Page 61 of Tease Me (Dark Odyssey 1)

“I know,” I blow out a breath.

Sure enough the first thing she told me when I talked about Hector is I needed to go to not just the police but the feds. She only calmed down some when I gave her the reminder of the warning we got from Hector if we ever involve the police. He said he’ll kill us. He said he’ll kill Beth first and make us watch, then he’d fuck me in front of Dad and kill me, then kill him.

Never in all my life have I ever had someone speak to me like that. Never, and it was enough to put the fear of God in me and make me snap into action for the seriousness of the situation.

“I’m not going to tell you to go to the police again, don’t worry,” she tilts her head to the side and purses her glossy pink lips together. “The thing is, Carter owed the money and you’re suffering for it. I hate it and I hate that you have to suffer because you deserve so much more. You shouldn’t have to endure such shit, Mia. You shouldn’t, and now this. I won’t talk at you. What I want to hear is how you’re feeling. You told me what happened and what you did but there was so much emotion there, I have to ask.”

I dip my head and gaze at the table. “I don’t know what to say… I think I’ve gone crazy Chloe.”

“Why?”

I shake my head. “It’s not normal to behave the way I did last night and feel for a man like that. I don’t know him. I don’t know him and I’m concerned, quite honestly about this business relationship we have. I feel like a slut. I acted like a slut. Something you just fuck and toss to the side.”

She reaches across the table and takes my hands. “Is that how he made you feel?”

I shake my head again, quickly because that’s far from the truth. “No… he didn’t, but it’s what I am. He’s paying me to have sex with him. I’m not a waitress Chloe, I’m Nick Giordano’s sex toy.”

“No. Mia don’t do this to yourself. Don’t do it. It’s not true.” An uncomfortable look washes over her face and she releases my hands, then confidence returns. “Remember when I went to that party after college and I said I was going on a break for a week?”

I sighed and looked her over. What was she going to tell me now?

Chloe has some very shocking tales to tell. But, college was a long time ago and since we tell each other everything I’m surprised there’s something she might not have told me.

“I remember.”

“Well. I got myself into so much debt before I lost my job at the marketing firm. I just thought I’d have my job, then they went bust and busted my ass because I was in debt. Anyway, I got this invite from one of the investors that would solve all my problems.”

“Invite? To what?” I arch my brows.

“A party and then to be his for a week for a quarter million.”

My eyes bulge. They bulge and I’m not sure how they don’t pop out of my head.

“Jesus Christ, Chloe.” My mouth falls open and all I can do is look at her. “You did it?”

She nods and gives me a little shrug. “I did, and I promised myself that I’d use the money wisely. I’d never blow money again and get in so much stupid debt that I’d be tempted to do something like that. Not everybody is like my investor friend. He just wanted to be with me but to most people it would look like I was some personal prostitute, but it wasn’t like that. It wasn’t like that at all.”

“How come you never told me this?” I gaze deeply at her. When she purses her lips together and sighs I get my answer. She didn’t tell me because it would have shocked me more than she already shocks me. And, more importantly, she knew I’d be judgmental.

“I didn’t want you to think badly of me. Most people think I’m a slut and I don’t care. I really don’t. But… your opinion matters. It mattered to me and a part of me felt bad for what I did because I knew what it looked like. The thing was, if I was offered it I’d do it again. Maybe not now that I’m with Sal but back then, yes.”

At the mention of Sal’s name and the reference I feel happy for her that she’s so into him.

“I’m happy you found Sal, Chloe. I am. I really wish you’d told me though, about what happened with your investor friend.”

“I wouldn’t have said anything. It was just one of those things I saw as a chance to fix my situation. I wasn’t desperate like what’s happening with you but I paid everything off. All my debt, and finished paying the mortgage on my place. So there, that’s me. So… there you go, you got my story on what I did in the past to put me in that category of slut, or worse, me prostituting myself to pay my debt.”

“But it wasn’t like that.”

She laughs. “Let’s just drop that part by the wayside. Let’s just agree it wasn’t like that. It wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel like that. No matter what, I didn’t feel that way at the time. I’m not saying it’s okay to do it. No, there’s no way I’m saying that and it’s not an option. Right now what I care about is you. I didn’t want you to feel bad about yourself, especially when it doesn’t sound like you should. I think you like him... and I think any woman with eyes would like that man no matter what. I think it’s okay you like him and I’m going to ask you to keep your mind open, but… more importantly be careful.”

Be careful?

I don’t think there’s much I could do with that warning, given the way I felt.

“Chloe, he’s a mobster, and seriously - I end a six year relationship and the first man I’m with in a year is a mobster who owns a sex club?”

She laughs a little but not because it’s funny. It’s far from it. She’s laughing because its incredulous and possibly because the words are coming from my mouth.

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