Page 46 of The Toy Maker (The Pink Cherrie #1)

THIRTY-EIGHT

On November twentieth, Pink Cherrie held their annual Thanksgiving celebration, and as every one of their parties always does, it took my breath away.

For the first time, management waived the no touch policy on the account that every participant signed away their soul for a half hour.

The men from The Cockpit came as a favor to Jason and there was only one rule: put on a great show.

A lot could go wrong.

My eyelids felt as if they had ten-pound weights attached to them. The nervous bustling around me told me nothing about where I was.

I forced my eyes open just in time to see Kitty arguing with the stranger, still on the stage. His eyebrows were knitted together, and her fists waited eagerly by her sides.

It was clearly not a friendly chat.

The curtains were drawn, and I had a wet washrag over my forehead like they were treating the fucking flu. I would have laughed if my whole body wasn’t aching.

Sarah was the first one to notice I was awake. She leaped across the room and grabbed my hand, her voice still very distant and garbled.

My first thing out of my mouth was a slur of curses as I sat up. The room swirled around me, and suddenly I was on my back again.

Sarah grabbed my hand. “If you move around, it’ll only make the headache worse.”

Worse? I already felt like I was dying. My lips were dry, and I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to see Kitty fluttering down the steps.

The next time I woke up, the room was silent. I peeled off the blankets that were encasing my body and dangled my feet off the bed.

The fluorescent lights flickered as I stared at the room. The familiar squeaking of the ceiling fan and messy worktable told me all I needed to know. I was still at Pink Cherrie. But…

When my eyes finally found Jason, tucked into the nearest corner by the bed, I nearly sobbed.

His breathing was soft and peaceful as he slept. The thick black tresses of his hair fell over his eyes like a curtain. His costume was stained red down the middle, and his knuckles were covered in dried blood.

I swallowed down the fear of what I assumed was a fight. But with who? I remembered those hazel eyes as he yanked the hand off me and lifted me off the table.

My fingers wandered over my neck. It was still sore. Just as I was about to get up, the back door opened, and I was face to face with my supposed savior.

“Ethan?” My voice was barely audible, but he still looked relieved.

He set a couple bags on the table and rushed to my side. “How’s your head?”

“I’ve never had any complaints.” It hurt to laugh.

The grin on his face set my mind at ease. Clearly, he wasn’t the one Jason punched. “I’m glad you feel like you can joke about this.”

I gave him a weak smile. “How long was I out?”

“Three hours,” he said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here the first time you woke up; I was trying to find him.” Ethan nodded toward Jason’s sleeping form.

My brows scrunched together in concern. “What happened?”

His expression darkened. “After putting on a very convincing performance, an unnaturally large man nearly choked you to death.”

I blinked back to the flashes of the table and tried to push the memory from my mind. “I meant what happened to Jason,” I said quietly.

Ethan’s face fell even further at my question, and he sighed. “He punched Sam a few times.” He must have seen the panic form in my eyes. “He’s okay. Just a little black and blue.”

“Who’s Sam?” I asked, embarrassed.

“The guy who nearly killed you.”

Finally, a name for the golden-haired stranger. “Is he still here?”

“Kitty is bandaging him up in the dressing room.”

“How hard did Jas?—”

Ethan cut me off before I could finish, “Hard enough.”

“But the blood on hi?—”

“Isn’t his,” Ethan said. “He did what he thought he had to do.”

I glanced over Jason’s still sleeping figure; he seemed so tranquil. Even after insulting me and pretending not to care about my involvement in the feast, he defended me in front of the whole store.

He hit someone to protect me.

“I’ll be happy to answer more of your questions after you eat something.” Ethan grabbed the bags and brought them over to me.

“I can’t even think about food right now.” There was a sentence I never thought I’d be saying.

“Fine.” He handed me a soft drink. “At least drink something so Jade doesn’t hit me.”

I took a sip and fought down the urge to vomit. Ethan watched me intently, probably bracing himself in case he had to rescue me from toppling to the floor.

“I didn’t know you were coming tonight,” I admitted.

He shrugged. “I was in the neighborhood.”

“Were you really?” The chill of the soda can felt nice against my palms.

Ethan’s eyes met mine. “I have an offer.”

“Which is?” If it had anything to do with Thanksgiving dinner, the answer was a hard no.

He opened his mouth, but the groaning in the corner cut him off. I turned to see Jason stirring.

“Maybe we should talk later.” Ethan’s tone was flat and quick as he watched Jason fall back to sleep.

I bit my lip. “No, I think we should do it now.”

Ethan nodded and motioned toward the door. My bare feet stuck to the floor as I followed him out of the room and tried not to wake Jason.

Once the door was shut behind me, I asked Ethan what was going on.

“Would you ever consider leaving this place?” he asked quietly. I could tell he was holding back his disgust for the building we stood in and who ran it.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” I lied. It was easier to ignore the worst parts of being a Cherry when no physical harm could come to me, but after being strangled, I had to consider other options. Didn’t I?

“I think you should.”

I frowned. “Why?”

Ethan stared at me. “Are you serious? You were almost killed today.”

“Is it really about that?” I looked up at him incredulously.

“What else would it be?”

“Jason.” His name rolled off my tongue so easily it was almost ironic how hard Ethan’s expression became.

“It isn’t healthy being here,” he sighed.

I could only shrug in response. “It’s the only place I have.”

“You can come work with me.” Ah yes, the big CEO of his own company. “It’s not as glamorous as this, but we do use our desks for actual work.”

I couldn’t decide whether I was insulted or honored. “That’s sweet, but I like it here. My frien?—”

“You mean Jason,” Ethan interrupted.

I swallowed. “Not just him. I could never leave Jade, Sarah, and Kitty.”

“Even if I told you that Kitty was the reason you nearly died on that table?”

“What are you talking about?” I demanded. He had to be insane.

“She told Sam to be rough with you.”

Sounded like stage direction to enhance the show. “But she didn’t know he would choke me.” I knew she was mad, but there was no way she wanted me dead.

Ethan sighed. “That’s not the point.”

“Then what is the point?” I demanded, sarcasm dripping off my tongue. “That you don’t enjoy seeing me get fucked by other men? Because that’s my job.”

His jaw stiffened. “No, actually, I don’t. Unlike some people, I don’t get turned on by watching someone I love in pain.”

I blinked at his confession and tried to find the right words buried in my throat.

“Just think about it, okay?” His voice was tired and yet still hopeful that I would abandon everyone I cared about… for him.

I nodded; I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about it. Ethan looked like he had more to say, but lucky for both of us his phone started to ring, echoing through the workshop.

“You should get that,” I mumbled.

He glanced down at the screen, then back at me. “You sure?”

“Absolutely. I’m not going anywhere.” I gave him a weak smile.

He answered the phone and placed his hand on my shoulder before walking down the hall.

I waited for a few minutes before deciding it was time to have a talk with Kitty.