Chapter 12

Posey

I pace my room back and forth, my thoughts consumed by the scene unfolding downstairs. I itch to reach out to Ledger, to unravel the mystery shrouding Bane"s office. The uncertainty gnaws at me, a relentless reminder of the secrets lurking just beneath the surface.

Clutching my phone to my chest, I"m seized by a sudden paranoia. Could Bane have my phone tapped? The notion sends a shiver down my spine. Does he know?

When Ledger told me he wished Bane would offer me up to him, I was so turned on I didn't know what to do. It's why I told him I had to go. I couldn't even think straight. Couldn't handle the new feelings bubbling up deep inside me.

Maybe Bane is offering me up right now.

No, I know Bane.

He'd never.

He wants his precious flower all to himself.

But what could they be talking about behind closed doors? Are they discussing the attack? Maybe Bane knows something? Maybe Ledger is privy to something crucial?

I glance anxiously at my phone, remembering the last phone conversation between Ledger and me, cringing at the abruptness of how it ended. Does he think I'm mad at him?

I hope not.

My fingers twitch with the urge to reach out, but the thought of Bane intercepting the message freezes me in place.

I shouldn't do it ever, but it's like my own personal crack. Impossible to resist. Unable to ignore.

I peek out of my door, listening to the voices in the foyer of the house. Ledger's leaving, and Bane and him sound amiable.

What the heck is going on?

As soon as I watch Ledger exit the house, I seize my phone, fingers flying over the keys to compose a message.

What was that all about?

What will you give me if I tell you?

This weekend is a whirlwind of emotions and uncertainty. Bane"s legal saga has taken a sudden turn, evaporating like mist in the morning sun. The news of his case"s collapse spreads like wildfire, plastered across every channel and newspaper headline.

The officers have just left, their departure signaling Bane"s newfound freedom as they whisk away his ankle bracelet. Once again, he stands as a free man, his smug expression cutting through the tension in the room like a knife.

Rumors swirl about what led to this abrupt twist of fate. Something about a witness gone missing, leaving the prosecution scrambling and the DA"s case in ruins.

I watch Bane"s sneer with a mixture of fear and apprehension, shrinking back instinctively. The air crackles with tension as uncertainty hangs heavy in the room, leaving me on edge and wondering what comes next.

"The wedding will happen soon," he says more to Bridgette than me. "Get everything prepared. Tonight, Posey," he turns his attention on me, "we'll be going to Club Greed. Together."

My nerves coil at the thought of going there with this man. Will he expect to touch me?

I haven't texted with Ledger since the day he was here having a meeting with Bane.

Honestly my mind's been a racing loop of things I want to give him.

Like my body, for starters.

Or maybe I'll offer him a kiss?

My heart aches whenever I think about him. I want to give him a kiss. Even if it's only ever just one kiss between us. A forbidden kiss. Something to carry me through the years I'll have to suffer through being married to Bane.

As the anticipation for tonight's Club Greed visit, under the watchful eye of Ledger, pulses through my veins, I make my way up the stairs to my room, each step echoing in the quiet hallway.

Entering my room, I'm enveloped by a sense of excitement mingled with nervous energy. Tonight is not just any night. It's almost like there"s magic in the air. An energy shift, and I want to look special for Ledger.

I carefully select a crimson dress, its silky fabric cascading over my shoulders as I slip it on, the sensation sending a thrill down my spine. The halter-top design accentuates my figure, while the swish of the fabric around my legs adds an air of elegance to my ensemble.

With practiced ease, I zip up the back of the dress, the sound echoing in the quiet room like a promise of things to come. Pausing to admire my reflection in the mirror, I can't help but smile at the perfect shade of red lipstick I've chosen, its bold hue adding a touch of charm to my look.

I slide into a pair of sleek black high heels, their height adding a confidence to my stride as I move across the room. With a deft hand, I twist my hair up in the back, allowing a few tendrils to escape and frame my face in soft waves, adding a hint of playfulness to my appearance.

Is it weird that I'm a little bit too excited to see Ledger tonight? Like my bones vibrate and my blood pulses rapidly through my veins.

When he asks me what I'll give him for the information on what happened in their meeting, I'm willing to give him anything.

Whatever he wants.

I want to be a bad girl.

His bad girl.

As I make my way down the grand staircase, Bane's eyes grow hungrier with each step. The predatory gleam in his gaze makes my skin crawl, and I silently pray he waits until the wedding night to take my virginity. He could claim me whenever he wants, defiling me on a whim, and there's not a darn thing I could do to stop him.

This is my life now, the path chosen for me. There's no escaping my wedding night, no matter how much I wish it would never come. It will. The inevitability of it looms over me like a dark cloud.

Bane stands at the bottom of the stairs, holding out his arm with a possessive smirk. I force myself to take it, all the while wishing for a different life, a different fate. My father's face flashes in my mind, and I blink back fresh tears. The thought of what might happen to him if I don't uphold my end of the bargain is too much to bear.

I can't let him down. I won't. As I link my arm with Bane's, the weight of my sacrifice presses down on me, sealing my fate with each step toward the inevitable.