Page 3 of Ruin
His head tilts slightly. “The decision is yours, Lily. If Brisbane is your choice, then that’s up to you. But I’m sure you realise Dark Desires is a little out of the ordinary? I won’t ask the people who live there to change their habits, so you have to be certain you are able to handle what you might see or hear there.”
I nod, shifting in my seat under the weight of his gaze.
In my time here with Daniel, I’ve worked out that the people who come and go regularly are partaking in activities of a sexual nature. While it’s clear that this is some sort of brothel, it hasn’t felt sleazy at all. It’s location alone, a harbour-side mansion in Sydney’s affluent Rose Hill, is proof enough that it caters to the super wealthy. The women I’veseen that reside here are generally dressed in seductive, black lingerie, and each one oozes with sex appeal. I’ve kept to myself for the most part, avoiding the men who live here in particular, other than Daniel. After close to eight years of being beaten if I so much as looked at another man outside of my husband’s employees, I’m still scared to speak to any other males.
While Daniel hasn’t explicitly told me what the nature of their business is these days, Dark Desires is certainly a far cry from the hotel empire they had run when I’d known them before my marriage. It doesn’t surprise me. Sebastian has always been hyper-sexual, and Daniel was heading down the same path before Joseph got his claws into me.
Sebastian continues. “The Brisbane employees have formed a family, of sorts. So if you expect the same level of privacy you’ve received here, I would caution you to temper that expectation.”
I’m not surprised he’s formed a family around him. Given their upbringing, both brothers subconsciously sought out that connection to others when we were younger. It hurts more than it should that the family he has formed now doesn’t include me. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel comfortable enough to ask him about what happened all those years ago. Eight years is a long time and we are both very different people now.
I have to admit, despite my fears, I’m more than a little intrigued to see more of their world. To see how Sebastian, in particular, lives his life after the years of radio silence.
“Does Imogen live there?” I ask, glancing at Daniel to make sure I got the name of their director of operations right.
I’d only seen her briefly, but had been immediately taken by her beauty. A woman so perfectly put together that I’d immediately been in awe of her… And fled the second she saw me.
“Imogen works for us, but she livesin her own home. I didn’t realise you’d made her acquaintance?” Sebastian says, turning towards his brother, his jaw clenched once more.
Daniel holds his hands up. “They hadn’t. Lily saw her twice, but tore out of there before I could introduce them.”
Sebastian studies him for a moment through narrowed eyes. “Good, because I’m already annoyed enough that you requested she keep Lily’s existence a secret. I’d hate to think you asked her to outright lie to me, as well.”
Daniel smirks. “Don’t worry, brother. She’s still as loyal as ever to you.”
I don’t miss the glare that Sebastian shoots him, but give no voice to my curiosity. Although I’m pretty sure Imogen isn’t one of the sex workers, it’s not my place to question whether Sebastian is involved with his staff. With the way that he oozes sex appeal, there’s no way he’s a monk. And if he’s surrounded by people who live and breathe sex, who could blame him for sampling the goods?
I refuse to acknowledge the pang of jealousy that this thought raises within me, though.
“Do you have many belongings to pack?” Sebastian asks, and I shake my head.
“Just a small suitcase. It was all I could find when I got her out of there. She’s refused to let me get her anything,” Daniel says, shooting me an exasperated look.
I look away, embarrassed.
Sebastian nods. “Okay. Well, once we get you to Brisbane, I’ll have someone take you to buy some things for yourself to make it feel more like home.” I open my mouth to protest, but he silences me with a look. There really was never any point arguing with him. “Are you happy to leave tonight?”
Panicked, I look at Daniel, realising that by going with Sebastian, I’ll be leaving my best friend behind.
Daniel gives me a sad smile as he nods. “It’s for the best, Lil.While you’re safe here in the club, it’s become like a prison for you. You should be somewhere that you feel safe to go outside. To live your life.”
I wouldn’t have a clue how to start living my life, even if I wasn’t looking over my shoulder every second. Waiting for one of Joseph’s security staff to appear out of nowhere and drag me back to their boss.
I swallow. “Okay. If you think that would be best? But… I’ll miss you,” I whisper.
I can’t look at Sebastian. Now that I’ve made the choice, the knowledge that I’m going to be spending time with him again is stirring up long denied emotions I’m not ready to acknowledge.
I don’t know that I’ll ever be ready to acknowledge them. What would be the point? As far as he’s concerned, I’m his younger brother’s sweet, innocent best friend, who needs to be protected at all costs while keeping her at arm’s length.
Daniel rises from his chair and comes to stand in front of me, pulling me to my feet and into a tight hug. “I know. I’ll miss you, too. It’s been great having you back in my life. You’re like the sister I never had. But it’s been killing me seeing you hiding away here. I come to Brisbane every few months, so don’t worry, we’ll still see each other. You’ll be absolutely sick of hearing from me.”
Over Daniel’s shoulder, I notice that the calm facade has once again settled over Sebastian’s features as he watches us. This is a man who is clearly always in control. And right now, he’s trying to work out how I fit into his perfectly ordered world.
2
SO MYSTERY WOMAN ACTUALLY HAS A NAME
SEBASTIAN
