Page 11 of One Wild Night

Chapter 5

Siena

The night of the bet

It was Friday night, and as I sat at my vanity looking at my reflection in the mirror, I paused to think about what I was doing. Though I had made the choice to steer clear of Ryan that first day, my attraction for him never lessened. In fact, it grew each and every time he saved me from some creep in the club. And there had been plenty of times. Still, I never thought I would have the opportunity to thank him the way I desperately wanted to.

To say the last two years with Tony had been hell would be an understatement, but I was working my ass off to stash enough money away that I could disappear. It was the only option I had. Sure, he had wined and dined me on our first date, treated me like a princess, and showed me he was capable of being a gentleman, but it was all an act. Within a month of dating, he insisted that I move into the mansion with him. He had said it was so we could be closer—that he wanted me with him so he could watch out for me more easily—but the truth quickly became clear.

It was all about control. With me living there, he could control where I went and with whom. He decided who I was allowed to be friends with, what I ate for dinner, and even what clothes I wore when I wasn’t at the club. If he wanted to take me out, it didn’t matter what I already had planned. I was to be at his beck and call each and every time he wanted me, no questions asked. What he said was law. There were no exceptions, and he made sure I knew that. I was his trophy to show off as he wanted, or to put on the shelf when he was busy getting his rocks off with one of his whores.

What he said may have been law, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. I didn’t, and I made my displeasure known often.

It had been a long fucking day at the club, but I was able to earn almost two grand in tips, which made me happy. My heart dropped to my stomach, though, as I walked out of the club to find Tony leaning against the side of his SUV. He never came to pick me up himself, usually too busy dipping his dick in one of his fucking bimbos instead.

So quickly he didn’t notice, I plastered a smile to my face and walked up to him, kissing him on the cheek. “Well this is a surprise. To what do I owe this unexpected visit?”

I tried to step back, but he snaked his right arm around my waist and held me against him as his left hand lifted my chin so I was looking him in the eyes. “Can’t a guy surprise his beautiful girlfriend with a night out on the town?”

I had to hold in my laughter at his words. “Tony, I’m really tired. I worked all damn day. I just want to go home, take my shoes off, soak in a hot bath, and then go to bed.” Holding my breath, I waited for his reaction. It was exactly as I thought it would be.

“Are you fucking kidding me, Trixie? You dance two or three times a night. That’s not hard work by anyone’s standards. Why the hell are you so tired? Are you whoring around on me? Spreading your legs for anyone who wants an easy lay? Are you fucking random assholes in one of the private rooms for better tips like the rest of the bitches in the club do?”

I folded my arms across my chest and stood up straight. I may have been a lot of things, but I wasn’t a fucking whore. “No, Tony, I’m not ‘whoring around’ on you. You know I would never do that. I’m not like most of the other girls here.” I wanted to add that I wasn’t like him, either, but I held my tongue. The implication, however, was there, and it was enough.

Before I saw it coming, he raised his arm and backhanded me across the face quickly, leaving my cheek burning from the blow. I immediately covered it with my palm and tried to turn away from him, but he grabbed me again and held me in place.

“You will watch how you talk to me, Trixie. My father may have handed you your career on a silver platter, but I have the power to fucking break you. You best remember that before you talk back to me again. Now, get in the goddamn car. We’re going to dinner.”

With my hand still on my burning cheek, I climbed into the SUV and slid to the far side in an effort to put as much space between us as possible. Tony may not have left me a choice, but that didn’t mean I had to make it easy for him.

I knew something was up when he brought me to the most expensive restaurant in Chicago. Sure, his daddy probably had the owner in his pocket, but that was beside the point. When we were shown to our seats, his demeanor changed and he slipped on the mask of the doting boyfriend again, brushing his fingers against my burning cheek. It was all I could do to keep from flinching or pulling away from him completely.

After our main course, and me not talking to him at all, he broke the silence. “I lost a bet to Ryan today, and I thought you should know.”

I just stared at him, wondering what the hell losing a bet had to do with me.

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