Elise’s text came in an instant. Are you in trouble?
Don’t think so. I’m with Archer, the head of security at Phoenix. Here’s his id. I’ll call if I need you.
Yes, do!
Hazel’s message popped up. What? Holy shit? Rhys-fucking-harrington? What’s happening? OMG, i need to know everything!!
Zoey chuckled and tucked her phone away. Poor Hazel was going to be a mess until Zoey figured out what in the hell was going on. She glanced up at Archer and gave a soft smile. “We’re good.”
“Excellent. Hop on in.” He gestured her inside.
In minutes, they were on the road. The drive into Manhattan took longer than normal due to rush-hour traffic, but Archer’s small talk made her feel comfortable. Until they crossed from Brooklyn into Manhattan, when her stomach roiled and a hot flash rushed across her, leaving her back sweaty against the seat. She knew it was irrational. That Brooklyn wasn’t any safer than Manhattan. But Brooklyn felt safer; it was free of Scott and Jake.
“You’re safe, Zoey. Just breathe.”
She released the breath she was holding, not knowing she’d been holding it. She brushed it off with a laugh. “Sorry about that. I’m good.”
Archer watched her closely and then gave her a firm nod before focusing back on the road.
She hated what this city did to her. The fear it created. She settled back into her seat.
When he finally parked at the curb and led her through the front door, her curiosity grew tenfold. The cigar club was lavish. Rhys’ wealth showed here. Fabrics were luxurious, antique furniture even more so, no expense was spared with the design. And she was pretty sure the intricate gold fleurs on the bar were real. The place was busy, most tables full of customers drinking dark liquored alcohol, thick cigar smoke lingering in the air, an oddly pleasing aroma of cedar mixed with a pungent scent of tobacco. Amazing, considering the laws in the city banned smoking indoors. Which, of course, only told her that, when it came to Rhys Harrington, rules didn’t necessarily apply.
She kept silent and followed Archer down a long hallway and through another door. Then her steps faltered at the view unfolding before her. Behind a one-way mirror, in what appeared to be a private room with whiskey barrels lining the stone walls, Scott and Jake sat on brown leather couches beside each other. They sipped bourbon, smoked cigars, and chit-chatted with Rhys sitting across from them. She recognized him immediately and chided herself for not noticing it the night they were together. She’d seen pictures of him on the Internet when Elise had researched Phoenix. Even if he was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen in her life, with a body of sculpted muscles, a chiseled jawline, and a mesmerizing presence that demanded she continue to stare at him, her stomach dropped. “What the hell is this?” she snapped, whirling on Archer.
“You’re safe,” Archer said, holding up his hands nonthreateningly. “You’ve got a choice here. I can take you home right now. Or you can watch Rhys deal with them. He thought you’d appreciate the latter.” Archer’s expression showed only kindness and strength as he added, “Let Rhys right this wrong in the way he can. These bastards deserve far worse.”
He’s going to right a wrong? Her head spun as she moved closer to the one-way mirror. She stared at the two men who’d ruined her life. Destroyed her in ways she never thought anyone could destroy her. Beside her, she saw Archer fire off a text, and she noticed Rhys glancing at his phone.
His gaze lifted to the one-way mirror, and she felt the power of that stare like a punch to her stomach, knocking the wind right out of her. She was sure he couldn’t see her, but it seemed like he was looking right at her, reminding her how last night had felt. To hold this man’s attention was something powerful. Something addictive. Something profound. Rhys gave a slight nod, approval shining in his eyes. Then his gaze hardened when he looked at Scott and Jake. “I have no doubt you’re wondering why I’ve asked you here,” he said, picking up a file. “Explain this to me.” He slid a photo across the coffee table between them.
One look at the paper, and Scott went ghostly white. Jake snorted and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. Zoey didn’t know what had truly happened that awful night, but their reactions now made her believe that Jake was the leader, and Scott had followed. She couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if Scott, obviously a guy with a smidgen of a conscience, hadn’t been there.
“Hot chick,” Jake said. “Should I know her?”
Something deadly flashed across Rhys’ expression. He arched a very slow and deliberate eyebrow. “Try again.”
Jake averted his gaze.
Scott bowed his head.
Rhys grabbed the photo and tossed it aside like he couldn’t stand to touch it before addressing them again. “Let me explain the situation to you. When we ran our background check on the woman in our show last night, this photograph came up.”
Jake shifted in his seat.
Scott had yet to look up.
Rhys continued, “Of course, we put this photograph through a ruthless investigation after we discovered the woman did not give her consent. I don’t think I need to tell you that, at the end of the investigation, your names were at the forefront. Do you care to explain that?”
Scott finally looked up. His skin ashen. “It’s not how it looks.”
“How it looks?” Rhys growled, his knuckles turning white around his bourbon glass. “It looks like you drugged a young woman, photographed her, then blasted lies on social media.”
“We didn’t rape her,” Jake said.
A vein protruded in the center of Rhys’ forehead as he said in a very controlled voice, “You destroyed her life. How can you possibly believe that is any less of a crime than if you had raped her?”
Something broke inside of Zoey, something raw and unexpected, flooding her with emotions she couldn’t control. Never had anyone spoken up for her like this. Even Ava and Julie had kept quiet, hiding behind her embarrassment and shame. Zoey had never let anyone in, never believed anyone would fight for her, and a bleeding spot in her heart needed this. She began shaking and couldn’t stop, wrapping her arms around herself tightly.
Archer was there, squatting next to her, but never reaching to touch her. “Tell me you want to leave, and we leave. It’s that simple, Zoey. What do you want to do?”
“No, I’m okay,” she said, wiping at the moisture on her face with shaky hands. “I want to stay.”
“Please look at me.”
She turned her head, meeting Archer’s concerned eyes. He gently said, “If that changes, tell me.”
“Okay, yes, thank you.” His kindness and trusting nature, Rhys’ strength and protection, she felt it all wrap around her like a warm blanket. She looked back at the men who’d altered her life is such a dramatic way. The men who were complete opposites of these two strangers. But she knew the control Scott and Jake had over her. She didn’t even know the woman she had been before that night anymore. The one who believed people were kind. The woman who trusted her own judgment. The one who thought bad things couldn’t happen to her.
Jake finally lifted his head and snorted. “Rhys, is this going somewhere?”
Rhys grinned as he gestured at the one-way mirror. There was nothing friendly about it. “I’ve brought Zoey here to watch this.”