“I’d love to.”

“You know where it is?”

“Right around the corner from your office, right?”

“Yep.”

“Alright. I’ll text you when I leave.”

“Sounds good. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Anna hung up and slipped the phone back into the pocket of her sweatpants.

“What’s up?” Travis arched a brow. “Boyfriend troubles?”

Anna smiled and shook her head. “You wish.” Travis liked to tease her that he wanted to be the first to know if they ever broke up, so he could ask her out. “He won his case and his team is going out to celebrate. He wants me to join them.”

“That’s great.”

Anna nodded and checked the ribbons on her pointe shoes. “It is. I’m so happy for him.” And she would have a chance to tell him the truth and not risk upsetting him during an important case.

Travis rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re so much in love, it’s revolting.”

Anna shot Ben a text after she started her car. It would only take a few minutes to get to the bar. Happiness bubbled up within her for Ben, but it was quickly overshadowed by a deep sense of dread about the conversation she had to have with him.

Her heart ached with guilt as she drove through the busy streets of the city. But Ben had always reassured her that he would love her no matter what, and that promise gave her some comfort.

But would he still love her when he found out she was a sex slave?

She arrived at the sports bar, but there were no parking spots to be seen. She circled the block until she found one.

Ben rushed over as she walked inside the mostly empty bar. Music played, but it wasn’t overly loud. Happy hour was over and the night crowd hadn’t arrived yet. “I was getting worried,” he said, kissing her.

“I couldn’t find a spot. Sorry.”

“I’m just glad you’re okay.”

She liked that he worried about her. He wanted to protect her from her guardian, even though he didn’t know who her guardian was. When she was occasionally late, he always worried that Jack had gotten hold of her.

“Well, c’mon. Let me show you off.”

Anna grinned as he pulled her toward a large group of tables in the back of the room. It was crowded with many men and women wearing professional attire, laughing and drinking.

A familiar figure caught her eye and she stopped dead in her tracks. No, it couldn’t be. Please no. But when he turned around, there was no denying it. Jack stood across the room, holding a bottle of beer in his hand, laughing with the group Ben was leading her toward. “Anna. What’s wrong?”

Anna’s mouth wouldn’t work and her heart fell in her chest as she made eye contact with her guardian. He flashed a wicked grin and wove through the tables toward them.

“Anna?” Ben turned her to face him. “Anna, you’re so pale. What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, Ben. I’m so sorry.” She looked up at him through blurry eyes, knowing Ben was going to find out the truth tonight whether she wanted him to or not. Jack wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to humiliate her.

“What are you apologizing for? Why are you pale?” He brushed her hair out of her face. “Love, please. Talk to me.”

Anna glanced at Jack, who was only a few feet away. She took his hand and pulled him back to the front of the bar. “Ben, I need to tell you something?—‍”

“Ben!” Jack patted Ben on the shoulder and laughed. “Is this the girl you’ve been moon-eyed over for the last few months?”

Ben put his arm around Anna’s shoulder. “Yes, it is. Anna, this is my boss and mentor, Jack Koslov. Jack, this is my girlfriend?—‍”