Page 79 of Dare to Dance
“You want to leave? You want to test my power with the judge or maybe a cop?” He picked up his phone, sifted through it, then handed me the phone again.
Judge Carroll’s name was on the screen along with his mobile number.
“Maybe I should call him now,” Trent said, snatching the phone from me.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Go ahead.” I shouldn’t have been cocky. Custody of Raven was in his hands.
He shrugged. “If you don’t want your daughter back, then okay.” He dialed the number.
I did want my daughter back more than anything, but I couldn’t sleep with Trent. I would never forgive myself. Norma was right. I would lose my dignity. I would never be able to face Kross again. “Put him on speaker.” Nausea crept up to settle in my throat.
After two rings, a male voice answered. “Trent, what can I do for you?”
“Sorry to bother you, Al. Remember that child custody case we were talking about?”
“Sure. Lewis right?” the judge asked.
All the blood drained out of me. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but reality sank in.
I yanked the phone out of his hand before hauling the piece of technology against the wall. Then I stalked into the bedroom, slammed the door, and slid down to sit on the floor with my knees to my chest. I took several breaths as I scrambled to think of my next move. I wasn’t changing into that dress or doing anything with him. That man wasn’t touching my body.You don’t exactly have a way out. You’re on the fortieth floor. The only way to freedom is the door you came in.
My gaze darted to the large vase of flowers on the dresser. If I threw that at his head, it would give me a second or two to escape.Then what? He has men watching Raven’s foster family. He’ll go after Raven. Not if I get to her first.
I pushed to my feet. In five strides, I had my hands on the vase.As soon as you walk out with a large vase of flowers, and you’re not dressed, he’ll stop you before you have a chance to throw it at him. Make him believe you’re doing what you were told.
Reluctantly, I shed my clothes then piled them in a heap on top of my coat, which was in a plush chair by the window. When I bent down to pick up the lingerie, I caught my reflection in the window. I stood in my bra and panties with fear carved into my pale features. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath as the voices in my head argued with one another.Don’t do this. I have to go through with the deal. No, you don’t. Yes, I do. He wasn’t lying about the judge.I covered my ears and silently screamed,shut up!
Inhaling the fragrant flowers, I opened my eyes then pulled out my pictures from my coat pocket. Looking at Raven’s pictures always calmed me. I found the one of her modeling her new outfit. I smiled as I ran a thumb over the picture. “I love you, baby girl.” I picked through the rest, stopping on the one of Kross lounging on the lawn under an oak tree at the academy. God, he was handsome as he grinned at me with his sparkling blue eyes.
“I love you, too,” I murmured. “I’m doing this for us. I hope you can forgive me.”
A knock sounded. “Ruby, hurry up,” Trent said in a taut tone.
“I’m almost ready,” I fired back.
I pocketed the pictures. When I did, my hand landed on my knife. Instantly, a new plan emerged. I quickly changed into the skimpy black dress that revealed way too much of my cleavage and legs. I slid my feet into the six-inch heels, fluffed up my hair, pinched my cheeks, and steeled my shoulders. I checked myself in the full-length mirror in the bathroom, turning from front to side. My legs appeared long, my calf muscles accentuated, and my thighs toned.Wow! Where did those legs come from?As I admired my small waist and larger-than-life breasts, I would have sworn that the person I was looking at wasn’t me. I was pretty. I pulled my hair forward to drape over my breasts. A giddy feeling coursed through me then quickly vanished. I wasn’t here to look pretty.Yeah, but you’ll certainly blind him. He won’t know what hit him.
On my way out, I grabbed my pocketknife. It was small but could be effective. As I wobbled to the door in those shoes, I wished myself luck. I would either fall at Trent’s feet because of my clumsy gait, or if I had the stamina, I would dig one of my heels into his groin.
With a killer smile on my face, I clutched the knife behind my back and walked out.
Trent’s head came up from where he sat on the couch before his body shot upright. “Holy shit!” His dark gaze swept over me as though he was painting slime on my body. “Turn around.”
“I’d like a drink,” I said, distracting him for a moment so he wouldn’t see the knife. I darted my gaze to the door, which was no longer blocked by his big body, then back again.
He cocked his head. “You want to try for the door again? Or maybe we can call Judge Carroll again.”
I wanted to inflict pain on Trent before I did anything else. “I asked for a drink.”
He nodded a couple of times. “Sure. Sure.” He scurried from the living room into the kitchen.
I crossed the room carefully until I was standing at the island that separated the kitchen from the living room. With the granite countertop as my shield, I placed my hands in front of me then unleashed the blade.
Trent made quick work of getting the glasses, ice, and a bottle of vodka. He set the ingredients down on the bar as his gaze got stuck on my cleavage.
“Drink,” I said again.
He blinked before pouring vodka into both glasses. Then he slid one glass across the counter. I didn’t drink alcohol. I’d tried beer once after I stopped breastfeeding Raven. I didn’t like the taste, and I’d never tried any hard liquor. Tonight, I needed more than a picture of Raven to calm my nerves. I probably needed that entire bottle of vodka if I was going to stab him.
