“It’s not entirely his fault, you know. He’s never been irresponsible. He would have asked about hard limits and set boundaries.”
“None of that matters. Not anymore.” Trevor turned to the counter to retrieve a fresh mug.
“Aly’s here now, and this is where she’s going to stay.”
“That might be easier said than done.”
“No, it isn’t.” Trevor abandoned his own caffeine fix and looked Michael in the eye. “If she doesn’t stay she’ll lose access to the club. I’ve already spoken with Vaughn.”
Michael placed his mug on the center island. “Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?
You’ll take away the only thing she has to turn to.”
“Which is why she’ll accept my offer to stay here, recover and give Brian and me the opportunity to show her that she belongs with us.”
“That’s your plan?”
“Can you think of a better one?”
After contemplating things in the eerie quiet of the kitchen, Michael shook his head. Aly was a live wire, unbalanced and a danger to herself. With Trevor and Brian she would have the stability and security she so obviously needed. Swiping the mug off the table one last time, he drained the last of his coffee, walked to the counter and placed the cup in the sink.
“You’re sure you’re okay to drive?” Trevor didn’t sound convinced.
“As soon as I get a shower I’ll be good for another hour or so.”
Michael exited the kitchen without saying another word, ready to get cleaned up and on his way to see what he anticipated would be a scorned woman. It was a shame too, because he was equally pissed. Lacey’s reaction had confirmed what he’d suspected, even though he’d managed to delude himself into believing he had to be wrong. She still hadn’t given him what he needed most. The one thing he would demand if they were going to have a chance at any future together.
How he loved and hated the elusive phantom known as faith.
In a way, it was better that he learned the truth now, before he was too invested, while his heart— he hoped—would still be able to mend.
As he climbed the stairs to the guest bedroom, he wondered how in the hell things had gone from pristine crystal to a steaming pile of shit.
Chapter Twelve
Lacey had just placed all the trimmings for a salad on the table when Candice emerged from the bathroom dressed in baggy flannel pants and a camisole. Her hair was loose and her face was free of makeup but otherwise she appeared fine. Although she wasn’t as put together as Lacey was used to, she seemed far more composed and in control, which was a step in the right direction.
“Feel better?”
“Loads.”
They sat at the same time and started piling their plates with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and dressing. As they ate in silence, Lacey combed her brain for a way to pry for answers without pushing her friend too far. Just when she cleared her throat to start, Candice beat her to it.
“Do you remember when we were in college and I started taking a class across town?”
“The one for investigative reporting?” When Candice nodded, Lacey answered, “I remember.
You were gone every weekend for six months. I was afraid you’d run off to join a reporter cult or something.”
“Or something.”
Lacey placed her fork on the table and studied the woman, who was obviously at the end of her rope. Candice was picking at her salad, shifting the lettuce from side to side, shaking her head.
“Talk to me.”
Candice took a deep breath and placed her own utensil on the plate. “I lied to you.”
She didn’t say anything, giving her friend time to come clean on her own. Candice reached for her glass of sweet tea, took a long swallow and sat it on the table before she started again.
“A couple of months after all that shit happened with Jason, I was approached by a student in the library. She didn’t say much. She just walked up to my table, placed a card in front of me and said that she’d heard about what happened. I was still resentful, so of course I told her to mind her own fucking business. She didn’t seem fazed. Instead she remained completely calm and told me if I wanted to make sure I was never a victim again, I would call the number she’d given me. Then she walked away.”
“What was on the card?”
Candice shrugged. “A phone number. I mulled over it for about a week before I caved in and called. I was too curious not to. The person who answered was also vague and told me to take down an address. Before she ended the call she invited me to visit the address and warned me it was a one-time deal.”
“Did you go?”
“Yes.”
“Let me make sure I understand you correctly. You went to an unknown address, to meet people you didn’t know, and you had no idea what they wanted.”
Candice nodded and took another sip of her tea. “Looking back, it was a stupid thing to do. But I’m glad I did it, because it allowed me to take back my life.”
“I don’t understand,” Lacey said slowly.
“When I arrived, I discovered the address was nothing more than an abandoned warehouse.
Parked right in front was a limousine, and standing beside the rear door was the girl from the library.
She told me the person I wanted to talk to was inside the car so I walked over, slid inside and came face-to-face with a woman. She was in her thirties, well-dressed, and would have been stunning if it hadn’t been for the scar from her temple to her lip. She told me she knew what occurred on campus and offered me an opportunity to reclaim what I’d lost. When I told her that was impossible she assured me that not only was it possible, but if I was willing to listen and observe I could learn something that could change my life.”
“What did you do?”
“I agreed.”
“You agreed?”
Candice sighed and placed her glass on the table. “You have to understand something. After everything that happened I was a total wreck. There was no adequate way to describe what I was feeling. I couldn’t talk to anyone about it, not entirely.” She looked up and met Lacey’s confused stare.
“Not even you.”
The honesty hurt, preventing Lacey from responding. Ever since she and Candice had met, at the first student assembly, they’d shared everything with each other.
Or so she’d thought.
“It’s not about you, if that’s what you’re thinking. It’s about something you couldn’t understand, and it’s something I wouldn’t want you to understand.”
She managed to keep her voice neutral. “Then try explaining it to me.”
“I was introduced to other women who had been used, hurt or taken advantage of by men.
They shared their stories, asked about mine and allowed me to realize that I never had to be placed in that position again.”
“So it was a support group?”
Candice seemed extremely nervous and uncomfortable. “Not exactly.”
“Then what was it?”
Candice looked Lacey in the eye again, as if steeling herself not to look away when she answered. “They were all Dommes. Female dominants.”
“Say what?”
“You heard me.”
Yes, she had, but her mind didn’t want to accept it. Female dominants. Dommes.
Holy shit.
She gazed from side to side, unable to come up with anything to say. Her best friend, a woman she had known for years, was involved with Dommes.
Unbelievable.
Reading her as she was so prone to, Candice said, “Say something.”
“I’m thinking.”
“Think harder.”
Lacey laughed. “I’m drawing a blank.”
“That’s obvious.”