“And that is what I am saying. It isn’t your business.”
“You’re my daughter, and that will never change. I’ll make shit my business when it comes to protecting you for as long as I am alive.”
Lila Kate sighed and gave me an apologetic look. “Are you having a change of heart now?” she asked me.
I smirked. As if Grant Carter could make me stop wanting her. “No. Not even close.”
Her eyes went soft, and for a moment I forgot her father was even out there with us ruining a perfectly good morning. Our quiet breakfast was not going as planned.
“Jesus,” Grant muttered. Then he walked over and hugged Lila Kate. “I can’t help it you know,” he whispered.
“I love him,” she said her gaze shifting to me.
“And that makes him the luckiest man other than myself that I know.”
Lila Kate grinned up at her father then.
I had been expecting this. I was glad it was over. Now I just had to make sure the Kelsey shit was done. That was one time bomb that threatened everything. If I lost Lila Kate over her, I would gladly let Grant put me out of my misery.
Lila Kate
MOM HAD CALLED me to meet her for lunch at the club today. I’d been so busy I hadn’t seen much of her. Between getting the studio ready and spending time with Cruz, my days were packed. I was just about to walk inside the main building at the club when my phone vibrated. When I checked, it was a text from Eli.
He was good about checking on me once a week if not more. Cruz wasn’t crazy about our friendship, but he allowed it. If he knew I’d had drunken sex with Eli, I doubted he’d be okay with it. That was before us so I figured it wasn’t important to discuss.
I didn’t ask about all the girls he’d slept with before me.
Studio almost ready? Eli’s text asked.
I stopped walking and replied. Another two weeks and it will be open for business. About to have lunch with my mom. Text back later. I dropped my phone back into my purse and looked up to see Kelsey standing a few feet in front of me.
Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. It was so unlike her. She was always so businesslike, I couldn’t imagine her as emotional. Her gaze was locked on me. Almost as if I were the source of her pain. I glanced around me to see if there was anyone else around but it was just me.
“I need to speak with you,” she said her voice hoarse with emotion.
She was upset so it wasn’t like I could say, “No thanks. I have a lunch date with my mom.”
Instead, I just nodded.
“Can you come in my office?” she asked.
I nodded again, and she turned and headed in that direction. I glanced around one more time. I didn’t want to go to this woman’s office but I also didn’t see a way out of accepting her request unless I was rude.
The door was open as she walked inside. Reluctantly, I followed.
She stood at the door and closed it after I entered. I wished she’d left it open. Something about her made me nervous.
“I’ll be brief. There is just something you need to know. I tried handing it with Cruz but he isn’t cooperating. He’s,” she paused and teared up again. “I’m sure you know how cruel and selfish he can be.”
That got my attention. “Cruz isn’t either of those things,” I said in defense of him. This woman’s issues with his position at the club needed to be dealt with by Woods.
Her tear-stained face looked less defeated and more like the haughty woman I’d seen when she had spoken to Cruz last week when we had been eating.
“You’re so young and na?ve,” she said with a disgusted look in her eyes. “You aren’t in a fairy tale. Cruz isn’t your prince charming, and he’s not the kind of guy that will settle down and marry you. He needs sex with different women. A variety,” she paused and then grinned as if she was amused with me.
“When he was sixteen I taught him all about sex. I started his addiction. We fucked on this very table so many times I can’t count. I’ve stood right here with my legs spread while he licked my pussy until I couldn’t stand up. I let him be with other girls to get his taste. But I knew he’d always come back here. He wanted me. Needed what I gave him. He’s good at sex because I showed him what a woman wants. What she aches for. That mouth you’ve kissed has been all over this body,” she cupped her breast as she said it.
I couldn’t find words. The things she was saying sounded like rantings from a crazy woman. She wanted me to believe he’d been having sex with a forty-year-old married woman when he was sixteen?
“You are trying to sink your claws into what is mine.”
“You’re married,” I said still in shock that she’d even think I could believe her.
She laughed at me then. “That doesn’t matter. Not to us. Cruz and I crave each other. He was mine until you came along. Now I’m pregnant with his child and he wants nothing to do with me or the baby. You’re taking our child’s father away.” She touched her stomach gently.
“You’re lying,” I said shaking my head and backing up toward the door. I knew Cruz had been a little wild. That wasn’t a secret. But he hadn’t done this. I was sure of it.
“I knew you wouldn’t believe me,” she said and picked up a remote from her desk. The sounds of sex filled the room, and I turned to see the flat screen behind me.
There would be no denying what I watched. Kelsey was naked, her legs wide open and her head thrown back as Cruz screwed her on her desk. Just like she’d said.
“We liked to video our sex and watch it later. It got us hot and bothered. We often fucked while watching us fuck on the screen. That’s the kind of thing Cruz needs to make him truly happy. I also watched him. He would fuck some girl while I hid and watched. He liked knowing I was there while he did it. Seeing them. He’d get so worked up we’d both be crazy for it. I have videos of that too if you need to see.”
“Fuck yes, Kelsey. Open wide you dirty whore. Give me what I want,” Cruz’s words came from the screen and I cringed. “Such a nasty bitch. My nasty little bitch, give me that ass.” Cruz then flipped her over. Pulling her hips up so her ass was stuck in the air. He spit on her bottom then stuck his fingers inside. “Tight asshole. You want my dick up that ass, don’t you?” She screamed, “Yes, fuck my ass. Fuck it hard!” She turned her head around to look back at him and he covered her mouth with his—that was all I could take. I ran. I ran out the door. I ran to my car. I ran from it all. I drove. I didn’t stop. I didn’t know where I was going but my soul had been destroyed.