To Die For - Davidson King Page 0,17

wasn’t anything to him, I didn’t have a say, and I didn’t want to cause more problems, so I gave him a slight nod.

“Fine.” I turned, keeping eye contact with Dorian all the way out until I saw that Nolan guy. “Who is he?” I asked him once Dorian and Sparkles were whispering to each other.

“No idea.”

“Take my number down, will ya, and if there’s a problem, call me?”

Nolan narrowed his eyes at me. “And who are you to Lane exactly? Because there was a Max he spoke about from Joker’s Sin who was a walking, talking mess. You wouldn’t be the same Max, would you?”

“Um. No, that guy sounds like a douche. Here.” I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote my cell number on it. “I don’t trust that guy, just…if there’s an issue, call.”

He took the paper and promised to call if needed. I stepped out of the studio to see two guys in suits. I recognized one of them from the bar.

“Well, if it isn’t Heineken Man,” I said.

He smirked like he knew a secret I didn’t, and at that moment he probably did. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up at the coincidence.

I walked over to my bike and sat on it…waiting. There was no way I was leaving until I knew those guys were gone. Heineken Man saw me, and I winked. Yeah, I knew that look I was getting. He wanted to stomp me into the ground. Good thing I had a helmet.

Chapter Ten

Lane

Dorian’s demeanor didn’t change for a second. Not while Max spoke to him, nor when he left. When Nolan asked if I wanted him to go pick up some sandwiches or something to eat, Dorian simply thanked him and told him to get whatever we normally had, that he would be leaving shortly.

Now Dorian Birch and I were alone. I didn’t have a class for a little while, and Alexandra wasn’t teaching until later this afternoon.

“So,” he said as he slowly walked around my studio. “A dance studio, huh?” I didn’t answer—no, he wouldn’t get an answer out of me. Hell, I was starting to regret telling Max to leave. “You always did like dancing around my house.” He turned, his blue eyes narrowed. “Naked.”

“That was a long time ago.” I took a step toward the small podium by the door where Nolan usually stood.

“And you go by Lane Ashley now?” Dorian ran a finger along the barre, his eyes watching me through the mirrored walls.

“That’s actually my real name.”

He nodded. “Suits you, I suppose.”

I hated how Dorian was toying with me. I wished he’d just say his piece and leave. I was fucked no matter how this went; I just wanted him out of my space.

“You’ve gone by many names, haven’t you?” he asked as he rested his elbow on the barre. “There was Devon, Joseph, Felix, and the one I knew you as, Charlie.” He chuckled. “You had blond hair, then. Though, this new look, it’s radical, I’d say.”

“I know why you’re here, so let’s just stop the games, Dorian, okay?”

Dorian stood up straight. His eyes were like a storm, he was gritting his teeth, and a few seconds later, he was in my space. He had me pressed against the wall, his hand on my chest.

“But I thought you loved games, Charlie…Sorry, Lane. Aren’t they your specialty? Don’t you give it your all, take what you can carry, and then play hide and go seek?” He sneered at me, a look of pure hate and disgust. “Well, boo! I found you.”

“Congratulations.” My voice was a whisper; it was taking everything in me not to cower.

“Seven years later, and you finally grew some balls, huh?” With Dorian’s other hand he gripped my cock. “But I guess you always did have them, didn’t you? You played me for years. Waiting, calculating. And then, bam.” He squeezed my balls so hard, I shouted in pain. “You were gone and so was seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars of my money.”

“I earned that!” I snapped, and with all the force I could muster, pushed him away from me. He was way bigger and didn’t go far, but I was able to breathe.

“Earned it?” he yelled. “I didn’t know you were working for it. I was under the fucking impression you loved me!”

“Loved you?” I huffed. “You don’t know how to love anyone other than yourself, Dorian. People are objects. You buy things and you buy people. You trapped