“Alright, I’m gonna be honest with you,” I start. I close my eyes and hope this buys us some time. “I’ve been staying with Ivy, I went to school with her.”
“I know who she is,” he snaps.
“Right, well, she’s going through a hard time and she hasn’t wanted to be alone,” I lie.
“What hard time is that?” he questions.
I blow out a breath, making him think I don’t want to say, but really I’m buying time to come up with something. “She was in an abusive relationship. She’s scared to be alone, because she thinks he’ll come looking for her. I have a gun and I know how to protect myself, so I offered to help.”
“No excuse for not being at the club,” he snaps.
“I’m not making excuses, I’m telling you where I’ve been,” I say.
I know he doesn’t actually believe me, but I’m hoping maybe, even if just for a day, I have him wondering. He won’t know for sure until he’s back, which I’m hoping he’s going to reveal. If I knew when he would be home, I’d be able to better prepare. The element of surprise is best, for both of us I suppose.
“You’re done hiding, you will be back at the club today. I have someone coming and you need to pay him for me.”
My eyes prick with tears because I know exactly what he wants. I know that he still thinks he’ll get the photo proof that the deed is done. I refuse to cry, I will not give him anything else of me. He’s taken enough.
“What time?” I ask.
“You’ll get your ass over there now,” he shouts.
I sit down in the chair and try to think. “I have a doctor's appointment,” I lie again.
“For what?”
“For birth control pills. I need to see him for my refills.” The lies just keep coming.
He’s cursing and I know it’s because he’s not here to prove my lies first hand. He’s not in complete control and it’s killing him.
“Where the fuck is Sal?”
“How would I know?” I ask. The truth is, I don’t know exactly where he is and I want to keep it that way.
I hear him growl and I can picture his contoured face. His lips are in a thin line, his eyes are narrow, and his nose is flaring. I’ve seen that face more times than I care to remember. That face means bad shit is about to happen.
“You suddenly seem to know nothing about our club. That’s not how this is going. I’m not asking you, I’m telling you, get to that club and do what you’re told. Pay the man for me and find out where the fuck Sal is. I will be calling you back and you will answer your phone. Do you understand me?” he seethes.
I swallow the bile climbing up my throat. “No need to get angry,” I force out.
“There’s plenty of reasons to be furious,” he barks.
“When will you be back?”
For the first time in this conversation, he’s the one that’s quiet. It pisses me off and just as I’m about to ask again, he clears his throat.
“I’ll be home when I’m home. Get to the club.” He doesn’t wait for a reply, he hangs up.
I drop the phone to the floor and cover my face. What the hell am I gonna do? If I tell Zane he called he’s going to go crazy. If I don’t tell him, he’s gonna be pissed. If I go I’ll probably be locked in the room until my father returns.
He knows, he knows everything. He’s playing me. There’s a plan and I probably just showed my hand. My father might be the devil, but he’s fucking smart and cunning. I need to make sure that Zane is two steps ahead. I just don’t know how.
The longer I sit here, the more sick I feel. I’m supposed to be at the club right now. I have no idea if there really is someone coming or if it was just part of his plan. Neither make me feel any better. It’s all a pressing weight on my shoulders, ready to break me. I’m not used to this. I didn’t know what my father was up to, but I knew where he was. Not knowing, is terrifying. I know fear, but this is something different. This is gut wrecking agony. It’s the thought of losing Zane.
The door opens and I jump up to grab my gun.
“Hey, woah, it’s me, babe,” Zane says.
My body is shaking without my permission. I can’t imagine what my face looks like, but it must be bad. He’s approaching me slowly, almost unsure. If he touches me I’ll break and right now I can’t break.
“Stop, I’m fine,” I say, moving from him.
“What happened, Harper?”
I turn my back to him and wrap my arms around myself. “I can’t talk about this right now, please.”
He doesn’t take my plea and he’s behind me in a flash, wrapping one arm around my shoulders from behind. “Tell me,” he whispers in my ear.
My body continues to shake, but I blink back the tears trying to spill. “My father called.”
His entire body stiffens and it does nothing to calm me down. “And?”
“And, he’s fucking infuriated. I’m supposed to be at the club right now, paying his debts, finding Sal, answering his calls. He’s going to kill you, Zane,” I yell. I’ve lost all sense of reality. I’m angry and scared, I’m shaking and stiff. I can’t process anything right now.
“Relax, babe,” he whispers, kissing my temple. “You aren’t going, you’re safe.”
He’s calm, too calm. It’s an unsettling feeling. I break out of his hold and turn to
