“I don’t really give a shit what you believe,” he waved his hand at Nick in dismissal and turned to walk out.
Once outside, his frustration spilled out in a fiery sigh as he leaned against the cold brick wall. With a lit cigarette in his hand, he clenched his jaw as he struggled to contain the argument simmering in his head between him and Black. He had just admitted that he cared about Elsa. To her brother. And to himself. Out loud.
What a colossal fuck up.
***
Elsa scanned the bar one last time for Victor, however, he had disappeared, leaving her with no explanation. She had hoped to spend her birthday at home alone, not thrust into a group of people in a crowded bar. Maybe the shock of seeing so many of her friends had scared him away.
Nate’s aftershave made her suck in a shallow breath of surprise. When she turned around, he was standing just out of reach, watching her, but saying nothing. She no sooner opened her mouth, when he spoke. “Happy birthday, El.”
Emotionless and aloof. Nothing had changed. Except absolutely everything. She moved closer to him to see if she could smell another woman on him. She couldn’t. His blue eyes, the hidden dimple in his left cheek, his broad shoulders and perfectly coiffed hair… she marveled at his boyish good-looks and intelligence, and wondered how a man who didn’t love her could’ve wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Her eyes zoomed in on his lips. Soft. Tender. Had he kissed those other women with that mouth?
“Thank you for putting this together for me,” she leaned in to hug him, recalling the dream she had about him the night before.
In her dream, he had left her for a younger brunette after finding out her secrets. It wasn’t such a farfetched idea and closer to reality than a dream.
His muscles tensed under her touch and he gripped her shoulders, holding her at bay. “I didn’t. I got the invite from your brother.”
Nick had never put together any kind of party in his life.
“Have you thought anymore about our plans? Changed your mind?”
Her mouth suddenly became dry as bone while her palms became clammy from his unexpected question. “I think about it every day. But I haven’t…” their conversation was abruptly cut short when Nick’s hand gripped her wrist and tugged her away.
“Excuse us, Nate, but Elsa and I have something to discuss,” he barked in Nate’s direction.
Dragging her to a quieter part of the bar, Nick ripped into her.
“What the hell is going on?”
She blinked at the icy authority of his tone. “What are you talking about?” she snatched her wrist away from him.
“Victor Laurenzo was just here. He said you two are together again. What the fuck, Elsa? Tell me that isn’t true.”
Her strength flowed out of her body and embarrassment washed over her. Nick had been there for everything. Through everything. He knew what had happened between her and Victor. Not the gory details, but enough to know that he had fucked her over in a bad way.
Her heart pounded loudly in her ears at being found out. “What else did he tell you?”
His expression changed and an unknown emotion flashed in his eyes. “Nothing except for admitting he’s a son-of-a-bitch.” He looked past her and blinked rapidly. “So it is true?”
His words cut deep to know Victor felt that way about himself. Unable to lie to her brother, she answered him honestly. “It’s true.”
His eyes shot back to her with disgust reflected in them. “What about Nate?”
“I… I’m not…” she couldn’t find the words to explain that she wasn’t in love with him and why she had made the decisions that she did.
“You’re not what?” he drew closer to her when he saw the look of despair on her face. “Did Victor threaten you?”
His ability to read her was nerve-wracking. It was an annoying trait he had picked up from their mother. “No,” she lied. “He promised me something.”
His stare turned deadly. “What?”
“That he would let me live my life without interruption.”
“In exchange for what?” he whisper yelled.
“Playing his game.”
“Holy hell, that man is a menace to fucking society. And you agreed?”
She could only nod.
“Of course you did. You’re fucking up again, El,” he gave her an exaggerated sigh. “And you’re going to ruin things with Nate. If he finds out…”
“It doesn’t matter. When this is all over…” she turned her face away, ashamed, but determined. “I’ll be a stronger person for it. And Victor will be… It’s different this time. I’m in control. He’s playing by my rules.”
Silence.
When she looked up, Nick’s harsh stare had turned sympathetic. “You’re too kindhearted, El. Dumb as hell, but a good person.”
“Don’t tell mom. I don’t want to worry her. Promise me…”
He shook his head and pulled her into an embrace.
“I want updates on your safety. I mean it. If you don’t text or call me daily, I’m coming back here. With mom. And we’re burying that fucker. I don’t care who the hell he is.”
Pressed against his chest, she looked up at him and forced a smile. “It won’t come to that. I promise. And thanks for the party.”
He gave her a questioning glance. “I didn’t do it. Nate did.”
*
By the time she had reassured Nick that she would keep in strict contact with him, Nate had vanished. Her heart sank, but only a little. Seeing him only reminded her of the bad decisions she had made in her life and was continuing to make.
She no sooner climbed into her car when she received a text message of where to meet Victor.
When she arrived at the swanky hotel in downtown Richmond, she found her way to the designated room and knocked. The door opened, and Victor was standing in the threshold with a wicked gleam in his eyes.
Guiding her by the shoulders, he walked her into the room and gently eased her down into the chair several feet from the bed.
“To start with, you only get to watch,” his fingertips traced her jawline. “But if you’re a good girl, maybe I’ll let you join in.”
Seating himself on the corner of the bed, Victor loosened his tie, ran his fingers through his hair as he swiveled his head around to ease the tension of his neck, all the while never taking his eyes off of her. What exactly was she going to be watching? Him masturbate? She had seen it before, though not often or to completion… Perhaps a sexy strip-tease for her birthday? She smiled at the mental image. Her lips parted to ask what the big surprise was, but he brought a finger to his mouth to shush her.
A quiet knock on the door startled her.
Rising, he reached the door in three long strides. Secretive voices from behind the door could be heard, the second voice just as masculine as Victor’s but with a different, more distinct tone.
Another man.
Her body stiffened and her heart rate spiked. Would she be double-penetrated? Her belly fluttered at the thought. Closing her eyes, she tried to rein in the nervous energy and dread bubbling to the surface. Next she heard heavy footsteps and the door being closed behind them
“Open your eyes, Peach,” Victor demanded. “This is all for you.”
Swallowing loudly, she did as she was told.
The image before her was entrancing: two well put together men in a dimly lit room, their shadows dancing on the wall above the bed, both pairs of eyes keenly fixed on her. The scent of their aftershaves mingling along with the smell of her perfume drifted around the room like an erotic cloud, making her feel giddy and frightened. The stranger’s eyes roamed over her body, one of his eyebrows lifting infinitesimally just before he turned his full attention back to Victor and lowered himself to the floor. The man now on his knees was much younger than Victor, but just as tall and lean; eyes hooded, chin squared, longish, sandy blonde hair slicked back. His short fingers deftly unbuckled Mr. Black’s belt, then unhurriedly dragged the zipper of his slacks down, letting the black pants pool at his feet. A wet tongue darted out and glided up the long, thick shaft that she knew well, then back down the length and nibbled at his ball sack.