Page 122 of Injustice and Absolution

“Right,” I cry out.

Half from the pain of his force, half from terror.

“Get up, and get in the shower. You have fifteen minutes. Don’t keep me waiting.”

* * *

When I get out of the shower, there’s a team of people waiting for me, including Ethan and Haven. Some of them are in the guest room, others in the bedroom. I hesitate when my foot hits the hallway, unsure what’s going on.

My eyes meet Haven’s, and she flashes me her bright smile, as though this is just another night at the club. My stare falls, unable to look at her traitorous face. Of all of the girls at Spotlight, Haven seemed the most genuine.

Despite the strong family dynamic, there were still issues from time to time. But Haven never got involved. She never picked sides. She was always the mediator between two people.

Her presence here tonight hurts almost more than anything.

“Good, you’re done.” Drew climbs the stairs then escorts me into the bedroom, motioning for Ethan to follow us. There are two women I’ve never seen before in here, but Drew doesn’t waste time making introductions. He unwraps my towel from around me, not asking if I’m okay with it.

Why would he?

My eyes quickly flicker to Ethan before shooting to the floor. I just make out the licentious sparkle in his eye that I’ve seen before, and it disgusts me.

“Ladies,” Drew addresses the other women in the room. “Dress her to the nines, please. Lingerie, garters, stockings... The works. Nothing is too good for my girl.”

The women dress me as though I’m a doll, telling me how lucky I am to have a man who treats me like a princess. They tell me how much they wish they had someone in their life to take care of them as well as Drew takes care of me.

I bite my tongue to keep myself from calling them fucking idiots. To keep the real reason they’re here hidden. Though the desire to blurt out the truth is strong, with Drew and Ethan in the room, there’s no point trying to get them to help me.

When I’m fully draped in clothing more expensive and finer than anything I’ve ever worn before, Drew dismisses the women. Then he leads me and Ethan into the guestroom where Haven has set up a makeup table.

“Hey, girlie,” she greets me, but I don’t look at her. “Drew told me all about the fancy date night he has planned for you. How exciting! Come have a seat.”

Date night?

If the other women believed Drew was spoiling me, it’s conceivable to think he lied to Haven about what we’re doing this evening too.

For the first time in days, a glimmer of hope blooms in me. I need to figure out how I can communicate secretly with her.

But do I dare a maneuver so dangerous?

What if she’s testing me, and I get myself into trouble by confiding in her?

What if she truly believes she’s here to help me get ready for a date with Drew?

Once I’m seated, Haven drapes me in a smock so she won’t get any makeup on my dress. I meet Drew’s stare in the mirror. He narrows his eyes in a dangerous look of warning.

As though he’s reminding me to keep my mouth shut.

Haven doesn’t know.

“We have to leave in thirty minutes,” Drew explains. “Light, natural makeup please. Not like you’d do for Spotlight. I don’t want her looking like a whore.”

At Drew’s words, I scoff gently.

He doesn’t want me looking like the exact thing he’s treating me as.

Haven winces, probably never having heard him speak like that before. Not to mention, Drew not-so-directly just referred to her as a whore too. It further convinces me she has no clue why she’s actually here.

My decision is made.

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