I interrogate her further. "Something happened, Blakely. I know it did. So, either tell me, or I'll find out on my own. And if I do that, you won't be happy with the consequences."
She tilts her head and pins her eyebrows together. "What does that mean, Riggs?"
"You don't want to find out," I threaten.
She exhales deeply, glancing back at the water.
I repeat, "Now, tell me what happened."
She groans, scrubbing her hands over her face, confessing, "My father's men were chasing me."
Confused, I ask, "He knows where you're at?" Hugh never told me that he had any idea he knew where she was, not that I should put anything past him. There's obviously a lot he's not informing me on.
She answers, "No, I didn't know he did. His men showed up at Cheeks the other night and followed me to my apartment. Last night, I was at work, and the new bouncer named Snake lured me outside. He claimed his friend was an agent who heard me sing over at the Lizard Lounge. When I went outside, the two men my father hired were there. They tossed me into an SUV, then got a flat tire. I jumped out of the trunk and ran when they were fixing it. It's why I had to take my shoes off. And that's how I ended up at the club."
I remain silent, processing everything. My gut churns as I ask, "So, you weren't on stage at the club to find a Dom? You were clueless about the auction?"
Her face turns red. She nods, admitting, "Yes."
"And you went with a stranger to sign a contract?" I question, getting angrier but trying to stay calm so she can't see it.
She claims, "I didn't know what to do. They know where I live. I figured I could go wherever the club's driver took me. The people at the club said it was a few towns over from L.A. I don't..." She glances around. "Where are we, Riggs? I don't even know where I'm at."
"You're in Malibu," I inform her.
She glances around again. "Malibu. Okay."
More anger fills me, not at her, but that she was in this situation because of her father. Based on what she's telling me, she had no right to be on stage. I ask, "So you were going to show up at my house, not knowing it was me, and do what, Blakely? Give yourself to some man when you didn't even know what you were getting into?"
"Don't judge me. Especially when you're the one buying women on stage at a sex club," she reprimands.
I take a deep breath. "I'm not judging you. I'm trying to understand what's going on here."
"They told me that I didn't have to sign the contract. They said they would bring me back if I wanted. I figured I'd go to wherever they were taking me to get out of L.A. Then I could figure out my next move. And I wasn't planning on signing the contract."
This is bad. So bad. My blood pounds between my ears. I question, "Blakely, do you know what a sub is?"
Embarrassment fills her cheeks. She quietly says, "No."
"Do you know what a Dom is?"
"No," she admits again, her face turning a deeper maroon.
"Yet you signed a contract with me, not knowing anything?" I'm unsure how I feel about this. Part of me is happy because she did it because it was me. But the other part doesn't like this one bit. What I'm into requires full consent, and if she's not on board, that changes the entire situation.
She declares, "It was you. I trust you, Riggs. I..."
"You what?"
She blurts out, "You said you'd protect me from my father. I don't know what else I'm supposed to do. I don't want him to... I don't want to return to him! He'll make me marry some guy. I don't want to lose my life!" She blinks hard, her eyes glistening with tears.
I sternly claim, "I'm not turning you over to your father. I promised you, and nothing has changed regarding that."
She sniffles and asks, "But why, Riggs? Tell me what happened between you two."
"Your father screwed me over. He doesn't know that I know. But that's all I'm going to say, Blakely. So stop asking me about it," I order.
Her eyes widen.