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But, as usual, when I think I know exactly how something is going to go, life throws me that goddamned curve ball.
I’ve been sitting in Mike’s lap, listening to him tell a story from his college days, when he changes the subject so abruptly I almost wonder if I imagined it.
“I’d like you to be my date to an event next weekend.”
I laugh. “Oh, Mike. You’ve always got some surprise up your sleeve.”
Mike is here almost every weekend, and he always orders a VIP room with me. There are some older regulars who are creeps, but Mike isn’t one of them. His wife died around the same time I started working here, and he’s always respectful. The guy’s just lonely. Would therapy be a better way to spend his money? Probably. But I’m not going to complain.
“I don’t go out with customers, Mike. You know that.” It’s a rule a lot of the girls who work here have.
“I know it’s probably not considered appropriate for me to ask,” Mike says. “I just don’t want to go to this thing alone. It’s an engagement party for a friend’s son, and I... I haven’t gone to a lot of things since Marcie passed. It feels weird going alone.”
I squeeze his hand. This man was head over heels for his wife in the most adorable way. He’s shown me pictures of them on trips all over the world, told me lots of stories about their many adventures, and even teared up a time or two while talking about her. I hate that he’s struggling.
“It must be really hard.”
He nods. “Some days are better than others.” Then he sighs and shakes his head. “If you’re not comfortable, I understand.”
I bite the inside of my lip. With a lot of the other girls, I encourage them not to see customers outside of the club. There are lots of reasons, but one of the bigger ones is safety.
For me, though? I don’t have to worry about that. I could take on three grown men at once and come out on top with barely a scratch. In fact, I’ve done just that on multiple occasions.
My father trained me young.Eat or get eaten,he used to say. So I worked hard until I was his best: his best bodyguard, his best fixer, his best adviser.
For a while, it was enough. But that was before I was fully aware of how sick and twisted my family’s business is. For years, I did what my father told me, happy to stay in the dark. I think I always knew I wouldn’t be comfortable with all the things my father does. Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.
I couldn’t stay like that forever, though. And when David found out that he had a daughter—and that Rosie’s mother had passed—everything came to light.
I shouldn’t’ve been shocked that David was perfectly fine with selling his own daughter, but I was. And it forced me into waking up and coming to terms with the fact that I willingly helped my family ruin the lives of so many people.
I’m not a good person. At this point, I’ve killed and hurt so many people that I’ve just come to accept it. I’ll do whatever I have to do to survive. That’s just how things are in my world.
Ourworld. Because now, I have Rosie.
I had to beg David to let me keep her. That’s how I ended up in the situation I’m in now. Either I do what David wants me to, or he’ll take Rosie away.
For now, that is. Once I have enough cash saved up, I’m taking Rosie and disappearing for good. New city, new identities, new everything. David will never be able to find us.
“I’d pay you, of course,” Mike says. “Double whatever you normally make a night. Actually, scratch that. You just name a number, and I’ll pay you that.”
That last sentence is enough for him to get my full attention again.
I give him a skeptical look. “Justto be your date for the night? I don’t do sexual favors.”
He laughs. “I’m well aware. And yes, I just want someone there so I don’t have to feel so...” His gaze falls, and he doesn’t finish the sentence.
Lonely.
It’s the way I feel, too. That’s the problem with planning on running away. Getting close to people will only hurt when you leave. It’s better to not let anyone in.
“Again, if you’re not comfortable, I completely understand. But I couldn’t help but notice that you start limping after being on your feet for more than a few minutes. There’ll be plenty of seating at the engagement party, and I thought it’d be a nice change of pace for you.”
“Hmm.” I think about it for a second. I suppose itwouldbe a nice change of pace. I’m halfway through my shift tonight, and if Mike hadn’t ordered a VIP room and had me sit in his lap, I’d be in a shit ton of pain by now. “Any number?”
The thought makes my heart leap. I already know a woman who can get me and Rosie everything we need to start over. And I’m so close to having enough saved up to pay her fee. This could be what gets me there.
“How does ten thousand sound?”
