The room was dark when Joslynn was jerked awake by a noise. Laying there on the bed, she wasn’t sure what she heard. It could have been something from the hallway or even one of the hotel rooms on either side. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong.

“No!” Chip’s tone was angry.

The voice sounded farther away than the other side of the bed and it took her a moment to realize he wasn’t next to her. He was in the bathroom. Slipping out of bed, she crept closer to the bathroom door. She wasn’t sure who he was talking to but hearing him so upset made her want to go to him.

“Stay the fuck away from her.” Even with Chip keeping his voice low she could hear the growl of anger. “I’m not someone you want to mess with.”

With no other voices it was clear he was on the phone with someone, but who? Her first thought was Sal. She glanced over at end table near the sofa and from the light coming in the window she could see her phone still sitting there. That meant it wasn’t Sal. He didn’t have Chip’s number; in fact, he despised her friendship with Chip and had practically forbidden it.

That should have been the first clue he wasn’t the right man for her. But, rather than put her foot down, she’d concealed her friendship with Chip. How she would have done that once they got married, she wasn’t sure. I never intended to go through with it. As the thought crossed her mind, she sucked in a breath and backed away from the bathroom door. Was it true? Had she not intended to go through with it? Thinking back on all the little things, she realized that part of her had already decided she couldn’t marry Sal. She just hadn’t known how to break it off. That was until he hit her.

Her back brushed against the wall, reminding her of the wall she had built between herself and Sal. That was the only way she got through their relationship. There was no romance, love, or hell, anything like that. She’d stuck with him because her boss demanded it. If Sal didn’t give his father good reports on her, she’d be out a job. It wasn’t her dream job, but it was a stepping stone to one, so she needed to leave on good terms.

“So much for that.” She shook her head. “Why did I even board the plane? I knew it was going to be a disaster.”

From the moment Sal had picked her up at her apartment things had gotten off on the wrong foot. “I don’t know why you live in such a dump and with that stupid bitch.” Those had been the first words Sal had said to her as she slid into the backseat of the chauffeured car. She’d wanted to defend Annie, but past experiences had proved to her that only made things worse. Sal didn’t like anyone who disagreed with him, especially not her. To him, she was just an extension of him. She didn’t have a say in how things happened.

“Why didn’t I heed the warnings?” Even as she’d boarded the plane, she knew the trip was going to be a catastrophe, but she’d never pictured getting fired and being left in a different country without a way home.

Every day that passed in Ireland, the worse the situation got. It was as if, without Sal’s father to hold the reins, Sal’s temper had grown out of control. That was until their final fight, which had proved to her just what he’d wanted her around for. These negotiations are stressful. I brought you for sex. Otherwise, what do I need you for?

His words played through her thoughts again, making her stomach churn. How could she have been so blind to his motives? Even more than that, she continued to play over every conversation she’d had with him, trying to reason why she hadn’t seen the monster within him before. It was clear to her and anyone who knew Sal that he was mean-spirited and at times evil, but she’d never thought he’d go as far as he did.

The bathroom door opened, spilling light into the room. “Jos, what’s wrong?” Chip crossed the space and wrapped his arms around her.

“How didn’t I know? Why couldn’t I see what kind of person he was? Annie warned me there was something about Sal, something evil, but I couldn’t see what she saw. Why?” Her legs gave out but instead of letting her crumble to the floor, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her back to the bed.

“Shh, angel.” He laid her on the bed and before joining her, he sat his phone on the nightstand.

“Who were you talking to?”

“Angel.” His voice was soft but there was a touch of warning to it as if cautioning her that she wouldn’t like the answer.

“Tell me.”

“Sal.” He tugged the blanket up around them and pulled her tight against him.

“What? How did he get your number?” She tried to pull out of his embrace to sit up, but he held her tight.

“I don’t know how for sure, but that doesn’t matter. I’ll deal with him but in order to do that, I need you to be open with me. He said something—something I need you to clarify.”

The moment the words left his mouth, she knew exactly what he meant. Unable to just lie there in his arms, she pulled back from him and sat up. Then, trying to chase the chill that had settled over her away, she hugged the blanket to her chest.

“Jos…”

“Don’t. It’s not important.” She couldn’t get enough air into her lungs and the words came out softer than she intended.

“You’re important and so is this.” He placed his hand on her shoulder. “I’d wait for you to tell me on your own but if I’m understanding what he said the way I think, then someone else is at risk.”

She twisted around to look at him. “No…he…oh, Kathy!”

“Tell me.” He pressed.

“He brought me with him for sex.” Her fingers tightened on the blanket. “Not just for him but for any of them.”

“Fucking asshole!” He scooted closer to her and wrapped his arm around her. “I’m going to keep you safe.”

“I’ve got to go back. I’ve got to…”

“No.” His tone left no room for arguing but she was prepared to fight.

“Kathy’s just a child. Eighteen. Her parents didn’t want her to come, but we needed someone to help prepare the papers. I promised her parents she’d be okay, that I’d be there.”

“I’ve got a friend here in Dublin. He’s a Garda—the police force here in Ireland. Let me talk to him and we’ll put together a plan. We’ll make sure she’s safe, but not by you risking yourself. I won’t have it.”

“She’s my responsibility.”

“No.” He leaned forward so she could see his face. “She’s an adult. We’ll make this right and while we do, we’ll bring down that asshole.”

“His father’s money will get him out of any trouble he ends up in.”

“We’ll see about that.” He pressed his lips to her temple. “I’m going to give my friend a call.”

“Okay.” She scooted back against the headboard, pulling the blanket with her.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” She glanced over at him as if trying to reassure him. She was anything but okay but if he stayed in bed with her, like she wanted, it could mean Kathy’s safety was at risk. She wouldn’t risk the young girl for a few minutes of security in Chip’s embrace. “Go on, call him.”

After a brief hesitation, Chip rose from the bed and grabbed his cell phone again. By the time his friend answered, she was already drifting back to her last conversation with Sal.

“Remember what my father said before we left. You’ll play your part completely, otherwise you’re finished.” Sal stood by the in-room bar, his fourth alcohol drink in hand. “Keeping your job requires my stamp of approval at the end of this trip.”

“Play my part!” Livid, she couldn’t stop herself from screaming. “I’m here as your assistant, not as a hooker.”

“You’ll assist me in closing the deal.” He brought the drink to his lips and took a long sip. “That is your purpose here.”

“You need to get reacquired with the definition of a personal assistant. I can assure you that there isn’t a line in my job description that says I must lie on my back for whoever you deem necessary. You can’t pass me around like a toy you’ve gotten tired with. I’m supposed to be your fiancée!”

“As such, you should do whatever it takes to make the family business successful.” Polishing off the drink, he grabbed another bottle and staggered toward the sofa. “Otherwise I might have to honor someone else with my attention. Perhaps…Kathy…yeah, she’s a bright young child. A little sheltered, but I’m sure she’ll do whatever it takes to please me.”