Page 61 of Cruel Hearts

I shower, turning the water as hot as I can stand it, and use the toiletries that have been mysteriously replenished. Theshampoo, conditioner, and body wash were here when Zane told me to meet him, but I was in too much shock thinking Quinn was dead, and yeah, seeing Zane again, to realize it.

Of course, the first thing he does is fuck me.

Of course, I let him, because then I still loved him.

Before I knew about Maryanne.

Before I started to hate him with all my strength.

Maybe if I would have told him about the flash drive while he was fucking me, he would have listened.

My shower lasts longer than it should, and against my better judgment, I add another fifteen minutes to dry my hair with the old blowdryer I left behind and add a bit of makeup, that had also been replaced, to my pale face. I find a bag in the back of my closet that I can put a few changes of clothes and some cosmetics into. The clothes Zarah bought me are gorgeous—vintage never goes out of style—and even five years after our shopping spree, the outfits are still on-point. I won’t be able to do much in skirts and blouses, but I choose one nice dress in case I have to talk to someone important. I put on a casual sundress and throw shorts, pants, blouses, panties, and bras into the bag. I hope I pack enough because I definitely can’t come back. Denton and Max were right. This was dumb, and I need to get out of here.

We’re going to expose the Blacks. We’re going to tell the world Clayton Black is a murderer and that Ash kidnapped me and sold Zarah. If there’s more, we’ll find it. It will require savvy, stealth, and smarts.

None of which I have, or I wouldn’t be in this mess.

I turn away from the closet, and a brunette woman, her skin a rich bronze, is pointing a gun at my face. “Crap.”

She laughs. “That’s the last thing I expected you to say, Miss Mayfair.”

“What did you think I would say?”

Misery threatens to suffocate me. Because I wanted to connect with my past, I let my guard down.

She tilts her head and considers. “I don’t know. I’ve been watching you all morning. I figured you’d come up with something a little more...elegant.”

I scoff. “I’m hardly one for class. Haven’t you heard how I grew up?”

She relaxes her grip on the black handgun. She’s dressed well, and I admire the sharp cut of her blazer. As Ash’s employee, I wouldn’t expect less.

“I know a little about you. I’ve had time to dig up a few things.”

“Are you going to bring me to him?” Maybe I can work from the inside again, though I doubt it. Ash wants me dead. This woman will deliver me to him, collect her finder’s fee, and no one will ever see me again. Maybe Denton will get word to Quinn, because God knows I’ll never be able to speak to her.

The woman’s eyes widen in surprise. “It’s what he’s paying me to do. You’re not going to fight me, are you? He only wants to talk.”

I stifle an incredulous laugh. Talk? Ash Black...talk? I believe that like I’d believe if someone told me my mother was still alive.

“There’s no point in fighting,” I whisper. “None at all.”

To my shock, she holsters her gun and picks up my bag. “Let’s go.”

I check that the water in the shower isn’t dripping, shut off all lights, and follow her out. I lock the door and hide the key under the mat.

My shoulders slump in defeat and tears blur my vision. I’m so stupid.

She leads me out of the building and across the grass and gestures to a dark grey SUV parked under a tree. I climb into thefront seat and curl into a ball. I don’t bother to watch the city slide by, though I should. It’s the last time I’ll see it.

What I do is say a prayer for Zarah. Say a prayer for Quinn and Maryanne.

The woman is a decent driver, and we’re in the heart of King’s Crossing, skyscrapers blocking out the sun, in a matter of minutes.

“You know, you work for an asshole,” I say as we turn onto the block where Black Enterprises is located.

“I’m sure he has his flaws,” she replies, not looking at me. “Most men do.”

She guides the vehicle past the Black Enterprises skyscraper and my heart starts to skip around. Ash does everything from that building, except when he’s at Ladies and Gentlemen, but we’re moving in the wrong direction to be going to the strip club.

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