Page 2 of Sex & Cigarettes

“Is that what you think?” He chuckles darkly. “My dear. You’re a fool to believe that. Come. I want to show you something.” He moves from behind his desk and holds his hand out to me.

I reluctantly accept only because I need help getting up out of this damn chair.

“You do have a beautiful glow.” His finger caresses my cheek, and I want to vomit. “Walk with me.”

“The only place I want to go is home. Be reasonable. You don’t want me giving birth here. You don’t want to raise my child. You don’t want me. Not really. You don’t even know me. Please. Send me back to my husband.”

“But if I did that what would I get in return? You’re meant to be my wife. That’s what I want. You to give up this marriage and be with your rightful husband.”

“What do you want me to say? That I will force Abel to leave Hell’s Kitchen. Done. We will pack up and go. All I want is to be with my husband. I didn’t expect to love him. It’s true I married him for protection, but I fell in love. I found something I never expected. I found the missing half of my soul. Don’t you want that for yourself?”

“I thought I would have it with you, Ainsley.” He scowls and jerks me out the door of the study.

“Why do you hate my husband so much?”

“He has everything that belongs to me, and you think I am supposed to take that insult and turn the other cheek. You know how this world works. And if you do not then you are a fool. And your husband is an even bigger idiot for not educating you.”

“My father sheltered me from this life. You cannot fault Abel for that. This is new for him. He lives by the outlaw code.”

“Yes, but it is not much different. Trade his leather for a suit and we are the same.”

“You are nothing like my husband.”

“You think so. Who do you think was behind sending you those little presents? That wasn’t me. Ask your husband who sent those things to torture you. I assure you that he did those things to make you scared. To force you to depend on him. He manipulated you into falling in love with him. Much easier to control a woman who loves you than one who despises you, no?”

“He wouldn’t.” I have hope. I have faith my husband wouldn’t hurt me like that, and he will come for me, somehow. Someway.

There is nothing he wants or loves more than this child and me.

Not money.

Not power.

I have faith in him.

In his love for me.

Hope is all I have.

“But he did. I will allow you one phone call to ask him. If that is your wish.”

“Fine. Let me call him.”

“I will set something up. I am not the bad guy here.”

I snort. “You said there was something you wanted to show me.”

“Yes. The contract your father signed. The contract that promised me your hand. Your virginity.”

“Like I would’ve agreed to that.”

“You married your biker for the same reasons your father promised you to me. Who had the most to gain from your marriage? Ask yourself that.”

“We’re going in circles. You’ll say anything to get what you want. Twist the truth to fit your narrative.”

“Hate me. Blame me if you must. But I tell you this—your husband is a liar and he manipulated you for power.”

“Everyone is a liar,” I tell him. My stomach sinks as I think back on all the packages that arrived and how perfectly timed their arrival was. Its possible. Abel had everything to gain and nothing to lose by marrying me. New territory. Money. Power.