Page 5

After what felt like forever, the men began disappearing off stage. I was on my feet in a heartbeat, and Char shot me a curious look as we headed out of the room. I was on edge, waiting for Damian or his two friends to stop me from leaving.

“The show was amazing,” Ana gushed as we stepped into the lounge where we’d had drinks. Some women were already going back to the bar for more drinks, but I passed it, hoping Char and her friends would do the same.

Hayley nodded. “It was. Tame compared to last time, though.”

“Tame?” Char choked out, her eyes widening. “That was tame?”

Ana laughed. “Every night is different. No one would want to keep coming if it was the same.”

I was only half-listening, my head on a swivel as we moved toward the escalator.

No way my asshole of a husband would let me walk away, but he was nowhere to be seen.

My skin prickled, and I had to bite my tongue to keep from hurrying the girls up.

I needed to get the hell out of here as soon as I could.

We rode the escalator down the two levels to the parking garage, where it was full of the patrons leaving. Hayley strolled to the locker, taking her time getting the keys out. Char leaned against the car, staring at me.

“What happened, Talie?” she asked under her breath. “Something’s wrong.”

“Nothing,” I told her, squeezing her hand. “It’s a lot being back in the States. Culture shock after being gone so long.”

I refused to tell her who was in the club. Damian didn’t want her to know, and I wasn’t going to involve her when it came to him.

“Let’s go,” Hayley said, unlocking the car. “We have bottles to drink at our apartment.”

Ana grinned, looking at Char. “You haven’t had nearly enough alcohol to celebrate your twenty-first birthday.”

We piled into the car, and I tapped my heeled boot against the floor as we moved at a crawl with all the other vehicles trying to exit. My heart was racing, my eyes darting around the garage, still in disbelief Damian hadn’t stopped me.

I was sure he was planning something. After everything, he wouldn’t accept me leaving again.

But if I could get to my passport, I’d be home free.

After checking my phone, I slipped it into my clutch, a slice of relief shooting through me once we were back on the busy city street.

Char and her friends chatted all about the show, while I spoke just enough to pretend I was interested in the conversation.

The time slowly passed as I stared at the lit-up buildings. I did miss this city at night. It was still bustling. The kind of place I loved. But if I was able to leave, there was no way I was coming back anytime soon.

After we finally pulled onto their street, Hayley luckily found a close spot. I got out of the car, stepping on the sidewalk, thinking of how I was going to tell Char that I was leaving. I was supposed to stay another two days.

Char shared her apartment with Ana and Hayley. Their neighborhood was upscale and nice. Her large apartment was a stark contrast from the places I’d been living in for the last five years.

We walked down the sidewalk until Char suddenly stilled, a gasp escaping her. I glanced at her before following her gaze toward the entrance of their apartment building. My heart sank when I saw a man leaning against the brick exterior right next to the glass doors.

His stare was directed at me as he pushed off the wall, sauntering over toward us. I studied him, my pulse thrashing. In the club I hadn’t been able to because of the lighting and his mask, but now I could see him clearly.

“Damian,” Char squeaked out, her shocked eyes cutting to me.

His lips lifted in a smirk when he stopped in front of us and crossed his arms. Oh my fuck.

He’d only gotten hotter in the last five years.

He had natural waves, and his black hair was styled perfectly.

He’d grown it out a bit longer than I remembered, but it made him look every bit like the sophisticated businessman he was.

His jaw was clean-shaven, his face sharper, more pronounced than when he was a teen.

His mesmerizing hazel eyes hadn’t changed—a feature I used to love about him.

But now all I could feel was rage bubbling within me as I kept his stare.

The black suit he was wearing fit him perfectly. If I hadn’t known he was stripping and dancing on a stage less than two hours ago, it would be hard to imagine him in anything other than a suit. He was two years older than me, and at twenty-five, he looked like the best kind of wet dream.

Too bad he was an arrogant asshole.

“Happy birthday, Charlotte,” Damian said, his voice perfectly pleasant.

“Umm, who is he?” Hayley asked, her eyes eating Damian up hungrily. “A friend of yours, Char?”

I licked my lips, slightly shaking my head in a last-ditch effort to get him to let me walk away. Of course, he did the exact opposite.

“Her brother-in-law,” he corrected Hayley as he stepped forward, wrapping his arm around my waist to pull me into his chest. “How was your night, sweetheart? I missed you.”

It took everything in me to keep a smile plastered on my face when he lowered his head, planting a kiss on my cheek.

I couldn’t make a scene, not when Char’s friends were here.

Their parents were in the same social circle as my father.

To everyone, Damian and I were happily married, living in a long-distance relationship while I finished out school and my internship.

If word got back to my father or Damian’s that we were not on good terms, there would be hell to pay.

“Brother-in-law?” Ana echoed in surprise. “I didn’t know you were married, Talie.”

“You used your maiden name earlier,” Hayley added, her gaze staying on Damian.

Damian chuckled. “She never took my last name. I love that my woman is so independent.”

That wasn’t true at all. I was supposed to take his last name, but I fled the city before we did the paperwork. I tensed when Damian moved to stand next to me, keeping his arm around my waist. His hold was tight, making sure I couldn’t slip away.

Char was sharing my panic as she looked between me and my husband. She didn’t know the entire story but was aware he was the reason I left five years ago, and I never wanted to come back to play housewife.

“The plan was for Talie to spend the night,” Char said with a weak smile. She was trying to give me an out. It wouldn’t work.

“Sorry, Charlotte. I need my wife tonight.”

Even though his voice was still nice, I didn’t miss the dark edge to it. He wasn’t leaving without me, and I didn’t want Char tangled up with this any more than she already was. If our father found out I was here in the city and Char didn’t inform him, then she’d be in trouble too.

“I’ll call tomorrow,” I promised, pulling away from Damian to give her a quick hug, whispering my next words. “I’ll be fine. This isn’t your fault. Enjoy the rest of your night. I love you.”

The second I let her go, Damian’s arm went back around me, leading me down the sidewalk.

Ana and Hayley muttered a goodbye while Char stared at me, guilt filling her face.

My stomach twisted painfully, wishing this hadn’t happened on her birthday.

She deserved the best night, and this was going to ruin it.

My clutch was suddenly torn from my grip. I glared at Damian as he kept it in his other hand while still holding me.

“Give it back,” I snapped.

“Not yet,” he murmured, nodding at someone in front of us. “Not until I know you have no chance of running off again.”

My chest heaved as I looked ahead of me to see a man open the back door of an SUV for us. Damian’s hand left me, and I sat stiffly in the backseat, scooting over when he climbed in after me. He purposefully kept my purse out of reach as the driver got in the front, pulling onto the street.

“How does it feel to be home?” Damian asked, keeping his gaze out the window.

“Perfect,” I grated out, my eyes darting to the driver. I wasn’t sure if he was on Damian’s payroll or his father’s, and I really didn’t want to chance anything going back to the families.

But it didn’t mean I was going to stay here without a fight.

My father had no idea I was here. All I needed was one chance to get away from Damian and get to the airport.

I kept my eyes on my purse in his grip. The only issue was I couldn’t leave without my phone since it had everything I needed in my life.

I’d have to get it back first, and grab my passport from Char’s apartment.

Then I could keep up with the pretense of what I’d been doing overseas.

No one except Damian would know I was ever here.

“Good,” he answered, turning to face me, then leaning down to talk in my ear. “Because you aren’t leaving again.”

“Whatever you say, husband.”

He chuckled. “I like that—you listening to me. Keep doing it, Natalia. It’ll make your life easier.”

Anger scorched my veins, both from his words and what he called me. It was an attempt to get under my skin even more, and I refused to give him the satisfaction. I shot him a wicked grin before settling in the seat, keeping my eyes straight ahead, trying to stay positive.

I had every intention of leaving the city tonight. I only needed a little distraction.