Chapter 3

"Sweetheart, are you feeling all right?" Ezra asks, staring at me from across the table.

Am I all right?

No, I'm not. I haven't been for weeks. Not since seeing Lynch again for the first time in years. It's been nearly a month since I walked into the clubhouse to handle things for Lily, one of the member's now wife. I've spoken to her and Speed. I've even met with Pitch Black, Lynch's cousin, who came to the office demanding to speak with me. I gave him a moment of time, but that was it mostly because I was in a rush to get to the courthouse.

I don't know what came over me that day I'd been at the clubhouse, and he carted me off to his room. I'd let him screw me right there against the wall. It felt so good. Amazing. I hadn't had sex in years. I've been on dates, I've kissed other men, but I'd never had sex. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I never understood why. Maybe it's because they never made me feel what I felt with Lynch. They never made my body react the way he did, and evidently, he can still bring a response from me.

I shake off the thoughts and smile at Ezra. We'd gone to the gala together, along with my aunt. The two of them socializing more than I did. I swear, sometimes I feel like Rose from the Titanic movie, where the fiancé and the mother spoke more than the fiancé and Rose did. Unlike them though, I'm not on a ship that's going to sink to the bottom of the ocean.

"I'm fine, Ezra, it's just been a long few days at work is all," I answer and reach out to squeeze his hand. The two of us have been dating for three months now, and I know he wants to take things to the next level.

"You work too much, Camilla," Ezra states, just as he's said more times than I can count in the time we've been together.

Usually, I'd have ended it by now, but my aunt is pro-Ezra. She wants us together. She says she sees good things in the future if I marry him, but what she doesn't know is I'm still married to Lynch. A man she never liked and wanted to protect me from she claimed when she showed me the proof she'd found on him.

I inwardly shake the thought away before I can jump into the abyss of a rabbit hole that will lead me nowhere. "I like my job at the firm and the challenges I'm faced with," I inform him and take a sip from the wine glass, tasting the overly expensive wine he ordered. I'd much prefer a beer to wine, but I've kept my mouth shut every time he orders wine. "Besides, you also work endless hours."

"True," Ezra grins, confirming this. "Though I'm good at multitasking."

There it is, he's claiming I don't know how to do something. What he doesn't know is I'm more than capable of doing this and have so many times over the years. I didn't nearly kill myself to finish not just college, but law school early not to be able to do this.

"How is the project you told me about the other day going? Have you finished it yet?" I ask, changing the subject.

"Ah, it's coming along perfectly." He chuckles and starts talking about it while I pretend to listen and sip my wine.

I smile and speak up whenever it's expected, all the while thinking of other things. I also conclude that our time together is coming to an end. There's no future for us. As nice as Ezra is, I don't see us together any longer. No matter how cute he is, he doesn't do anything for me, and I'm not going to fool myself any longer that he possibly could if I wanted him to.

Ezra's phone rings, and he excuses himself from the table to take the call. While he does this, I finish my wine and prepare myself to break the news to him. I don't want to hurt him, but I'm doubtful it would even phase him.

Moments later, Ezra comes back and reclaims his seat. "I'm sorry about that, sweetheart," he says, leaning forward, that grin of his forming on his lips. "How about after dinner we go to my apartment?"

"I don't think that would be a good idea," I murmur, shaking my head in denial and taking a breath. "I think it would be best if we end our relationship."

"End our relationship?" he questions, looking surprised by my announcement.

"Yes," I confirm for him. "This isn't working for me, Ezra."

"And this doesn't have anything to do with anyone else?" he demands, the surprise leaving his eyes, only to narrow in anger.

"No, Ezra, it has nothing to do with anyone else. You know I'm not that type of person," I ascertain.

"Then why the sudden desire to end our relationship?" He cocks a brow.

"Because I'm not ready to give you something you want, andI don't think I ever will. We just don't have that spark."

"Spark?" he barks out laughing. "Camilla, it doesn't take a spark to fuck a man. All you have to do is spread your legs for a man to fuck you."

"I think I'm done here," I snap. I'm not about to sit here and let him talk to me like this.

"You're not done here," Ezra snarls and grips my wrist tightly. "You aren't ending things with me." His grip tightens further. "What you're going to do is come home with me where you're finally going to open those legs for me to fuck what belongs to me."

"I do not belong to you." I do my best to yank my wrist out of his grip, but he only tightens it further. "You need to release me before I decide to make a scene."

"Go ahead, sweetheart, and make a scene, it won'tmake a difference. You belong to me, and I'm done waiting. I've been nice about it thus far, and I must admit, it's growing tiresome."

"Who do you think you are?" I seethe, narrowing my gaze to a glare. "You do not own me. I'm not a possession to be owned."

"Think that if you will, Camilla, but I do, and you'll do what you're told, or I'll be forced to handle you other ways."

"You'll do no such thing." My heart feels like it's going to pound out of my chest. I've never seen this side of Ezra. He's always been sweet. The one time I decide to go against him, and he wants to threaten me. Who does he think he is?

"You have the choice to go with me willingly and give me what I want," Ezra states, leaning closer to me, "or I can make life a living hell for your husband."

"What?" I breathe, feeling as if I'd been struck across the face. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, don't lie to me now," Ezra chortles. "We both know you're married to Lynch Corbin." He squeezes my wrists tight and whispers. "What you don't know is that your husband's life lies in your hands right now. You pay his debt, or I take his life and that of his brothers."

"Who are you?" The question is no more than a breath as I stare at Ezra. Fear seeps through my veins like ice freezing through my entire being, making me feel leaden.

"That, sweetheart, is something you don't ever want to find out. Now, make your choice."

"What did he do to you?" I blurt out.

"He killed my father," Ezra announces and gets to his feet and takes me with him. "We're leaving now."

He takes the choice from me before I can let his remark fully sink in. There's got to be more to this than just Lynch killing his father, if that were even true. I don't know Lynch anymore, but if it were, he'd have to have a good reason for doing it. He's never done anything without thinking it through first. That I remember.

Outside the restaurant, Ezra holds me close to his side while we wait for his car to be brought around. While doing this, I weigh my options. I could allow Ezra to have his way, or I can run. Get away from him. We're not far from Félix DeLancy's offices, and considering they're a client, I could ask him for help.I know he's one of the most powerful men in New Orleans. He could protect me, and I wouldn't have to go to Lynch. Félix could warn the club for me. He's Fuse's cousin, and I could ask him to handle all of this.

I would just need to get away from Ezra first.

Just as the car is pulled around, Ezra loosens his grip around me enough that I come to a decision, and I know I can get away. I do this by stomping my heel into his foot, making him shout. I jerk away and don't look back as I run. It's not easy, not with six-inch heels or wearing a pencil skirt. God, why on earth do I wear these things? Because it makes my ass look good, and my legs look like they go on for miles. They can be a distraction when I need them, but right now, it definitely seems a stupid choice of clothing.

My heart races, and I refuse to look behind me. I just run until I get to the DeLancy building. My only hope is that the doors are not locked. If Félix isn't here, I can hope someone else is that can contact him for me.

I'm in luck, finding the doors are still unlocked, but I find myself unlucky to run directly into Lynch's arms. This is because he, Fuse, and two others I recognize as Chains and Tyres are standing in the entranceway along with Félix and his brothers, Remy and Nicholas.

Great. Just what I didn't want to do.

There's no backing out now.

Tires squeal, and I whip my head around to see Ezra parking directly in front of the building and getting out.

No. No. No.

"Camilla, would you like to explain to us what's happening here?"Félix is the first to ask.

Lynch's arms tighten around me, and I swallow tightly.

"No time, just know that he's a threat to . . ."

I don't get to finish the statement before Lynch twists, putting me behind him, at the same time the door opens, and in steps Ezra.

"What are you doing here, Pennington?"Félix demands.

Ezra doesn't answer him, instead, he looks directly toward Lynch. I see the way his eyes change as I peek from behind Lynch. "Camilla, you made the wrong choice, sweetheart," he says but holds Lynch's gaze.

"I told you I don't belong to anyone. I'm not a possession," I snap, feeling Lynch tense further in front of me. "There was no choice to be made. I told you it was over, and you wanted to go psycho on me, so I ran from you."

"No one runs from me," Ezra warns, then turns his attention to the others in the room. "Félix, I would suggest you and your brothers stay out of this if you don't want to die as well."

"I don't take kindly to threats, Pennington. Your father didn't scare me and you sure as hell don't. You might have your backing, but remember one thing, I have my own, and I control this town. You're nothing in New Orleans."

"Is that what you think?" Ezra laughs and crosses his arms over his chest. "Trust me when I say you're in for a rude awakening when you find out." He sobers and looks toward Lynch again. "You took something important to me, and for that, you will pay. The price is high and I'm finally here to collect."

"Go ahead and try. You might find yourself just like dear old dad with his throat sliced wide open," Lynch growls.

"We'll just see," Ezra says and backs out the door. Eyes coming to me one last time. "I'll be seeing you soon, sweetheart."

I don't respond or take my gaze from him until he's out the door, and Lynch turns toward me.

"Start explaining."