Page 11 of Cruel Hearts

Zane despises me. He’ll never love me again.

It’s what I gave up to protect him.

If only he hadn’t had such unshakeable faith in Ash. If only he’d had that unshakeable faith in me.

The bottom line is he hadn’t trusted me because of where I came from. Underneath all the “I love yous” was suspicion, and I can’t blame him. It’s what I thought of Zarah. I kept expecting her to show her true colors because I was biased and believed rich people stereotypes.

Zane thought because I was poor, I wasn’t to be trusted, and he didn’t.

Now I have irrefutable proof, if only I can get it to him.

I won’t stop trying.

Ash will have to kill me first.

I wake up to an empty bed, but a fresh outfit lays on top of the ratty comforter. Another dress and more lingerie. I hope this is the last outfit I’ll need to borrow.

My dreams of Zane made me wet, and drawing my knees up, I let my thighs fall open. I imagine his hot mouth on my pussy, and I swirl my fingers around my clit. The last time a man touched me was when Zane fingered me on the patio of the Lyndhurst. I come, and tears run down my temples and into my hair.

Ash took one fear and twisted it into another. I traded places with Zarah believing, no,knowing,I would live the life of a whore, sold to anyone who could afford to pay Ash’s prices. In exchange, they’d be given the freedom to do whatever they wanted to me.

Instead, he turned me into no one.

It was only after a three-hour crying session in the bathroom that I decided to use my invisibleness as a weapon. I learned everything I could about Black Enterprises, Clayton, and Ash.

I shower and shave. I’m not as sore as yesterday, but I’ll need more painkiller to keep the throbbing under control. I dress and double check the flash drive is still in the white purse. It is. I’m glad Quinn didn’t insist on knowing what’s on it. Her ignorance may keep her alive.

It’s the only proof I have that Zane will believe. Seeing it in black and white, he has to.

Quinn’s upstairs sitting in the office Luis brought me to the night I broke in.

She’s dressed similarly. Again, we’ll be two girls on the way to the mall, although the disguise didn’t work particularly well last time. She’s talking on the phone and tapping into a newer-looking laptop. Securing delivery of a product. I tamp down a smile. She sounds competent. In charge.

Quinn Sawyer found her niche.

“Okay, bye,” she says and disconnects the call. “You look good, Stell.”

“Thanks. You have good taste.”

Tilting her head, she says, “In more ways than one. Let’s head out. We’ll stay above ground this time. In fact, I borrowed Luis’s car. It will be a lot easier.”

I look over the warehouse, and workers fill the long tables now. It’s the first time I've seen any hint of the sewing they do. Luis is walking around, supplying material to the stitchersand replacement needles if their sewing machines need them. I wonder what brand they’re making today. “Can we get a coffee?”

She playfully smacks a kiss on my mouth. “Can’t save the world without caffeine.”

We drive through a Starbucks, and I order a large café mocha. I revel in the chocolate and sugar, but I wish it could give me courage. I used all mine up escaping Ash’s building.

I feel more protected in Luis’s old Cadillac than I did walking through the train station and I shouldn't be surprised, but Quinn is a good driver. The morning traffic has died down, and she asks as we idle at a red light, “Are you going to ask to see him?”

“Yeah. I want to put the flash drive in his hand myself, but if security stops me and won’t let me up, then at least I know it’s in his building. I can only do so much.”

There are so many things potentially keeping me from him. He could have told his security to throw me out. His assistant might not let me into his office. He could be in meetings or on a business trip.

To access the ramp attached to Zane’s building, you have to register your vehicle and show your ID badge to the security guard. We won’t be allowed in, and Quinn parks in the public parking garage a block away. I gulp down the rest of my coffee.

“Ready?” she asks.

I grip the strap of the purse she gave me. “No, but I have to do this. Clayton, Ash, they aren’t who they pretend to be. Zane’s life could be in danger, and he needs to see what’s on this drive.”

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