Page 61 of Indiscreet

“Keep your head down and don’t cry. Tear streaks are an aphrodisiac for some here. Defiance is a challenge that some will work to break.” She stared down at her hands. “The more you comply, the more freedom you’ll get and the more options you’ll have. The easier some of them have it, the less they will want to keep you.”

“Why are you telling me this?” I whispered, fumbling as I struggled to put the silk stockings in place.

She met my eyes. “I’m not telling you anything, understand?”

I clasped her hand. “Thank you…?”

She shook her head. “No names.”

She had said all she had for me. The second she was done styling my hair, the door opened to reveal the man I remembered was the guard who took me off the ship. My skin crawled as his gaze shifted up and down my body. I looked around for a mask, but there wasn’t one. My identity would be revealed. Once it was, with all I’d witnessed, I doubted I’d be let go.

The guard let out a whistle. I grimaced, and the woman cleared her throat, reminding me what she had warned me about. I allowed him to take my arm. For now, until I find my escape.

“You’re beautiful, baby girl,” he said. “Maybe the host will let the guards play with you before he has to turn you over.”

“She’s for the host?” the woman asked, the alarm in her voice evident.

The only host I knew was Vincent, but that didn’t surprise me. It had become personal between him and Dane during the evening we were together. What was making my pulse ramp up to a frantic pace was the news that I was to be turned over to someone else. They hadn’t removed my wristband. Could it be that they would give me back to Dane? The question was out of my mouth before I could stop it.

“Turn me over to who?” I demanded.

The guard looked straight through me. “Whoever they please.” He took my arm and my hope.

***

Outside the room was an elevator that took us down to a private underground garage where a limousine was waiting. The guard let go of my arm and opened the back door, where Marco appeared and climbed out.

“Gia Walsh,” Marco said, grinning. He used my married name—did he not know I was divorced? I didn’t seek to correct him, but it gave me an idea.

I shrugged. “If you know my name, you also know I’m the wife of Washington’s governor, Patrick Walsh Jr. You need to let me go now.”

He chuckled. “That’s the very reason you can’t go, stupid,” he said in a mocking tone. “But don’t you worry, once you adjust to your new life, you’ll be fine, just like your friend Liz. She said she knows you, told me everything about you.”

I swallowed. Of course Liz had to tell him about me if she found out I was here. I only hoped he hadn’t hurt her to get the information. “Liz is here?”

“Yes, she is,” he said, like he’d given me a gift. He gestured toward the open door of the limo. “She can’t wait to speak to you.”

I held my tongue and didn’t move away when he stroked my cheek.

“See? I’m good when you behave,” he purred, taking my silence as compliance.

I needed to stay focused until I could escape.

“You and Liz stay good and we can all have fun together.” He pressed his hand on my back and I climbed inside the vehicle then watched him go back inside the house just as the driver moved the limo.

“Gia!” Liz exclaimed as the door closed. The sight of her left me temporarily speechless.

Liz was sitting across from me. She was…radiant. She was well dressed in a strapless satin evening gown a shade darker than her red hair, which was swept to the side in stylish waves. The shawl I’d loaned her was folded neatly next to her on a plush leather seat.

“Thank God you’ve woken up,” she said. Her eyes shone. “I was shocked when they brought you inside Marco’s house. I begged them to get a doctor, but—”

My jaw tightened. “You knew about them taking me?”

She shook her head. “No. I didn’t know you were here. I was at the house of one of Marco’s friends overnight. I only arrived back at his place this morning. He and I aren’t together anymore.” She stifled a sob. “It’s all complicated…I tried to warn you to stay away from The Agency members, but here you are.”

Seeing that she was distressed, I decided not to point out how vague she’d been at the time, but I couldn’t blame it all on her. No one knows when or where danger comes. We learn after it’s done.

“Did Marco hit you too?” I asked. “That time at the gym.”

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