Page 19 of Crime Lord’s Captive

“Really? Stripper?”

She knew he wasn’t trying to be insulting. “No. I’ve known Gavin since I was in high school.”

Keenan looked like he might swoon. “No. You’re high school sweethearts?”

Sweethearts? She didn’t know how to explain what she and Gavin were and was relieved that she didn’t have to. Keenan spun a Romeo and Juliet tale in his mind. He drew his own conclusions and Lyla allowed it. If only he knew how dark and twisted reality was. With just a few sentences, she was able to keep Keenan chattering excitedly about a range of topics, her least favorite being Gavin who Keenan had a major crush on. Keenan talked about Gavin’s nightclubs and strip bars. It brought up memories of the night she found Gavin cheating on her. It made her stomach turn even after all this time. Why the fuck did Gavin bring her back? He didn’t want her, not really. If she meant so much to him, he wouldn’t have fucked around on her. He seemed genuinely contrite after she confronted him at the club. He told her the women didn’t mean anything to him and that he wouldn’t do it again. She hadn’t made up her mind whether she would give him a second chance or not when she witnessed him murder that guard in his basement. That was her tipping point. Gavin should have forgotten about her and moved on. Every year that passed, she became more confident that she was free of Gavin and yet, here she was.

Keenan chattered about his many lovers and their professions which ranged from strippers to doctors and interrupted himself to say, “I love your hair. I can’t believe this is your natural color. Honey sunshine.”

Lyla smiled at the description and watched as Keenan blow dried her hair so it fell around her in shining waves. She couldn’t deny that she felt like a million dollars. It felt good to let other people take care of her. She gave Keenan air kisses and moved onto waxing. They waxed her bare (which was fine since she didn’t have much hair anyway) and went onto nails. Carmen chose scarlet polish for Lyla’s acrylic nails. Carmen chatted with everyone while Lyla listened, not adding much to the conversation. Everyone was friendly and dressed with a seductive edge that reminded Lyla that she wasn’t in Maine. A couple of days ago, she wouldn’t have been mistaken for an escort. Her crop top and skirt made her appear nun-like compared to the salon workers. She didn’t know how to feel about her circumstances. Her emotions were a jumbled mess. Any moment now, she expected Gavin to burst through the door and beat the crap out of her in front of everyone. The expression of hatred on his face this morning haunted her. Even if he decided to do something to her, no one would interfere when a Pyre was involved. Even though Carmen had some leniency, Lyla knew no one could stop Gavin from doing what he wished with her.

When they were finished, she and Carmen air kissed the salon workers. Lyla waited by the desk to pay.

“It’s taken care of,” Keenan said and gave her ass a smack on her way out.

Blade looked like he was going to say something, but decided against it when Keenan fluttered his eyelashes at him. Carmen put the top up on her convertible so their hairstyles would last.

“Where are we going?” Lyla asked.

“My house. I told our cook to make something fabulous.”

“But, what about Gavin?”

“If he wants to come, he’ll come,” Carmen said dismissively. “You look great, by the way.”

“I feel... better.”

“Great. Now, we’re going to get dressed up for dinner and figure out what to do with your life.”

Chapter Five

An hour later, Carmen put the finishing touches on Lyla’s makeup and stepped back. Lyla didn’t look like Morgan Lincoln, conservative bank teller. She looked like a more sophisticated version of Lyla Dalton who died three years ago when she left Las Vegas. Carmen gave Lyla the works with heavy eyeliner, fake eyelashes, lipstick and enough concealer to take away the dark circles under her eyes. Carmen did an excellent job. Lyla looked well-rested and luminous. The dark shade of lipstick concealed the worst of her bitten lip and the black long sleeve dress with a high collar covered her bruises on her arms and throat. Carmen topped it all off with a diamond bracelet that could pay off a quarter of her father’s debt. Despite the fact that they were eating at Carmen’s house, they were dressed for fine dining. Carmen believed in always looking her best and, of course, accessories.

“There’s my heartbreaker cousin,” Carmen said, dancing in her five inch heels. “Gavin is gonna jizz his pants.”

“I don’t want him to want me,” Lyla protested.

“You’re going to put Gavin in line. There’s a reason they call us man eaters. Men fear us.”

Carmen posed in the mirror, showing off her legs and the indecently high slit on her eggplant dress before she turned and strutted towards Lyla, pouting her lips and making her eyes heavy-lidded. Carmen pressed a gentle kiss on Lyla’s cheek and perched on her lap.

“You have to make him want you desperately,” Carmen said in a throaty whisper that made Lyla’s skin ripple with goosebumps. “You have to make yourself unattainable. You want him to work for your love and affection. Don’t show fear or Gavin won’t respect you.”

“He’s not the same man,” Lyla said and then corrected herself, “or maybe I never knew the real him.”

“He’s in there, Lyla. The good parts aren’t gone, just buried. You can bring that out of him.”

“How?” She didn’t want Gavin’s attention or desire, but if she had to deal with him, keeping him calm and not on the verge of bursting into fits of rage is where she wanted him.

“That’s the best part,” Carmen said as she stood and grasped Lyla’s hand. “You just be yourself.”

“Myself?” Lyla echoed. She didn’t know who she was anymore. She went from arm decoration to a mousy bank teller. Being invisible became her goal in life and now... What was she? A desperate woman fighting for survival. It didn’t matter that she was dripping in diamonds and looked as if she hadn’t worked a day in her life. If anyone looked deep enough, they would see her fear. Her future depended on how well she could play her part. Maybe Keenan was right. With her looks and dress, she looked like a high end escort. Could she play the part of an escort? That had been her role before. She had no choice but to put on the best performance of her life.

“Even though you’re a hot piece of ass, Gavin loved you foryou. He could have picked anyone since you’ve been gone, but I swear to you, I haven’t seen him with one woman.”

Before Lyla could say she didn’t give a shit if Carmen saw Gavin with one hundred women, there was a discreet knock on the door. A maid entered with downcast eyes.

“A guest, Mrs. Pyre.”

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