For the first time in my life though, I was thinking about something more, someone who needed me to be the bigger person. It was a strange feeling to know I wanted Anna to be safe more than I wanted the money. I could always disappear, but she would never trust me again. At least she would be safe.
I made a decision I knew was going to change my life forever, but it didn’t seem to matter anymore. It was Anna who had replaced my constant self-preservation. She would set my soul free.
As I left the bathroom, it felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, even though Mr. Grey was still waiting for me outside. I glared at him and walked back into the stadium just as Anna looked up at me and smiled. It would be one of the last times she ever looked at me with joy in her eyes and I knew it. But no matter how much she hated me in the coming days, at least she would be safe.
Chapter Twelve
Anna
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us for lunch?” I gushed.
Nate shook his head. “Thanks, doll, but I have a few errands I need to get done. You know I’d spend every spare second I could with you otherwise. I think you’ll be safe with Lola though, she looks pretty harmless.”
“All right. See you in a little bit?”
“Sounds great, have fun.”
I watched him go as Lola pulled up in a cherry red corvette. It was an older model, but it still took my breath away. I slipped into the passenger seat with a little bit of envy. I needed to get my own car.
She grinned at me and gunned it away from the venue. The only place around was a run-down diner, but neither of us cared. It was just good to get away from the commotion of the venue and Blake’s alarmingly angry glares pointed in my direction.
“So, how are you liking Vegas so far?” she asked as we sat ourselves at the end of the bar.
“Oh, I like it a lot. I’ve actually met someone since I’ve been here. He’s amazing.”
“You go, girl! Tall, dark, and handsome, right? They always are. God, I miss those carefree days of dating around. Nothing better than a good romp in the sheets to make a long day’s worth of work really mean something. So just one guy?”
“Yes!” I said in shock. “Just one guy! I don’t like to date around, sleep around, or do anything else with multiple people. It takes a lot for me to really like a guy. You’ve met him actually. He likes to come to work every once in a while,” I said sheepishly.
I couldn’t believe how much I was talking to her about Nate. I barely knew her, and for that matter, I barely knew him. Even so, last night had been the best night of my life. Though I was exhausted and ready to collapse on the counter, I still craved more of his body. The things he’d done to me made me feel dirty and alive all at the same time. We’d barely been apart over the last few days, and even now I missed him.
I could understand why he didn’t want to join us. His phone had started to ring more than once during rehearsal, one of the many reasons why Blake had glared at him. Each time he got up to answer it, but something else was going on in his life that was pulling him away from me. Tonight, I would be sure to talk to him about it. I didn’t know where we were headed together, but I knew I couldn’t have a relationship like my parents’ that was built on lies. The faith I had in him was unwavering though, he would never hurt me.
Her face started to pale. “Oh yeah? Is it that hot assistant who’s been chasing you around the last few days? If not, let me know so I can make a move on him.”
“It is, actually,” I said defensively.
She raised her arms in surrender. “Hey girl, I’m just preaching the truth. He is a dish, that’s for sure. A word of advice though? I wouldn’t go making out with him on set.”
“Of course I’m not going to do that! That would be totally unprofessional.”
“Right, yeah. You should also try to keep the whole relationship under wraps from Blake.”
“Okay,” I muttered, wondering where she was going with this. “Why is that? I don’t think my dating life has anything to do with him.”
“That’s where you are dead wrong. He’s been going around telling anyone who will listen that you are off limits. No one is supposed to hit on you or touch you. He plans on keeping you all for himself. He said, ‘I’m gonna bag that thing before the end of this.’”
“What?” I stammered. “What a creep. Well, I’m not going to sleep with him or anyone else. Nate is more than enough man for me. I can’t believe he would go around telling people that though. It’s no wonder I haven’t made many friends there. God, I can only imagine what Maria must think. The way she looks at him, it’s so depressing.”
“Yeah, he was one of her firsts, but that’s what happens when you latch yourself onto a slime ball like Blake. Just keep your head on a swivel, okay? You are sweet and smart, very talented, but Blake has a way of always getting what he wants. If you get out of this, you will be the first one.”
“Well, I’m not going to sleep with him, if that’s what you’re implying,” I shot back at my rash new friend. “I have a moral compass, and it points firmly away from him.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry, I have one too, but I don’t have a family back home to take care of me. All I have is myself, and that’s who I like to watch out for.”
I glanced at her from under my eyelids, noticing the sadness and bitter sound of her tone. It was an unfortunate story that I was quickly starting to realize was all too common in Vegas. A young girl comes to town and before she knows it, time has left her behind and she’s stuck fending for herself. I slid my hand over the pale blonde’s frail fingers and smiled at her as I squeezed.
“You aren’t alone out here anymore, okay? I know that your life and mind are different, but I don’t plan on going anywhere, whether this is my big break or not. Who knows, maybe we will both strike it rich in this show, then we’ll be set, right?”
She laughed, but her eyes softened. “You really are a good seed, you know that? I just don’t want to see you miss your big shot here.”
“Thank you,” I said. “But this isn’t my only shot, and it’s not the last one for you either. I’m not sleeping with that asshat, no matter what he thinks.”
“Good, but I would still watch your back. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone not give Blake what he wants.”
“Like you said, I’ve got a family and a life to go back to. I don’t want to leave. As a matter of fact, I would be heartbroken. But at the same time, I’m not going to compromise my morals because of it. Blake can take his opinion and shove it.”
“Then you should find another plan. Maybe get some kind of leverage to use against him.”
“Thanks, I will keep that in mind. You ready to head back?” I asked as we finished up.
Lola nodded and said nothing when I paid for the lunch. It was the least I could do, considering she’d just given me a warning that changed everything. I wouldn’t take Blake as lightly as I had been. He was dangerous and Lola was right. I needed to come up with another plan. When we got back to the venue, I sought out Nate and told him we needed to talk afterward.
I made short work of practice and rushed out of the final fitting for my costume for opening night. As soon as I saw Mr. Grey heading in my direction, I ducked out of the dressing rooms and made a beeline for the back door, where Nate was waiting with his car. As we sped away, I told him about the lunch I had with Lola.
“I think she’s right. The only way we’re going to bring that prick down is if you wear a wire or something along those lines.”
I cocked my head. “Really? You think he’s going to keep pushing it?”
“I know he’s going to,” said Nate as we pulled up to my hotel. “Listen, Blake isn’t just after you. There is more to the story than that.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked as my heart started to race.
“Anna,” he said softly as he took my hand. “I know because I haven’t been entirely honest with you myself. Blake is planning o
n robbing the charity event. Every donation made that night is going into a safe. He’s going to skip town with the money.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I know people on the inside and they tipped me off. The law is breathing down his neck, he owes them more money than he’s got in the bank. This is his last big score. During the event, he’s gonna wait till everyone is distracted by you before he takes the money and runs. By the time the event coordinators realize what’s happened, he’ll be long gone.”
I shook my head, unwilling to believe him. “Why would he do that? He’s building up his reputation by hosting this event. It doesn’t make any sense.”
“It does in his mind. He knows it’s only a matter of time before some starlet’s husband or father comes after him. Blake doesn’t just try to get the young, new talent. His tastes can run pretty high, and he’s drugged a few of the wrong girls. They can’t hunt him down if he’s not in the country.”
I shuddered to think about Maria and even Lola, who I had wonder if Blake had also taken advantage of. “If you knew all this was going to happen, why didn’t you do something to stop it? His reputation is so bad already that I’m sure sponsors would pull out at the first sign of trouble. We should just go to the press. My career isn’t worth him getting away.”
Nate shook his head and pulled his hand away. “Anna. There’s something else I need to tell you, but I didn’t know how until last night. I never expected to care so much for you.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. My heart was thumping so loud I could hear it ringing in my ears. Nate was holding something back, but I didn’t know if I wanted to hear what he had to say.
I pushed past the fear. “Tell me, Nate, what the hell is going on?”
“I’m so sorry. I never meant for it to happen like this. I only know about Blake’s plan because I was going to steal the money from him. I just needed a cover.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “A cover? Oh, my god. That’s why you met me at the bar that night, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “Please, Anna, that was before. Things have changed now. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“Get hurt?” I hissed. “Are you kidding me? If you didn’t want to see me get hurt, then maybe you shouldn’t have lied to me! Oh, my god. I slept with you. I gave you my virginity, and you are nothing but a con artist!”
My mind was spinning as I shoved open the door and grabbed my bag. Nate took hold of my arm, and I jerked myself away.
“Anna!” he called after me. “Please wait! I’m sorry I lied to you, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you now. Please come back, and we can talk about this.”
I glared at him as the fire inside me started to grow. The hotel security had taken notice of the uproar and started to approach us.
“I don’t want to talk to you,” I growled at him. “I never want to see you again, Nate. Do you understand me? Stay the hell away from me, or I will call the cops.”
“Anna, you aren’t safe there without me,” he said.
I snorted and turned away from him. “I wasn’t safe with you there. Stay away from me.”
Chapter Thirteen
Nate
I sped away from the hotel, my temper fuming and my heart feeling like someone was taking a dagger to it. How could I have been so stupid? If I’d just left her alone, none if this would have happened. I should have fled as soon as I knew she was a virgin. Even before that, I’d had my suspicions, but she’d grown on me by that point. I didn’t want to tell her the truth and risk losing her, but now it was too late. My tires skidded as I slammed the brakes and stormed through the door of my small bungalow.
“Well, aren’t you in fine spirits?” came a smooth voice.
I recognized it at once, and my already heightened temper reached a boiling point. “What the hell are you doing here, Cherry?”
She shrugged. The years, and no doubt thousands in surgery, had kept her figure and face as youthful as the day we met. “Daddy thought it was time for me to be a little more ‘hands on’ in the operation. When you didn’t check in this afternoon, he wanted to send Fritz, but I volunteered instead.”
“Oh yeah? Did you happen to tell him the fucking houseboat wasn’t my fault during your little ride to power?”
She shook her head, curls bouncing all over. “Listen, baby, there isn’t anything I can do about that. You know how Daddy is. And let me tell you, he isn’t happy that you are taking so long to pay him back. You know I did you a favor.”
“A favor?” I scoffed. “Is that what you call letting me take the fall for your actions?”
“I’m here, aren’t I? But I’m starting to wonder if you aren’t losing it. That hotheaded temper of yours isn’t mine anymore. So, is there someone else distracting you from paying back the family?”
“So it’s ‘the family’ now, huh? It wasn’t so long ago that you didn’t want anything to do with your dad or his men.”
“Yeah, well, things change and maybe you should too. Are you getting cold feet? Maybe if you told me what your next payoff is, I could help out.”
I laughed. Cherry never did anything out of the kindness of her heart. There was always a catch with her. I didn’t even want to consider asking for her help. I would find a way to get back into the event, just as long as Anna kept her mouth shut. As soon as I thought about Anna again, my heart started to ache. If I showed any signs of weakness in front of Cherry though, she would take advantage of it and twist it in her favor.
“I don’t want your help or your protection. All I want is for you to get the hell out of my house.”
“Come on now, Nate. We have a history. Let me in on your plan, and I will help you out. We don’t even have to tell my dad.”
“You’re right, we don’t have to tell him because I’m not going to tell you what it is. So why don’t you just say what you’ve come to say and get the hell out of my house?”
Her eyes narrowed, and I knew I’d struck a chord. “Is that what you’re calling this tin shack?” She shrugged. “Fine, but don’t say I didn’t try to help you. So, what do you want me to tell him? You need more time to make a payment?”
“Two days,” I said, “and I will settle my debt with him in full.”
Cherries eyes grew wide. “Wow, this must be one hell of a score. I hope it’s worth the risk.”
“What risk? I’ve got nothing else to lose at this point.”
“Aw,” she said as her red nails raked across my arm. “Now that’s just depressing. You know I could help you with some of that tension if you asked me really nice.”
I grabbed her wrist “Cherry.” I gazed into her eyes. “Get the hell out of my house.”
She jerked her arm away from me. “Suit yourself. Old men aren’t really my thing anymore anyway. You’ve got forty-eight hours. Then I can’t keep you safe any longer. It’s been a pleasure, Nate, as always.”
I pulled open the door and she sauntered out, but my eyes no longer traveled down her body to watch her go. Now the only thing I cared about was the one I’d lost. I slammed my fist into the door after it swung shut. I needed a new plan and I needed it fast. If nothing else, I had to make sure Anna was going to be safe. She sure as hell wasn’t going to let me join her at practice anymore, and with me gone, Blake would be able to get to her at any time. Blocking my number, I quickly called Anna’s hotel room.
“Hello?” she said.
That single word brought back the pain in my heart. I could hear the tears in her voice. Briefly, I thought about hanging up, cutting my losses, and making for the Mexican border. It would leave her alone though. For once, I had to be a man and step up to the plate, no matter how much it hurt.
“Hello?” Anna said again. “Who is this?”
“Anna,” I said softly. “Please don’t hang up.”
“Screw you, Nate. You’ve taken everything I have, so what? Are you just coming back to cause more pain now?”
“I’m sorry, okay?
I don’t know how many times I’ll need to say it before you see that I never meant to hurt you. That isn’t why I called though. I need your help.”
“My help?” she screamed. “I wouldn’t help you if you were dying on the side of the road, you asshole! You are no better than Blake!”
“Anna, please!” I shouted over her. “You’re in danger and you know it! If I’m not there to protect you—”
“Jesus! You mean if you aren’t there to get your meal ticket, right?” she interrupted. “Screw. You.”
The line went dead, and again I slammed my fist into the door. She was never going to listen to me. Maybe she would listen to someone else though, someone who hadn’t betrayed her like I had. I didn’t know Lola personally, but I’d seen her around the Vegas nightlife scene a few times. She wasn’t really my type, but I knew I could find her at any one of the local bars. Even though she was younger, she’d had a rough go of things just like me. I quickly grabbed my keys and jumped back into my car, heading for the first club.
It took me two hours to find her, and by the time I had, she was three sheets to the wind. She recognized me immediately and threw her arms around my neck.
“Hey! You’re the new girl’s man! Where is she at? She is such a good singer!” she slurred.
“Yeah, she sure is something. I need to talk to you about the show though, and Blake.”
Lola shook her head, waving a finger in front of my face. “No way, I am not getting in the middle of that! What Blake wants, Blake gets. I know you aren’t a rookie, so just move on. Let him have his sugar and send her packing back to wherever it is that she’s from.”
Triple Threat: A Dark Romance (Deadly Passion Series Book 3) Page 8