Page 116 of The Obvious Check
Behind Closed Doors
This is it. The final moment. The last act in this godforsaken place.
I swallow down my nervousness, ignoring the tiny voice in my head saying this won’t go to plan.
It will.
It has to. For Adley.
Pushing the door open, I step inside, and the familiar dim lighting swallows me whole. The scent of stale alcohol clings to the air, mixing with the faint musk of sweat and perfume. The low, steady thrum of music barely registers over the pounding in my ears. The bar hasn’t opened yet, so the only people lingering around are Luke’s main men, Cal and Mark. The kind of goons who make sure no one steps out of line without paying for it.
They don’t flinch when they see me, too used to my presence, but when I seehim,my knees buckle in fright. Luke stands behind the bar, wiping down a glass when his sharp eyes find me, and a twisted smirk tugs at his lips, making my skin prickle.
“Savannah,” he drawls out my name in that way that always makes me want to vomit. He places the glass down and leans against the counter, smirking. “Glad to see you’re finally back.”
I brace myself as his gaze rakes over me. I should be used to the feeling. It’s something he’s done every time I’ve walked into this place. But now, with Cade’s ring on my finger, it feels wrong.
“How you feeling about everything? About the other night?”
The other night… with Cade.
The night I was saved.
The night I realized what I deserved more than this.
“I’m feeling a lot better, thanks.” My voice is clipped and controlled because I refuse to let Luke see any flicker of weakness. He picks up another glass, cleaning it as he watches me. I glance around, hoping to find something—anything—to ground myself, but all I see are the dim lights reflecting off the bar and the shadows stretching across the floor.
This place has owned me for too long, and it’s about time I took my life back.
I clear my throat, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. “Actually, Luke, I wanted to talk to you about something.” My grip tightens around the envelope in my hand. “I think it’s timeto wind down my hours here. I’ve got college work piling up, and I need to focus on that.”
Luke’s smirk fades as he sets the glass down with a deliberate clink, the sound slicing through the thick air. His arms cross over his chest, and he leans forward slightly, his gaze sharpening.
“Winding down?”
I nod, and he lets out a little grunt.
“But that doesn’t really work with how much you owe me. Your interest will just pile up, making it impossible for you to crawl out of.”
As if he hadn’t already made it impossible on my own.
I force myself to stay still, to not react, even as anxiety gnaws at my insides. Then my fingers tighten around the envelope, and I remember why I’m here.
Why this time is different.
Cade.
I take a step forward and place it on the counter. “On that point, I’d like to discuss payment.” My voice is steady, firmer than I thought it would be. “Ten thousand dollars. That should be enough to clear my debt.”
Luke’s eyes flick down to the envelope. He blinks once. Twice. Clearly caught off guard.
“Where’d you get ten thousand bucks?”
“I’ve been saving.”
His eyes narrow instantly. He knows it’s a lie. He keeps track of the paychecks, knows exactly how much I make and how much I still owe, even if I don’t.
“Mhm.”
