Page 41 of Dauntless

“And you need many men,” the man teased her and snickered.

She giggled. “I played your game, and you never came back. You traded me. My game’s over now. I’m free.”

I went as far in the back as I could, hoping they wouldn’t check the stalls. My nerves were jumping. They had all my attention. Noisy kissing had me daring to peep through the thin gap in the stall to see who it was. The woman was indeed Angel, but the man, I wasn’t sure. He was wearing a suit like most men attending the show. His hair short and grey. Someone came to mind, but I had to be wrong.

“You’re not free, girl,” he said. “You’re still mine, and I say you need to leave New York.”

“I don’t want to leave. I just came back,” she whined. “I thought Simon loved me."

He chuckled. “I think he does, but you don’t love him. You love to play more. You loved all the other men.”

“I did at first,” she said and sighed heavily. “I was willing to give them up for you, but you traded me.”

“Because you didn’t give up Dane,” he told her, and they fell silent. “Does he know about the baby?”

“No, Walter,” she answered him.

I covered my mouth. Dane’s father, Walter?

Someone pounded on the entrance to the restroom.

“Occupied,” Angel sung out. I didn’t hear the door open. The person must have gone away. It was too late to announce my presence now, so I remained as still as I could, hoping they’d soon leave, but then Walter said, “I need you to stop the DNA test. I’ll give you anything you want if you tell Dane Melinda is his.”

“I shouldn’t have left Dane,” Angel said sullenly. “I regret it now. He still loves me…. I should stay with him. I’m going to tell him everything tonight.”

“No, you can’t,” Walter replied in a placating tone. “If he finds out about what happened, it’ll be bad. You don’t want that, do you?”

“No,” she mumbled.

“Good girl,” he replied. “I don’t want to fight now. We don’t have much time.”

“You want me now, I fucked Dane on the way here,” Angel said giggling.

My stomach knotted. Did she? Like that matters right now. I admonished myself. I know I shouldn’t care, but it still hurt.

“You lie too much, girl,” Walter said. “Kiss me.”

His grunts and her moans let me know he had started making out with her. I couldn’t announce myself now and had no choice but to wait until they were done before leaving. That was the plan until Angel sung out.

“Come out, little kitty,” she purred and laughed.

“Wait. Someone is in here?” Walter said, his voice rising. “Who’s in here?” he yelled.

Angel laughed louder, and he cursed. “Are you playing with me now? You better be.”

I tensed. Or what? I made a decision right there: I’d come out and intervene. But then someone pounded on the door again, and after some shuffling with their clothing, they finally opened it.

“Who the hell let you in Father? And what the fuck are you doing in the bathroom with Angel?” It was Dane.

“Always nice to see you again, Son,” Walter said airily. “I was just wishing Angel well. I thought she was hurt so I helped her in here.”

“I asked him to help me in. Is that okay?” Angel purred to him.

“No. It’s not okay,” Dane said harshly. “I don’t want him here or alone with you. I’ve told you that, but…maybe you don’t remember, but he’s the last person to ask for help from or to be anywhere near. Dane was now directly in front of Walter, “I’ll get someone in security to remove you if you don’t leave now.”

“Stop overreacting. I’m leaving,” Walter grumbled. “I see you still hold grudges. Tonight of all nights, I thought you’d be putting the past aside, especially now that you have Angel back.”

“I won’t be putting anything with you aside,” Dane answered icily.

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