But the girl wasn’t listening. Stepping back, she almost collided with the front door. That was weird. Sure, Katie’s not a ballet dancer, but she’s not a klutz either. What was going on?
Wildly, the female looked around the room like a caged animal. Her breasts quivered, the look on her face frantic. This was making me uneasy. Real uneasy.
Kane interrupted then.
“You want to tell us what’s wrong, sweetheart?” He stood from his chair, a third massive figure looming over the girl. “You want to tell us what’s going on? Spit it out, sweetheart,” was his firm command.
That spurred her into action.
“Sweetheart?!” came her voice. Her mouth curled at the edges, like the word was sour. What the hell? What was wrong with calling her sweetheart? We called her that all throughout last night as she moaned and trembled in our arms, spasming wildly. What was different today?
“I’m not your sweetheart!” she raged. “Tell me is it true? Is it true?” the woman demanded, her control hanging by a tenuous thread.
What was this all about? The three of us exchanged puzzled looks.
“Is what true?” I questioned smoothly, one eyebrow raised. “What are you talking about?”
But Katie wasn’t having it.
“Don’t play games with me! I know it’s been nothing but a farce. I just wanted to hear it from your mouths.”
Suddenly, the air changed. Katie’s anger deflated like a balloon going flat, replaced by sadness and hurt instead. Those sweet shoulders slumped, energy trickling from her curvy frame.
But she hadn’t said her part yet.
“I know I wasn’t the first. I know you’ve done this before.” Her voice was dull as she stared at the floor. “I know.”
At this point it was clear what was going on.
And no words came because what could we say? Katie wasn’t the first. This wasn’t the first time we’d gone to another town and gangbanged a girl, leaving her with gifts. The thing is, no one had cared in the past. No one had been hurt. Money talks, and the expensive presents took the sting from our hasty departures. Usually the women just sighed, gripping the furs and jewelry tight before moving on with their lives.
So yeah, this was unexpected. Because our little girl cared. Really cared, this wasn’t some passing fling for her. And it’s not that we don’t care about her, that’s too simplistic. Because we do, things are just complicated. After all, we’re billionaires with businesses in New York. We can’t just up and leave, re-settling in Knox, population one thousand.
But before any words were spoken, Katie broke down weeping.
“I’m nothing to you,” was her heartbroken cry. “Nothing.”
Oh shit. The sobs tugged at my heartstrings, which was unusual. Usually crying women make me go cold inside, I absolutely hate it. But this time, it was different and I leaned forwards, mouth opening.
Katie cut me off again, looking at the pile of suitcases.
“Were you just going to leave without saying goodbye?” The hurt in her gaze made shame course through my veins, entire body going hot. Shit, shit. But the thing is, we weren’t running from her or attempting to sneak off. It just looked that way right now with the luggage strewn about.
“I know it started out as a wedding fling,” she choked, wiping tears from her face before continuing, “But I thought I meant something. That what the three of us shared was something more.” She looked down at the floor, swiping at her cheeks again.
And then the worst part came with a crash.
“I didn’t know you were buying me off,” she said softly, voice strangled. “I didn’t know that things like that could happen.”
The silence quivered in the air between us. Mutely, the woman lifted her tear-stained cheeks to stare at us, expression hopeful. Oh god, it broke my heart. The sweet girl was praying for a response, something that would make sense. But after a few uncomfortable seconds of silence, it was clear no explanation was forthcoming.
And then, quiet as a mouse, Katie was gone. That plump form let herself out, the door snicking shut, and Tyler, Kane and I stared at one another in the silence.
What the hell just happened?
It was like the silence after a storm, vibrating almost.
Had we screwed up? Misjudged in some way?
But there were no answers.
“Holy fuckballs, what was that?” Tyler ran his hand through his hair as he walked to the sofa, folding that massive frame into a seat.
“No idea, bro,” Kane shook his head and paced the floor. “No fucking clue.”
I lowered myself into an armchair.
“We’ve done this shit before, screwing women and paying them off, but damn, something went off the rails this time. Did you see the look on her face?” A heavy feeling settled in my gut as I recalled Katie’s expression. Holy shit, it tore at my conscience, making me feel about two inches tall.