Growing up in the Blackwell Estate, Roman and I were preached to daily about how sex clouds the mind, that lust is a drug and becomes addictive. It was repeated over and over by those who trained the Blackwells, dating back decades. I took it as an oath, and Roman took it as a challenge. We were taught how to control our urges, see women as objects rather than humans.
Roman’s always diving into forbidden pussy. He knows the rules yet still sneaks around with the escorts. That’s why the women have no respect for him. He’s just another client to them, using Roman like another man with a wallet.
I’m not saying I don’t have sex; I sleep with women all the time, but I don’t break rules. I don’t have sex with our escorts. I don’t have sex with any of our clients, and I don’t conspire with anyone who may know any of our clients or escorts. That’s the biggest rule for a Blackwell. But I’d be a damned liar if I said Charlie didn’t stick out amongst every female who spread their legs for me, making the laws of the estate a blur.
“Are you going to be able to handle her?” Roman questions, looking at me with concern. I swallow and close my eyes. I have to be able to handle her. In the end, though, Charlie will hate me.
“She’s just another escort,” I remind him, and myself.
CHARLIE
“Oh, my God! Charlie, I was so worried!” Jayden flings herself into me as soon as I walk through the door, nearly knocking me over.
I smile and hold her close, the smell of cocoa wafting from her hair a solace. She squeezes me hard, making my ribs scream with pain, but I don’t care. To feel loved, to know someone would miss me if I disappeared is unfamiliar.
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” I whisper into her shoulder.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” Jayden cries into my hair. “What happened?” Jayden pulls herself back using my shoulders, her gray eyes filled with unshed tears.
“Landon happened,” I grumble, pulling from her fully and throwing my shoes by the bed.
“I’ll be right outside this door, Charlie,” Osborn states, reminding me he followed me up here. I look over my shoulder at him. Osborn is a muscular man who looks like he just swallowed a year’s worth of steroids. His shoulders are broad and muscled to the point he doesn’t look like he has a neck. He’s in a black suit with black sunglasses placed snuggly on his face, even though it’s night.
“Who the fuck is this?” Jayden shrieks, not noticing Osborn followed me in before now. I grab her arm, stopping her in her pursuit of anger.
“He’s the watchdog,” I sneer. Osborn doesn’t even flinch, just shuts the door behind him as he leaves.
“What?” Jayden questions, wiping her cheeks with her hands.
“Landon, the man who gave me that thousand dollars—”
“What about him?” Jayden interrupts.
“I guess he runs some escort business. I work for him now – actually, I’m owned by him. It looks like Mick got himself in some kind of situation, because I no longer work for Mick,” I clarify, peeling my dress off my sweaty body, leaving me in my bra and panties.
“You can’t be serious. He can’t own you.” Jayden shakes her head in confusion, her forehead wrinkling in panic.
“He’s very powerful, and has made it clear what happens if I try to defy him.” I take my gaze from Jayden, debating if I should tell her that Landon threatened her life. I bite my lip and decide against it. She doesn’t need anything else added to her plate of terror; losing each other is going to be enough.
“He’s not to be messed with, Jayden.”
“When you say owned, do you mean, like, you won’t be living here anymore?” Jayden asks, her voice taking a tone of sorrow. I look at her, my expression clearly telling her everything she needs to know.
“No. He can’t do that. We can run. We can call the police.” Jayden tears up, her hands grabbing at me frantically.
“No, we can’t, Jayden. We just… can’t,” I stumble on my words. I can’t dive into telling her how obviously powerful Landon is. This is unbearably painful for me, to know this is the last time I may see Jayden. All I want to do is slump to the floor and cry with her, but I can’t. I won’t give Landon that power. I’ll savor the time I have with Jayden and be strong for the both of us.
“You’re all I have,” Jayden whispers, making my eyes snap to hers. I grab her into a hug, needing that feeling of comfort.
“You’re all I have, too,” I respond. “I’ll work something out. Get you in there as an escort, see if I can come home on the weekends, or find a way out of there — something,” I mumble into her curly hair, her fingers digging into my back as she cries.