Page 20 of Slick

I don’t want him to worry, but I don’t want to put him in danger either. Telling him about all the awful things that have happened might also make him look at me differently, and that shoots a pang of fear into my heart. He must see the conflict onmy face, because he drops another kiss on my cheek as he pulls the blanket more firmly over my knees. “Or we can just sit here and enjoy our soft things.”

I think it’s that offer – so simple, and yet so kind – that opens the floodgates, because the words pour out of me like a bitter flood. And not only about Royce, Marcus, and Luscious, but things back at The Serenity Center, one memory tumbling out after another. When I’m finished, I feel like I’ve talked for hours, and my throat aches. I watch him through my lashes, feeling as drained as if I’ve just crawled out of a slick suit.

But Rowan quickly revives me, his fierce hug better than a thousand soft words. “You’re so brave, Diana. I don’t think I could have survived even a fraction of that.”

“I had Dex,” I tell him quietly, pressing my nose against the curve of his throat. “And it wasn’t so bad when I could picture myself retiring with my alpha.”

He makes an angry, hissing sound I can feel against my lips. “But now you know the truth. I’m sorry, sweet girl, but slick factories manufacture everything, including promises like that.”

“But Ididfind my alpha,” I point out, nuzzling the soft skin near his scent gland. It makes him shiver, and I have to stop thinking about Kane before I make a mess again. “Do you have an alpha?”

He snorts and I look at him curiously, but he just shakes his head. “I prefer omegas, actually. I’ve never really liked to bottom, despite all the awards in that box under my bed.”

“You have awards for your bottom?”

His snort is a honking laugh this time. “I have awards for everything, but like my ass, the shine came off them long ago.”

I want to tell him I’m sorry, even though I only understand every third or fourth thread of this conversation. But his thoughts have clearly wandered, his arm tightening around meas he says, “Luscious could get in a world of trouble for taking advantage of you.”

“Really? She didn’t act like it was a secret.”

His gaze darkens. “That’s because she underestimated you.”

I think about telling himmysecret; that last ugly truth I held back because I didn’t want to see the disappointment in his eyes. But maybe I hit Luscious hard enough to make her leave me alone, and I’ll never have to look in her face again.

While I’m chewing over these dark thoughts, Rowan has reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. Plenty of the guards and collectors have them at the center – no, theslickfactory– but I’ve never held one before. “Would it be okay if I asked someone to stop by? She’s even more obsessed with privacy than I am, so she won’t do anything to put you in harm’s way.”

I can’t remember the last time I was asked if I wanted to see someone – every visit and appointment is always carefully scheduled, and I’m only informed after the fact. Is this what it means to be free? To say:no thanks, today I just want to curl up on this sofa with my soft blanket and your warm lips for company.But of course, I don’t say that. “If you think it’s a good idea.”

He nods, then punches a button on his phone. No one answers, and I wonder if he’s changed his mind until there’s a soft knock on the trailer door. I almost leap out of my skin, but he makes a soothing sound as he gets up to answer it. A tall woman with hair a few shades darker than copper steps inside, pausing to lock the door behind her. When she turns to look at me, I breathe in her scent, my hands shaking as I sense the alpha behind the smoky almond perfume. “This is Kennedy, my sister,” Rowan says, moving back to sit at my side. “She’s also my security. Is it okay if I tell her a bit of your history?”

The alpha hasn’t moved any closer to the sofa, but she has a way of commanding the room just by being in it. That said, she looks a lot like the other people I passed on the lot, wearing jeans and a polo shirt under her jacket. She might be in security like Marcus, but her gaze is more direct than cruel, so I nod and settle back on the sofa while Rowan catches his sister up.

Halfway through, she pulled her phone from her pocket, and now she taps on the screen. “There are three walk-in clinics in the docks, but only one closed for renovations. It won’t be a problem to locate your friend.”

“Really?” I almost melt against the cushions in relief. “I’m worried that Royce went back to hurt him.”

“Yeah, well, your instincts about this Royce guy are spot on.” She gives her brother a look I can’t interpret. “The Carrillos shop from the bottom of the barrel for their security.”

Rowan moves closer, and when his arm goes back around my shoulders, I sink into him like it’s the most natural thing to do. “We need to keep them away from her, Kennedy. Luscious as well.”

“Just don’t leave the trailer until I’ve checked things out. I’ll send someone to the clinic right now.” Her fingers fly over her screen, a frown creasing her brow. “Did you say the hospital was St. Luke’s? I’m checking with a contact there, but there’s no record of an alpha called Kane being admitted for a GSW, or any other injury.”

I bite my lip, remembering the back entrance we took, and the makeshift trauma room where they worked on Kane. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble, so I pick my words with care. “He was a John Doe. But the doctor is a friend of Dex’s.”

It’s obvious I’m holding back, but Kennedy just nods. “Okay. I’ll follow it up personally.”

“And what about Luscious?” Rowan demands, his scent sharpening. “We have to tell someone, right? She’s basically keptDiana in slavery for her own selfish interests. I mean, I knew she was a snake, but this is a new, slimy low.”

I shrink at the memory of her face disappearing under the pink cushions, but Kennedy’s response snaps me back to the present. “I think the best option is to move you both. I’ll book a suite at The Eyrie Hotel under an assumed name.” Kennedy is watching her brother closely and I envy the way they can say so much just by looking at each other. “Just a few days, Ro, but I think it’s worth dipping into your emergency funds.”

I wince, realizing that any hotel withsuitesis probably very expensive. I wish I could offer to pay for it, but my access to money is on par with my knowledge of porn.

Frustration bubbles inside me at all the things I’ve missed out on because of my ignorance. And it goes way past cashmere blankets and pretty cookbooks. While I was blithely spending my days in slick suits, the Carrillos were selling off parts of me to the highest bidder.

They owe me, and somehow, I need to make them pay.

Kennedy steps forward, hand extended as if to help me up from the sofa. I’m thinking about taking it when she suddenly goes rigid. “Um, when was the last time you went into heat, Diana?”

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