It’s freeing, dancing like this. I know somewhere in my mind that I’m in a dirty parking lot, and a disgusting man is watching me like he wants to devour me whole, but it’s a rush. I hold the power, knowing I can turn a man on with nothing but my body. I’m so lost in my thoughts and fantasies, I hardly notice when he tells me to stop.
Eden puts her hands on my arms, and I open my eyes to look at Vince. I’m slightly out of breath from dancing and take a second to slow my beating heart. I glance down and notice he’s straining against his pants, and I think I might be sick.
“You start tonight.” He looks at Eden, and a sadistic smile takes over. “Eden, I need to see you in my office.”
Eden steps in front of me. “Vince, she needs to be trained on the pole. It’s different than what she just did here.”
“Then she can work the crowd. She starts tonight. My office, now.” He turns and walks back into the building, leaving no room for discussion.
“It’s fine, Eden. You’ll make sure I’m safe, right?” I try to smile, but I know she sees the fear written all over my face. She nods and walks back into the building, leaving me outside with Magnolia and Everleigh. I turn, and both girls are watching me with caution.
Everleigh is the first to approach me. “Welcome to the family. Let’s go inside and find something for you to wear, and get some makeup on you. You can use some of mine for the night.”
“Thank you.” I look over at Magnolia, waiting for her to say something, anything, but instead, she walks back inside without a word.
“Don’t take it personally. She’s dealing with a lot right now, and it takes a while for her to open up to new people. She’s one of the best dancers, though, and between the two of us, you’ll do fine.” She jerks her head toward the door, and I follow her inside like a lost puppy.
The lights are up in the room as the smell of stale smoke fills my nostrils. I look at some of the tables with vinyl seating. Duct tape the same red color covers some of the holes, and the material is fraying around the edges. The floor is a little sticky as I follow Everleigh to the back room, and I hope it’s just spilled liquor.
I sit on the stool in front of a large mirror as Everleigh sorts through a rack with some bras and panties. My stomach drops as she holds up some skimpy piece that is barely going to cover anything.
I swallow thickly. “Is there anything else I can wear? I’ve never paraded around in something like that. Even my bathing suits have more coverage than that does.” I gesture to the small amount of fabric in her hand.
“Addy,” she places a gentle hand on my shoulder, “when you’re within these four walls, you’re playing a part. It’s a role. It doesn’t define who you are.” She turns and digs through the hangers and manages to find a small skirt that will barely come down past my butt. She then hands me a simple mask to hide my face.
Guess it’s better than nothing.
I’ve been working at The Devil’s Playground for the past three weeks, and the girls have trained me on the pole. This will be my first night dancing and not being groped on the main floor while serving drinks. I learned my first night that the bouncers are there for show, not support. After I had a disgusting man grab my ass, I went straight to a bouncer to have him thrown out. Instead, he laughed in my face and told me to get back to work.
I went home and cried that night. Eden crawled into bed behind me and hugged me until I fell asleep. Even now, when I look for jobs, no one will even give me the time of day. It’s like I have a brand burned into my flesh, saying, “do not touch.” So, every day, I swallow my pride a little more and press on.
The lights are dim as I take my place on the stage. My heart races, and I wipe my hands down my sides. They always sweat when I get nervous. The music and lights come up at the same time I wrap my leg around the cold metal pole to start my slow, sultry dance.
Eden, Lia, Everleigh, and I seem to be the most popular girls here. I’m not sure if it’s because we are the youngest and purest-looking, or if it is because Vince constantly refers to us as his “little birdies.” Whatever the reason, the only decent part is the tips are good.
My breathing accelerates, and my muscles flex and relax as I work my way around the stage, slowly pulling my bra down, exposing myself to these men. I know half of them are hard and rubbing themselves under the tables—I’ve seen it. I block those images out and focus my attention on a young, handsome brunette man. He’s here with a few buddies, and if I had to guess, he’s only a couple of years older than myself. He rubs his jaw with his large hands as his eyes are trained on my every move.
I’m enraptured.
The set ends and the lights go down. I blink at him in the dark for a minute before Eden calls for me. I snap out of my stupor, pick up the bills on the stage, and scurry off so the next girl can start. I pull my bra back on and hook it in the back as I follow Eden into the back room.
“Vince set you up with a private show.”
No. I’m not ready for that. I shake my head violently. Vince told me when I first started to do whatever they wanted. If they wanted to push me over the side of the chair and fuck me, I’m supposed to bend over and take it. I can’t lose this job, but the thought of someone taking something I don’t want to give to them makes my stomach churn.
She puts her hands on my cheeks, making me focus on her. “Addy, it’s going to be okay. You aren’t going to do more than you are comfortable doing.”
“But Vince—”
“Fuck him. Do what I’m telling you. I’ll take care of it.” She places a white pill in my hand and closes my fingers around it. “And if he does anything you don’t like, slip this in his drink.” I nod, and she takes my hand, pulling me with her.
She stops in front of one of the rooms and knocks on the door. She keeps her eyes locked with mine as she pushes it open and ushers me inside. I wobble on my high heels then gasp when I see who is in the room. The man I was watching while dancing. Heat rushes to my core from the sight of him.
He’s in a tailored suit with the top two buttons of his crisp white shirt undone. His legs are kicked out in front of him as he relaxes in the chair in the middle of the room. I wrap my arms around my midsection as his gaze lingers on my curves.
“I don’t normally do this, but you were so beautiful on stage. I knew I had to have a few minutes alone with you.” His voice is deep yet caring, and it envelops me, making me feel safe. He stands and walks toward me. I take a small step back, hitting the wall behind me. He cages me in. “What’s your name?”
Name? I can’t give him my real name. I look around the room and notice painted flames on the back wall. “Ember,” I say, the lie rolling off my tongue easily.
“Mmm, fitting name for someone so fiery. All you need is red hair and the name would be perfect. I’m Ethan.”
I swallow, my eyes locked with his deep brown ones. I don’t even know what to say or how to start this. “Y-You hired me for a private show. Do you want me to dance?” He shakes his head and smirks. He’s way too handsome and put together to be in a shithole like this.
“Do you want to dance?” he asks, dipping his face closer to mine. The smell of his aftershave sends tingles down my spine. His pupils are blown, and I reach my hand forward, touching his perfect stomach through his clothing. Jesus, this man is built like a god. “I’d rather touch you,” he says before gently pressing his lips to my cheek. His kisses trail down my jaw and neck. Then he slides my bra strap down to kiss my bare shoulder.
“Ethan,” I say his name on a whisper. There has never been a more perfect sounding name than his.
“Ember, let me make you feel good.” He’s asking for permission, but his words are also a demand. I get the feeling most people don’t say no to this man. “Please,” he adds at the end.
He kisses lower over the mounds of my breasts, and I can’t take it anymore. My body is ready to erupt with need. I have never wanted something more in my life than I want this man.
I grab his ha
nd and direct him where I want to feel him the most. I’ve had sex before, but this is different than that time. My body responds to him in a way I’m not used to. Warmth spreads through every part of me as the coil in the pit of my stomach twists tighter. I feel as if I’ll pop if I don’t get some relief soon.
As if he can sense it, he pushes my panties to the side and dips his finger into my soaked core. I gasp at his intrusion, but my body instantly responds, melting into his touch. He kisses me hard on the lips, and I can smell the vodka on him. When his tongue dips into my mouth, I’m a goner. A guttural moan escapes as he presses a long finger deep inside me.
“Ethan, I’m going to come,” I mewl, grinding myself on his hand.
He nips at my racing pulse on my neck, then licks the sting with his flat tongue. “Come. I’m going to fuck you so good, you’ll give me another one,” he growls.
His words edge me on, and with a few more well-timed thrusts, I let go, soaking his hand. My knees are weak, but he helps support me so I don’t slide down the wall. He spins me around so I’m facing away from him, and I listen to the clink of him undoing his belt buckle. He places his hand on my lower back, and I arch it.
“Fuck, that’s hot.” He rips the foil packet and slides it down his length and pulls my thong to the side. In one swift motion, he’s deep inside me, splitting me open. He’s so big, much bigger than I’ve ever had, and I wince at the unexpectedness of it. After a few thrusts, the pain is replaced with pleasure, and I feel the familiar build-up again.
“Ethan,” I gasp, pressing back against the wall and deeper onto him. I’m close again, and I want him to come with me.
“God, you’re something else, Ember.” He grips my hips so tight I’m sure to have bruises in the morning. Not that I would mind this reminder. He’s rough but delicate with me all at once. “Come, Ember. Let me feel how good you can squeeze me.”
Fuck, his dirty talk is hot. It edges me on until my body shakes, and he reaches his arm around me, holding me up. He pounds into me a few more times until he groans, and I feel him pulsing deep inside me. Oh. My. God. I could get used to that kind of sex. He zips his pants back up and leaves a hundred-dollar bill on the table on his way out.
After a few minutes, I step out of the room, tucking the bill into my bra. Ethan is long gone by the time I do, but a small part of me hoped he would still be there. I know not every encounter will be like this, but he has given me hope that there is a way out of this nightmare.
Ethan, why were you so perfect?
Eden
“If I bring them in, I have two conditions!”
Vince smirks. The look on his face tells me that I’m a rat in a maze and those conditions I want are like asking for redemption on Judgement Day, moot. His brows go up, signaling for me to go on.
“The first condition is that you can’t sell them—to anyone. They stay here like I have. Every single one of them.”
He mulls this over for a minute. “Alright. That’s fine. There’s more profit in it for me anyway. I can make money off of them for years to come as opposed to just once.” He smiles like a possum as he thinks this over and internally I cringe. I can’t protect them from being slaves but I can protect them from being sold. At least here, they can have some ounce of safety and won’t have to endure drugs in their system. “What’s your second condition, my sweetling?” I can see the wheels turning in his head as his eyes rove over me.
“You can’t touch them—not in passion. Or violence.”
It’s bad enough that he touches me, I won’t stand for him to destroy another human being, not when I can prevent it in some capacity.
He grins again. “Deal.” And I practically see the money signs bounce in his head.
* * *
This was the agreement we had, but the minute Vince laid his filthy hands on Magnolia for not jumping right on the guy’s dick in the club when she was dancing, I stepped in, beating be damned.
“You promised!” I cry and grip the hand he’s got latched around Magnolia’s neck so hard that I know my fingernails are gonna leave a mark.
“Control yourself, my little garden. Your friend directly disobeyed me.”
“This was the condition, Vince. You swore to me!” I belt again and shove at his chest.
I know I’ve overstepped, even though we’re now in the hallway, out of the view of Vince’s precious clients. His brows draw and he growls. “You’d better remember your place, Cordelia.” I know the venom in that voice. I’m fucking scared shitless.
“We had a deal. I brought them in and you kept to the conditions.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Magnolia balk and step back, floored by this knowledge. Of course I had to make it look like it was her idea to join the club of her own volition. Now that she’s a part of this, it can’t be undone. She’s another caged bird in this twisted aviary of torture.
“Marco, grab her.” Vince motions to Lia. “My office, E. Now!” he yells and grabs my neck, hauling me forward with him down the hallway and to his office. When the two of us are through the door, he shoves me to the ground and growls in my ear. “Let’s show Magnolia here what happens when little birdies forget their place, huh?”
I hear his belt unbuckle and look over to see Magnolia’s face pale, even behind the mask. “Look away, Lia. Don’t watch!” I beg her—to spare her, not me. I’m immune to Vince...or at least my mind is. I’ll escape to a place where Marco and I go. I’ll pretend it’s him. I’ll—
Vince’s rough hands turn me over to face him, where he can hurt me most, and I feel my thin gown tear away as he prepares me for his onslaught. I attempt to look over at Lia, but when Vince hits me, my brain rattles from the sudden slap to my face. I feel his calloused palms roughly splay my thighs open and I grunt from the pain that ricochets through my entire body.
I look back to Lia as I’m being violated—not fighting, not crying out—for I know it makes no nevermind. She’s crying, covering her face, and I feel horrible that she must bear witness to one of my dark secrets. At least it’s me though and not her, at least I protected my sister from the infliction of our captor. I can rest easy tonight knowing I spared her from this torment. But tears fall from my own eyes as I look past Lia up to my stoic Marco, for the look on his face is murderous as tears hit his beautiful blue eyes. “I love you,” I mouth to him and focus my gaze back to the man I hate more than anything else in this world.
“Guys, I—” I begin, the following night before we take the stage, my palms all sweaty. My secret is out. Lia has seen it firsthand in all its vile humiliation. And she looks like she wants to die for me. I feel horrible. I can’t live with this guilt any longer. It’s destroying me, even more than Vince already has. “I need to tell you all something.”
Lia glances over at me and blushes. I know she would take my sins to the grave with her, but I can’t hold back my emotions. It’s time to tell my sisters what they don’t already know. What they deserve to know.
“Everleigh, Magnolia, Addison...I... I’m the reason you’re here. I’m the one who brought you into the club. It wasn’t by your own choices, well, not really.”
“What?” Everleigh’s voice is sharp as her green eyes burn into mine. “How could you, Eden? Why?” Her pain is my own as my tears paint my cheeks.
“I know. I’m sorry, but—”
“You bitch!” Addison slaps me hard across the face. I deserve that. I know I do.
“Guys, please, you just—” Lia intervenes quietly from the corner.
“Here I could keep you safe. He was gonna have you either way!”
“Have us? What the hell kinda sick game is this, Eden?” Addy asks.
“It’s not a game, it’s our life, Addy. All of you were sucked into this whether you wanted to be or not. Why do you think you couldn’t get a job, Addy? He blackmailed you, Ev. Lia, he lied to you. He knew you were a Giordano way before you even stepped foot into this club.”
“Because of you?” Everleigh snaps.
“This is low, Eden. This is fucking low!” Addy yells.
“Stop it!” Lia screams, her outburst so out of character for her. “Y’all can’t judge when you don’t know what she’s been through! You think we’ve had it bad? Vincent rapes her! I saw it. I...I couldn’t even...I…” She breaks off, pressing her lips together as she wipes at a tear.
“Rapes her?” Everleigh asks. “What? How long has this been going on?”
“Since he adopted me... Since...since I was fifteen.”
“Adopted you?” Addy asks.
“Yes. That’s another confession I have to make.” Oh, ground please swallow me whole right now. “Vince. Yeah, he’s, he...”
“Shit,” Ev mutters, sensing I’m about to reveal something incredulous.
“He’s actually my uncle...by marriage,” I finish, blushing to my toes, the shame overtaking me.
“Oh God, Eden,” Lia whispers, shaking her head.
“And y’all don’t understand how evil he really is. I know what I’ve done is unforgivable, but it was better than knowing you would be someone’s sex slave. Beaten, raped, and drugged every day of your lives. I couldn’t let him do that. I love you, girls. You—y’all are my sisters. So, I brought you into the club. I kept you here. You may be caged, but you’re still free.” I look down, hoping they never have to be as “caged” as I’ve been here in The Devil’s Playground.
“She shouldn’t have to explain this to us girls, she shouldn’t. Eden, you’re our sister. You were put into an impossible situation and you’ve had to suffer like this in silence? We should be ashamed of ourselves for not helping you. I...I stood there and I...I didn’t do a damn thing…”
“I don’t want you stepping in. Any of you. Do you hear me?” I grip Lia’s arm gently and look all of them in the eye. “I won’t let him hurt my girls. I’m used to this, to him. But I can’t stomach him hurting you, not anymore than he already has.”
RISE: THE PREQUEL NOVELLA TO THE SIN AND SECRETS COLLECTION Page 9