AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Given she fell into the hands of the same sadistic society who nearly ruined my life I give her a pass for seeing past my false happiness. It takes a broken person to know one. It’s why Polaris became a fast friend when I arrived here a few weeks back. One doesn’t bounce back from getting doped, kidnapped and forced into a sex ring. Humans are not made of rubber like that. But I’m trying.
I take a seat in front of her desk after lifting a candy cane from her front pocket.
I wag it in the space between us. “I see you have been to the first floor where all the Christmas trees are.”
“Ugh. A guilty pleasure for all the walking. My arches are killing me. I’ve been all over the place tonight. There were new members inducted, and then we jumped over to get contracts signed between the Savages and the Eastern Alliance. That was fun.”
Her scrunched face says not really.
“Riot wanted to cut balls off of everyone and get a drink. Ares had to jump between him and another dude before that got ugly. Harlon is still on the third floor trying to get them out of the building before the Southern Alliance arrives. They need to pay their dues but that means we need a contract room free and you know how the Southern Alliance feels about the Eastern Alliance.”
My face scrunches into a pucker to match hers. “Sounds exciting. Too bad there are no guns allowed past the front door. Might be fun.”
“God, don’t say that.”
“I don’t know how you keep everyone straight.” I damn near need to draw a cheat sheet of names and start labeling who is who in this world of crime. I grew up as a mafia princess. Crime isn’t new to me. But keeping track of who everyone was back home didn’t take a Sharpie and a posterboard.
I only recognize the Savage name. One of the biker’s wives saved me and brought me here. I’ll never forget them.
Polaris shrugs. “Part of the job, I guess. Wanna share?” She juts her chin toward the candy cane.
I crack the holiday candy down the middle and offer Polaris the half with the hooked end. She takes it and we suck our treat while I piece the giant puzzle of who’s who together.
I’m due on the third level in five minutes so I throw my legs over the arm of the chair and make a quick observation. “It’s a miracle World War three doesn’t break out in the middle of downtown Chicago. Could you imagine how many members would drop their membership. This place would have to close.” I would need to find a new home.
“No kidding. I’m more afraid of the ones who will see a wounded beast and try to take over. Harlon and the men work to keep the Genesis property neutral territory for all, but it costs them. None of them sleep well from the dark circles under their eyes. They are always grouchy or irritated.”
Oh, poor Polaris. Sometimes I want to hug her and tell her to stop playing coy. But she has her reasons for staying to herself just like I have mine for keeping away from people as much as I can. But it’s not my place to comment on her life unless I want the same.
But…
“My sweet friend. Those dark circles and cranky attitudes are not caused by the club’s going ons. Trust me.” I guess I had something to say about it after all. This time my smile is genuine for my friend. Polaris is smart. Kind. Caring and so blind to the fact her bosses have the world’s largest crush on their broken little secretary. It’s almost painful to watch them dance around her like she’s too precious to touch.
I thought I wanted that once. The three mafia men I crushed on didn’t even know I existed, but my fantasies placed them as the stars throughout my late teen years. Even now, at twenty years old, I dream about the Denatti trio.
Polaris ducks her head and I think I see a hint of wistfulness in her eyes before she works out the invisible wrinkles in her slacks.
Dodging the truth is my go to as well so I get it.
It would be nice to have that connection with someone, to be honest. I wish she would open up to the idea of letting the men who want to care for her do so. But it’s not my place to tell her how to live her life.
Polaris seems antsy about the topic so I seal my lips around sweet red stripes and otherwise keep my thoughts to myself.
Heavy footfalls pound on the floor outside Polaris’ outer office. My heart gives a small quiver. I know I’m safe inside these walls, but I still have a jolt of fear run through me when hearing a man walking down a hallway toward me.
Get back in your room, bitch. You’ll service anyone we send your way and you’ll let them fuck you with a smile on your face.
NO!
I slam my eyes closed and push my thoughts away from the edge when they want to take a swan dive into the deep abyss of my past. My throat constricts but I take a couple of deep breaths and the panic attack that wants to rip control away from me subsides.
Polaris watches with kindness in her eyes. And understanding. She went through the same thing not long before me. She doesn’t question. She just stands up and takes my hand in hers and patiently waits.
“Are you okay now?” We don’t talk about our time at the hands of Society 69—a nefarious group of sex traffickers looking to dominate the criminal world around the globe. We try to help each other through small moments like these but that’s it.
I nod, tossing my candy in the trash, suddenly sick to my stomach. “Yeah. It comes out of nowhere sometimes. Thank you.”
“I get it.” She pats the back of my hand.
