Chapter 33 Money For Sex “What are you talking about?” I asked, glancing around, my heart pounding like a warning bell. Dean didn’t flinch. “Savannah was at the club with me, Chloe and her fiancé. After her special performance, Chloe left. Some drunk, handsy guy wouldn’t leave Sav alone. I stepped in. Turns out the asshole was armed. He came at me, but I handled it. I don’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened if I wasn’t there. She needs to make better choices next time.” The words hit me like a punch to the chest. I stumbled back slightly, the floor spinning beneath me. The previous night came rushing back—blurry and vivid all at once. The gentleman’s club. Dean’s slurred words. Chloe’s vicious setup. The look in his eyes when he offered me money. His hands on me. Roman’s arrival. The memory struck like a lightning bolt. My fists clenched. My head throbbed with a pulsing, familiar anger. Chloe was the first to break the silence. “Well? Aren’t you going to thank my fiancé for saving your ass?” she snapped, her voice high and cutting. “Look what you’ve caused, Sav. Dressing and dancing like a stripper, dragging in the wrong kind of men. Now Dean’s going to be walking into our rehearsal dinner looking like a bar fight victim, thanks to you. Our wedding’s in four days and you’ve already ruined it.” She turned to him with a sigh, delicately fussing over his face like he was a wounded puppy. He was seriously typing on his phone and not even paying her any attention. “Don’t talk to her like that,” Alyssa cut in sharply. Her voice didn’t waver. “This isn’t Savannah’s fault. Dean brought this upon himself. He chose to defend her. She didn't ask for him to get punched.” Chloe rolled her eyes. “Mind your own fucking business. I wasn’t talking to you.” “Chloe,” Mom warned, her voice low and disappointed. “Don’t swear at your older sister. That was not how I raised you.” Through all of it, Dean stared at me. And I stared right back. He lied. Boldly. Cleanly. And expected me to stay quiet? Not a chance.I cleared my throat, loud enough to command attention. My father’s head turned to me immediately. “So where was my fiancé the whole time you were out there playing hero?” I asked, arms folded tightly across my chest. Dean scoffed, tucking his phone into his pocket. “How would I know? I’m not his damn babysitter.” But I noticed the flicker in his gaze, the quick drop of his eyes to my neck—right where Roman’s marks were—and the way his face darkened at the sight. “You’re unbelievable,” Chloe muttered. “After everything Dean’s done for you? This is how you thank him?” I shrugged. “Well, maybe he shouldn’t tell lies about me if he doesn’t want me telling the truth about him.” “Savannah,” Dad said, his voice steely. “If you have something to say, then say it now.” I turned my attention back to Dean. He was glaring, daring me. “Why don’t you all ask Dean how he really got those bruises,” I said evenly. “Ask who gave him the black eye.”Mom’s brows drew together. “Dean? Is there something you’re not telling us?” Chloe pulled slightly away from him, her smile faltering. “Babe…?” Dean let out a scoff. “She’s talking gibberish. Maybe she hit her head. Got a concussion or something. She was shoved pretty hard.” Wrong move. I stepped forward, shaking with rage. “Gibberish? A concussion? Really, Dean?” My voice rang out, slicing through the room. “Why don’t you tell everyone here that you offered me money for sex last night?” Gasps echoed across the room like breaking glass. Mom covered Emily's ears immediately. I resisted the urge to laugh. “Oh boy,” Lizzie whispered, eyes wide. “This is way better than Netflix.” “Dean!” Chloe shrieked. “What the hell is she talking about?! Say something!” “I have no idea where this is coming from, baby. Don’t listen to her—” “Liar,” I snapped. “The bruises on him? They’re not from some drunk with a gun. Roman gave him those—after he walked in on Dean trying to force himself on me.” The room was dead silent. Aunt Janice made a sign of the cross. My mom was literally clutching her pearls. “You told me to bend over the counter,” I continued, voice hard and unwavering. “Ten grand. That’s what I was worth to you. You said it'd be our little secret.” Dean froze. Chloe looked like she’d been slapped. And for the first time, I didn’t feel small. I felt like fire. Let them deal with the truth now. “What did you just say?” Mom whispered, her face turning pale. “That can’t be true,” Dad said, but his voice was shaky. “Mom, Dad, I’m not lying.” I faced Dean squarely. “And he knows it. Dean disrespected me. He's only telling these lies because he knows he has a better chance of convincing you all that the truth is a lie once he says the lie first.” Dean had the audacity to laugh. “You've truly gone off the rails now, Sav. Why don't you tell everyone here that you flashed me your tits last night. You're so obsessed with me that you took off your costume right in front of me, hoping for my attention.” I gasped. “Dean, you bloody liar!” I charged at him but Chloe stepped in front of him immediately and shoved me backwards. “Get your hands off my fiancé!” The shove was so intense I prepared for the impact of the crash… but it never came. Strong, steely arms caught me with ease. Roman. “Are you okay, Sav?” He asked. I nodded. His eyes snapped to Chloe, “Are you out of your mind? Why the hell would you shove her?” He raised his voice a little. Chloe stood her ground, “She tried to hit Dean first. I was just defending my fiancé.” Roman’s eyes narrowed on her, “If that justifies your actions then I'd have to shove you too and we'll call it even. Then I can say I was defending my fiancée because you shoved her first.” Chloe folded her arms and smirked, “You don't hit women, Roman. It's not in you.” I looked at both of them. Dad was the one to cut in, placing a hand on Roman's chest. “Please don't be offended with what Chloe did. She's just angry. It's all a huge misunderstanding.” I rolled my eyes. Roman was still glaring daggers at a smug Chloe. “It's not a misunderstanding. Dean is lying. He knows I'm telling the truth.” I turned to Roman. “Roman, you were there last night. Tell them what happened. Tell them who gave Dean the bruises.” All eyes turned to Roman expectantly. He stood there, as stiff as a rock. Hands balled into fists by his sides. Nostrils flaring. “Roman…” I whispered, nudging him gently.He blinked, met my eyes for a moment, and then turned to the room. His jaw clenched and he exhaled. He cleared his throat and I smirked, giving Dean the death stare. Oh you're so cooked now, Dean. I held my breath, waiting. Roman would finish what I started. He saw it all. He’d watched Dean corner me, touch me, degrade me. And he’d made Dean bleed for it. Now he’d make him answer. But what came out of his mouth wasn’t justice. “Sav and I had a great night last night. She gave a striking performance and we had a good time. Please excuse us.” My heart stopped. I blinked. Surely I’d misheard him. But the betrayal in his silence was louder than any scream. The man who had held me, protected me, kissed me like I was more precious than anything... was now protecting my attacker. And when I looked ahead? Dean was smirking.