Page 52 of Ruthless Protector

“You know what I want,” he said in a hushed voice that sent a shiver down my spine.

I gripped the phone tighter. “I don’t know what you expect me to do, I can’t pull money out of thin air. I’m doing all the shifts I can, giving you everything. Christ, Trent, I need to keep a roof over Tilly’s head. Don’t you care the money you’re taking from me hurts her, makes life harder for her?” I don’t know why I was trying to appeal to the man’s heart; I knew for a fact he didn’t have one, and he proved it as soon as he opened his mouth next.

“You chose to take her,” he said, voice flat. “If you keep fucking me around like this, giving me damn peanuts, I will make your life a lot harder. I have rights, you know I do. I can claim visitation. I’m sure Child Welfare would love to know you’re a whore now.”

“I dance, that’s it…”

“Bullshit, I know what the whores in places like Stilettos are like. I know what goes on in the private rooms.”

“You’re wrong…”

“Get me more money, I don’t care how you do it. I want two grand. You have a week, or things get messy for you.”

I opened my mouth to say something, a useless attempt to get through to him.

But he hung up.

12

Willa

The two days Tilly was suspended from school were a juggle. Looking out for Trent, trying to be there for her, while also doing my usual shifts, plus my first night at Stilettos.

With everything going on, I was so thankful for Fay. I didn’t know what I’d do without her. I hated that I wasn’t there for Tilly like I should, but the sacrifice would be worth it, right? I’d get Trent’s money, and he’d finally leave us alone.

Unless, of course, he decided to stick around and continue to blackmail me.

I didn’t want to think about that. I’d cross that bridge when, and if, I was forced to cross it. One crisis at a time was all I could manage.

I’d hold Trent off for the rest of the week. I should have a few grand by then, doing double shifts and private dances.

I shuddered and rubbed my hands up and down my arms. I’d done my first night shift. It’d been weird, awkward, at first. But there were cameras in all the private rooms, and Raul had someone monitoring them at all times; plus, he’d put a guy in the hall just outside the rooms, since all the disappearances. He assured me someone would be there in seconds if I raised the alarm.

Thankfully, the two dances I did, neither of the guys crossed the line. One just preferred his lap dance without an audience, and the other guy didn’t even want me to touch him, he just wanted to watch me dance. His hand may have drifted south of his belt buckle a few times, but I guess that was to be expected. I just ignored it and danced.

There’d also been a development on the first missing dancer, Fiona. Her body had been found. She’d been cut, beaten, tortured. Raul was struggling with it; we all were.

Both nights during my shift, I’d gotten a text from Jude, asking me to let him know that I got home safe. He’d been keeping tabs on the case through his contacts on the force, which meant he knew about Fiona being found. He was worried about me, so I made sure to text him when I got home. He’d also checked in during the day, asking how it was going, and about Tilly, how she was coping with the bullying and the suspension.

I liked that he was worried about me. I liked it more than I should. Checking my phone between dances, seeing that he’d answered, sending him another reply.

And maybe another picture or two…

Tilly walked into the living room where I was sitting and plonked down on the couch beside me, leaning into my side, her head burrowing against my arm.

“What is it, Tils?”

“I don’t want to go to school tomorrow.”

I curled my arm around her slim shoulders and pulled her in closer. “I wish I could promise you it would all be okay.” I slid my fingers under her quivering little chin. “If anything happens, you go straight to your teacher. I’ll drop you off tomorrow and have another talk to her…”

Tilly was shaking her head. “No, please, don’t come in. Everyone will think I’m a baby if you do.”

She was getting worked up, her breaths getting shuddery.

“Okay, I won’t take you in, I’ll make an appointment for after school, or…”

Tears began to stream down her cheeks and she burrowed in against me. What the hell was I going to do? I just wanted to make this better for her, and I didn’t know how.