Innocence (Tales of Olympus #1)(24)

She breathed out and squeezed her eyes shut. What had she gotten herself into? Did Marcus think she didn’t know? Did he think she was an idiot? Was that what he wanted, some dumb, foolish little plaything he could occasionally amuse himself with?

Moving to one corner of the couch and tucking her legs under her, she listened hard. Voices in the foyer—Marcus and another, no, two other men. Sharo? Or the other two, the ones who had been so conveniently close to her apartment? The question was: why was he having her watched? For her safety…or because he didn’t trust her?

“You okay?” Marcus asked when he returned with a paper sack of food. Cora smiled and nodded, but it was the fake smile she always used to use with her mother. Gods how she hated to use it with Marcus. But she didn’t know what else to do. Everything had seemed so sure only an hour before and now…

They set out the food, and before they tucked in, Marcus asked again, “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yes,” the answer was shaky, but sure. She smiled again, the same fake smile. Marcus didn’t notice anything was amiss, and that broke her heart a little.

“I told you, babe,” was all he said, “I’m going to take care of you.”





“I have to get off early tonight,” Cora called to the back of the shelter where she’d started volunteering. She hadn’t been able to find another job without an ID and social other than a few other all-cash modeling gigs she’d gotten off of Armand’s show. Volunteering made her feel less stir-crazy in the meantime while she tried to sort something more permanent out.

“Okay,” said Maeve, who ran the shelter. “Start at the end and get as far as you can, cleaning. The bucket is in the closet, sponges and soap by the sink.”

Cora passed two hours in silence, cleaning cages. It was hard, dirty work. Somehow, though, she felt cleaner after doing it. Scrubbing reminded her of being a kid on the farm where life was simple and full of honest, hard work. At the age of ten, it had been her job to scrub the floors of the house and to muck out the stables.

Ironic that she should be feeling nostalgia for that place she couldn’t wait to get away from.

But things were so confusing here in the city.

Marcus continued to court her, taking her to the best restaurants. Sometimes she felt like he was showing her off. But that was ridiculous, he was the glamorous one. Whenever they walked into a place, people sat up and took notice. The restaurant owner would rush out to greet them, give them the best table, and check in during the meal to make sure everything was okay.

Everywhere they went, people kowtowed to Marcus, and, in turn, Marcus took care of her. He continued with the gifts, no matter how much she continued telling him they weren’t necessary. He even insisted his car pick her up from the apartment and drive her to the shelter. She protested but Marcus said, “goddess,” in his deep voice, amused and superior and sexy all at once, and got his way. He always got his way.

And as for her misgivings from the other night…

She frowned as she scrubbed even harder at the bottom of the cage. What was she really complaining about? That a man considered her so precious he wanted to make sure she was safe at all times?

And if he was having her followed because he didn’t trust her, well, he was a wealthy man and she was a nobody. Maybe he’d been burned before. She didn’t know just how rich he was but she knew he owned lots of businesses and was powerful, too. He’d only just met her. It was only smart for him to want to know if she really was who she said she was. Plus, it wasn’t like she had anything to hide.

And, the question she’d finally asked herself several nights ago: wasn’t he worth it? When she was with Marcus she felt like she could fly. And gods, when he touched her, even just the barest brush of his hand against hers...goosebumps pebbled up and down her arms at the mere thought.

She liked him. She really liked him. She was scared to let her think about how she felt about him, it was so strong. A lot stronger than like, if she was honest with herself. And he was giving her everything she’d ever wanted. A new life, a new identity, one in which she could be suave and city-savvy and glamorous. That’s why she came to the city, to be free of her mother. Even if Marcus helped her, protected her, okay, maybe controlled her a little, did that mean she wasn’t free?

A long time later, Maeve found Cora sitting in one of the cages surrounded by cleaning supplies, one rubber glove on and the other off. Maeve had long red hair threaded with gray that she mostly kept braided. She came to check on Cora.

“Cora,” she called, and Cora blinked out of her musings and glanced up. “How are things looking up here? Oh wow, you got through more cages than I thought you would.”

Cora smiled. “I have experience.” Cleaning cages wasn’t exactly the same as mucking out stables, but the work ethic required was the same.

Cora yawned and swiped at her forehead with her arm.

“Aw, you look tired. I hope you’re taking off early to head home and get some rest.”

Cora shook her head. “Not quite. Marcus is taking me out to a friend’s restaurant.”

Maeve’s easy expression dropped and her eyebrows furrowed. “I worry about you, honey. Are you sure things aren’t moving too quickly with that man?”

Cora smiled at the older woman. ‘That man’ treated her like a queen. He could have anyone, and he looked at Cora like she was the only woman in the world. She still didn’t understand it, why he’d chosen her. But he had and that was all that mattered.