Page 62 of Enthrall Ecstasy
“That’s not good.” I cringed.
“Ya think! Anyway, what do you care? You’re in her camp.”
“I just did her a favor.”
“How about doing me a favor and pissing off. I’m busy.” Yet she stood there looking up at me as though waiting for me to say more, quietly begging for something. For affection, maybe? Or approval?
“I got my own place,” she said, breaking the silence again. “A one-bedroom apartment opposite The Grove.”
That was her way of letting me know she’d put some distance between her and Majestic, her way of letting me know she was independent.
“Great location.”
“I like to go to the Farmer’s Market.”
I gave a nod. “They have a Barnes and Noble.”
“I really like the shops.”
I knew what this was—it was us refusing to part ways.
Staying away was the kindest gift I could give her. No one needed a man like me in their universe.
“Look after yourself, Rue.” Saying goodbye felt like a strike to my chest and beyond, right into my cardiac muscle.
A familiar feeling of self-loathing followed.
She closed the gap between us. “Lift my ban.”
I looked away as I tried to think of an excuse that would appease her. “You can’t afford the membership.”
“I’ve never hated anyone as much as you.”
“I’m flattered.”
She went to leave and then hesitated. “Have you ever heard of a place called Hillenbrand?”
“In France?” A shiver went up my spine. “Yes, why?
Just hearing the name made my pulse quicken. Nestled in that secret den of iniquity in an exclusive location in Paris, subs were used for pleasure.
“It shut down,” I said sternly.
“Seems you heard wrong.”
Cameron and I had flown over to France and visited that palatial manor. We’d rescued Mia from there when things got as bad as they could get. I’d shoved that memory away. We’d done some dark play to get her out.
I vaguely recalled a short-lived breakthrough for me personally. A childhood trauma that had been set free. I’d let go of that crap about my dad not loving me enough.
Rue clicked her fingers in front of my face to get my attention back on her.
I stared down at her. “You better not be thinking of going there?”
“First class ticket to Paris.” She pressed a fingertip into my chest again. “Flying out on Monday. And you can’t stop me.”
“Why Hillenbrand?”
“They specialize in exhibitionism.”
