Chapter Twenty-Three
The lace curtains on the windows let in fragments of the sun as it danced playfully across the wall of mirrors. The morning light crept across the studio floor into the living area, inching to the bed that lay in the corner of the cottage house.
Scarlet opened her eyes to a sleeping Alex. She couldn’t stop the immediate smile that pushed at the corners of her lips.
The previous night came flooding back; Alex and the most amazing sex of her life. They made love over and over until they were both delirious with pleasure. He had made her feel alive and hungrily wanting more.
“Was quite a rush,” Alex had said, smirking at the pun.
Total rush.
As Scarlet lay naked under the covers, she couldn’t help but shiver at the thought of waking up next to him. This man, who had come into her life suddenly, but surely, had sent her through a gauntlet of emotion.
He finally opened up to her, shared who he was, and Scarlet’s heart yearned for him more. She never felt this strongly for a man. It was both exciting and terrifying.
Their connection was a fateful one, and there was no turning back.
You’ve done it now, she told herself. Scarlet had fallen all the way down the abyss for Alex Strong, but she got the feeling he would have no problem catching her.
As she studied his sleeping face, she couldn’t help but turn her thoughts to the underlying problem. She would have to go back to North Pointe. She didn’t want to, especially now. She wanted to stay there with him in the safety of the cottage. It was another world away from all lurking dangers.
As if sensing her thoughts, Alex’s eyes slowly opened. “Hey.” He smiled.
“Hi,” Scarlet replied shyly.
Alex turned onto his back and pulled her arm until she was lying over his chest. Her hair splayed out around her and she sighed in contentment.
“I actually slept well.” He seemed surprised as he gazed up at the ceiling.
“Do you usually not?” Scarlet inquired.
Alex frowned in thought. “No … I have trouble sleeping.” He looked down at her. “How are you feeling?”
Scarlet squeezed her arms around his body, looked up at him, and kissed him. “Good,” she said. “Trying to rationalize staying here with you all day.”
“That would be a welcome alternative to the shit-storm that’s waiting for me back in the city.” Alex chuckled.
“I’m sorry I made more problems for you.” Scarlet sighed, resting her head on his chest. “Running away like that.”
Alex ran his free hand through her hair. “You didn’t. This is all me.”
“No,” Scarlet said. “I need to go back with you. I need to talk to Edward.”
Alex sighed. “He hasn’t been easy to deal with lately. I don’t get it. Makes me wonder if he’s keeping things from me.”
“Is that something he does often?” Scarlet lifted her head again and frowned.
Alex thought for a moment. “No, but when he does, it’s usually major.”
Something major, Scarlet thought. Like not being truthful about who’s behind this whole mess.
“What’s the deal?” Scarlet sat up and wrapped the sheet around her naked body. “Have they figured anything else out on who’s behind the attacks?”
“No.” Alex propped himself up against the headboard, keeping his hand clasped around Scarlet’s. “But the detective assigned to the case seems to think a human trafficking ring is targeting North Pointe dancers.”
Scarlet’s eyes widened. “You don’t think Edward’s involved, do you?” Scarlet had to ask.
Alex’s brow creased into a frown. “No, but I do think there’s someone at the company who is. And this is about more than just bonking a couple ballerinas on the head.”
Scarlet nervously brought her hands back to her chest and crossed her arms. “So, I was grabbed because…”
Scarlet could tell Alex didn’t want to talk about it, and she certainly didn’t want to kill the memory of the night just yet, but she had to know. Her future was still hanging in the balance.
“Because they wanted you as product.”
Scarlet blinked, feeling her skin go cold. “Sex slavery?”
Alex nodded.
I don’t wish the fate that awaits you for anyone, Isobelle Laurent’s voice drifted into her brain.
“Shit,” Scarlet breathed. “That’s why Isobelle came to me.”
Alex looked down at her. “She talked to you?”
“Isobelle Laurent cornered me outside North Pointe, two days ago. She told me to watch who I trusted. It spooked me. She was scared, and that’s not like her at all. Then the reporter dropped by the house with his ill-timed story, and I just snapped.”
Alex shifted his weight under the covers, frowning in thought. “The detective I spoke to seems to think they didn’t realize you’d be promoted—that they were attempting to kidnap corps dancers since it’s lower profile. I think now they’re just trying to create confusion for a bigger grab.”
Scarlet thought for a moment, feeling the rise and fall of Alex’s chest. “Maybe Maxim is behind it, and Isobelle knows. She said, something big is on the horizon, and the dancers at North Pointe are targeted. She told me there are people close to me that mean me harm. She was trying to warn me.”
Scarlet shook her head in disbelief as a few puzzle pieces fell into place.
Alex let out a long breath. “I have the feeling Lyn St. Claire may be the one orchestrating things, but I could be talking myself into that because if it’s not her…”
“It could be Edward,” Scarlet breathed.
“I can’t think like that.” Alex leaned forward, reaching for her. Scarlet allowed him to grab her and bring her back to him.
“I don’t want you to,” Scarlet said. “I don’t think he would do that to his dancers. It’s just too horrible.” Scarlet stopped. She wanted to keep some sort of hope alive as her mind treaded in dangerous water.
“Regardless,” Alex insisted. “I’ll figure it out. I’ll call the detective and tell him about Isobelle. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“I’m going back with you,” Scarlet said. “I can’t leave the other dancers to this mess. I can’t let some scumbag criminals make them…” She closed her eyes. “This isn’t just about me anymore.”
Alex was quiet as he kissed the top of Scarlet’s head. “I’ll keep you safe.”
Scarlet sighed, wishing that she could just focus on what made her happy. She wanted off the emotional roller coaster. “Thanks,” she said.
“Anything for you,” Alex said.
Scarlet lifted her head to look at him once more. He pressed his lips to hers, sending a shudder down her spine. She ran her hands down his bare chest, pressing herself into him.
Alex pulled his head back and smiled at her. “You’re insatiable.”
She laughed as she kept teasing him. “Is it crazy that with all of this going on, I can only think about you being naked here with me?”
Alex opened his mouth to respond, but there was a knock at the glass door. The curtains were drawn, but Scarlet jumped anyway and peeked out the window to see who it was.
“Shit,” she muttered.
Her father was standing on the front stoop.
“Scarlet Udiya Rush,” he yelled. “Don’t make me get the keys.”
My full name. Scarlet jumped up from the bed, taking the sheet with her. I’m in trouble.
It didn’t matter how old she got; her father’s tone had a way of snapping her to attention.
Alex made a face, reaching for his discarded jeans and boxers at the foot of the bed. “There’s something cute about a girl jumping at the sound of her dad’s voice.”
“Oh, shut up.” Scarlet grabbed her shirt and pants that were scattered across the floor and hurried to put them on. As she dressed in record time, Mikael continued to knock.
“Yes, Dad, hi!” She slid the door and curtain open.
Mikael raised an eyebrow at his daughter. “It’s past ten. Your mom wants to know if you want breakfast.”
Scarlet swallowed a sarcastic comment; he was here to snoop. “Sure. But I decided to head back to the city. So, after breakfast, I’ll be leaving.”
Mikael’s face crinkled into a frown. “Scarlet, are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“No,” she said. “But Alex is going to watch over me. Everything will be fine.”
She tried to instill her voice with a sense of urgency so her dad would understand. She wouldn’t tell him about the severity of the situation, because it would just set him off. Scarlet knew he wanted nothing more than for her to be safe.
“I don’t like it.” Mikael shook his head and sighed. “But I suppose hiding here isn’t the best answer.”
Alex stepped into view behind Scarlet, pulling his shirt down over his head. Mikael took a step back, his frown deepening.
“Dad,” Scarlet started.
Mikael closed his eyes for a moment, a pained expression crossing his face. “It’s fine,” he said. When he opened them, he was staring straight at Alex. “I know I’m the last person who should be asking you this, but please keep her safe.”
There seemed to be an unspoken understanding between the two men, as Alex nodded. “I can’t promise you anything, sir,” he said. “But I will protect her with my life. Her safety is my first priority—before anyone else’s, even mine. I would have given my life for Lena’s as well.”
Scarlet turned to him and blinked at his words.
“I know you would have.” Mikael nodded.
Alex’s words made Scarlet’s head spin. He was put into the same position—a father pleading for his daughter’s safety—and Alex didn’t flinch. He would fiercely protect her. They’d get through this.
“You’re a good man, Alex,” Mikael said. “Thank you.” He turned to walk back to the main house. “Breakfast in ten, you two.”
Scarlet slid the door closed and turned to Alex. He looked handsome with uncombed hair and his wrinkled polo.
“Time to face the music.” Alex sighed. “But first, a shower.”
“We should shower,” she said, lifting up on her toes. “Together.”
Alex chuckled. “Let me give Edward a call. I’ll let him know we’re heading back later.”
“I’ll go get our breakfast,” Scarlet said. “We can relax for the rest of the morning.”
“Sounds good.” Alex nodded.
Scarlet dressed quickly and left Alex in the studio to make his call. Once outside, she checked her phone. Nora had called, then texted a lot since the previous evening.
She let out a sigh, letting herself into the house.
Nora had some control issues. Scarlet wasn’t sure she had gone a day without talking to her friend since they met.
She breathed in the sweet smell of pancakes, stopping to give her mother a kiss on the cheek. “Mind if I take breakfast back to the cottage?”
Sarit threw her a knowing look. “Sure. Breakfast for two coming up.”
Scarlet watched her mother prepare the plates. “It was good sex.” She grabbed a piece of fruit. “In case you were wondering.”
Sarit chuckled, keeping her attention on the food.
Scarlet changed the subject. “I decided to go back.”
“Your father informed me,” Sarit responded. “Before he shut himself in his study.”
“I don’t mean to upset either of you,” Scarlet said.
Sarit turned to her daughter. “I know you don’t. He’ll be fine. This is what’s right—fighting for your passion, for your heart. So many people aren’t awarded that chance.”
Scarlet’s shoulders sagged at her words. “Lena certainly wasn’t. If anything, I’m doing this for her. She always loved my dancing.”
“She did.” Sarit nodded. “She was so excited when you got into the school you wanted, and when you began getting all the company inquiries. She’d be so proud to see you now.”
Sarit brought the plates of food over to the island and placed them on a tray. Scarlet watched her mother as an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach.
She couldn’t believe that someone involved with the company could be helping bring women into a captive life. If she had to point any fingers with her minimal evidence, she would have to say it was Evelyn St. Claire. There was something off about the woman and it was more than having a bitchy daughter who didn’t make prima. She could easily be manipulating the situation under Edward’s nose. She could be setting everything up.
Scarlet wasn’t naive about human trafficking. It was a real danger in other countries, and a rising danger in the US. She knew dancers would be the perfect targets. Half of the North Pointe ballerinas barely spoke English. They were young, and they had great bodies. She just wasn’t sure why she specifically had been targeted—before or after her promotion, she was still a high-profile dancer, higher than most of the corps.
Scarlet shuddered at the idea that the man who was still at large, and the man who hit Nora over the head, tried to kidnap them and sell them to the highest bidder.
Everything was so much worse than she imagined.
She was still lost in her thoughts when the door opened and Alex walked in.
Scarlet blinked. “I was just coming back with food.”
“We might have to take it to go.” Alex’s face was grim.
Scarlet bit her lower lip, unsure of what to say. “Oh, we have to go now?”
“Edward needs me,” Alex said. “It’s…” He cast a nervous glance at Sarit.
Something was wrong. Scarlet could hear it in his voice. She shivered despite the warmness of the kitchen. “What?”
Alex let out a sigh. “Lily Bennington and Victoria St. Claire have disappeared.”