Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 270

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Chapter 270

SPARROW

I stared at Scarlett for a long moment, letting the silence stretch between us until it felt like a third presence in the room, and then I asked, “What exactly do you want me to do for you, Scarlett?”

She lifted her head, those tear-swollen eyes finding mine. “I want you to save me. My sister. My friends. From Big Bryan.”

I studied her, the dim light of the penthouse catching the wet tracks on her checks. “Weren’t you looking for someone to save you from Julian?”

“I told you that because I thought you were Dominic Ford.” Her voice steadied itself, the tremor leaving her words even as the tears stayed wet on her skin. “If I had known you were Sparrow, I would have been truthful with you from the very beginning.”

I scoffed. “And yet you work for Julian. If you can handle Julian, why would you do this stupid job for him?”

“Being captured by Julian is a protection for now.” She spoke like a woman explaining arithmetic to a slow student. “It keeps me and my girls hidden from Big Bryan. But it cannot keep us safe for long. And time is the one thing we do not have.”

I rose from the bed, naked and unbothered, and walked a slow circle around her where she knelt. “What do you mean by that?”

She drew a deep breath, and then she told me everything.

“I had an elder sister, Lynette. She was the only mother I ever knew.” Her voice dropped, softened, as if the memory still hurt to touch. “My own mother died giving birth to me. My big sister was pregnant out of wedlock at the time. When our mother died, the shock of it pushed her into labor, and Tasha was born the very next day. Lynette became a mother to both of us. We were the only family she had.”

“Among his many illegal businesses, Big Bryan runs what he calls the Phantom Circle.” She said the name like it tasted of ash Their job is to seduce wealthy targets who value their reputations, sleep with them, record every filthy moment, and use those videos to bleed the men or women dry. Every cent they squeeze out of those people is remitted straight to Big Bryan. Most of the girls are forced into it. The ones who try to escape, die.”

“And you?”

“I joined the Phantom Circle voluntarily.” Her chin lifted, a flicker of pride cutting through the despair. “I targeted one of Big Bryan’s favorite boys. Damon. I got close to him, dated him, and that was how I got my foot in the door. I would have taken Tasha and run the moment I found the chance, but that was when I discovered the drug.”

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