Page 48

His arms wrap around me before I can even think, his warmth pressing into me, steady and strong. Without hesitation, I reach up, threading my fingers through his hair, and kiss him hard.

It’s messy, fueled by adrenaline and relief, but Cade kisses me back like he’s breathing me in, like he feels every inch of this moment as deeply as I do. When we finally pull apart, my forehead presses against his and my voice is barely above a whisper. “It’s going to happen. I just know it.”

Cade exhales, brushing his lips over my cheek before pulling me closer. “Yeah, Pretty Girl. It is. Shall we go out to dinner to celebrate?”

As I take a step forward, something in me falters. My stomach sinks, and the reality I’ve been shoving to the back of my mind crashes in full force.

“I can’t.”

Cade stops, his brows drawing together as I drop my gaze, my fingers twisting in the hem of my shirt.

“I’ve, uh, got to go to Luke’s,” I admit quietly. “It’s been a week. I’ve been ignoring his texts, but I don’t think he’s going to accept ‘I’m still traumatized by you’ as an excuse for much longer.”

Cade’s entire body tenses, his jaw locking so tight I swear I hear his teeth grind. “Good,” he finally says, his voice deadly calm. “Then it’s time to let him know you aren’t doing this anymore.”

A bitter laugh escapes me. “You know I can’t just leave.”

“Of course you can.”

He turns on his heel and disappears into the bedroom, leaving me to stand there, watching him, dumbfounded. A moment later, he’s striding back out with a faint, unmistakable smirk tugging at his lips as he holds something up.

An envelope.

I frown. “What’s that?”

He flips it open with ease, revealing a thick stack of bills. “Ten thousand dollars.”

I nearly choke. My stomach knots, my brain short-circuits. I’ve never seen that much money in real life before.

“Cade… what the hell?”

He shrugs like it’s nothing. “It’s to pay off your debt with Luke.”

My pulse pounds in my ears. “I—Cade, no. I can’t accept this.”

“Yeah, you can.” His voice is firm, unwavering.

“Sav, I know this wasn’t the plan. Trust me, it wasn’t the way I wanted things to go down with Luke, either.

But I care about getting you out of there more than I care about doing it the right way.

” His expression softens slightly. “You deserve a fresh start. Let me give that to you.”

My hands shake as I reach for the envelope, the weight of it so much heavier than just paper.

It’s freedom.

It’s the final piece to getting out.

I swallow hard and look up at him. “Cade… thank you.”

He nods, stepping forward to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing over my skin. “I’d do it a thousand times over for you, Pretty Girl.”

My chest tightens, and I believe every word he’s saying, so I take it.

“Do you want me to go in there with you?”

“No.” My response comes out sharp, but that’s because I’m determined. “I need to do this on my own. I need him to take me seriously.”

Cade nods, but the tension in his body is unmistakable.

His hands flex against the steering wheel and his jaw is so tight, I’m almost certain I’ll hear it crack soon.

I get it. This is going against every protective instinct he has, and although I’ve let my fiancé do a lot for me this last month, this is one thing I need to do on my own.

“I’ll be right here,” he mutters with an edge. “If you’re not back in twenty minutes, I’m coming in to find you.” His gaze is locked on the entrance as though he already knows he’ll have to.

I swallow hard, gripping the envelope in my lap. “I’ll be out before then, and hopefully it will be the last time I ever have to step foot in there.”

“It will be,” he says with much more certainty.

When Cade finally turns to look at me, his eyes soften for a brief second before he leans in and brushes a lingering kiss to my lips.

A kiss filled with everything he wants to say but doesn’t: his worry, his frustration, his belief in me.

I hold on to it for a beat longer than I should before pulling away and giving him the biggest smile I can muster through my nerves.

“I’ll be right back,” I say.

Pulling my gaze from his, I get out of the car and walk toward the flashing neon sign.

Behind Closed Doors

This is it. The final moment. The last act in this godforsaken place.

I swallow down my nervousness, ignoring the tiny voice in my head saying this won’t go to plan.

It will.

It has to. For Adley.

Pushing the door open, I step inside, and the familiar dim lighting swallows me whole.

The scent of stale alcohol clings to the air, mixing with the faint musk of sweat and perfume.

The low, steady thrum of music barely registers over the pounding in my ears.

The bar hasn’t opened yet, so the only people lingering around are Luke’s main men, Cal and Mark.

The kind of goons who make sure no one steps out of line without paying for it.

They don’t flinch when they see me, too used to my presence, but when I see him , my knees buckle in fright. Luke stands behind the bar, wiping down a glass when his sharp eyes find me, and a twisted smirk tugs at his lips, making my skin prickle.

“Savannah,” he drawls out my name in that way that always makes me want to vomit. He places the glass down and leans against the counter, smirking. “Glad to see you’re finally back.”

I brace myself as his gaze rakes over me. I should be used to the feeling. It’s something he’s done every time I’ve walked into this place. But now, with Cade’s ring on my finger, it feels wrong.

“How you feeling about everything? About the other night?”

The other night… with Cade.

The night I was saved.

The night I realized what I deserved more than this.

“I’m feeling a lot better, thanks.” My voice is clipped and controlled because I refuse to let Luke see any flicker of weakness.

He picks up another glass, cleaning it as he watches me.

I glance around, hoping to find something— anything —to ground myself, but all I see are the dim lights reflecting off the bar and the shadows stretching across the floor.

This place has owned me for too long, and it’s about time I took my life back.

I clear my throat, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. “Actually, Luke, I wanted to talk to you about something.” My grip tightens around the envelope in my hand. “I think it’s time to wind down my hours here. I’ve got college work piling up, and I need to focus on that.”

Luke’s smirk fades as he sets the glass down with a deliberate clink, the sound slicing through the thick air. His arms cross over his chest, and he leans forward slightly, his gaze sharpening.

“Winding down?”

I nod, and he lets out a little grunt.

“But that doesn’t really work with how much you owe me. Your interest will just pile up, making it impossible for you to crawl out of.”

As if he hadn’t already made it impossible on my own.

I force myself to stay still, to not react, even as anxiety gnaws at my insides. Then my fingers tighten around the envelope, and I remember why I’m here.

Why this time is different.

Cade.

I take a step forward and place it on the counter. “On that point, I’d like to discuss payment.” My voice is steady, firmer than I thought it would be. “Ten thousand dollars. That should be enough to clear my debt.”

Luke’s eyes flick down to the envelope. He blinks once. Twice. Clearly caught off guard.

“Where’d you get ten thousand bucks?”

“I’ve been saving.”

His eyes narrow instantly. He knows it’s a lie. He keeps track of the paychecks, knows exactly how much I make and how much I still owe, even if I don’t.

“Mhm.”

Without breaking eye contact, he slides the envelope across the bar toward Cal. “Count it.”

My pulse hammers in my throat as the guy opens it and flips through the crisp bills.

This is it.

This has to be it.

“Can confirm. It’s 10k, boss.”

Luke doesn’t react right away. He just picks up his rag and goes back to cleaning a glass as if I haven’t just handed him more money than I’ve ever seen in my life.

My stomach churns as the silence stretches.

Finally, he nods. “Good. That makes a little dent in your debt.”

My breath catches. A dent?

“The only way you’re going to be able to pay it off completely,” he continues smoothly, “is by doing a stint behind one of my doors for the next two months.”

“T-two months?”

The room tilts. My throat locks up.

No. No. No.

That should be enough.

“Luke,” I say, hating the tremor in my voice. “That’s ten grand.”

He lifts a brow. “And?”

“That more than covers what I owe you.”

He shrugs. “Cute. But no. You owe me more than that.”

More. More. More.

He’ll always take if I keep giving.

“No,” I say, my voice sharper, faking the confidence I need to have to get through this. “I don’t. I’m done.”

I turn on my heel, already tasting the freedom and thinking about the life Cade and I will build together.

It all stops when Mark steps in front of me. All bulk and zero soul, he’s standing in front of the door like a brick wall, making it impossible for me to see the outside. He doesn’t say a word. He doesn’t have to, because suddenly, I remember exactly who I’m dealing with.

Luke barks out a laugh. “Did you really think you could just walk out of here after dropping off a tiny portion of your debt?” He clicks his tongue, shaking his head. “Sorry, sweetheart. That’s not how this works.”

I close my eyes, doing the same thing I always did when I was on that stage. I imagine Cade. His strength. His promises. His resilience. I’m getting out of here this time, and nothing is going to stop me.

“I’m done, Luke.”

I glance at him over my shoulder, and he’s rounded the bar, his hand on one of the barstools with his head tilted.

“I’m not staying.” I turn to face him fully now, my heart hammering and my hands shaking, but I hold steady. “You can try to force me. Threaten me. Hell, break me if you want.” My voice hardens. “But there’s nothing left to take. You already stole everything.”

“Not everything.”

The silence thickens as he watches me, daring me to speak.

Then his voice cuts through it, lazy and lethal.

“You’ve got a fiancé now, right? That’s why you came in here flashing cash and an attitude that’d be better put behind the bar, not in my face.”

He smirks like he knows exactly where to aim and how deep to twist the knife as his gaze drifts down to my ring. I shouldn’t have worn it, but I’d made a promise to myself that I’d never take it off.

“It’s Cade Bright, isn’t it?”

My body stills. One second. Two. That’s all it takes for him to see it.

“I knew it. That guy has been obsessed with you since he first saw you dancing. Real pervert. Only asks for you and sits by the side, watching you like a panting dog. Like his panting dog. Stanley Biscuit, right?”

I freeze again. How the hell does he know our dog’s name?

My expression makes him laugh, low and cold.

“You really think I haven’t been keeping tabs, Savannah? You think I didn’t notice when you stopped crashing behind the chicken joint and started staying in a real neighborhood?”

My stomach flips. He knows. He’s always known.

Luke takes a step forward. “You should know that playing house with a guy like that never ends well. People like Cade, they’ve got a chip on their shoulders. Think they can take whatever they want and there won’t be consequences.”

“Don’t talk about him like that,” I say in a feeble attempt to sound brave.

He chuckles and tilts his head. “All I’m saying is, there’s a thing about consequences. They always come due.”

I take a step back, anger flaring through me. “You touch him, and I swear—”

“You’ll what ?” His grin widens. “Run to the cops? Try to play the victim? You do that, and you’ll never see Adley again. You’ll be right back to sleeping in your car before the week’s out if you're lucky. A jail cell if you’re not.”

“Jail?”

“Prostitution is illegal, darling.”

“I’m not—”

“Please. Who do you think they’re going to believe? A reputable business owner”—he gestures to himself with mock pride—“or a washed-up little whore with a track record of bad decisions and a filthy stage name?”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

“Either way, when the world turns its back on you, again , you’ll come crawling right back here, begging to dance for me like the good little girl you used to be.”

“No.” My voice is shaking, but I mean it. “That’s not going to happen.”

I turn toward the door, but I don’t make it. A thick arm wraps around my waist from behind and yanks me back so fast my breath catches in my throat. I try to get away by kicking and screaming, but it’s useless. Mark is built like a linebacker.

“Luke, please. Stop!” I shout, struggling as Mark drags me past the bar, toward the back hallway and the rooms I swore I’d never step foot in again.

Luke doesn’t rush. He just watches, cool and composed, as he follows us like he’s heading to a business meeting. “You should’ve known better than to come in here and think you could just walk away. With him , no less. I’m going to have to have a talk with him.”

“Don’t touch him,” I cry, my voice cracking. “Please, Luke. Please don’t hurt him!”

Mark tightens his grip.

“Shh,” Mark breathes.

“Keep screaming, and I’ll send my boys to pay him a visit. Him and that little mutt. Let’s see how cute your living room looks splattered in blood.” The venom behind Luke’s words is chilling.

I thrash harder. Tears blur my vision as I dig my nails into Mark’s arms, twisting my body, hoping somehow, I can break free, but it’s no use.

I never stood a chance in this place.

Never had a shot the minute I walked back in here.

I should’ve pushed Cade away and kept him out of this. Now I’m dragging him down with me.

“Get your FUCKING hands off her.”

His voice crashes through the room like thunder.

Everything stops.

Luke’s head snaps toward the entrance, and Mark stiffens. I turn, breathless and still locked in his grip, but I know that voice…

And I don’t know if I feel relief or terror.