The tension in her body eased out, and Donnie pressed his cock against her.
Finally, after only seconds of kissing, Paige pulled away from him. “No, we can’t do this. You’re my stepbrother.”
“We’re not fucking related. Stop putting that fucking label to me. I’ve never been your bastard brother. Deep down, you know it.”
“No, I’ve—”
Kissing her one more time, he plunged his tongue into her mouth.
“Shut the fuck up, Paige. Look at me.”
Her eyes were blurry from tears.
“You don’t need to cry, baby. I will never hurt you.”
“Being in this world hurts me.”
“I know. I won’t let my father marry you off. I’ve got a plan, and you’ve got to trust me.”
“Let me run right now. Please, Donnie. I can leave, and no one has to know.”
“I can’t let that happen,” he said. “It’s too dangerous. There are men out there, Paige, who would take you, rape you, torture you. I can’t let that happen, not to you.”
She hung her head.
If he’d not been holding her up, she’d have sunk to the floor.
“Baby, please don’t cry. Don’t give up.”
“My mom did this?”
“Yes.”
“I promise, Paige, I’ll protect you.”
She sniffled up. The sound wasn’t supposed to be cute, but he couldn’t help but find it cute.
“You can let me go now. I’m not going to freak out, I promise.”
He released her hand, and she held her hands tight against her. She wouldn’t look him in the eye, and that hurt him.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“One of the strip clubs owned by The Family.”
“You own women?”
“We provide employment for women, and we also offer them up for free,” he said. “There’s a lot about this business that you are not going to know, and never going to find out.”
“This world is something I’ve been thrust in without a choice.” She bit her lip, and all he wanted to do was bite it, to suck it inside.
She wasn’t mentioning the kiss. He wondered why.
“Can you take me home now, please?”
He stared at her for several seconds before nodding. “Yes, I’ll take you home.”
Paige wouldn’t look at him. For now, Donnie wasn’t going to press the issue. Walking to the door, he flicked the lock open, and waited for her to join him. He held his hand out for her to take. “You’re not going out there without holding onto me, Paige.”
She didn’t argue, taking hold of his hand.
The fine tremors in her palm concerned him.
He didn’t wait around as he walked back toward the exit.
“Donnie, good man.”
Tensing up, Donnie gritted his teeth as one of the men, Ron, called toward him. He was part of The Family. A close relation to Maria’s husband and had a bad reputation for fucking up the women.
“Are you breaking in the new arrivals?” Ron asked, glancing over Donnie’s shoulder at Paige.
“She’s not a new arrival, and you will learn to have more respect,” Donnie said, prepared to take the bastard out if he so much as made a move to touch her.
Ron held his hands up. “Sorry, Donnie. I figured any woman around this club was free game.”
“Paige hurt her ankle while we were out shopping. This club was closest. Her ankle is fine, and I’m getting her out of here.”
“I wouldn’t leave her alone.”
“I’m not.” Donnie stared at the man, wishing he’d take the hint and leave. One day, he was going to get rid of all of the men who repulsed him. The Family didn’t need to house scum, abusers, and vermin. The moment he took over, Maria would be safe as he’d handle her husband easily.
“Right, I’ll see you at the party in a few weeks. Rafael is looking forward to seeing Paige sold off.”
Paige froze at his side. Squeezing her hand, Donnie tried to offer her comfort, but it was little in comparison to what he imagined going on in her own mind.
“Keep your thoughts to yourself.”
“Rafael is so pissed with her interfering with Maria. He wants to see her good and settled down.” Ron just kept on talking. Rafael was in fact the husband to Maria, the same scumbag who abused his wife.
Don’t attack now. Wait for later.
Without saying another word, Donnie led her back down toward the street. They passed several women who were naked leading men into private rooms. Not once did Donnie stop to talk. He wasn’t interested. All he cared about was getting Paige back home, safe, or at least safe as home could provide.
****
Paige sat in her room with her hands clasped together. She didn’t know what she was going to say to her mother or to Anthony. The news that Donnie had given her a couple of weeks ago had been going around, and around inside her head, spinning out of control.