Chapter 04

VALERIE

By the time I got to the police station, my brain was on full crashout mode.

I slammed through the front doors like I owned the place, shoes squeaking against the tiled floor as my eyes searched faces, uniforms, counters, anything.

"I'm here for Julian Locke," I said breathlessly to the officer at the desk. "That's my brother. I was told he was arrested."

The officer didn't even look up. "Sit and wait."

"No," I said. "I need to see him. Now."

He finally glanced at me, bored. "You're not on the list."

"I'm his only family," I snapped. "You called me. I have the call log if you want proof."

He shrugged. "Sit. We'll get to you."

Minutes passed. Long ones. The kind that feel like punishment. Every time I tried to speak, I got waved off. Every time I asked questions, they ignored me. I watched officers laugh by the coffee machine and watched someone walk out in cuffs who'd been brought in after my brother and somehow get released before him.

Something wasn't right.

I walked up to the desk again. "Why is my brother still in holding if you don't even have a charge on him?"

"Lower your voice." the officer hissed

"I won't," I said, anger snapping loose. "You don't have a case and you know it. He hasn't been arraigned. He hasn't seen a lawyer. What are you holding him for?"

Another officer stood up. "Ma'am, if you keep shouting—"

"You're detaining him on purpose," I said loudly. "This is illegal."

Heads turned.

"I am Valerie Locke," I said, pointing to myself. "And I swear to God if you don't let me see my brother, I'll—" I stepped back and bumped into something solid.

I turned sharply, already ready to tear into whoever it was. And froze.

Dominic Cantrell?

He stood there in a dark suit that probably cost more than my yearly rent, arms folded with a bored expression like he was watching bad theater. His eyes traveled over me slowly. My hoodie, my sneakers and my messy hair. Disgust flashed in his eyes immediately.

"Of course, this fits."

"What are you doing here," I shot back. "Stalking me now?"

"Watch your mouth," he ordered. "It's not wise in places like this."

"You had my brother arrested," I said in realisation. "Didn't you?"

He didn't deny it. He motioned toward a hallway. "We have things to discuss."

"I told you. I did NOT spike your drink. Don't believe me? Fine. Go fuck yourself but keep my brother out of it."

"If you want your brother out of there you'll learn to hold your tongue and follow me." I followed him because I had no choice.

They put us in a private room that smelled like cold air and old files. Dominic didn't sit. Neither did I.

"You recently took over Cantrell Industries," I said bitterly. "Congratulations. Did ruining people's lives come with the job title or is that just your personality?"

"I want a meeting with you," he said. "That's what this is."

"You could've just asked," I snapped. "Instead of locking up my brother like bait."

"You wouldn't have come," he said.

"Try me."

He studied me for a moment, then spoke like he was reading from a document. "One year. You marry me for one year and play the role convincingly. Once you sign the contract, I'll release your brother and after a year, I'll pay you one million dollars."

Wait... What the fuck. I couldn't help the laugh that forced it's way out of my throat. "You're insane."

"That's no way to speak to your fiance," he said.

"So... you had my brother locked up to force me into marriage. Hmm, so what psych ward did you escape from? I'll take you back."

"Undoubtedly. Look, I have no interest in you and I can tell it's mutual. I just need your... help; I recently took over from my father. My reputation is... unstable and investors like stability. A wife gives the illusion of control."

I laughed again. "You're never seen with the same woman twice and your sex tape is all over the internet. But sure. Marriage will fix that."

His eyes darkened. "Sign the contract," he said, "or your brother won't just rot in there. He'll suffer."

"What does that mean."

"It means jail is not kind to boys like him."

My throat closed. "Can't you find someone else? Why must it be me?"

He tilted his head. "You hate me, so I know you wouldn't want to hang around after the year ends. You also give off the air of someone desperate. Someone who'd do anything for family. And money." A pause. "You also have a clean record. I never thought I'd meet a stripper who's never fucked her clients."

"You dug into my life?"

"Yes," he said. "Your father was wealthy once. A scam ended everything and prison cleared his name too late. Your mother followed him into the ground. Leaving you and your brother all alone with nothing but poverty."

I didn't react. I refused to give him that. "I'm offering you a way out,"

"And if I say no?" His lips curved. "Then I raise the offer. Three million."

I stared at him like he had completely lost his mind. "Five," he said.

My breath hitched. "You're greedy," he added.

"I want to speak to my brother," I said. "Alone."

They brought Julian in a minute later and just like that, the ice in the room disappeared.

Julian looked smaller than I remembered. Just a few minutes in jail and he already shrunk. His hoodie hung loose on his shoulders, sleeves pushed up to reveal wrists still marked red from the cuffs.

There was a faint bruise blooming along his cheekbone, half-hidden, like he hadn't wanted it noticed. I stared at him in shock, then at Dominic who had a blank expression.

I hate him. I never thought I could hate anyone as much as I hated Dominic right now.

My little six foot two brother looked like he'd been put through hell in mere hours. His naturally curled hair was all messed up now.

His gaze lifted, found me, and softened instantly. "Val," he breathed with relief.

I crossed the room in three steps and grabbed his face, checking him like muscle memory. There were barely any bruises but I bet he was mentally stigmatised.

"Did they touch you," I asked. "I'm fine," he lied immediately. Always did. "They're just—being cops."

His eyes flicked past me then to Dominic. "Who's that?" Julian asked quietly. I calmly explained the entire situation, leaving out the fact that I had mind blowing, life changing sex with this devil just last night.

Julian straightened despite the cuffs, chin lifting like pride was the one thing they couldn't take. The same way he'd looked standing between me and landlords, debt collectors, drunk men who thought strip clubs came with ownership.

Protective. Even now.

"Why would you manipulate other people's lives for your own selfish gains?"

"Julian—"

"No," he cut in gently, eyes never leaving mine. "You don't owe anyone anything for me. You hear me?"

Dominic watched all of it in silence before adding "If your sister refuses my offer you will rot in jail and by the way, I own most of the firm's in this city. You'll never find a job even scrubbing toilets. But if you agree you walk away with five million dollars. You're poor, not stupid."

"Get out. I said I wanted to talk to my brother alone." Dominic's gaze lingered on me for a while before leaving.

"I'll do it," I said the moment we were finally alone. "I know I know. Just... Be careful. And if he touches you I swear–"

"Take care of yourself Julian. I'll be home soon and we'll have a better life than this."

Back in the room, I signed the stupid document. But not before listing my terms. Legal ones. Loopholes. Clauses. He watched me with something close to interest but all I felt for him now was disgust. "You're smart," he said.

"I went to Harvard," I replied. After, he listed rules that were long and boring. "I've cancelled your jobs," he said. "Both of them."

"Of course you did."

"Don't worry. No one knows who you were at that club." I swallowed. "I need to go home and get my things."

"None of your stripper or cleaner clothes are fit for Mrs. Cantrell. If you bring them to my manor, I'll burn them and use the ashes to make your tea."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" He looked at me like I was slow, then walked away.

An assistant stepped up. "You're to follow him miss."

"What about my brother?" I asked.

"Once everything is finalized," he said, "he'll be taken home."

The car outside was massive and shiny. Surrounded by men in Black suits who didn't smile. Inside, Dominic worked on his laptop quietly while I stared at his fingers.

Suddenly thoughts of last night popped in my head. The moment he finger banged me. Those strong fingers were in me last night. Heat crawled up my neck.

"Don't assume this marriage includes my interest in your pleasure," he said without looking up. "Cheat if you want. Be discreet. And if you get pregnant—" His eyes finally met mine. "I'll force abortion pills down your throat."