Dark thoughts rose like bile again, reminding me that Hades wasn’t my savior. Yes, these people were a whole bag of judgmental garbage. But he was the reason I was here being gawked at like an ugly aquarium catfish.
He’d put me in this position. Commissioned the tattoo. Made me wear the dress.
These past two weeks, all our tub conversations and peaceful nights of sleep together—it had all been an act to lull me into a false sense of security.
He fed off my suffering. And he’d fattened me right on up for this ultimate humiliation. These people had proven themselves to be fake friends, but he was my blatant enemy. No pretending.
I pulled away from him, tearing myself out of the dance. “I need to go to the restroom.”
For a moment, Hades stared at me in a way that almost appeared hurt. Also, frustrated. As if I’d broken his spell before he could finish casting it.
But the look quickly got wiped away by one of his ultra-charming smiles. “Alright, go’on, take care of your business. But come right back to me, ma belle.”
A pang of memory—Luk saying a version of the same thing the last time we spoke.
But Hades wasn’t Luk. After saying that, he leaned forward and whispered in my ear, “Come right back, or else I’m gonna hunt you down.”
Unfortunately, the Benton Grand New Orleans had been built rather recently and was aggressively set up to keep homeless people out.
All the restrooms lined a hallway on the opposite side of the ballroom from where we’d come in—just about as far as you could get from the main entrance.
But maybe I could find someone sympathetic to tell my story to in there. And if it the restroom was empty, maybe there was a back entrance I could slip out of during my supposed bathroom trip. I didn’t have any money, but if I could make it back to campus, maybe I could borrow a sweatshirt from someone at my sorority house—anything to help me cover up and get someone to take me seriously when I asked them for help.
My spirits picked up when I entered the hallway and found not only the possible sanctuary of a women’s restroom, but also a security guard posted outside of it.
Hades was right about one thing. Rich people—all the friends who’d occupied my rarefied world—they were trash. It had been a mistake to come here like a lamb to slaughter, thinking they would have enough character to help me out.
Thanks to Hades, I saw things clearly now.
A security guard. A working-class security guard—that was exactly the person I needed to help me escape this hotel and find my way to someone who would actually help me.
I started toward him, my heart racing in my chest. But then, a hand grabbed my arm and wheeled me around.
Crap! I was so close—
My lament cut off when I saw the person who’d grabbed me. Not Hades. Not my father.
My heart stopped cold. Then soared.
“Lukas!” I cried out.
Lukas, the perfect boyfriend I’d been too silly to appreciate three months ago….He was standing right in front of me in a white tux!
Grateful tears sprang to my eyes, and I threw my arms around his neck. “Oh, my goodness. I can’t believe you came. I’m so happy to see—”
He shoved me away from him before I could finish.
“What the hell are you doing?” he demanded. His eyes scanned me from top to bottom. “Coming in here, looking like that? With a known criminal? Don’t you think you’ve embarrassed your poor father enough? Everybody’s talking about you!”
I blinked with the realization that he was one of them. One of the people who’d easily assumed I would voluntarily run away from my life and get some crimelord’s name tattooed across my back.
“Luk, no. Let me explain.”
“Is this what you wanted all along? Why you wouldn’t let me touch you? Made me sign that stupid contract?” He shook his head, his expression ugly with hurt and even more disgust. “Were you with him this whole time, you fucking whore?”
I drew back, as hurt as if he’d raised his manicured hand and slapped me.
“Not this whole time, non,” another voice purred before I could reply. “And you…You do not talk to her that way.”
