(Blood and Bone, #2) Sin and Swoon(81)

I reach over, wrapping myself around her. “I am so sorry, Ang.” I hug her and hold her and offer up little bits of what’s left of my soul.

Dash finds us, her sobbing and me just frozen and wishing all the good things in life on her. He reaches down and picks her up from my arms and carries her to the guesthouse where she demanded to sleep. Sitting on the chair and staring at the stars, I wait for him to come back.

The door opens, and Henry brings me another glass of wine. “Drink?”

I take it, assuming it’s a peace offering. “Thanks.”

He sits across from me. “I was invited once. I’m not a card-carrying member. The senator where we were staying invited me. He and his son and me and my friend.” He looks down. “When I got there I understood it to be a regular brothel, just a regular-girl-who-was-paid-for-her-services sort of establishment.”

I sigh, drinking the wine. “No.”

He looks up. “I went the one time, enjoyed myself like any other man, and left happy. I gave all the girls a huge tip.” He looks sincere, but I’m not an idiot. “I never went back. It’s invite-only. Surely you can help me out. You don’t want Dash to get in trouble, do you?”

The answer is obvious, and I have no intention of letting it slip from my lips. I drink my wine, shaking my head, certain he thinks he’s manipulating me. “You had to know someone would know, eventually.”

“No. That’s the best part. Everyone was so cocky and arrogant, we never imagined anyone was filming. Everyone there had the same amount to lose.”

That part is a bit weird; who would have installed the surveillance without anyone knowing?

I blink, realizing my lids are heavy suddenly. If I were a regular girl, I would think it was the wine and the exhaustion.

But being me means I know he has drugged my wine. I place the glass down slowly, using every bit of precision that I have, before standing and walking toward the guesthouse.

His hand lands on my wrist harshly, but I turn, swinging hard. I drop him with one punch.

“Jane!” Dash runs to me, catching me as I fall down.

“Henry drugged me. He was at the brothel in the mountains. I have him on video. He drugged me.” I blink and pass out.





25. Merry Christmas




Binx purring in my ear is the first thing I hear, but the pounding of my brain is the first thing I feel. I wince as something is pushed near my lips. “Take the painkillers. This type of drug has a harsh side effect,” Dash whispers. I know it’s him. I can tell by the rage in his whisper. He’s angry. I am too.

I manage to get one eye open as I swallow the pill. The room is dark and quiet. “Where is he?”

“Gone. My parents threw him out. My father has disinherited him. It’s bad, Jane. I barely got his confession on the type of drugs he used on you before my father nearly tried to kill him.”

I wince. “I am so sorry, Dash. I should have told you, I just didn’t know how.”

His lips press against my face. “No, I’m sorry. My brother is a scumbag and a piece of shit, and he has no remorse for the terrible things he does. My parents are distraught. They had no idea.”

My head hurts just imagining his mother distraught.

Binx snuggles against my face, rubbing Dash’s face. “Oh God, my head, and the mess of explaining to your parents that they can’t ever tell anyone what they know.”

He kisses my forehead. “Don’t think about it right now.”

I don’t. I close my eyes and let sleep take me again.

When I wake the pain is gone, but my neck is stiff. I open my eyes to find Binx and Dash sitting in the armchair in the corner, both fast asleep. The room is just light enough to see that.

I pull back the covers and grab my phone, sending a message to Antoine: You okay?

Yup, but your boys sent people to my known address.

I wince. Your mom’s house?

He sends a selfie of him giving me a face.

No! My mom’s house is safer than anywhere. You kidding?

Did you solve all our problems? Do we know who we can trust?

No. There’s the VP, and that’s about it.

I tap a finger against my head.

We need to find Rory. We need to know what they know. I could mind-run him and make him tell me.

He sends a worse photo of a scared face. No.

I hold my breath for a couple of minutes and then send the message I don’t want to.

Send it to the world. The government is going to cover it up. Send it to the world. We will lose our jobs, but I don’t care, do you? Those girls will never get the justice they deserve.

He sends a photo of him smiling with a thumbs-up. Best idea all week.

Merry Christmas, Antoine!

Merry Christmas, Jane!!!!

I put my phone away and wait for the scandal to hit the world. I know it won’t take long. He’s probably already made the report. Dash wakes, giving me a slow smile. “You’re awake. You okay?”