Page 24 of Princes of Hollywood

“If you’re missing anything, I’ll buy it for you. Let’s go, poppet.” He jerks his head toward the door.

“Wait.” I hold up my hand and go to the nightstand. I pull out the top drawer. Roarke looks over my shoulder.

“Pretty sure I could replace any of those.” The drawer is full of toys Chad bought.

I shake my head and drop to my knees, reaching under it. My mind is in such a haze, I almost forgot. I lift the tape, careful not to tear the picture. When it’s free, I bring it out and look down at the last remaining picture of my mother and father. They were young. Mom’s holding her pregnant belly, while Dad has his arm wrapped around her, kissing her head.

The other pictures are all lost to moves and time, but I’ve kept this one safe.

“You ready?”

I stand and brush my hands on my pants. “Yes.”

Roarke heads to the door. I hurry in front of him to pull it open. Not sure what’s waiting for us on the other side.

“Thanks, man,” Roarke’s voice booms out. “We got everything we needed out of there.”

I move up beside Roarke. Chad’s face is red, like when he’s had too much to drink. But he pastes on a smile. “Don’t mention it, man.”

“Can I get a selfie, Roarke? Please.” Bunny practically bounces up and down. I roll my eyes, but Roarke gives her a smile.

“Sure, doll.” Roarke moves away from me, over to Bunny.

Chad’s brown eyes narrow on me. He grabs my arm, but I know better than to tell him he’s hurting me. He leans down next to my ear. “You still owe me rent.”

“I’ll send in the check.” I jerk on my arm slightly, trying not to draw Roarke’s attention.

“I guess you just need dollar signs to come,” he spits out. “It took me over a month to get into your pants. Congratulations on being Roarke Flynn’s latest whore.”

“Better his whore than yours.” I jerk my arm away and cross the living room to Roarke, where Bunny is showing him the picture.

When Chad makes a move to grab me again, Roarke turns all his attention on Chad. “Are we going to have a problem?”

All laughter and playfulness are gone from Roarke’s tone. A shiver slides down my spine.

“Let’s go, Roarke,” I say softly, touching his arm. The muscle is tense under my fingers.

Chad’s eyes narrow on him for a second before he grins like he doesn’t have a care in the world. “Nah, man. You can have her. I was done with her, anyway. She’s a lousy lay.”

Chad gives me a pointed look like he didn’t suggest just a few hours ago that I fuck him in lieu of rent.

Roarke steps between us. His hand lands on my hip, holding me behind him.

“Just know you mess with her, you mess with me.” His hand tightens on my hip and pulls me flush against his back. I breathe in his cologne and let it calm the pounding of my heart. “If you fuck with her, I’ll know, and you won’t see me coming.”

Chad laughs. “I suppose you’re going to have your stuntman come after me.”

Roarke moves so fast. I gasp and he has Chad up against the wall. Bunny squeals.

“Greer is mine now. Get over yourself and have fun playing with your bunny.” He shoves Chad one last time before he drops him and comes over to me. “Let’s go.”

He grabs both my bags in one hand and wraps his arm around my shoulder. At the door, he turns. “If any of this hits the tabloids, I will sue you until you are so buried in debt, this place looks like a fucking castle.”

I’m still in a daze as he leads me down the hall and hits the elevator button. No one has protected me. Ever.

For years, it’s been me against everybody else. I had to fight and claw to stay me. Unwanted, unloved. Broken and afraid.

“What a fucking asshole,” Roarke says as he draws me into the elevator.

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