His nod was curt.
“Okay, well…” I searched for the right way to explain. Then, I quickly realized there wasn’t really arightway to spin the saga of my abusive, asshole, ex-boyfriend, so I just went with the truth. “Adrian and I met in Atlantic City. I was working as a waitress at one of the casinos. I started out on the main floor, but eventually got moved up to the high roller section. It was the kind of place where the casino owners brought their VIPs to impress them. Bottle service, reserved lounges, tabletop hookahs… anything they wanted, we arranged.” I blew out a long breath. “One night, Adrian came in. He knew everyone and was a big deal with the casino crowd. He played poker. High stakes. He was pretty good at it, too. Won a lot of money.”
Cade continued to wait, listening intently.
“What he wasn’t so good at was saving that money. He spent almost everything he earned. Blew it on ridiculous things. He needed the fanciest penthouse. The most expensive luxury car. The highest quality wool suits, tailored to his specific measurements.”
The next part was harder to admit aloud.
I forced myself to continue anyway. “He swept me off my feet at the beginning. Gourmet dinners, nights on the town. A trip to New York City at Christmas, with the nicest suite at the Ritz-Carlton, overlooking Central Park. I can’t lie — for a while, I enjoyed not being the one serving the drinks when I stepped foot in a nightclub or restaurant.”
Cade nodded.
“He could be fun. He took me dancing, taught me to throw darts. If we ate at a steakhouse with a piano, he’d sit at it and serenade the whole place with Sinatra songs. Cue the applause.” I huffed out a bitter half-chuckle, remembering how he’d dazzled me back then.
Foolish, foolish girl.
“Everywhere we went, everyone else seemed so convinced he was special. When he walked into a room, it was like Zeus himself had descended down from Mount Olympus to mingle among the mortals,” I said. “It was nice to think someone like that, someone special, thoughtIwas special, too. It was even nicer to think…”
My tongue felt thick. I couldn’t get words past it.
“Take your time, Goldie,” Cade said, his voice no longer brimming with rage. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I pressed my eyes closed. I couldn’t look at him for this part. I didn’t think I could bear to see the pity in his expression when I made my pathetic admission.
“I wanted so badly to believe someone could love me,” I whispered, barely audible. “Looking back, I realize I’d been lonely a long, long time when I met him. I guess I just needed someone. Anyone. And I convinced myself that Adrian was that someone.” My voice cracked. “How stupid is that?”
Two hands landed on my neck, sliding gently across my skin in a soothing gesture.
“Not stupid at all, Imogen,” Cade said, and there was no pity in his voice. Not even a shred of it. “It’s human.”
Trembling, I opened my eyes. I’d been so afraid to see him looking at me like I was the ultimate loser. But his expression was gentle, his eyes were soft. It was a look I’d seen before — the one he made when he greeted Socks. I didn’t know what it was, but it was pure and it was beautiful and just seeing it aimed in my direction made my heart clench like he’d wrapped his whole fist around it.
I wanted him to keep looking at me like that forever, but I knew I had to finish the rest of the story. To expel it from my system so we could move past it.
“He wasn’t violent at first,” I confessed in a whisper.
Cade flinched, his hands jolting on my neck, but his expression never wavered.
“I didn’t realize he was spending more than he made. I didn’t realize the lifestyle he was indulging in was totally unsustainable. I didn’t realize he was in deep with the casinos, and getting deeper with every game he lost.” My lips twisted in a grim smile. “When he found out about my past —The Child Clairvoyant— he was over the moon. I’d never seen him so happy. He thought it was the answer to all his financial woes.”
Cade scoffed darkly.
“One of the guys he owes money to is named Viggo. A big fish in the Atlantic City cesspool, with connections in all the entertainment circles. He arranged for a six-month residency at The Palace. A live show on stage. And me as the main attraction.” I paused. “Adrian didn’t even ask me first. He just agreed.”
“Asshole,” Cade muttered.
“No question about that. Unfortunately, Viggo and his boys are even bigger assholes. They started putting pressure on Adrian when he couldn’t get me to say yes. Then, Adrian started putting that pressure on me. It was a domino effect.”
“Don’t make excuses for him.”
“I’m not. I’m just trying to paint the picture of why he flipped?—”
“He didn’t flip. He showed you his true colors.” Cade’s voice was tight. “Men who put their hands on women don’t just start one day, out of the blue. Whether it was the residency or something else, he would’ve eventually turned violent. That’s his nature. Don’t give him more credit than he deserves. And don’t look for reasons to justify why he did what he did to you.” He leaned in. “The reason is that he’s a goddamn scumbag. And if I ever cross paths with him, beautiful… He better pray I don’t have my gun on me.”
“Cade…” I whispered, shocked but also strangely touched. I didn’t know what else to say. I planted my face in his chest and slid my arms around his waist, holding on as tight as I possibly could.
“Done talking about this asshole,” he declared, his mouth pressed against my hair. “He’s taken up enough of your life. He doesn’t get another fucking minute.”