P assing Janine’s desk on my way out, I wondered what had Jerome panting like a dog .

“Good to see you too, Janine,” I joked as I passed her empty desk. I was glad she wasn’t here. There was too much on my mind. Too many puzzle pieces scattered without a clue to what the final picture would look like when put together .

Pushing through the front glass doors, I was relieved to be leaving Madam’s .

The way she rushed through my meeting had me questioning this delivery. It wasn’t the package or what I knew was inside. Nothing was new there. It was the feelings swishing around my insides—my instinct telling me that things were getting out of control. And fast .

Everything was unraveling .

I couldn’t explain it .

But I could feel it .

There was a buzz in the air. A crackling in my eardrums. The kind that made your hair stand on end just before lightning struck. And that was what was making me flee this building quicker today than each visit before .

Sucking back a breath, I looked up and down the street before skipping down the front steps. It was hot today. No clouds to shelter me from the intense heat blaring down upon me. As soon as my feet landed at the bottom, I turned up the block and hurried down the sidewalk, knowing my lift would be arriving soon .

Sweat formed on my brow and I kept my head down to the ground, galloping forward. I couldn’t stop thinking what Madam implied just before we were interrupted—that Kelly was the reason Nora killed herself .

Clenching my stomach, I couldn’t deny how much sense it made .

There was no way I could tell Madam about Kelly’s nightmare I’d witnessed or how he woke up in a cold sweat after thrashing in bed yelling for someone to hurry up and help. This was the reason why Kelly wanted to keep her death a secret—because he was the reason she was gone .

Gathering my hair inside my hands I pulled it back, tying it into a ponytail trying to ignore the empty feeling filling my stomach .

My heart wanted me to tell Madam what I’d seen—how Kelly woke up from the dream he’d had. But I knew that was impossible. I’d learned my lesson and I couldn’t ever open up to Madam again. It was too dangerous. Too uncertain. Even if she did deserve to know why Kelly was acting the way he was .

Picking up my pace, I continued my canter up the street in long strides .

The same thought spiraled in my brain, playing on repeat between my ears .

Kelly killed Nora .

I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Couldn’t stop repeating it. I mumbled it and tried to squeeze it out. But nothing worked .

Even if it was unintentional, I couldn’t begin to guess what he’d done to make her take such extreme measures. Though he never confirmed it, I knew he’d found her dead. And I could only imagine how awful that day must have been for him .

Kelly pushed her over the edge to her death .

My scalp prickled as I lifted my head, mulling over the revelation. A black SUV passed on the street and I caught the color in the corner of my eye. Without lingering on it for too long, I was certain I knew whose it was .

That was Kelly’s black SUV. The same one he had driven me in a dozen times before. And he was on his way to the Madam’s. But for what ?

Without slowing down my relentless pace I glanced over my shoulder, needing to take a second look .

There was no doubt in my mind it was his. The dark tinted windows and spinning chrome wheels were the final identifiable marks that made me certain it was Kelly’s. There was no mistaking it, he was here—but for me or for the Madam ?

Turning my head forward, I closed my eyes and felt my face twist with agony .

Bella, who do you belong to ?

Coughing, I remembered the dark abyss that made up his eyes as I chocked on his dick cutting off the oxygen to my lungs. I remembered it well. I belonged to him. And I also remembered him reminding me that he was always in control .

Tightening my jaw, my eyes flickered open .

My body temperature spiked and my insides tremored with the fear of him seeing me here. I wasn’t ready to face him with what Madam just told me. I needed time to process the information, make sense of it. Because, God knew, there wasn’t any way I could look Kelly in the eye and pretend that I didn’t know that he may have been the reason why Nora took her own life .

When I heard my phone chirp inside my purse, I knew my ride had arrived .

Looking up the block, it didn’t take me long to find the familiar sedan housing the Uber logo in the back window, waiting with brake lights flashing red. A smile curved my face and I was happy to know it was Lucky who would be taking me across town .

As soon as I was within reach, I yanked the backdoor open. Taking a moment to pause, I glanced once more behind my shoulder to find myself staring at the back of Kelly’s car .

He was parked off to the side, and though it was impossible for me to see inside, I was sure he was sitting behind the wheel. Staring. Waiting to catch me coming out .

Swallowing down the bile burning my throat, I shook my head with disgust, hating how it seemed like he would go out of his way just to spy on me. I hadn’t done anything wrong. Working with Madam wasn’t a secret. It was only these deliveries I didn’t want him to know about .

Ducking my head I slid inside the back of Lucky’s car, grateful to be one step ahead of Kelly’s power trip, knowing that I could call him out on it later. “I should have known it would be you .”

Lucky turned and looked over his shoulder, smiling. “Miss Kendra. I’ve been wondering when I was going to get your call .”

“Ahh … you’ve been waiting?” I teased .

“You might not believe this, but not all my customers are like you .”

My brows pinched. “I hope that’s a good thing ?”

“Yes.” He laughed, turning around and facing front. “That’s a very good thing .”

Reaching across my lap, I buckled in as soon as we began to drive. “Lucky, have you had a woman in here ?”

His eyes crinkled with amusement as he puffed up his chest .

“Tell me about her.” My eyes drifted to the world outside, relieved to be inside his air-conditioned car, somehow finding it relaxing to inhale the fresh feminine scent I assumed was from a previous customer .

Lucky laughed. “You know the old saying.” His eyes shifted to the rearview mirror, catching my gaze. “Don’t kiss and tell .”

My brows raised, surprised to hear the romantic undertone lacing his choice of words. “So, have you been seeing each other long ?”

“Brand new.” He nodded. “Hmm. Hmm .”

Traffic was light and because of it, we moved quickly through the center of town .

“Hey.” I twirled my finger through my hair, nervous to be asking. “Can I ask you something ?”

His lips flattened in response to the tone in my voice .

“You remember that nightclub you told me you take women to ?”

He shifted in his seat, hiding any chance of me seeing his brown eyes reflecting back in the rearview mirror. The uplifting mood we’d started the ride with was now gone, but I knew that I needed to hear his answer .

“Have you been there recently ?”

Silence filled the car and in that moment, I missed the beach tunes he normally liked to play .

“Fine. I understand if you can’t discuss it with me.” I turned my head to the window and tried to decide what had originally got me curious .

It could have been my worry for Alex’s safety. The images of Maria’s battered and dead body. Or the fact that Angelina Davis had a unique way of surprising me at the most inopportune times. I still had a feeling that Madam knew more about her than she admitted. What her angle was, I wasn’t sure. But if she kept finding ways to cross paths with me, it would only be a matter time before I found out who she really was .

Lucky casually drove in silence, refusing to answer my questions. And since I wasn’t going to press him, my thoughts soon drifted back to Kelly before we finally arrived to my destination .

“The place doesn’t look open.” Lucky slowed the car and peered out the passenger side window as he pulled to the curb .

“I guess I’ll find out.” Unbuckling myself I said, “Lucky, I’m sorry if what I asked made you uncomfortable — ”

His head fell to his chest as he nodded .

“—but I need you to do me a favor .”

He lifted his head and turned to look over his shoulder. Pulling out my phone, I showed him a picture of Kelly. It was the one of us taken by the paparazzi last night at Ty Lemon’s gala. The same image the entire world was now talking about .

“If you do happen to make a visit to that club, can you please keep your eye out for this man ?”

Nodding, he asked, “And how can I tell you if I do see him ?”

Smiling, I said, “We always seem to find each other. Don’t you worry about that.” I winked, opening the car door and saying my goodbye .

As soon as I shut the door, he left without saying another word. No good wishes, no asking if I would like him to wait for me. And though I wasn’t going to hold that against him, I did consider it a bit strange from a person I thought I knew .

Facing the building, I glanced up at the sign for the new salon. It was bright, fresh, and I could still smell the newly finished scent. Stepping to the door, I pulled on the handle to find it locked .

“Fucking Madam,” I cursed under my breath, growing to hate these errands she was making me run .

Peeking through the window, there wasn’t any sign of life. Yet again, everything looked brand spanking new. This must have been the place Emmanuel and his crew were preparing to open when I had visited his warehouse. And I could only hope that maybe he would at least hook me up with some free items before I turned around and headed home .

Moving to the shade, I dug in my purse, pulling out the package. Not wanting to waste another minute of my day, I knew that I needed to find the phone number Madam said would be inside—the one to call if I experienced any trouble .

Pulling the tab open, I peeked inside only to find the heavy block wrapped in a second envelope. The card was at the bottom and when I pulled it free, it only took a fraction of a second to realize it was the business card that matched the salon I was staring at .

Dialing the number circled with pen, I lifted my phone to my ear and waited for it to ring .

A shiver worked its way down my spine .

I turned to face the street with feelings like I was being watched .

Searching the building’s windows, I saw nothing .

The line continued to ring, my eyes searching the street .

When I turned back to the building, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Squinting into the sun’s glare, I watched a long camera lens recoil back inside a dark vehicle parked a block up the street .

“Leave me alone,” I growled quietly as I cursed the paparazzi that seemed to have followed me here .

A second later, the line clicked over and a man’s voice answered. “What can I do for you ?”

“I’m here on special delivery and the door is locked .”

“Come around back. I’ll let you in there .”

Tucking away my phone, I hated that life as I’d always known it would never be the same. Not with my face becoming the interest of the town .

Marching down the block, I turned the corner and quickly found the back alley where I began counting off the buildings until I stopped on the one I knew was the back of the salon .

I didn’t know how the media found me here, but they did. Unless they managed to tail me from Madam’s, it didn’t make sense. All I knew was that I needed to make this quick before those assholes really did ruin my day and I woke up tomorrow to find another story written about me .

Rapping my knuckles against the metal door I cast my gaze to my shuffling feet, feeling the vibrations rumble the ground beneath. And just when I was about to knock again, the door cracked open .

Emmanuel hid behind the door and even though I couldn’t see his full face, I knew it was him. It was his paranoid eyes hiding behind narrowed slits. He first eyed me before checking the alley .

“Well, are you going to let me in?” I asked .

He licked his chops as if debating whether or not he should. Then he looked behind his shoulder, taking another minute to decide .

“Or you can just take this, here—” My hand dove into my purse, retrieving the package .

“No,” he barked as if not wanting to expose the package. “C’mon inside.” He finally opened the door wide enough to allow me to slither inside. “I have something for you, too .”

Stepping into the dark back room, I was once again relieved to be escaping the heat. “I hope it’s the perfume I like .”

He laughed under his breath as he motioned for me to follow him toward the front .

The smell of shampoo and conditioner filled my head with sweet floral scents that reminded me of my own spa I preferred to visit. Pulling the tops open on a few boxes I passed, Emmanuel reached for my wrist, yanking me along .

“What’s the rush ?”

With his hand on my back, he pushed me to the front. “No rush.” He reached to the shelf and plucked something off the top. “Just wanted to give you this gift .”

“For me?” I extended my hands to the bottle of perfume. “You shouldn’t have .”

He pulled back before I could get my hands on it. “First, you have something for me ?”

“I do. But if that’s what I get in return,” my eyes pointed to the perfume, “then I think your product is way overpriced .”

Without so much as a smirk, he glanced over his shoulder when we both heard a noise coming from the room off the hallway leading to the back .

“What was that?” My brows pinched as my eyes darted between him and the door .

“Nothing.” He snapped his head back around, holding out his hand with palm up. “Do you have the package or what ?”

There was another set of loud bangs coming from the room .

“Who do you have back there ?”

Emmanuel jumped forward, stealing my purse away from me. I watched him find the package and drop the bottle of perfume in its place before tossing my purse back .

“It’s time for you to go.” Emmanuel started dragging me by the arm .

With a racing heart, I slapped at his grip just as a woman came rushing out of the back room behind me, crying. My eyes widened and the air got knocked out of me .

It was her .

Angel’s friend from the gala .

And she was wearing the same tanzanite earrings as the ones Madam gave to me .

Gasping, I covered my mouth, digging my heels into the waxed floor. Her half-clothed body stopped the moment she saw me. With round, scared eyes she wiped the tears from her cheeks as we both stared at each other with confusion filling our faces .

“Kendra!” Emmanuel snapped. “You have to go. Now !”

“What is she doing here ?”

But he was too strong. I couldn’t hold him back. Even after giving it all I had, eventually I lost the battle and I was being pushed out onto the sidewalk and into the glaring sun .

I screamed again for him to tell me what it was she was doing there. He never answered. Instead he slammed the door closed and locked me out .

Beating my palm against the window, I screamed, “Let me in, asshole !”

My voice faded into a raspy whisper as soon as I saw another familiar face emerge .

Blinking, I thought it couldn’t be him. But it was .

There in the back stood Timothy Parker filling the threshold of that forbidden room with no shirt and the front of his pants opened .