“I heard her saying she was coming tonight. That Liv was bringing her.” Nate laughs at his words. “That should be interesting.”
Turning away, I move through the throngs of people already here and partying, and decide I should change. Not into what Cane’s wearing—he looks ridiculous. Who the fuck in their right mind wears that shit if they can see straight. No, just out of this uniform that feels like it strangles me every fucking day. As I pull the tie free from around my neck, my cell starts ringing.
It’s my father.
Did I mention that my father doesn’t just own nightclubs?
No! My father’s a major underground player.
His main work.
I’m not sure I could handle what he does.
My father is ruthless. The worst man I’ve ever met. There’s not an ounce of remorse in his body. Regret, sorrow, self-reproach don’t enter his mind. Ever. Even with the type of work he carries out.
“Yes.” Kicking my shoes off I wait for his reply.
“You aren’t coming home tonight?” There’s no, hi how are you son? No, is everything all right? Just straight to the point.
“No.”
“Good.” Then he hangs up on me. That means he has company. The type of company he doesn’t want me around to see. He’s kept me out of that side of the business and intends to continue to do so. Instead, he only wants me to take over the club business.
I’m Ryken Lord.
And my father is a sex slave trafficker.
The most wanted man in all of Australia. They just don’t know it and haven’t caught him yet.
CONFESSION #1
“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It’s been two years since my last confession.”
My hand scratches my leg as it bounces up and down.
“Today, I’ve found my new obsession.”
Silence.
The priest waits for more, but he’s met with the door of the confessional snapping shut as I leave without absolution.
Chapter 4
Saskia
“Tell me… tell me honestly, have you done it yet? Or are you still a virgin?”
My face flushes and I run to shut my bedroom door. The minute I shut it, my body leans up against it because we don’t have a lock. We aren’t rich. We hardly get by as it is. So I have to protect this conversation we’re having. Livia speaks too much, and often too loudly for my liking. But I still love her.
She raises an eyebrow at me waiting for me to reply to her words. “Well?” Her eyes are wide, and she taps her foot as she pauses for me to answer. My hands start rubbing my arms, and I nod my head. “Yes.”
Livia likes to overemphasize everything. Right now she throws her arms up dramatically and then lets them fall onto my bed as she falls backward with a big sigh.
“It needs to happen soon, Sass. You can’t be the only virgin left at the school.”
I raise a skeptical brow at her.
Livia leans up on her elbows to look at me. “You know you’re the only one left. Right? There’s like two that are still virgins. And believe me when I say… well, they will be lucky to ever have sex. You…” her hand waves over me up and down, “… are beautiful. The boys stare, Sass. Do it.”
“I feel like you’re pressuring me into something I’m not sure I even want.” I slide down the door, my legs laying out in front of me. She clicks her tongue at my words and sits up. Maybe if it was with Ryken, I might want it.
“You just don’t know how much you want it because you haven’t had it, yet.”
I shake my head at her words. Livia is one year older than my sixteen years. That puts her one year above me in class level, and by her standards, I should already be having sex. The only stuff I’ve learned about sex is from Livia. My mother doesn’t talk about that with me. And even if she wanted to, she doesn’t have the time. She works. A lot. Raising me by herself has been hard. The only help she’s had is from Livia’s family, who offered to take me to and from school when I was younger. Now, I just walk or take the bus. Livia lays back on my bed. The sheets on the bed are a gift from her. A lot of my clothes have been gifted from Livia and her family.
“I want to actually feel something for the boy I sleep with, Liv.” I stand up, brushing over my bottom and then stepping over to my bed to lie down next to her.
“You will, when he splits you open.” She laughs loudly, and I cringe at her words.
“Do you ever want me to have sex? Because those words should never have left your mouth if you’re trying to talk me into it.” Turning to watch her, she rolls her eyes and then makes a popping sound with her mouth.