Page 15 of Sling’s Awakening

But it’s not that.

It’s a warning.

“Yeah?” he sneers in my ear. “Then why do I have to keep reminding you to stay in your place? I’m not here to babysit them, and I’m definitely not here to babysit you. So do what I pay you to do and tell me when they’re about to fucking leave.”

I bite my tongue to keep myself from lashing out at him. He’s one of the few people in my life who has the power to make it an absolute living hell.

“I’ll let you know,” I get out through clenched teeth as I shrug him off. Unlike him, I don’t give a fuck who sees.

Russ gives me one last look before he steps out from behind the bar and heads back into his office, giving me a small amount of breathing room. Not much though, because it’s like Big Brother in here.

The rest of the night passes by in a blur. The club was packed and money was flowing. I knew tonight was going to be a huge one for the girls. We were booked solid with reservations, and the private rooms filled up throughout the night.

For a while, I forgot Sling and his club were still here.

“I’m going to take the birthday boy into the champagne room,” Jinx says as she leads a man wearing the same leather vest as Sling past me.

I’ve seen all sorts of people in my life. Some I like, some I don’t. Some are so gorgeous they hurt to look at, and some you wonder who raised them. But I’ve never seen a man with a scar on his face like that.

He meets my eye as he passes, and I refuse to waver, not wanting him to think I’m ogling it. A man like him probably has a badass story to back that up, and I hope whoever gave it to him got theirs.

“I’m a little disappointed the pussy drinks stopped coming.”

I sigh as I wipe down a bottle of liquor and turn to face Sling. His arms are crossed in front of him as he leans on the bar, staring at me with a grin. “As much as you seem to think it does, the world doesn’t revolve around you. You didn’t want to go into the champagne room?”

Sling shakes his head. “Nah, it’s Scar’s birthday. It’s his time.”

Scar?

That’s all they could come up with?

“I see y’all are creative with your nicknames,” I say sarcastically as I grab the next bottle to wipe down.

“Nicknames?” Sling snickers. “It’s a road name, babe.”

What’s the difference?

I look over his shoulder at his table and see a few of them are getting lap dances while the others watch.

“The rest of your friends are entertained. Why aren’t you with them?”

Sling shrugs. “It’s never really been my thing.”

Right. And I hate vintage Alexander McQueen.

I pin him with a look that says I don’t believe a word out of his mouth. “Am I supposed to buy that line of bullshit?”

Sling throws his head back and laughs.

“Alright, you got me. Someone else has been holding my attention tonight.”

Yeah, I’m sure I have.

I only have it because I’m not rolling over like a dog taking every little bit of scraps he throws my way.

“Russ will be up here in a minute, so you won’t be waiting much longer,” I tell him. It takes everything in me to keep my expression even.

I’m such a sarcastic bitch.