“I’m here to see Tony Siles. I heard he might be hiring.”
The bartender gives me an appreciative look up and down, filling my insides with an ick.
I spot Liam out of the corner of my eye. I only met him briefly on Facetime, but his good looks are hard to miss. He sticks out in a place like this.
It’s rundown. There’s dust on the light fixtures, spots on the glassware behind the bar, and the smell of stale booze and cigarettes lingers through the air. The stage with the pole in the middle is small, barely big enough for any dancer. The upholstery is torn, and the carpet looks like it could use a good cleaning. Nothing at all like Sapphire.
A few moments later a man who looks like he came straight from my hometown exits the back with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
“Hi, you must be Tony. I’m Emily.” I extend a hand to him but he just stares at it.
“You in the wrong place, ain’t ya? Don’t no girls come in here all dressed up like that.”
“I’m new in town. I’m looking for a job as a dancer.”
He looks me up and down, his greedy eyes skating over every inch of my body. My stomach tries to roll but I push the feelings down. I can handle this. I’ve had worse men than him force their filthy paws on me.
“I have experience,” I lie.
“I need someone to work the floor. My waitress OD’d this morning. You can dance if we aren’t busy. Be here tomorrow at five o’clock.” He turns to walk off.
I call out to him, “Do I need to fill out some paperwork?” He stops and considers for a minute, and I’m hoping he will say no.
Ethan was adamant most of the dancers were off the books. The ID I have has Ryker as my last name and even though they might not be smart enough to connect me to Nick, it’s always a possibility.
“If you do alright tomorrow, then I’ll put you on the books. If not, you can work for other favors if you need cash.” A throaty, too many cigarette laugh/cough wracks through him until he’s expelled a wad of mucus. I almost vomit when he spits it on the floor.
Nick owes me big time for this shit.
Liam nods at me as I walk out the door. I feel like I need a shower just from standing in this room. Funny, because I used to go days, or even a week, without being able to wash up when we didn’t have running water. My new life of luxury is starting to sink in.
I hightail it back to the restaurant, Ethan hot on my heels. We jump in the Hummer and head to drop Vade back off at the warehouse.
“Well, how’d it go?” Nick asks with a worried expression.
“That place is disgusting. I hope it doesn’t take long to get the information you’re wanting,” I tell him.
“I know, baby. I can’t stand the thought of you in that place. After this, you won’t have to work anywhere else unless you want too.” He pulls me in close.
“I have to have a job to pay for my classes.” I want to continue my education.
“Your tuition is paid in full for the next four years.” He kisses my cheek.
Holyshit.
“Nick, no. I want to take care of it myself.” This is too much, I can’t accept it. I shift uncomfortably in my seat.
“It’s not up for discussion, cupcake.” His menacing tone screams not to even try to argue with him, so I don’t.
Instead, I cross my arms and stare out of the window. I know he means well and wants to take care of me, but Mama always told me the only one you can ever truly depend on is yourself. Never get yourself into a position where you have no way out. A lesson I wish she had taken her own advice on.
He unbuckles my seatbelt and pulls me onto his lap. “Hey, don’t be so sullen. Going to school was part of our deal for you to work for me.”
“It was, but you paying for my entire education wasn’t.” I still can’t look at him.
“If you want to work while you’re in school, you can. But whatever I have is yours, too.” He plants a soft kiss on my neck and grips me tight.
Nick’s phone rings, breaking our moment, Kaleb Cherry’s name flashing on the screen. “Hello?”
