Page 61 of Worship

“Jesus. She doesn’t know what he’ll do to her.” The words come out with the thought.

“She does now. He roughed her up pretty good and left her here. You should come and get her. I didn’t know who to call.”

My jaw is so tense that my teeth might break. I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him for doing this.

“I’m on my way.”

I hang up the phone, and Gretchen grabs at my wrists as I begin to walk away to pull on my jeans.

“What the fuck is happening?” Her eyes are angry and afraid all at once as she puts her clothes back on too.

“Go home. Call me when you’re there. I’ll explain later.” I don’t want to do this with her right now.

She shakes her head.

“Fuck you. You think I’m not coming? I heard the call. You aren’t going there alone.”

“Jesus, Gretchen.” I let out an exasperated breath, pulling my T-shirt over my head. “I’m not taking you to a goddamn sex club to help me collect my battered wife off the floor.”

She needs to see reason.

“Well, I’m not giving you a choice. And frankly, if she’s been battered, she may not want you either…she’s clearly been through some shit. I may be a better alternative. And I’m not asking, Luca.” She walks past me to the door and opens it. “Let’s go.”

For the first time in my life, I give in. Gretchen Andrews is not just the woman I love but my equal.

WE PULL UP TO THEclub, and Luca exits the car first.

He leans in to speak with George while extending his hand to me. I take it, unfolding from the SUV, and stand beside him as the two men continue their conversation. I want to pay attention, but it’s hard to focus.

The front of the building is so elegant but also ordinary. It blends with its environment, but I imagine people often comment on the curb appeal.

A couple walks by on the dimly lit sidewalk, and it’s not until they pass that I notice the man is wearing a gold chain around his neck with a long, thin extension. It’s a leash. She has him on a leash.Holy hell.

The woman stops and looks over her shoulder at me and winks. I stare a bit too long out of curiosity before bringing my head back to the conversation. As George walks away, I look up at Luca, and he’s clearly intrigued by my reaction. He brings his lips to my ear.

“I’ll bring you back so you can taste all the flavors and choose your favorite, baby.”

His voice speaks directly to my center. Being commando isn’t helping with rational thought either. Jesus this place has an effect, even from the street.

Luca lets go of my hand to place his on the small of my back.

“No wandering, Angel. Stay close to me, and don’t talk to strangers.”

His warning makes me smile as we walk up the stairs.

The doors are opened by security before we reach them. Luca walks us through, not breaking stride.

We pass through the entry and into an expansive room with a bar and seating areas. It feels like a bar you’d see in some old movie, frequented by glamourous movie stars. The dark woods and deep red velvets accompanied by the very low lighting make it feel sensual and secretive. The pockets of shadows make it easy to explore all the dirty little fantasies.

I can see why they call this place Church; everyone here is devoted to sin. It’s thick in the air, and it’s heady. I’ve been wet since the minute we walked through the door.

A man walks directly toward us, but I don’t really see him. Instead, I notice everything he passes. A couple in a lip-lock, blocking out the world. Two men standing face-to-face, having a conversation with a woman between them.

I blink my eyes a few times, my breathing increasing. One man has a hand on her breast, and the other has a hand lost up her skirt. Her face looks tortured, the kind of sweet torture that derives from the need to come.

I can’t take me eyes off them until I feel Luca reach down and take my hand.

“Matteo, where is she?” Luca asks.Oh, Matteo. Jesus, Shelby.