Page 10 of Cruel Hearts

“How did you end up trapped at Black Enterprises, Stella? Why did Zane let it happen?”

“At the hotel, I overheard Ash and Zarah fighting. He was selling her as a high-class prostitute. He’d told her he had proof Kagan had been involved in black market deals and if she didn’t do what he said, he would tear down her family’s company and destroy Zane. Zarah wanted to protect her brother. I don’t know how many times she let Ash sell her before I found out.” I press my lips together. Zarah let Ash abuse her to protect Zane and her family’s reputation. She was more than I had ever given her credit for.

“How did Ash get his hands on you? You know better, Stella. Watch out for yourself first, most, and always. Didn’t you learn anything in foster care? From Maryanne?”

“I fell in love, Quinn. You know how that is.”

She flinches, and it breaks my heart. I hate hurting the people I love.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Zane had already lost his parents. I couldn’t let Ash take Zarah away from him, too. He offered a trade, me for her, and I took it. Ash could have me if he left Zarah alone and didn’t tell Zane about Kagan’s illegal deals.”

“But you’re saying that’s not true, so what are we looking at?” Quinn asks, holding her coffee mug to her lips.

The sun is starting to set and orange, pink, and purple tinge the sky. The view from my room gave me a spectacular show every night, but nothing can compare to being out in it.

“Ash knows I’m gone, and he wants to kill me.”

“What’s on the flash drive?”

“Proof Zane’s dad is clean, and that Clayton Black is not.” She wants to know more, but it doesn’t concern me anymore. “Ash didn’t let me say goodbye, and Zane thinks I abandoned him. He hates me now. I just need to get him this drive and then we can leave King’s Crossing and I’ll never look back.”

“Sounds good to me.” She pauses. “How are you holding up?”

She mentions it, and it’s then I notice my ribs aching. “I’m sore.” I sigh. “I won’t blame you if you tell me to go to hell. I can’t love you the way you love me. I’m asking for too much, and I don’t have anything to give in return. You should go back to New York. Let me handle this, and then I’ll meet you out there, if I can.”

She shakes her head. “No fucking way. Ashton Black is out to get you, and there’s not a chance in hell I’m leaving you alone.”

“I’m sorry I got you involved,” I whisper.

Quinn slips out of her wrought-iron chair and kneels on the sidewalk in front of me. “You have always found the good in people. It’s one of the things I love about you best. It’s gotten you into trouble, but don’t turn jaded or bitter. You can help Zane, and then we’ll go. The two of us.”

I rest my forehead against hers, grateful she didn’t leave when I told her to. I need her. I just wish I needed her the way she needed me.

“Let’s go back to the warehouse and regroup. You need a drink and some painkiller.”

I don’t disagree. It hurts to breathe. “Okay.”

We ride the bus back to the industrial park, and I sit next to her, leaning my head on her shoulder, absorbing her presence. My need to touch isn’t about being scared of Ash—it’s about being alone. Ash treated me like an invisible slave, and everyone else did the same. He didn’t touch me, only used my skills to work me to the bone. If I would have stayed, I would have died from loneliness. Not only because I missed Zane, but I missed human contact. People die in isolation, solitary confinement, and after five years, I was so close.

Once we’re safely inside the warehouse, Quinn disappears, saying she has work. I force myself to let her go.

I shower and gently prod at the bruise forming over my ribs. I’m lucky I’m not dead, but Ash won’t stop until I am. In fact, me getting away may have made him angrier and even more determined.

Quinn asks to sleep with me, and against my better judgment, I let her. Knowing how she feels, I shouldn’t encourage her, but for five years I slept alone, always on edge, always waiting for Ash or someone else to come into my room and do whatever he pleased. Toward the end, I almost hoped. Hoped Ash would sell me, just to have someone touch me.

Ash fucked with my head.

She holds me and skims her fingers over my leg.

I’m about to stiffen, but she stops, and in another second, she’s sleeping.

In the dark, Quinn’s touch becomes Zane’s, and I remember one of the times we made love in my apartment, how gentle hewas, how tender. How he’d moan my name when he came. How he’d make me come, his fingers swirling around my clit.

I miss him. Who we were before Ash came between us. I’m imagining things. There was never a time he wasn’t. I just wanted there to be.

Tears soak into my pillow.

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