Page 60 of Learn My Lesson
I wish I could give her some inspiring words, but Allecto and I don’t lie to each other no matter how barbed our conversations can become. “I don’t like it either.”
She gives me a long look. “I’ll keep you assholes safe as long as you don’t do anything foolish.”
“Do anything foolish?” I press my hand to my chest. “Me?”
“Yes, you.” She shakes her head. “Don’t leave the building without letting me know, Meg. I mean it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Bitch.” She says it fondly. “I’ll show you the secondary camera circle once we have it set up.” She walks out my door, not bothering to close it behind her.
I huff out a sigh. The damn woman always has to have the last word, and while I can admire it most of the time, I still want to snarl as I climb to my feet to shut the door. I’m still a step away when Tink steps into my office. I stop short. She looks like shit. She’s wearing the same clothes from yesterday and her hair has…dirt in it? Most telling of all is the bruise darkening the space around her left eye.
I stare at that bruise. Fury rises, swift and nearly overwhelming. Someone hurt her. “Who?”?1
She doesn’t pretend to misunderstand me. “It doesn’t matter.”
I reach past her and close the door, forcing her into the office. “Sit.”
“Meg—”
“Sit your ass down, Tink. That’s not a suggestion.” I follow her to the chair and carefully tilt her head back. The bruise is new enough that it’s still going to swell like a motherfucker. “Do not move. I’ll be right back.”
“Meg—”
“Now is not the time to argue with me.” I stalk out of the office and to the little kitchen we keep stocked for employees. Among other things, we ensure there are a lot of ice packs. One never knows when they’ll come in handy, though I can’t remember the last time someone had a black eye. That shit is not sanctioned, and I know Tink’s preferences. No way did she consent to this. If she did, then that’s one thing. If she didn’t…
I’ll get the truth out of her. And then I’ll deal with it.
I close the door to my office and press the ice pack into her hand. Once she has it against her face, I perch on the edge of my desk and study her. “Tell me.”
“I came in here to request some time off. Not because I wanted the third degree.”
I give a mirthless smile. “You know how we operate, Tink. You can try to brazen your way through, but it won’t work. Tell me what happened or we go to Hades and you tell him. Either way, the truth comes out.” When she goes to speak, her expression stubborn, I hold up a hand. It’s time to try a different tactic. “Your contract still has two months on it. An injury to you is an injury to Hades. You know he can’t allow that.”
Tink sinks down in her chair and leans her head back. “You’re such a bitch.”
“You’re not the first person to say so today.” I prop my arms on the desk and wait. She’s holding out for pride’s sake at this point; pushing her will result in her digging in her heels. Better to let the silence spin out until she works herself up to speaking.
Tink, being Tink, doesn’t make me wait long. She sighs. “I’m a fool.” I want to jump in and tell her that she’s probably the least foolish person I know, but interrupting at this point will just make her clam up again. Tink closes her eyes. “You know why I have this deal with Hades?”
“I know enough.” Safety in exchange for service. I don’t know what drove her to that level of desperation, but in the end it matters little.
“I don’t know what I thought would happen if I left him. I guess I didn’t really think about it beyond getting out.” She opens her eyes, and they look greener than I’ve ever seen them, filled to the brim with guilt. “He’s got a new girl, but apparently he learned from his mistakes with me because he’s got her brothers too. Ensuring good behavior. It’s…it’s never going to stop. If not her, then someone else forever and ever until the end of time.”
In all the time I’ve known Tink, I’ve never seen her look so despondent. I know better than to offer sympathy, though. She’s like me. She’ll see it as pity and shut down completely. I hold perfectly still. “So you went to get her out.”
“I thought if I talked to her, she’d see that it didn’t have to be that way. She punched me in the fucking face.” She laughs and winces. “I might like her under other circumstances.”
Damn it. This isn’t something I can fix. I sigh. “What can I do?”
“Nothing.” She straightens and takes the ice pack off her face. Her eye is already swelling and it will be completely shut soon. Tink pushes to her feet. “I have to handle this myself, one way or another. But I needed to let you know I can’t work tonight for obvious reasons.” She motions to her face.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll see if Aurora is up for another shift, but even if she’s not, the club will be fine if it’s short a submissive.” I lean forward and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Go pop some meds, take a shower, and get some rest. We’ll survive without you until you’re healed.” I wait for her to start for the door before I continue. “And, Tink?”
“Yeah?”
“If you change your mind about wanting to take care of this yourself”—I allow a sharp smile to creep over my face—“I’m more than happy to lend a helping hand.”
