Page 9 of Thaddeus

The tuxedoed valet opened the door for me, and before I could thank the young man, Jefferson shoved me in.

The door slammed and the driver took off.

“Is everything okay?” I softened my tone, pretending I gave a fuck about his criminal empire.

“No.”

“What can I do to help?”

“Nothing. I just need you to stay by my side at the event. I have a meeting with someone important. I don’t want to be worried about you wandering around getting yourself into trouble.”

“Okay,” I cooed.

I’d gladly sit by his side during a meeting. The last place I wanted to be was in the open warehouse where the dog fights took place. It was too much to watch.

“I’m serious, Emerson. These men are street thugs. Disgusting pigs that wouldn’t think twice about hurting you. Do. Not. Leave. My. Side.”

Hello.

Pot meet kettle.

I knew all about disgusting pigs who didn’t think twice about hurting women or animals.

I was sitting right next to one, pretending I was a love-struck idiot who was so stupid I didn’t understand what was going on around me.

The charade had to end tonight. I’d wait until he confirmed the girls were on his yacht, then I’d end him.

It was time.

Beyond time.

I couldn’t stand to be in his presence any longer.

The town car rolled to a stop in front of a large warehouse, and in a moment of weakness, not wanting to witness the horrors that would be inside, I thought about lying and saying I was too tired to stay. It was coming up on midnight; it would be a plausible excuse. But I needed to see who Jefferson was meeting with.

My car door was opened and Jefferson nudged me to get out. My heel dug into the dirt and I vaguely thought about how pissed I was the four-inch heel of my Gianvito Rossi Crystal-fringed sandal was now two inches into filth. I was thinking this because I couldn’t get them dirty, I’d be selling the thirteen-hundred-dollar pair of shoes as soon as I could. I’d probably only get a thousand for them but I need all the money I could squirrel away until I found my next mark.

Jefferson immediately started speaking to his head of security, asking if Mr. Brown was already inside. Carlos confirmed he was, and the hostess was taking care of him. The thought made me want to puke. The hostess would be a young local girl whose sole job would be to make sure Mr. Brown had everything he wanted. And I do mean—everything.

Disgusting prick.

I adjusted my balance, keeping most of my weight on the balls of my feet so my next payday wouldn’t be ruined with scraped-up heels.

Jefferson continued to pepper Carlos with questions, the conversation turned to the girls who had not yet been moved to his yacht because he wasn’t sure if he would accept the stable. They were too old for his taste.

Which meant they were mostly teenagers.

Bitterness stirred and memories started to take over. But before they could fully immerse, Jefferson tugged my arm making me stumble in front of him. He held me so tight, I could feel the buttons of his suit jacket denting the bare skin of my back.

I knew it annoyed him I always chose backless dresses that showed off my tattoo. But it was the one thing that made me feel better. No matter where I was, who I was with, or what I was doing, Thaddeus’ name was on display.

My touchstone.

My moral compass in the murky water I now lived in.

The reminder that life can change in the blink of an eye and there is nothing you can do to stop it.

I couldn’t see his name. I didn’t need to; I could feel each letter as if they had been singed onto my soul.