“He saved you from a deranged asshole, stayed by your side and looked after you for nearly a week?” Amanda’s brow creased. “That’s not normal for a guy who doesn’t give a fuck, Lana.”
“I heard him on the phone to someone. He was talking about me and the exact description was, ‘clingy as fuck and suffocating’. He was apparently, ‘going to stick it out’.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Lan. He’s a player after all, and guys like that never commit to feelings. It was only a matter of time. Just as well you got out now, before you fell for him.”
Lana’s eyes glittered with tears as she looked to the ceiling. “Bit late for that. Anyway, it doesn’t matter how I feel. He’s not interested in my baggage sitting on his playboy doorstep. I feel like such a fool. He was probably just waiting for me to feel better and then he was going to dump me.”
A little piece of her fragile heart broke for the hundredth time. Her subconscious scolded her for ploughing straight in with her eyes wide open.
He had taken her in and spun a fantasy out of false concern. Was it out of pity or even worse, misplaced duty? Either way, she fell into his illusion and dropped out the bottom with a colossal life changing thud.
Now, she was cut off. An insignificant number on his fuck list. At first, she had hoped he would call, to show that she meantsomethingto him, but now, she accepted the cold hard truth.
Amanda rested her hand on Lana’s shoulder, squeezing it gently.
“It’ll be okay, Lan. I promise. I’m just thankful Marcus rescued you. If it wasn’t for him…well, I dread to think.” Amanda shuddered.
“Yeah, I know. I’ll be forever grateful to him for saving me.” She sighed. “What about Rory? No one can tell me anything. He doesn’t want to see me.”
“When Marcus called me from the hospital, he told me not to worry. He said that he had paid for the best legal team to step in and fight Rory’s case and that you would be safe, no matter what. That’s all he told me.”
Lana scrunched her forehead. “Why is Marcus paying for a legal team…for Rory?”
Amanda raised her shoulders to her ears. “Your guess is as good as mine. It’s all hush, hush. It happened in one of his hotels. The whole thing was kept out of the press. Perhaps he needs it to blow over quickly, so it doesn’t affect business?”
The penny dropped. Of course, business came first for Marcus McGrath. “I’m going to head out in the next couple of days and browse the estate agents. I need to get an idea for what’s out there.”
Amanda handed her a mug of steamy hot tea. “Do you want some help?”
She shook her head. “No thanks. I have to do this on my own.”
Amanda fell silent, her face contorted as though it pained her head as thoughts tumbled around searching for answers.
“Go on, Amanda, spit it out. What’s on your mind?”
“How did you guys meet Marcus? Like, how does someone meet a rich handsome playboy like him? It’s not as if he goes to the local pub after work.”
Lana pressed her lips to the rim of her mug and blew gently. She wasn’t prepared for the inevitable question. It was going to come out kicking and screaming at some point.
Amanda was a trusted friend, yet discussing the fact that she and Rory visited a club that permitted sex with strangers and traded partners for partners. It was a secret she dreaded to unravel.
She sucked in the warm liquid with a tentative slurp. “It’s not important where I met him,” she muttered, hoping to chase Amanda off the scent of her investigation.
Amanda cocked her head like a blood hound. “Wheredid you meet him, Lana Craig?”
“Okay. Have you ever heard of Verto Veneri?” Lana watched Amanda’s expression carefully.
“Nope.”
“Well...” She paused, nerves fluttering in her chest. “It’s a special club. An invitation only kind of set up. For couples.”
“Right…like dancing or knitting, or some boring married hobby to stave off the desire to fuck other people? Like a chastity belt for couples?” Amanda laughed and slapped her thigh, not realising how close to the truth she actually was.
“You’re pretty close…Verto Veneri is all about long term couples exchanging their partners.” Lana fell silent waiting for the truth to drop between the creaking cogs of Amanda’s brain.
“For sex…” Lana added.
“Like a swinger’s club…You went to a sex club. Lana Craig went to a sex club? Shut the fuck up. No way!” She gasped, holding her cheeks in the palms of her hands. “You dirty wee minx. I never thought you had it in you. I have just promoted you from best friend status, to a bloody Goddess on a pedestal. I’m so not worthy. In fact, I pale in excitement compared to you.” Her words tumbled out all at once without pausing to take in air. “But how does Marcus fit in?” She stilled. “Don’t tell me, he’s secretly married. You bucked him senseless and his wife found out. This is mega gossip!”
