Crown of Lies

“Where do you think you’re going?”

My feet ached on the rough concrete thanks to mostly healed cuts and bruises from running barefoot a few nights ago.

If Penn was Adidas or Baseball Cap, why had he come to my rescue?

Why had he been my defender in my future when he’d been the offender in my past?

Nameless’ voice was the third to enter my thoughts.

You don’t need to hide. I won’t let them hurt you. You’re safe with me.

I fought harder, jumping in Greg’s hold, kicking him as hard as I could.

He merely laughed, stripping me of strength with caustic ridicule.

Do you trust me?

Nameless and Penn had asked that.

I’d thought the link was enough to reveal his identity. Turned out, that question was common and far too flimsy to pin my hopes on.

Greg dragged me toward his Porsche, ignoring my attempts at fleeing.

I stopped fighting, choosing another alternative. “Greg...let’s talk about this.” I tried to appeal to the side of him I’d interacted with for years—the business side. The boy I’d grown up with surrounded by all things Belle Elle.

But that Greg was gone.

Compounded by jealousy and riddled with resentment, the man capturing me had a vendetta to earn what he believed was rightfully his, regardless if it was blasphemously wrong.

Opening the car door, he growled. “Get in.”

“You don’t have to do this.”

He shoved his face in mine. “I know. I want to do this.” He placed his hand on my skull, pushing me to duck so I could fit inside the Porsche. “Now, get in the fucking car.”

I looked at the guard sitting in the distance by the exit ramp.

I made a stupid choice, one based on self-preservation.

I screamed. “Heeeeeeelp!”

He punched me.

The crack hit my cheekbone. The force threw me against the car. The garage vanished. The ground disappeared. I came to with my knees buckled and my body sprawled like a ragdoll in the passenger seat.

The slam of the door vibrated my teeth.

The guard hadn’t heard me.

My pain was for nothing.

My vision fogged with candyfloss as Greg yanked open the driver’s side, leaped in, and gunned the engine.

I groaned against sickness and agony. “Stop.” My head lolled on my neck, too heavy, totally useless.

Larry’s voice entered the medley in my skull, bringing thoughts of Central Park, airplanes, and kisses on a baseball field. Thieves can become saints. Saints can become thieves. Most of us deserve a second chance.

My heart boycotted his misunderstood wisdom.

He’d known all along that Penn was more than just a homeless man who’d been arrested on my nineteenth birthday. The entire time we’d spoken, he’d known I slept with an immoral crook.

He knows who Penn is.

And he didn’t tell me.

He let me develop feelings. He believed whatever connection Penn managed to cultivate would be enough to get past the alley.

To get past the threat, the taunt, the trauma.

My face throbbed as I tried to figure it out.

I can never forgive him.

Baseball Cap’s threat filled my ears. The last thing he’d said to me as Nameless shielded me and kept me safe.

You’ll fucking pay. Both of you.

They’d made me pay.

They’d kept their oath to rob me of everything I had, including my body.

But what about Nameless?

What have they done?

The Porsche shot forward, pinning my head against the seat as Greg drove fast. He slowed as we approached the guard.

I blinked, forcing my eyesight to work past the bruising on my cheek.

We stopped, barricaded by the red and white ramp.

The guard was too high in his little booth. He couldn’t see inside the car. I kicked the floor, hoping to make a noise.

It was pitifully non-existent.

Greg reached over with one hand, planting his sour palm over my lips. He whispered, “No screaming.” With his other hand, he fished out his Belle Elle pass and smiled. “Evening.”

The guard did his job. He checked the credentials. He opened the exit. “Have a good night.”

“Oh, I will. Believe me.” Greg threw his I.D card at me as he stomped on the accelerator.

We sped into the night.

He removed his hand. “That went well.” His face gleamed black with triumph. “The hard parts are over now.” He patted my thigh with unwanted fingers. “A little road trip then you and I get to have a private chat.” His hand slid up my thigh, probing the silver dress.

The same dress Penn had hooked over my hips as he fucked me in the limousine.

The same dress I’d worn when I’d found my sapphire star and learned the terrible truth.

I yanked my legs away. “Don’t touch me.”

Greg clutched the steering wheel with a chuckle. “I plan on doing more than that, Noelle. Much more.”

As New York blurred with speed, Dad filled my mind.

Would he come for me?

Would he save me?

I had no one else.

Nameless was gone.

Penn was banished.

I’m alone.

But it didn’t matter.

Greg wanted what he couldn’t have.

Belle Elle was my empire and my body was mine.

Penn had taught me how to lie.

I would don a crown of them.

I would lie and cheat and steal and beg.

I wouldn’t back down.

I’ll fight.