“Anyways, my name is Bella, and I’ve known Mr. Ellis since I was a child. He’s a bit rough around the edges, I know. At the end of last year, I fell in love with him, but it didn’t come without a cost. You see, Byron is after me…well, Mr. Ellis. He wants his money and he’s hell-bent on killing one or both of us to get it. I’ve been hiding out here until Byron is found so that—”
“So that Mr. Ellis can kill him first?” She’s not as taken aback as I thought she’d be. In fact, she’s abnormally calm after everything I just told her.
“Yeah. Pretty much. I know it all sounds crazy.”
“Girl, you don’t know crazy until you’ve lived my life.”
I blow out a breath. “You’d be surprised.”
“So, what does this all have to do with me?”
“Last night, Callum told me he was recently made aware of how Byron’s been treating the female staff. He had no idea and I swear if he did, he would have stopped it sooner.”
“Yeah,” Cherry sighs, “it’s quite a nightmare working for that asshole, but it’s a job and most of us can’t afford to quit it, not that he’d let us.” She drops down into a swivel chair in front of a vanity and begins dabbing some blush on her cheeks. “Mr. Byron Davis has made it very clear that if we want out, we will pay the ultimate price.”
My eyebrows rise, hoping she doesn't mean what I think she does. “What price is that?”
“Our bodies, our livelihood. He’s threatened to go as far as shipping us off to Mexico and selling us to the cartel. I think he’s probably talking out of his ass and he’s just desperate to keep the place staffed, but there was one girl who quit six months ago, and she’s been missing ever since.”
“Oh my God,” I gasp. “Look, Cherry, Callum and I are going to help you all. Soon, Byron will be out of the picture and some big changes are coming to these clubs.”
Cherry drops a lipstick back on the vanity and smacks her lips while looking at me through the mirror. “From your mouth to God’s ears.” She spins back around and stands up. “I gotta get back out there, but thanks, Bella. And I hope you’re right about the changes. We sure as hell could use them.” Cherry takes the wig from my hand and flips it until it’s placed on top of my head. Her fingers comb through the stray strands, and she smiles at me. “It suits you.” Then she heads out the door while I’m still standing here.
My eyes dart over to the vanity. My cheeks could use a little color. Going with a shimmery rose color, I run the brush up and down, highlighting my cheekbones.
I stare into the mirror, appreciating the girl looking back at me. She’s full of mischief and capable of raising hell, given the right opportunity. My palms press to the makeup-stained vanity and I look closer. “Hello, Brooke.”
Feeling carefree, I go out the way I came in, still wearing the wig. I’m already here, might as well see what this event is all about. Nothing wrong with sitting back on the sidelines and watching the action.
Cherry wasn’t kidding when she said the place would be swarming. Men flock over every foot of space in the pool room. There are girls jumping around in the pool, tits bouncing through the wet fabric of their white shirts. Some have even removed their tops altogether.
In a matter of minutes, the place went from radio silent to sex-party central.
There are a couple waitresses walking around with drinks, Cherry included, though she’s on the far side of the room. I opt out of drinking tonight, knowing that I can’t stay here long.
Before Cal fell asleep, I asked him if he trusted me. I knew exactly what I intended to do tonight, but I also knew he’d stop me. I had to talk to Cherry. Now that I have, I’m surer than ever that I was brought here for a reason. I have this aching desire to help these girls and show them that they are more than just a body to be slapped around and mishandled. If they want to work here, then more power to them, but they don’t deserve the disrespect they’ve had to endure.
I’m walking around, trying to find a corner to tuck myself in, so I don’t stand out in the crowd, when my eyes meet Cherry’s wide ones. Red flags immediately rise when I see the expression of dread on her face.
Her head shakes no, but I have no idea what she’s referring to.
“Well, well, well. I can’t say I’ve seen that ass around here before.” That voice. I’d know it anywhere. His hands get a firm grip on my ass as he pulls me down until I’m sitting right on his lap.
My heart gallops in my chest, hands trembling and lip quivering as I try to come up with a plan of escape.
Eyes deadlocked on Cherry’s, I mouth, ‘help me.’
“I must say, you fit pretty well on my lap, little girl. Why don’t you turn around, so you can shove those tits in my face?”
My entire body shivers, chills skating down my spine. I hold my breath, afraid to breathe, afraid to move.
His hands come around, squeezing my thighs. Fingers begin riding up, pressing into my crotch through my jeans. “I bet you’ve got a nice, tight pussy on ya, too.”
I have to get up. I have to get out of here before Byron realizes it’s me.
Cherry struts over with her tray balanced on one hand and a fake smile plastered on her face. “Hey there, Mr. Davis. I wasn’t expecting you tonight. Can’t say I’m disappointed.” She forces out a bout of fake laughter, and I’m officially indebted to her, assuming she can get me out of this.
Byron leans forward, me still in his lap. “And I wasn’t expecting you to stand around doing nothing. Get to work.”
Asshole.
While I want to scream it from the rooftop, so everyone knows what scum this man is, Cherry takes it with stride. “See my hand? It’s a tray holding drinks.” She grabs one off and hands it to him. “Would you like one, Mr. Davis?” She smirks.
He scoffs a bit, then takes the drink from her hand. “One for my new friend here, too.”
Cherry looks at me, bewilderment in her eyes. I nod, accepting the offer, and she hands me a glass, too.
“Actually, Mr. Davis,” Cherry begins, “there’s someone I wanted you to meet. A potential new hire who I think would do a damn good job.”
“If I wanted to know what you think, Blueberry, I’d ask.”
Cherry grimaces, and I can tell she’s offended. “It’s Cherry.” She grabs a toothpick stuck in one of the full drinks and pops the cherry on the end into her mouth. “And you’d be a fool to let this girl go. She’s got a way with the gentlemen.”
Byron squeezes my thigh tightly. “What about you, little girl? Are you in need of a job? I'm sure the men would love to get a look at that tight ass while you serve them drinks…and maybe more.”
My stomach twists in knots, bile rising up my throat. I don’t say a word out of fear he’ll know who I am.
His hand moves to my cheek and he tries to get me to look at him. “Turn around. Let me see that pretty face.”
I have to get out of here. I feel faint and my rapidly beating heart feels like it’s going to explode from overexertion.
In a swift movement, I push myself off his lap and walk steadfast to the doors out of the pool room.