“He just enjoys the chase.”
“I can try to talk to him? Make him see that—”
“No, no. It’s fine. I can handle Zander. But thank you.”
“Of course.” Her expression was etched with sympathy. “I’d help you get out if I could. But it’s—”
“Gisele, I don’t expect you or anyone else to fight my battles.”
And I would never jeopardize her job like that. Zander wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of anyone who tried to get in his way, his best dancers included. Because there were always more girls like Gisele and Marielle… and me. Girls looking to make a quick buck and escape whatever nightmare drove them to a place like DiMarco’s in the first place.
A lot of them would argue it wasn’t so bad. The club was one of the more high-end joints in Providence, and Zander and his guys afforded them a certain amount of protection—provided they did their job and brought in enough money.
“Ugh, duty calls.” Gisele rolled her eyes, and I glanced back again to find Zander glaring at her.
“I’ll see you later, okay?” She squeezed my hand before disappearing.
I headed for the bar, trying to keep busy. It was hard with Zander’s eyes following me everywhere. Especially so early into my shift.
“Cait, do me a favor and go get some extra napkins, we’re short,” Shaun said, not looking up from the counter.
“Sure thing.” Hurrying into the back, I went straight into the storeroom and grabbed as many packets of napkins as I could find. But when I turned around, Zander was blocking the door.
“Z-Zander, what are you—”
“Relax, dolcezza,” he purred. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. You seemed… tense after our talk this morning.”
“I’m fine.” I forced a smile. “But I should probably get these back to Shaun before he comes looking for me.”
Zander stepped into the room, taking the air with him. “No one’s coming back here, Caitlin. It’s just you and me.” He crowded me into the corner of the storeroom, my back hitting the shelves.
“I… I have to work.”
“I’m your boss, and I think you should take a quick break.”
“But I…”
“Stop, Cait.” His hand shot out, grabbing my jaw. “Just stop.”
Tears rushed up my throat as my heart crashed wildly in my chest. I thought I was safe. At least until later.
Fear flooded me, making it hard to breathe.
“I can’t stop thinking about fucking Cabrioles with his hands on you. I should never have let him touch you.” He brushed his thumb along my cheek. “He wasn’t worthy of you, dolcezza.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “It’s over. He won’t be a problem no more.”
Something flashed in Zander’s eyes, but he nodded all the same. “Come here.” His hand slipped to my neck, curving around my throat. He pulled me closer, forcing me to tilt my face up to look at him.
“The things I want to do to you. The things I want to show you…”
Oh God.
The knot in my stomach twisted. He wasn’t going to let me walk away from this untouched. Not this time.
There was a feral look in his eyes. A hunger I’d seen too many times before.
“You’re mine, Caitlin. Mine.” He lowered his head, pressing his mouth to mine.
Every muscle inside me went rigid as I tried to breathe through the terror. My body trembled at his touch.
“Open up for me,” he drawled, licking the seam of my lips, trying to force his way in.
“Zander, not here,” I breathed, desperately trying to break out of his hold without seeming too forceful. “I have to—”
He smashed his body into mine, stealing the air from my lungs as he plunged his tongue into my mouth. My head smacked off the edge of the shelves, stars exploding in my vision.
“Zander, no.” I tried to fight him, but he was too strong, too heavy, pressing the entire length of his body against mine.
Stars swam in my vision and tears stung my eyes. I heard the familiar clunk of his belt buckle, bile churning in my stomach.
“No,” I cried. “Not here, not like—”
He backhanded me so hard my teeth rattled, and pain exploded along my jaw.
“You think you’re too good for me? Is that it?” His hands began clawing at my legs, my thighs. My eyes grew heavy, the pounding in my skull making blood roar in my ears.
“I… no… please…”
Zander grabbed my face hard, squeezing my cheeks to the point of pain. “I’m going to enjoy this.” He grinned, but it was dark and twisted.
That grin was the last thing I saw before oblivion claimed me.
“Stay with me, girl.” The voice drifted in and out of my consciousness.
Or maybe that was me.
I couldn’t figure it out.
Everything was blurry… like swimming underwater with your eyes open.
“Cait?” The voice sounded panicked. “Cait, hold on… we’re almost there.”
I wanted to ask where, but when my lips moved nothing but a tiny squeak came out. My mouth felt wrong, swollen and sore, and I could taste the coppery, metallic twang of blood on my tongue.
“Oh God,” I murmured, agony shredding my insides. “What…? What…?”
“Shh.” Someone reached over and squeezed my hand. “It’s going to be okay, Cait.”
“Where are you taking me?” Shaun’s form shimmered in and out of focus.
“He thinks I’m taking you to County in Providence. But fuck that,” Shaun spat. “He went too far this time, Cait. Too fucking far. I’m going to drive you to Pawtucket and tell him we stopped for gas and you ran.”
“W-what? That’s crazy.” He was crazy.
I couldn’t run.
Where the hell would I go? I could barely keep awake.
“You need to disappear, okay? If he finds you… he’ll kill you, Cait. I won’t have that on my conscience.”
“It hurts,” I groaned, touching a shaky finger to my hair. When I pulled it away it was coated with sticky, dried blood. “Oh my God.”
What the hell had he done to me?
A shudder went through me as hazy memories assaulted me. Hands grabbing, teeth and tongue, his strong body taking what wasn’t his to take.
Oh God.
“We’re almost there, just try and keep it together, okay?”
But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t fight the agony radiating through my body, my face.
“Shaun,” I murmured, barely a whisper. “I’m… I’m scared.”
“It’s going to be okay, Cait,” he said. “It’s going to be okay.”
It was the last thing I heard.
Chapter 4
Matteo
“Morning, Son,” Dad said looking up from his newspaper. “I didn’t expect to see you this morning. Nicco said you and Enzo were heading to Providence.”
“We are but Enzo and Nora stayed an extra night. They should be back anytime, so I told Arabella I can give her a ride to school.”