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Chapter Thirty

RAELYN

“You sure you don’t want to come to the game tonight?” Kayce asks as he finishes cooking up some food for me.

The guys have been up my ass for the last week since the club debacle. I haven’t told any of them about it, and I don’t plan on it. I’m fucking broken.

But I do have a plan.

I have a plan to get out of here. To head back to New York. To try and find my life before all of this happened. Because I don’t need to be a problem in their lives anymore.

I overheard Cameron and Drew having it out yesterday before they left for a game.

Cameron found out about what happened at the club and began berating Drew for falling for my “golden pussy”.

That he walked right into my trap to get a comfy life of anything I wanted with a rich cock to do my bidding. Or some shit like that.

I don’t want a fucking penny. I don’t want to be anyone’s burden.

If I can find Ronnie, sell this phone and some of the clothes they bought me, I can get enough money for a bus ticket back to New York. But I need to find Ronnie, which is no easy feat. But I did see her at the club, so I know she goes there. So maybe I can get lucky with her being there again.

Right now, I just need space from the guys. They hover over me. Kayce is constantly cooking for me. Drew is always checking in on me. Tristan just stares at me, watching every move I make. And Asher is always asking how I’m feeling.

The only one who doesn’t give a shit is Cam.

And I almost like him for that.

Almost.

“Rae, the game will go late tonight. But Kayce made sure you have enough food, and if you need anything, John’s number is in your phone. And Phoenix’s. Call them if you need anything while we are playing. Oh and make sure to arm the system.” Drew stands next to me while I sit on the couch.

“Yeah. Okay.” I pick up my Kindle and try my best to get lost in a book. But I am too distracted by everyone hovering over me.

“I can have one of Phoenix’s husbands stay here, maybe I need to get someone here to stay with you,” he sighs as he rubs the back of his neck.

“So you have the state of the art alarm system installed, one that could wake Mars if it went off, and yet I still need a prison guard?” I scoff.

He shakes his head and groans. “No, that’s not what I mean by all that. I just want to keep you safe. None of us will be here to watch over you.”

“Like I’m in a prison.”

“Fuck. No, I’m sorry. You are right, this place is safe. I… I just worry.” He bounces back and forth on his feet.

“Nothing to be worried about with me here in this castle.” I let out a long breath.

“Okay, look, change of subject. What are you up to, today?”

“Just reading.” I don’t look at him when I respond. The air is thick, and it’s hard to breathe. The room feels stuffy. And I am getting antsy to start setting my plan in motion.

He hums and then turns and heads into the kitchen. My gaze follows him, and I see Tristan staring at me.

“Do you mind not staring at me like a creeper? It’s starting to get on my nerves,” I spit.

“Too bad,” is all he gives me. And continues to watch me. This fucking guy…

Apparently, from what I’ve overheard, he blames himself for what happened. And as much as I want to tell him it wasn’t him, it was the assholes in the masks, and I don’t want to have to talk about it.

“Have you talked to John yet?” Asher asks me.

“Jesus fucking Christ! What is with the inquisition? Stop asking me questions! No, I have not talked to John. Why would I talk to him? So I can talk about my freaking out? Does he need to know I was naked on a bed with four guys? That I had a cock in my mouth and was about to take another one from behind? Is that what you want me to talk to him about? That I’m a fucking slut? ” I explode.

“That’s not what we are asking.” Drew starts to come toward me again.

“Stop! Leave me alone! I need to breathe. You all are up my ass twenty-four-seven. Newsflash for all of you: I have survived on my own for this long. Even through the fucking shit I went through.”

What I want to say is, I survived and yet was ready for death. That if death came for me, it was a welcomed end to the shit life I was dealt.

Instead, Drew had to rescue me, and here I am.

“Rae—” Kayce steps around the counter.

“No! I’m done. I want to be alone. Please. Just leave me alone right now. Stop breathing down my fucking neck.” I grab my phone and Kindle and take off toward my room, locking the door as soon as I am inside.

And finally, I can breathe.

I take a deep breath, feeling like the weight of them all is finally lifted from me. The air is less stuffy. I just need them all to leave for their stupid game.

While I wait, I lie in bed and try to rest my eyes. This has all been exhausting. My head is killing me. I let out a sigh and sink into the bed.

Once they leave, I can get ready and go seek out Ronnie.

I know she will be able to help get me back home.

While I know I don’t need their money, Drew’s cash is coming in handy right now as I pay a taxi to take me back to Level Seven. When I return to New York and start stripping again, I will send him every dime I use.

So, I guess I temporarily need his money right now.

I look up the number for a taxi and book a ride. I’m not dressed in anything too revealing or sexy. Just a lacy black top and a pair of ripped jeans. I’m not there to enjoy myself. My purpose is to find Ronnie. It’s a long shot, but one I’m hoping pans out.

An hour later, I am pulling up at the club. There is a line to get in, but it gives me time to scope everyone out and come up with my next move if I can’t find her here.

When I finally make it inside the club, it’s packed with bodies thrusting themselves on each other. Others are gathered around tables, drinking and laughing. There are some in booths making out with each other.

When we were here last week, I saw her walk into the sex dungeon. A shiver runs down my spine as my mind flashes back to the events that took place down there. It was hot, so goddamn hot. All of them touching me and kissing me. It was beyond euphoric. Beyond erotic.

And then I had to go remember my time in that evil fucking place. The time when my captor took my innocence. Made me his.

And everything came crashing down around me.

I find an empty spot along the wall, one where I have a good visual of who is going in or out of the sex club.

For two hours I stand there, and my feet are numb at this point. My head is pounding from the combination of the lights and the god forsaken music.

Seriously, it’s not my cup of tea.

I look down at my phone to see that it’s after midnight. I also see that I have missed calls and texts from the guys.

Kayce:

Hey, we just finished the first game of the double header. Checking in to see how you’re doing.

Drew:

Did you eat? Take a nap?

Kayce:

Okay, second game done. It will be a while before we get back home. We have to do some press tours.

Asher:

Rae, it’s been a few hours and no one has heard from you. Please answer.

Drew:

Raelyn! Just respond so we know you’re okay.

Tristan:

Raelyn?

Drew:

Fuck, we are really worried now. We are on our way home.

As I finish reading the messages, Tristan’s name pops up on my phone. I let it go to voicemail, knowing if I immediately send it there, they will know I rejected their call. This way they absolutely know I am avoiding all of them. I slip my phone back in my pocket and turn to look out at the club.

Still no sign of Ronnie. Shit.

And I know it’s a needle-in-a-haystack situation. Just because she was here before doesn’t mean she will be here tonight. But I have to try and at least find her.

“Hey there.” I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t see the guy standing in front of me come up.

He’s short, well, taller than me but definitely shorter than the guys. Maybe five-ten at the most. His dark hair is greasy and messy, and I almost vomit in my mouth from the smell of his rotten breath.

Breath mints, man.

“Hi. Not interested. See ya later,” I respond as I look back out at the club.

He leans closer, and I immediately go on high alert. His warm breath of rot gets close to my ear.

“Aw, don’t be like that, sweetie. I just want to buy you a drink and see if we hit it off. You are beyond sexy.” He looks me up and down, and it takes every ounce of control I possess not to just deck him in his slimy, oily face of grossness.

“I said not interested. So back the fuck off.” I push farther against the wall, and then I realize my mistake.

His body comes closer to me, almost boxing me in. His arm lifts above my head as he places it against the wall. I can smell his body odor, and bile rises in my throat.

“How about you be a good slut and just let me fuck you? All you women are the fucking same. Such fucking teases. Come here all dressed up looking for sex but then won’t give up the fucking pussy. You are all cunts.” He spits as he talks, and that’s what finally does it.

Everything from my stomach climbs up my throat, and I projectile vomit all over him. His eyes widen in surprise, and his face twists in disgust.

“You fucking puked on me? You cunt!” he screams over the loud music. I don’t wait to hear any more. I immediately take off and head toward the bathroom.

I walk in and beeline for the sink, running my hand under it to turn the water on. I gather some in the palm of my hands and throw it on my mouth and chin, trying to get the remnants of my encounter off my face.

Scooping some water in my hand, I slurp it up and swish it around my mouth to get the taste out. I do it a few times until I am sure it’s gone.

Other girls around me are just doing their makeup thing and talking about whatever guy they are trying to get laid with. I pull my phone out and see that I have another twelve missed calls from the guys, so I just turn it off.

Reaching over to the paper towel dispenser next to me, I grab a couple pulls off it and dry my face and hands. I brace myself after tossing the paper towels, my stomach still a bit queasy.

Stress seeps into my shoulders. I just need to get out of here. I need to leave Las Vegas and return home to New York. I can get back to my life. Well, the life I had before everything went to shit.

“Raelyn? No fucking way!” The familiar voice has my head snapping toward it. No fucking way is right.

“Ronnie? Oh my God!” I stand there in complete shock that she’s standing right in front of me, considering I’ve been looking for her all night. “What... how… here…”

“I can’t believe I finally found you! I have been looking everywhere for you, woman! You disappeared from the bar that night, and I was losing my mind!”

“I-I know. Someone spiked my drink. You were gone, and I sat down and drank my drink, and next thing I know is I woke up in this strange hotel room?—”

“Oh my God! What the actual fuck? Are you okay? Did something happen to you?” Her eyes are as wide as saucers as her eyes start to water.

“No! Nothing happened. This random guy actually saved me and took me to sleep it off. Which I know could have been scary, but in reality, it was the best thing to happen. I was safe and taken care of.”

She lets out a long breath. “Oh, thank fuck. We have so much catching up to do.”

“Hey, why don’t we get out of here and go back to where I’m staying? I can fill you in on everything. We need to talk about everything that happened that night. I even have my memory back.” I smile. “Well, most of it.”

“I was just going to say, you seem so different. I love this. I love the new, well, old you. Yeah, um, give me like five minutes to just finish what I was doing, and I will meet you out front. Sound good?” She bites her lip.

I tilt my head and frown a bit. She has always seemed so standoffish and always avoids telling me what she’s involved in, but I nod. “Sounds good. See you outside.”

At this point, she could be selling drugs, and I wouldn’t care. I’m just glad to have her back in my life. She helped me when I needed it most and made sure I was taken care of. And now we can catch up and I can tell her who I really am, where I come from, and where I actually belong.

I follow her out of the bathroom, and she nods toward the front door. I smile as I walk that way. She disappears into the crowd. I turn on my phone to pull up the Lyft app to get a ride back to Drew’s house.

She is going to freak when she sees that’s where I have been staying.

As soon as my phone powers on, message after message pops up. Voicemails vibrate my phone as they come through. All of them have been trying to call me. Even a text message from Cam the asshole.

Cam the Asshole:

Dude, you need to call these guys. They are ready to put out fucking search parties and it’s really annoying that they are acting like this over you. So do us all a favor and answer your fucking phone.

Or maybe you finally left, in which case good riddance.

See? An asshole.

I roll my eyes at his message. He can’t ever just be nice to me. He can’t wait until I leave, and I can’t wait to get away from him.

I am lost in pulling up my Lyft app when a voice growls my name, and my heart literally stops as I look up. Drew, Asher, Tristan, Kayce, and Cam are all standing there on the sidewalk staring at me.

Fuck. I am fucked.