Chapter 29
twenty-nine
Kate
The bass from the club’s speakers vibrates through the floor and up my spine as I dance with Dani and Ty in VIP, a drink in one hand, the other raised above my head. We’re all laughing and glowing from the lights and the shots we can’t seem to stop doing.
I’m grateful for the chaos of the club and the way it allowed Josh and me to dance together without drawing unwanted attention.
Eric and Ty were dancing nearby, playing it safer and keeping a little more distance between them, while Josh and I were closer than we probably should have been, but no one was watching.
No one cared. No one saw the way his hand gripped possessively at my hip or the way his arm wrapped around my waist to hold my body against his.
No one heard the things he whispered into my ear.
They were all too busy enjoying themselves in the city that promises to keep all your secrets.
I hadn’t felt Josh’s hands on me in public since St. Lucia three weeks ago, and I forgot how much I missed it. Being his behind closed doors offers its own thrill, but it’s nothing compared to being his in public.
When I turn, I catch sight of Josh sitting next to Eric on one of the couches facing us, his eyes already on me like they have been all night, and that familiar flutter stirs in my belly.
He doesn’t smile or give anything away, just watches me with eyes full of the promises of what’s to come when we’re alone again.
“Bathroom break?” Ty yells over the music, grabbing my hand.
I nod and grab Dani as we weave our way through the crowd, laughing as some guy nearly trips trying to check Tyler out.
She just winks at him and keeps walking, completely unbothered.
As beautiful as she is, I’m sure she’s used to men literally falling over themselves when they see her.
The bathroom is a whirlwind of glitter and chaos—heels clicking against tile, laughter echoing off the walls, the scent of fresh perfume clinging to the air.
Strangers complimenting each other like old friends and voices rising over the music muffled by the door.
It’s loud and messy and I can’t help but smile, because there’s nothing quite as sacred as a women’s bathroom in a club at midnight.
We’re heading back to VIP when I hear a voice over the music that makes my blood run cold.
“Hello, Kate.”
Dani’s hand tightens in mine, and my stomach drops before I even turn around to look at him.
Anthony looks the same—crisp dress shirt, tailored navy suit, tie loose around his neck, black hair spilling over his brow, and dark eyes that cut right through me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Conference,” he says, eyes roaming slowly over my body before he turns his attention to Dani, then to Tyler. I fight the urge to shift under his gaze as Dani moves, angling her body between us.
“Everything okay?” Ty asks quietly.
I force a smile.
“Yeah. Yeah, it’s fine. You guys go ahead. I’ll catch up in a sec.”
They share a look before Dani nods, and they turn to head back to VIP.
Anthony steps closer and leans in, his voice dropping low.
“Playing pretend now, are we?” His eyes flick up to VIP and back to me, and I feel the color drain from my face.
Has he been…watching me? I turn to leave but he grabs my wrist, and I’m so stunned by the act that I freeze in place.
Feeling his hand on my body brings back too many memories and makes my skin crawl.
“Josh Calloway? Really?” He smirks before sipping whatever drink he’s holding in his other hand. “You’re so desperate for attention that you turn into a rockstar’s whore? I don’t know why I assumed you were better than that.”
I yank my arm free, pulse roaring in my ears.
“You don’t know who I am,” I seethe.
His smile curls into something colder. “I know exactly who you are, Kate. Did you forget? I made you.”
I grit my teeth, forcing the lump in my throat down.
“You should leave.”
“Why? Afraid I’m right? That you’re just the next woman on his list of things to do? Afraid I’ll ruin your little fantasy?”
“I’m not yours to ruin anymore.”
He laughs. “Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t still so easy to break.”
“Alright asshole,” Josh’s voice cuts through the tension like a blade as he steps between Anthony and me. “Walk away.”
Anthony relents and steps back, taking one last look at where Josh’s body is pressed protectively against mine, and tossing out a single word that sends a chill down my spine.
“Interesting.”
And then, as quickly as he appeared, he’s gone. Weaving his way through the crowd and to the exit.
Josh turns to me, his eyes flicking between mine. “Are you okay?”
I nod, but it’s shaky, and my breath comes out in a shudder. He doesn’t say anything, just gently takes my hand and leads me back through the crowd. I don’t realize I’m trembling until I sit on the couch.
Josh kneels in front of me, his hand resting on my knee.
To anyone watching, it’s a comforting, friendly gesture, but I feel the possessiveness of it.
Can practically see him vibrating with rage.
With the need to do something very, very stupid.
I shake my head once as subtly as I can and his jaw tightens, but he nods in response.
Dani sits down beside me as Ty and Eric come to stand behind Josh.
“Who was that guy?” Eric asks.
“Her shit stain of an ex-boyfriend,” Dani says, tucking my hair behind my ear and rubbing her hand in small circles on my back. “What happened? What the fuck did he say to you?”
“Nothing that wasn’t true,” I say, my voice hollow.
“No, we’re not doing this again,” Dani says. “That man is an abusive, manipulative piece of shit. Everything that comes out of his mouth is poison. You don’t have to drink it just because he handed it to you.”
But I already drank it. I always drink it.
And apparently no matter how long it’s been, or how much I heal or grow or pretend I’ve moved on, his words still go down like water.
Like something essential. And that’s the part that scares me the most—that some sick, twisted part of me still believes him.
I hate how easy it is to fall back into this place. How fast I can be unravelled with just one look, one comment, one knowing smirk from the man who spent years teaching me how to doubt myself.
Dani’s still rubbing circles into my back like I might crack open if she stops. I want to believe her, but if you live in a place this dark long enough, you start to forget what the light looks like. Start believing there’s no way out.
Josh’s fingers gently curl under my chin and guide my gaze to his, and when our eyes meet and I can see the worry in his expression, I can’t fight the tears that come.
“Come on,” he says. “Let’s get out of here.”