Wildcard: Volume Three

He reaches for my hand. I jump as his fingers touch mine. How is he okay with this? I don't get it, but right now I don't have time to question it.

“The first two weren't that memorable.” I run a hand through my hair and breathe deeply, the air burning as it fills my lungs. “I approached them both in the bar. Convincing them to take me back to their rooms was much easier than I’d thought it would be.”

I take a deep breath and close my eyes. This wasn’t getting any easier.

“Tony picked the men. Old. Well-dressed. And wearing a wedding ring. They were the requirements. It was always an expensive hotel, because the whole idea was money.” I laugh and shake my head. “Everything was about the money.”

“The videos, what do they show?” he asks.

“The first few times things were stopped before they progressed too far. Tony made it clear that he was going to protect me, but I didn't have to do anything I didn't want to. He would get the shots with the implication of what was happening there, and that was enough for the men to cave.”

“What exactly does he have on you? A video of you engaging in consensual sex with someone isn't going to be enough to get you into trouble,” he says, his expression darkening.

“I know,” I say. “And it wasn’t even sex.”

I close my eyes, wishing there was some way for me to get out of saying what I was about to say.

“By the fourth time, it finally sunk in that he was using me. I told him I wasn't going to do any more. He snapped and threatened me. He told me if I didn't do it one more time, he’d make sure I spent a good part of Jake’s childhood behind bars.”

“So you did it again,” he sighs.

“Yes. Only this time, Tony was out for more money.” I laugh, because this sounds ridiculous. “Honestly? I didn't even know who the guy was at first. I thought the plan was the same: we’d go to his room, get intimate, and Tony would come rushing in saying I was only sixteen.”

“What happened?” Ryder moves closer to me.

I hold my breath as his fingers run along my hairline, a shiver racing down my back. I’m so freaking lucky he is taking this so well. How many guys would stand by their girl after hearing this?

“He didn't stop it. I kept waiting and waiting for him to come in and help me, but it never happened. I said no, I told the guy I didn't want this, but he just laughed and told me he’d already paid my ‘pimp’ to have me for the night, and that he was going to get his money's worth.”

“Scar . . . he raped you?”

“I guess so.” I shrug. At the time, I’d put it down to karma: I’d gotten what I deserved after what I did to those other men.

Tears roll down my cheeks. I wipe my eyes and stare down at the bedspread, embarrassed and ashamed of myself.

“I can't believe this,” Ryder mumbles. He jumps to his feet and paces the room, cursing every few steps. “That fucking wanker. I’ll kill him. I’ll fucking kill the bastard.”

He turns to me, his brow furrowing. He walks back over and sits down next to me on the bed, taking my hand firmly in his. “Scar, this isn't your fault. Why has he been carrying this around for so long? Go to the police. What the hell can he do to you?”

“It's not that easy, Ryder. I wish to fucking God it was. He—” I pause and close my eyes. “We scammed four men out of thirty thousand dollars each. That's a hundred and twenty grand. That's fraud. Blackmail. That's what he has over me. That last guy? That was just payback, his way of getting revenge on me.” I laugh and shake my head. “He had me raped, Ryder. He wouldn’t hesitate to ruin my life again.”

I sigh as his arms wrap around me. Why is he still here? How can he not run after hearing what I just told him?

“Who’s the guy, Scar? The guy who paid to sleep with you?”

My palms begin to sweat as my pulse speeds up. I knew this question was coming, but I’m hesitant to tell him the truth because I know he’ll be out for blood, and I’m not sure how much this guy is to blame. He thought he’d paid for a hooker.

But I can’t lie to him anymore. I’m tired, and if there’s one thing all this has taught me it’s that secrets never stay secret for long.

“Matt,” I whisper, lowering my eyes. I brace myself for his reaction, which I know isn’t going to be good.

His forehead creases, then his eyes widen in shock. “As in my manager?”

I nod, unable to speak over the lump in my throat. I’d recognized his voice when I’d called for Ryder’s location when he left my house after seeing Tony. Thank God he didn’t recognize mine. But why would he? I was just some slut he thought he’d paid to sleep with nearly two years ago.

“Fuck,” Ryder curses, leaning forward. “Matt is the cunt who raped you?”

Chapter Thirteen