Freed (Club Sin 4)

Charles isn’t here.

Life is so damn short.

Having her kids living out their dreams was all that mattered anymore. Now Mary wondered why she hadn’t thought of doing that for herself. She wasn’t sure when she’d decided to stop living or, more to the point, to live only for other people.

Her thoughts oddly went to Elliott. He’d given more to her life in just a couple weeks than she’d received in the last four years. What he told her last night echoed in her ears: “You’re too personable to be spending so much time alone, darlin’. Others are missing out, not having you in their lives.”

The old her was that woman.

She pondered now how Elliott had seen that side of her, when she was anything but that woman anymore. She had gone to his play party to connect with that side of herself again, and she realized now she had. Even more so, Elliott had helped draw that woman out.

Dark sadness overtook her, making her swallow deeply. God, how she’d treated him with such disrespect when he’d been nothing but caring toward her. And it was exactly that—entirely disrespectful that she’d thought of another Dom in his presence.

Elliott hadn’t deserved that, and a soul-crippling sadness stormed into her.

Mary blinked out of her thoughts as Cassie asked, “So, what did you do after the

show?”

She took a sip of the tea the waitress had left and didn’t enjoy the thought of lying to Cassie. Her lifestyle wasn’t something she and Charles had shared with their children. No one knew what they’d enjoyed in the bedroom. Some things were not for children to hear, no matter how close they were. “I went back to my hotel.”

“Oh, wow, you are full of excitement,” Cassie muttered, rolling her eyes. “You come to New York City and hide away in your room. You need to get a life.”

“I have a life, thank you very much,” Mary retorted in her defense. “A good life.” Though Mary didn’t even believe herself now. Her life wasn’t as good as it could be, she knew that.

Cassie raised her brows. “A boring life.”

Mary ignored her daughter’s dig and asked, “This new show you’re going to be in, tell me about it.”

Cassie examined her mother, then tightness formed in her expression. “Mom, why don’t you date?”

“Cassie,” Mary grumbled.

“No, seriously, why?”

“Because I love your father,” Mary replied. “I have no interest in dating.”

Cassie’s eyes turned bleak. “Aren’t you lonely?”

Mary stared at her daughter, unsure of what to say. Cassie didn’t understand how deep her and Charles’s relationship was. The ownership it stood for. What it did to Mary when Charles died. “I am lonely sometimes, yes. But I have you three kids, which also includes a meddling daughter.”

Cassie barked a laugh, though the deep sorrow in her gaze remained. “A daughter who loves you and thinks you shouldn’t spend your days alone. I know Dad wouldn’t care about that. He’d want you to be happy.”

Mary again stared at her daughter, trying to find the words to explain. Absentmindedly, she touched her diamond necklace. She had pledged herself to Charles. She couldn’t imagine herself offering that vow to someone else. Her loyalty to Charles knew no bounds. “What your father and I had happens once, and I feel blessed I got to experience it.”

Cassie’s eyelids lowered and she looked so much older and wiser than her years. “But if it happened once that means it can happen again.” She placed her hand over Mary’s, softening her voice. “If it was me in this situation, what would you tell me?”

Mary hesitated, and then begrudgingly admitted, “I’d tell you that life is too short to spend it alone.” Her throat began to tighten as she added, “I would also tell you if you find someone who makes you feel loved, you don’t ever let them go, and to always keep living.”

Cassie nodded. “Sounds like some good advice that you need to listen to.”

Chapter Fourteen

In Antonia’s, an upscale five-star Italian restaurant located in the Aces casino, Elliott shifted in his seat as the young man at the piano played a lovely tune. White linens covered the tabletops. Small candles gave the room a warm glow. Even though soft conversations were going on around him, he stayed more in his head than in the present.

Four days had gone by in a blur since Elliott had last seen Mary. As the long days and nights passed, his mood had darkened with each minute drifting by. He leaned back in his chair and sipped his wine, frustration drowning him. He couldn’t decide if he’d done the right thing or made a terrible mistake by walking out on her. It seemed that having a piece of her was better than having nothing at all.

Someone clearing her throat drew his focus. Elliott lifted his head to his sister, Ana, frowning at him from across the table. “Care to tell me what is wrong with you?” she asked.