Page 72 of Playing For Keeps
“That’s not true.” Jami steps back. “I did it because I love you and can’t fathom living a day without you.”
I palm his face. “And you’ll never have to find out.”
Aiden cuts in. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You two only want this because you can’t have it. This illusion will wear off in a matter of days.”
I spin to Aiden. If he wants a fight, he’s going to get one. “I’m done letting you control me. I’m done thinking you have my back when clearly you never have. This is all about money.”
“Dori, you’re my sister. No one has your back like I do.”
“Really? Is that why I was in the hands of sex traffickerswho you turned a blind eye to? Is that why you’re against seeing me happier than I’ve ever been? Is that why you let Dad run the show all these years? Because you have my back?”
“I thought he would hurt you. That’s why I did it. The money was a secondary issue.” Aiden shakes his head. “How could I have known you were going to end up in the situation you were in? You know I never would’ve let that happen if I had known.”
Fire flares in my belly. “There are thousands of girls just like me who are in that situation. They’re sisters, daughters, and friends of people just like me. By not doing anything, you’re directly responsible for where I ended up. Every one of those girls has a name. Sasha is one of them.”
The room goes silent. My lungs fight to get in air.
“Hey, sweetness. It’s okay.” Jami inches back to me. “I’m right here.”
He reaches up and wipes the rivers of tears flowing from my eyes with his thumb as his other arm wraps around my waist. I didn’t even know I started crying.
I tremble as I let him console me. “There are thousands of girls out there going through despicable things. He did nothing to stop them because he wants a trust fund. That’s all they’re worth to him.”
Jami pulls me into his chest and holds me, whispering calming words to me between kissing the top of my head. “I’ve got you. You’re going to be okay. Just breathe.”
My ordeal rolls into my brain like a tsunami. I break in half and go limp in his arms.
“Jami, he was going to kiss me, so I tried to knee him in the balls. He backhanded me for it. If Xander wasn’t there to stop it… Then he drugged me and touched me like I was his to do anything he wanted to. I couldn’t fight him off. The drugs made it impossible.”
Jami tenses around me. “What are you talking about?”
“Dori…” Aiden’s voice, full of pain and guilt, fills the room. “What happened to you?”
Drugs muted my terror at that moment, but now it hits me like a fire-breathing dragon. It bears down on me with unrelenting grief, melting me into a weeping mess. I’m one of the lucky ones, but that doesn’t take away the horror I went through.
I sink to the floor, taking Jami with me. “They had me naked on a stage with a flood light pointed at me. Every one of those monsters saw me and Sasha standing up there with no dignity left. It was humiliating. And she’s only sixteen.”
Jami’s heart pounds against my cheek as his chest heaves. I’m in a ball in his lap. His arms clutch around me, but he says nothing. My cries are the only thing filtering through the air.
A warm touch runs across my back, and Melanie kneels beside me. “Let me take you to the other room.”
I shake my head and continue to sob. I don’t want to leave Jami’s protective arms.
Mel strokes my head like she’s caring for a sick child. “Aiden, I think it’s best if you give us some space.”
“But I want to help,” he pleads.
“Get the fuck out of here, now.” The heat coming off Jami is enough to tell me he’s barely hanging on. “If you don’t, I won’t be responsible for what happens to you. And I really don’t want to hurt you in front of your sister.”
Aiden sighs. “Dori?—”
“I said leave. I won’t say it again,” Jami hisses.
Footsteps cross the space, then the door clicks shut, indicating Aiden’s gone.
That only spurs me on. More tears of his betrayal pour from my eyes.
We can’t get out of this city fast enough. Once Jami and Melanie calm me down, I pack our bags as Jami sets up a private jet to take us to Miami.
