CHAPTER 1
Louisa
When Charlie told me about the party at his distributor’s—Walker’s—apartment that night, I knew something shitty would happen there. I felt my stomach twist as Charlie explained that Walker had specifically asked for me to come to the downtown penthouse for tonight’s gathering.
“I’m not going,” I said immediately, crossing my arms. “That creep is always touching me or whispering shit about what he wants to do with both of us. I hate being in the same room with him.”
Charlie’s face hardened in that way that always made me nervous. “Listen, Lou, Walker likes you. He asked for you specifically. You should be fucking grateful he wants to see your face at a party like this one. Most girls would kill to get inside that apartment tonight, with all the catering and shit.”
“Most girls don’t know what a predator he is,” I muttered, but I could already feel my resolve weakening. The reality was I didn’t have many options. Six months ago, I’d been a college freshmanwith scholarships and plans. Now I was sleeping in Charlie’s bed and selling molly to sorority girls to keep a roof over my head.
“Wear that black dress,” Charlie said, already scrolling through his phone as if the matter was settled. “The tight one.”
I stared at him, wondering how I’d ended up here. Charlie wasn’t even that cute—just another hustler with a crooked smile who’d seemed like a lifeline when my world was collapsing. We’d hooked up a few times in the beginning, but lately he barely touched me. Not that I missed it; sex with Charlie had always felt like a transaction, something I endured because it made him happy and kept me safe.
The irony was that I’d once thought sleeping with him gave me some kind of leverage. Now I realized he’d just moved on to using me in other ways.
“What time?” I asked finally, hating the defeat in my voice.
“Nine. And Lou?” He looked up from his phone. “Don’t embarrass me tonight. Walker’s been good to us, and there’ll be important people there.”
I nodded, already dreading whatever ‘important people’ meant in Charlie’s world. As I headed to the bathroom to shower, I tried to ignore a creeping feeling in my belly that tonight would change everything, and not in a way I would like.
At the party, Walker’s fingers dug into my ass the moment I reluctantly stepped forward for the obligatory greeting hug. His hand squeezed hard enough to make me flinch, his whiskey-soured breath hot against my ear.
“You look fucking delicious tonight, Lou,” he murmured, letting his hand linger far too long.
I shot a desperate glance at Charlie, hoping he’d intervene, but he was busy scanning the room like he needed to take inventory of everyone there. He didn’t even look my way. The betrayal stung worse than Walker’s wandering hands.
“Come with me,” Walker commanded, his fingers wrapping around my wrist. “Got someone special you need to meet.”
He led us down a hallway away from the thumping bass and drunken laughter. Charlie followed without question, like an obedient dog. Walker pushed open a heavy door at the end of the corridor, revealing a wood-paneled room where a single man sat in a leather armchair, nursing what looked like an expensive scotch.
The stranger didn’t belong here. Among Walker’s crowd of drug dealers and party girls, this man was something else entirely. Tall, with military-precise posture even while seated, he wore a tailored suit that probably cost more than everything I owned. But it was his eyes that made my stomach clench—steel-gray and calculating, they assessed me with unsettling intensity.
“Lou, this is Jax,” Walker announced, his hand settling possessively on my lower back. “Jax, the girl I told you about.”
Jax nodded once, his expression unreadable.
Walker’s smile turned predatory as he looked between us. “Jax has been extremely helpful to our operation lately. Opened doors I could never have accessed otherwise.”Accessed.What an asshole. Walker always wanted to sound smart, and he always ended up sounding even stupider.
He gave me a little push forward, as he continued in a way that made the floor drop out from under me.
“And I promised him a token of my appreciation. Jax, Lou here is going to show you a good time with that pretty mouth of hers.”
My blood went cold. “What the fuck?” I hissed, whipping around to face Walker.
Jax didn’t move from his chair, just watched the scene unfold with those unnerving eyes.
“You heard me,” Walker said, all pretense of friendliness gone. “On your knees for my friend.”
I turned to Charlie, disbelief making my voice shake. “You’re okay with this?”
Charlie wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Just do what he says, Lou.”
“No,” I said, backing away. “I’m not some fucking party favor you can pass around.”
Walker’s face darkened. “You ungrateful little?—”
