Surrender (Club X #2)(65)
Author: K.M. Scott

In true Carrie style, she asked, “Is he a bad man too?”

Olivia smiled and let out a little chuckle. “He used to be.”

“I’m glad you were able to reform a bad man, Olivia. Unfortunately, I don’t seem to have that ability,” I said quietly as I curled my legs up underneath me, already missing my bed. At least there I could cry and not feel as pathetic as if I started to sob right there in front of Olivia, which very well could happen if she continued to talk about Stefan.

“Stefan very well might be a bad man. I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for him, though. When I started working at Club X, it was Stefan who made me feel welcome. Not that Cash and Kane didn’t, but Stefan was funny and sweet and put me at ease. I know his reputation precedes him, but I saw a change in him after he began spending time with you.”

“Yeah, well that change didn’t stick.”

“I know you think that he cheated on you because of who he is, but that’s not what happened. Yes, everything you ever heard about him was true, but this time he went with Lola to help Cash and me. You see, Lola’s father is a cop. A dirty one, but a cop, all the same. Each month, Cash and his brothers pay him to make sure the police don’t shut the club down. I know you know what happens in Kane’s part of the club, and without Lola’s father, Club X would be closed because of that.”

“What does this have to do with me and the fact that Stefan chose to go with Lola instead of staying loyal to me?”

Olivia frowned and continued, “Before you, Stefan and Lola had been spending time together—”

I turned to Carrie. “What a nice way of saying fucking, isn’t that?”

Carrie gave me the “you’re being a bitch” face and I turned back to face Olivia. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t shoot the messenger.”

“It’s okay. I’d probably be just like you are now, so there’s no need to apologize. Yes, Stefan and Lola were fucking each other. Nothing exclusive like the two of you. Just a workplace get-together every so often. But Stefan didn’t know that Lola’s father was the person they paid to keep things good at the club. When he found out and it became an obligation to spend time with her, he didn’t want to. The problem is Lola still wanted to.”

“So her father put the pressure on Stefan to sleep with his daughter or risk hurting the club?” Carrie asked.

“Exactly. Stefan put her off for weeks as you and he were getting close, Shay. And the pressure wasn’t just coming from Lola and her father. Cash and Kane were also telling him he had to find a way to keep Lola happy so her father wouldn’t stop protecting the club. They didn’t know Stefan was falling for someone, so they acted like they always have. Why wouldn’t they? All he had to do was what he’d always done, so why would it be a problem now?”

“Why did he decide to do it that night?” I asked, needing to know why after telling me he loved me he’d go and do something he knew would break us up.

“Because her father stopped by the club to talk to him and told him if he didn’t get back to hanging out with Lola, he’d stop protecting the club. Stefan didn’t want Cash to have to worry and he didn’t want the club to suffer just before our engagement party and wedding, so I guess he didn’t think he could find another way and still protect Cash and me.”

“How honorable.”

“I know it sounds pretty dirty, and in many ways the world Cash, Stefan, and Kane live in is dirty. But what Stefan felt for you was real. I admit I didn’t believe it when I first heard it either. Once a man whore, always a man whore, right? But he changed because of you.”

“Once a cheat, always a cheat, Olivia. I know what he did with Cassian’s ex-wife. He told me.”

“I know, but I think that’s part of why he did this too, bizarrely enough. For years, Cash couldn’t forgive his brother for what he did. It was only after he and I got together that he could finally let that go. Stefan couldn’t let it go, though, and even though it didn’t appear to bother him, once he began spending time with you, what he’d done to his brother seemed to really eat at him.”

“I don’t know what to say to all this, Olivia. I’m not sure it changes anything. He lied to me and even if he didn’t sleep with Lola and even if she still had all her clothes on, he betrayed me. I don’t see how I can forgive him.”

Olivia looked disappointed but gave me one of her gentle smiles. “I understand. I just wanted to make sure you knew that this wasn’t just him being the player he’d always been. He’s crazy about you. Cash tells me he’s a mess since this happened. He hasn’t been to work in days, and Cash and Kane found him last night drunk and pretty much out of it on his couch.”

“Why are you telling me that? So I’ll feel bad for him?”

She shook her head. “No. I guess just because I’d want to hear the man I love is a mess without me.”

I stood and forced a smile. “Thanks for coming by, Olivia.”

As she walked toward the door, she said, “I hope you’ll still come to the engagement party out at Alexandria’s house. It would mean a lot to me if you’d be there.”

“I don’t know. It might be too soon. I’m not sure we could be civil to one another and not ruin your party.”

“Please think about it, and if you need anything, call me, okay?”

“Thanks. I will. And thank you for coming by to check on me. If you decide to report any of this to Cassian or Stefan himself, would you do me a favor?” I hesitated and then quietly as the tears began to come again said, “Would you make it sound like I’m okay?”

Olivia touched my shoulder softly and smiled. “Yeah. I’ll say you’re doing fine.”

“Thanks.”

I closed the door and Carrie took me into her arms as I cried harder than I’d cried in five days. Nothing Olivia said should have made me sadder, but it did. And angrier, but I didn’t know who to be angry at. Stefan? Lola? Lola’s father? All I knew was what Olivia told me muddied up how neatly I’d planned on hating Stefan March for the rest of my life.

A uniformed man waved me forward into the line of cars waiting to be parked, and I handed him my keys as I closed my car door. “Take care of the old Taurus. She needs to get me through a few weeks more.”

“Not to worry, miss. We’ll take good care of her.”