Page 122 of A Dark Duet

Jaden snorts. “Was this before or after you decided to put her in danger, putting a target on her head by being associated with you? You may not give a fuck, but I do. I warned you if you touched her, I would gouge your fucking eyes out, you pathetic piece of shit. You preyed on her weakness and exploited her by using it to your advantage. I know what you did. You went to the club to find yourself a girl that you consider a whore to play with and use her because your investors feel you are unstable because you cannot cope after the death of your dead wife.”

That piece of shit used me? Well, I knew he had a purpose but to risk my life? I know Ethan is in the Mafia and has enemies but I never thought he would use me as collateral damage or as a pawn.

“It wasn’t like that and you know it.”

“Oh please, what part? Men like you do not care about women that dance at a club. There is only one woman that you care about that you failed and she is in a box six feet under. She is dead because you put her in harm’s way, and she paid the price. The life you lead has consequences and you pay them. I am not going to sit here and let you drag an innocent woman that I care about into danger or death because you care only about yourself. I see right through your facade and your crap, Carter. Remember, I know everything there is to know about you and your business dealings. I myself have business with you. You knew what she meant to me and that didn’t stop you. Did it?”

“You’re right. I saw the opportunity to have her, and I took it. It is not my fault she was there, that falls solely on you, Cyprus. You know what they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. It wasn’t like you sent a search party looking for her.”

What Ethan says stings at the reminder of how Jaden tossed me away and wasn’t looking for me. It also stings at how Ethan is using me. He thought so little of me. Jaden’s right, Ethan bought a whore for his selfish purpose with deadly consequences. The car and the agreement to handle all of my problems was a smoke screen. He had me believe that it would benefit me to deal with one VIP instead of having to figure out a way to pay for my school or, worse, have to take on more than one client. In all reality, it wouldn’t benefit him for me to be with anyone else, so he could convince his investors he is mentally stable by making it seem he is able to move on with another woman. What are two hundred thousand dollars and a Bentley to Carter when he must have millions on the line? The rage boiling inside me has me wanting to break the mirror looking at my reflection. How could I have been so stupid and blindsided?

“Fuck you. You showed me her medical records in the hope I would back off and be disgusted with her like she is damaged goods. News flash, asshole,” Jaden roars. “I am damaged goods. I am glad I fucked up your little plan and the world knows she is mine. She doesn’t belong to you. She never did. If you are worried that someone might hurt her or come after her because of you, you better fix it because if not, I will pull rank and gut you like a fish. Remember what happened to the last asshole that fucked with Briana.”

“Yeah, we’ll see, Cyprus. Don’t underestimate me. I’ll take care of it but not for you. I’m doing it for her. I fucked up and I’ll own up to it. I admit I didn’t give a shit at first about her and thought she was just another stripper with a dark past and shitty upbringing. Iwant to apologize to her. My intention was not to hurt her or put her in danger. I’m honestly worried about her.”

“Yeah, I can tell,” Jaden says sarcastically. “Leave her alone and don’t call her again, Carter.” The room goes silent, indicating the call is disconnected.

Angry hot tears slide down my cheeks as I look at myself in the mirror, hating myself. Hating that I let myself be used in a way that would have put everything I was working toward on the line for nothing. What if some rival Mafia assholes put a bullet in my head because of Ethan Carter. Then what? I would be dead, and no one would have given a shit except maybe Giselle.

Jaden never loved me. He made it clear he was incapable of love. He wasn’t even looking for me and was fine living his life without me. My stupid decisions could have cost me everything, including my own life. It hurts to think I mean so little to people. That my life means nothing. That I’m worthless.

Who would want a woman like me anyway? I don’t even know who my father is and my mother is a drug addict. She didn’t care I was raped repeatedly by drug dealers so she could get her next fix. No one wanted to be my friend except Giselle. I’m just trailer trash. It is no surprise I ended up being a pole dancer for money. Everyone knows where I came from and there is no escaping my past. People dig up the information you want to keep hidden and then use it to their advantage and it is sickening. I should feel ashamed but I don’t.

Jaden wants to know who hurt me. Probably because he feels sorry for me. Jaden does have a heart, but I have to keep in mind he doesn’t love me.

I turn on the shower until it’s scalding hot and let my tears slide down my cheeks, letting out the hurt and pain I feel inside. I feel so alone and realize all I want in life is to forget about my dark past. I want to feel independent and have a career, meet a nice guy and fall in love. Maybe have a family of my own.

The sound of the bathroom door suddenly being shoved open startles me, and I jolt. Jaden strips and enters the shower with me, and he sees that I’m crying. He tilts my head up to look at him.

“Don’t cry. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I know you heard me talking to Carter. You have nothing to feel ashamed about. He used you and he knew what you meant to me. None of this situation is your fault. You are one of the bravest women I have ever met and I am an asshole for letting you go. It didn’t stop you from achieving your dream and I am so proud of what you have accomplished. You did it all on your own.”

I sniff and look at his face with his swollen lip and bruised cheek. “I-I’m sorry for causing you any trouble. I should be taking care of you after your fight.”

He shakes his head. “You have never caused me trouble and you being here with me is more than I could have asked for, baby… and you did take care of me. Now I’m going to take care of you.”

He slides his finger gently down my chest, over my nipples and stomach. My thighs clench together, and he sees that my nipples are straining and begging for his touch. He reaches for the shower gel and bathes me. He washes my hair and gently massages my scalp. My eyes close, loving his hands all over my body as he rinses my skin. When his hands reach between my thighs to clean me, a whimper escapes my lips. When he is done, I give him the same treatment but softly with gentle strokes. I’m careful to not cause him pain, not knowing if he was hit in a certain part of his body. He stands facing me under the spray as my hands gently bathe him. My fingers feel every dip and bend of his muscles under my fingertips, reacquainting myself with his massive body.

Jaden

Jaden

After we bathe each other, we lie on the bed facing each other and I’m captivated by her beauty. Watching the glow of her skin after a hot shower and her face devoid of all makeup. She is still one of the most gorgeous women I have ever laid eyes on. I have had my share of beautiful women, but Briana is by far the most beautiful. She is sexy and naughty. The darkness within her is haunting and I’m attracted to it like a bee to honey. She is smart and her body is perfection. The dusty pink of her nipples, her tiny waist, and the dangerous curve of her ass drive me crazy.

In my mind, I’ve always thought I wasn’t good enough for her and that she deserved better. She deserves a man that loves and worships her for the rest of her days. A man that understands her and assures her that she is the best thing to ever happen to him. The last time I was in her apartment, I placed cameras inside it. The thought crossed my mind when I told her Carter could have bugged her place. I waited until she fell asleep and checked. I was relieved to find that he didn’t but instead placed a GPS in the car he gave her.

When I was alone in my house, I watched her like a creep, but I was curious about how she slept at night. I watched her heartbreaking screams that would come out of her lips at night. The way she would curl up in a ball in her dark room, pleading for the men that raped her to have mercy on her. To stop raping and hurting her. I was torn and wanted to barge into her apartment and hold her. It was gut wrenching to see her having night terrors. Her demons assaulting her in her dreams, claiming her. I sobbed like a pussy the first time I watched her but I vowed to find those assholes that did that to her, robbing her dreams and leaving her with the memories of their torture.

It was daunting to see that we are alike in many ways. We both come from drug-addicted parents that abused us and let us be abused by the filthiest of human beings. The feeling of pain, hunger, and hopelessness is a norm from where we come from. We both know what it is to come from nothing and have no family to call our own.

“What are you thinking about?” she asks in a soft voice. Her beautiful blue eyes watching the expression on my face.

“I’m thinking about how lucky I am to be here with you, realizing how much I have missed you. Admiring how beautiful you are.”

Her cheeks blush and I love how it creeps up her neck to her cheeks. Her platinum-blonde hair is in soft waves framing her face. I’m trying to connect with her on a deeper level but I know there is a demon that lurks in the darkness within her about to be unchained. I recognize it because I have a similar demon and when she decides to cut him loose, that is when she will snap. And when she snaps, I want her to know that I have her back. I want her to know that I do care for her. It is just a matter of time before it happens.

She sighs and asks, “Why do you have nightmares?”

She asked me once, but I refused to tell her. She has never mentioned the nightmare the first night she stayed at my house. She shook me until I was awake, and her arms were cradling me like a baby. It was the sweetest and most welcoming feeling to have her there assuring me that it wasn’t real. But the dream I had that night was different. It was Briana they were hurting instead of me and the fear that gripped me had me thrashing, ready to kill whoever touched her. It is a fear that I know lurks deep inside me because the men that hurt her are still out there and they think they got away with what they did to her.

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