Page 66 of Wickedly Played

Stella is leaning against the bathroom wall, looking as if her life is coming to an end. I’m shocked to see how much these girls truly care for each other. “Mistress, please. I need you.”

I need her, too. I need her like air.

I make a quick call over to one of the doctors that we have used in the past. Dr. Murray is a discreet practitioner who won’t spread any bull shit. What’s more, she will come to Serena’s house to get her checked out. After giving her the address, I lean over Serena’s body to kiss her forehead.

Her eyelashes start to flicker and then squeeze shut to block the sun. “Sweetness, hey, you’re safe.”

“Mistress, come back to me, please.”

“What happened?” Serena croaks.

“It looks like you were drugged and then you passed out,” I relay.

She shivers, sitting up on the floor. “I’m cold. Can we go home?”

She’s holding herself as if she’s trying to protect herself from me. “Baby, what is going through your head?”

“Maybe that she got assaulted in the fucking bathroom?” Stella snaps. “What did you expect from her? That she would be okay? God, men are so fucking dumb.”

“Stella!” Serena barks. “Max, can you help me get up?”

Reaching out to grab her, I adjust her body so I’m carrying her like I would a bride.Fuck. Images of her in white are swarming my mind.I need to come clean. I need to tell her everything that I have learned about her before she finds out. It is only a matter of time before she realizes her father has hired me as a gunman.

Placing her in the car, I have Stella getting into the back seat, too, to hold onto Serena’s head. Serena’s moaning and groaning about her head hurting, and my chest shatters at the thought of not being able to keep her safe.

“Fuck,” I mutter to myself. I speed down the road to get back to Serena’s. I’m hoping that whatever drug is in her system will be flushed soon. “I’m so sorry,” I mumble to myself. I can’t admit I’ve failed another woman.

How could I imagine a relationship with this woman? How could I imagine this would go, trying to be with her when she doesn’t know everything about me?

The problem? She will run as soon as she finds out my secret. She will bolt when she finds out how fucked I am.

I couldn’t imagine seeing the light in her eye die when she looks at me.

“What is your plan?” Stella’s melodic voice asks.

“Taking her home,” I hedge.

“Duh.”

“Then what are you asking?”

She takes a deep breath, and I can see her hand brushing over Serena’s face. “Look, I know you don’t understand us. I love her. I think a part of me has always loved her. Serena has a lot oftrust issues in relationships. She thinks she doesn’t deserve to be happy.”

“Serena deserves whatever she wants. Whatever she wants, I will get it for her,” I solemnly promise.

“What if what she wants is a real relationship? Are you going to be able to give that to her?”

Blinking, I turn into the driveway to see Dr. Murray’s car already there.

“We’ll talk about this later,” I pointedly say to Stella.

She huffs in the back seat with Serena’s head lolling on her lap. I have a perverse wish that it was my lap her head was in.What the actual fuck is wrong with me?

I hop out of the car to pick up Serena and bring her inside. I’m so focused on her that I didn’t think about securing the home right now. With her head tucked against my chest, I lightly kiss her forehead. “Don’t worry, sweetness.”

After settling Serena on the couch, I leave Dr. Murray to check her over. “Well, look who’s awake?” Dr. Murray whistles. “How are you doing, Serena? I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

Serena’s eyes well up with something I haven’t seen before. Is she afraid? If so, what is she afraid of?