CHAPTER 2
Mina
Earlier that evening
Seven more weeks, then I’m out of here. Seven more weeks till my birthday and graduation. I’ll be twenty-three years old, and I’ll have my PHD in Psychology. I’ll have access to my trust fund on my twenty-third birthday. I’ll be able to pay off all the student loans I’ve racked up over the years. And the best part…moving to a new city to start my life fresh. The thought alone makes my heart race. When I moved back here when I was eighteen, I thought this was where I would open my office, but not anymore.
“Mina!” Jaz shouts from up the steps.
“What?”
“Declan wants you upstairs. Now.”
“Like on the floor or…”
“His office,” she says as she steps down the last few steps. Her platform Gogo boots are shiny tonight. She must have oiled the latex.
“Don’t you look hot?” I tease.
Jaz is beautiful. Her real name actually is Jasmine Sylvan. She didn’t care about using a fake name when she started. She has jet black hair that is down to her lower back, bright green eyes, and a body to die for. She’s a year older than I am and started working here when I did. She’s honestly one of the two people that I actually consider a friend outside the club. She knows the real me.
“Shut up,” she laughs, tossing my black robe to me. “Just get your ass up there and be quick with whatever he needs. There are a lot of guys out there tonight. Is there a game or something?”
“You honestly think I would know if a game was on?” I ask sarcastically, causing her to laugh.
“No. Well, Declan calls. Better hurry your ass up, or else he’s going to be pissed.”
I turn back to the mirror and apply another layer of cover-up. Last night, he got drunk and violent after we closed and took it out on me. Someone stole from the till. We were down $473. He blamed me for my negligence. Star was the one running the till last night. We swapped because she rolled her ankle doing warmups earlier in the day. I told her not to get the ballet heels, but what do I know? I’ve only been doing this for almost five years.
I’m Declan’s girl. It’s been this way for five years. I can work as much as I want, and he doesn’t care because I’m strictly off the books. No name, no paper trail, all cash. I didn’t want to risk anyone being able to trace me back to Badlands. Having a psychologist who was once a stripper might not make the best first impression. We’ve never officially been together. We fuck, go out on dates, and the restof the club teases us for fighting like an old married couple, but that’s all. I have never saw a future with Declan or at Badlands.
“Mina?” Jaz says quietly, her eyes lock with mine in the mirror. The faint lines at the corners of her eyes are crinkling as she narrows them at me.
“What?”
“What happened?” She sits beside me on the bench and grabs my chin, forcing me to face her. Her eyes widen as she wipes away my layers of cover-up to unveil the bruise forming on my cheek. “Did he…”
“He would’ve gone after Star if I told him. It’s fine. I’ve had worse.” Which isn’t a lie.
“It’s not fine. He never gets violent unless he drinks. How much was the till down, anyway?”
“He drank about a fifth of Crown.”
“Fuck.” She stands, stepping back to prop her boot up on the bench to start unzipping it.
“It was almost $500,” I say as I turn back to the mirror. I need to cover the mark, or else he will be pissed.
“What!?” Her head shoots up, meeting my reflection. “Do you think Star took it?”
“I honestly don’t know what to think. But if it’s short again tonight, there won’t be anything I can do to save her. He knows she’s on the till tonight.”
She shakes her head at me as she unzips the second one. I finish reapplying the cover-up, taking a moment to double-check that you can’t see even the faintest discoloration. Perfect.
“You go see Declan. I’m going to subtly warn Star. Iwon’t outright accuse the girl of stealing, but she needs to know what Declan is capable of…”
“Just leave me out of it,” I say as I finish putting on my four-inch stilettos.
“She should know you took a hit for her. That way, if the little bitch is the one stealing, maybe she can sneak you some money!” Jaz laughs as she sits at my vanity to remove her extensions and makeup.
