AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dahlia shrank and rested her back against the wall, driving her hand through her hair. Fuck me, I’m screwed. She balled her hand and ground her teeth. And fuck you, Rogue!
“It’s not so bad. Some girls love it, and it pays ten dollars more an hour.”
Well, that explained why Mindy and Lori practically lost their shit!
Dahlia groaned. “Why me?”
“You hit his radar,” Aaron said, and Dahlia spun around to face him.
He shoved his hands in his pockets, giving her a sympathetic smile. “The fact that Trey wouldn’t fire you when he heard about your affiliation with East set something off in Rogue. Trey’s a fair boss, but he and Rogue don’t argue about menial bullshit staffing. If one of them wants you gone, you’re gone. Been working here a long time and never seen them fight over any member of the staff.”
“Wait.” Sloane furrowed her brow. “How do you know about it?”
“I was in the hallway when it all went down.”
Dahlia dropped her chin to her chest, staring at the newly vacuumed carpet. Aaron, along with most members of security, had been in the hall. If he’d heard them, that meant they all did. Dahlia fought against the rising heat racing toward her face. She’d blocked out the conversation riddled with insults. Now, it was at the forefront of her mind, and she was reliving it all over. She drew in a breath, mustered her courage, and glanced up, staring directly at Aaron.
“So he wants me to quit?”
“No.” Aaron chuckled and shook his head. “He wants Trey to fire you.”
As much as she hated to bow down to anyone, Dahlia saw the outcome clearly. This was Rogue and Trey’s club. If one of them wanted her gone, she was fighting a losing battle. She was only prolonging the inevitable. As much as she didn’t want to do it, she was resigned to waving her white flag.
“Well, then I’ll beat him to it and quit.”
Aaron stepped forward. “And then you’ll be blackballed from working anywhere in this city. Trust me on this, they have a reach you can’t even fathom. I’ve seen it done, Dahlia. Trey won’t do it, but Rogue will.”
What? Blackballed? Of course, she’d heard of the term but never in conjunction with her or her work. A nervous energy raced through her blood. It had been so easy for Trey to get her fired from The Moon Bar. All he had to do was say the word, and it was done. With that realization, Aaron’s words struck her hard.
Shit!
Dahlia was still in a daze when Sloane rounded her desk and grasped Dahlia’s hand. “You can go back to East. If you explain the situation to Gunner and Blade, I’m sure they can give you more money.” Sloane reached into her pocket for her phone. “I’ll call Blade now.”
It was an option but not a viable one. There was a reason she’d left East. Dahlia needed more money, and with her newly vacant roommate, finances were even tighter. Even if East was willing to let her come back, she couldn’t afford her house and expenses.
“You go back to East, and you’re handing Rogue the win. He gets to say that you’re exactly where you belong and who you are.” Aaron’s voice, more so his words, rang in her ears, and she looked up at him.
“She’s a bartender,” Sloane said.
Dahlia stared back at Aaron, who raised his brows. His comment may have gone over Sloane’s head but not Dahlia’s. Rogue hadn’t referred to her as a bartender. His voice played over in her mind.
I know you ain’t a member, so that must make you one of their whores. An East club whore. That’s who we’re employing now?
Her days might have been numbered, but she’d be damned before she’d let Rogue label her and take the win.
Game fucking on, Rogue!
“I’ll work the balcony.”
Aaron smiled and nodded. It was a sense of approval that she thoroughly appreciated.
It was an endearing moment, yet she knew…I’m so fucked.
****
It was rare Trey showed up this late. This fucking night! He’d spent a good hour on the phone with Oz discussing Rogue and the deal with Killcreek. As per usual, Oz was demanding an answer, and Rogue was delaying out of spite. Trey walked a fine line between the brothers. In his position, it was imperative he stayed neutral. It was his job, and his duty to the Underground. If he allowed himself to dig deeper, it was something more. Trey had always played middleman, peacemaker, and problem solver. This was proving to be especially difficult with both brothers not giving in to any type of compromise.
Trey could have chosen a side, but where would that leave them? No. They had to come to an agreement. He needed to guide them in the right direction. So much easier said than done.
