ve even had time to process what he’s said. I gasp when Logan turns around slowly, shock distorting his features when he realizes I’m not beside him. His expression grows cold as his eyes land on me.
“Lia.” He doesn’t say anything else as he reaches me, his punishing hand squeezing my arm the only hint that I’m in trouble.
“Never thought I’d see the day when you’d take her out!” chuckles the boisterous man. “Not in the cage anymore, huh?”
Logan’s hand practically crushes my arm.
“So, how are you celebrating your little evening of freedom? Can I get you a drink?”
“Yes, please,” I say, realizing that my smile is still frozen on my face. “I’ll have a... a... glass of champagne.”
“She’s got quite the taste for luxury, your little caged pet, doesn’t she?” The man snaps his fingers and the bartender fills up a glass. Then he hands it over to me, and before Logan can stop me, I grab it and gulp it down.
He scowls at me but doesn’t speak.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Logan this sullen,” chuckles the man. “You know, he’s known as the Devil clown. Oy, Greg!” he calls out, gesturing to another guy in a suit. “Join the cage group!”
“Alright,” says Mrs. Everton, flashing us all a smile that seems to say boys will be boys. “Enjoy your evening!”
She walks away, and the guy named Greg strolls over. “My man,” says the other guy, thumping him on the chest. “We were just talking about cages, and you’re like, Cage Guy #1.”
“Oh, stop,” chuckles Greg. “I just had a good idea, that’s all, and everyone’s copying me now.”
“But seriously, it’s a whole new level of fucked up,” says the other guy.
“Logan, I don’t know if you’ve heard about it.
His cage doesn’t have a door. Can you believe it, man?
That poor girl has been in it for ten years now; hasn’t she?
Greg can’t go inside or let her out for a walk.
He uses it for one purpose only. I’ll let you guess what it… ”
“Logan,” I whisper in his ear. “I need to use the bathroom.”
He nods, still not speaking, and starts leading me away.
“Logan, I’m sorry to have to say this,” the man calls after us, “but the bathrooms here aren’t mixed.
Gloria Everton sure has some backward ideas.
She set up a women’s bathroom only, and she enforces the hell out of it.
So get those dirty thoughts out of your mind, man.
” Logan looks back at him, and out of the corner of my eye, I notice the man’s expression faltering, but it doesn’t prevent him from talking again.
“Hey, Logan! I can count on your support for my campaign, right? Remember, the elections are coming up!”
Logan doesn’t answer, pushing me toward a bathroom with a women-only sign on the door.
“Thank you,” I tell him. My voice feels like it’s coming from somewhere very far away. “I just need to pee. I’ll be right out.” He doesn’t budge, his hand firmly on my elbow. “Thank you,” I repeat.
“I’m sorry, Lia,” he whispers.
“It’s fine,” I say, trying again to get out of his grip.
“I’m very sorry, Lia. I didn’t tell him. The man who built the cages must have gossiped. I’m sorry...”
“It’s okay.” I try to smile again, but I’m too tired and too cold to manage it. “I just have to pee, Logan. Please let me go.”
His fingers tighten around me, and his voice suddenly comes out hoarse. “No, I don’t want you to go, Lia.”
He draws me to him and kisses me, squeezing me so hard I can’t breathe.
“I’m only going to the bathroom. Where else would I go? It’s not like I have a choice.”
“No.” He buries his face in my hair, taking in a deep whiff. “No, you don’t.”
He lets go at last, and I realize his grip was tight enough that it’ll leave a bruise. I open the door to the bathroom, stepping in and closing it behind me.
When he spoke those words, the all-too familiar ache sprang up in me.
He’s kept it under control, between his empty promises and the sex. But it’s still there, and as I find myself alone and out of his locked apartment, it suddenly occurs to me.
I do need to go. It’s the only thing I can do.
I need him so much. But I need my freedom more.
Leaving Logan is the only choice I have.