by Sam Crescent
Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2014 Sam Crescent
ISBN: 978-1-77130-752-9
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
Writing is such a pleasure for me and I love bringing characters together. Without Evernight Publishing, Devil's Charm wouldn't have a home and as always I'm thankful to them for taking my biker books.
Also, my readers, you all make writing such a joy. I hope you all love Devil like I do.
DEVIL’S CHARM
Chaos Bleeds, 1
Sam Crescent
Copyright © 2014
Prologue
“What the hell are you doing, Kayla? You can’t leave him here,” Lexie Howard said, glancing down at the baby who couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old.
“You’re my sister, and we both know you’ll handle this a hell of a lot better than I would.” Kayla handed over a bag filled with all kinds of crap a newborn needed. “I’ve got everything here. His food, clothes, diapers. Oh, and here is some money to tide you over.”
Taking the envelope from her older sister Lexie looked inside to see well over ten thousand dollars.
“Fuck, Kayla. What the hell have you been doing?” Lexie stared at the baby then at her sister. Kayla was a beautiful woman, slender with long, silky blonde hair. She’d admired her older sister for as long as she could remember. They were half-sisters as they didn’t share the same dad.
“Nothing. It’s what I’m due.”
Lexie watched as her sister started to head out of the door.
“Wait, you can’t just leave me like this with a baby and no fucking clue when you’re going to get back.”
“His name is Simon. You’ll be better for him. I can’t look after a baby.” Kayla raised her arm showing the track marks of her addiction.
“You said you were getting clean. You can’t do this to me. I’m only just surviving myself. There’s no work for me to take care of a baby.”
“I’ve given you all of his paperwork. I’m really sorry, but I can’t be around. If someone comes calling for me and asking questions promise me you won’t say anything. It’s better for you and Simon not to say anything.”
Following Kayla out of the apartment Lexie felt her whole world crashing around her. At twenty-one years old she couldn’t believe she had a little baby in her life.
“This is wrong. I shouldn’t take him at all.”
“Then I’ll be back for him soon. You’ve just got to keep him by your side and love him. I know you can do that. We’re different like that,” Kayla said, tears glinting in her eyes. “I can’t love him, Lex. You’re the only one I’ve got who’ll give him a good home.”
Before she could say anything more, Kayla climbed into a beat up car with a guy who looked way too pale to be driving. Shit. Lexie charged toward the car only to meet dust. Staring up and down the beat up street, Lexie realized she was alone. She was all alone with a baby who should be with his mother.
“What are you staring at?” she asked the old lady who hadn’t moved on from their scene.
She lived in a rundown neighborhood that had long since been forgotten by any government funding. Heading upstairs, she heard Simon screaming. Lexie ran to her apartment, slammed the door closed, and went to the little carrier where her new charge lay. His face was screwed up, and the cries were deafening.
Her next door neighbor slammed their fist against the wall demanding they shut the fuck up. How had her life changed so fucking quickly? One moment she’d been getting ready for work; in the next, she had a baby to look after.
Lifting Simon out of the carrier she held him close and was shocked when he grew silent staring up at her. His eyes were a beautiful blue color, shocking in their appearance and so startling they made her melt instantly.
“Hello, little guy. I’m your Auntie Lexie.” Stroking a finger down his cheek, she fell instantly in love. She’d always loved children and babies, recalling all the times she’d babysat for the kids in the surrounding area when she’d been younger. “It looks like I’m going to be taking care of you. I promise to be nice at all times.”
Fuck, she didn’t know the first thing about looking after a baby. Blowing hair out of her eyes, she carried him over to the kitchen where her second-hand fridge stood. Opening it up she saw the few items of cheap food she owned. Going back to his bags, she started going through everything with one hand.
The moment she tried to put Simon down he screamed. For the next couple of days she’d grow accustomed to what to do. There was nothing else she could do.
Lexie put his things away making a note of the formula he used along with the diapers and creams. When she was finished, she carried him to the nearest store to have a look at what everything was going to cost.
By the time she left the store the tears were threatening to fill her eyes. There was no way she could afford to have a baby. The other problem she faced was in the last few hours she had come to love Simon. It was the strangest feeling in the world. She didn’t know this child in any way, yet all of her mothering instincts were coming through begging for her to take care of him. Pushing hair out of her eyes, she stared down into his sleeping face.
“There has got to be something I can do.”
The following day she headed out to work, but arriving at the diner with a baby in tow got her fired. Lexie would never forget the look on the woman’s face when she walked in with Simon on her hip. She was fired on the spot.
Great, one day with a kid and she’d been fired.
After applying for three jobs with Simon close to her, Lexie knew there was no hope of her getting work.
Going to the end of the street she was caught by the sign for “help wanted” as she passed. The sun was still up, and she wasn’t looking at where she was going. Opening the door, she went in and was overcome by a cloud of smoke. Covering Simon’s eyes, she gasped as a woman danced naked on the stage semi-naked.
“Can I help you?”
She turned to see a large man with his hair pulled back in a ponytail staring down at her.
“No, I, erm, no, I’m in the wrong place.” She made to leave, but he gripped her arm.
“Are you looking for a job?”
Simon was in her arms, and she noticed the man didn’t pull too hard on her arm.
“Yes, I was hoping for some waitressing work.”
“Anyone look after the kid?” he asked.
She shook her head. “There’s only me. I’m all he has.”
“Follow me.”
With no other choice she followed the large man to the back where his office was. Lexie couldn’t believe she’d walked into a strip club. She hadn’t been looking, and desperation was clawing at her for something good to happen.
“I’m Vincent. I own this club.”
“I was looking to waitress or bartend or something,” she said, holding onto Simon tightly.
Kayla, when we see each other I’m going to fucking kill you.
His gaze wandered down her body. She knew there wasn’t much to look at. Lexie wasn’t a beautiful woman. Her tits were too large with too wide hips. Her mother loved to tell Lexie how inadequate she was at being a woman. No man wanted a fulle
r woman in their bed. She didn’t possess striking blonde hair but a dull brown that failed to stand out.
“I’ve lost one of my girls. She was stupid and got herself knocked up. None of my customers want a pregnant woman dancing. Otherwise they’d stay home and look at their wives.” Biting her lip, Lexie tried not to take offence. “You’re looking good for just giving birth.”
“He’s not mine. My sister has left him with me while she sorts out her problems.” Lexie thought of the thousands of dollars her sister had left her. She knew that money wasn’t Kayla’s. The last thing she wanted to do was use money she didn’t trust.
“That explains it. Do you dance well?”
“I can’t be a stripper,” she said.
He glared. “Why not? You too good or something?”
“No, look at me. I can’t get my clothes off. I’m not exactly stripper material.” She poked at her rounded stomach.
“Give me the boy.”
“What?” she asked, tightening her arms once again.
“I’m willing to hire you. Pass me the boy. I won’t hurt him. I own a strip club. I ain’t no child killer.”
Licking her lips, heart pounding, she passed Simon into the man’s arms. She was surprised when he settled.
“I’ve got kids of my own, honey. I know how to hold a kid.” Vincent made sure Simon was settled before turning his attention back to her. “Take your shirt off.”
She hesitated, staring at him.
“I’m not going to hurt you, but I need to make sure I’m right.”
Need the money. You’re doing this for Simon.
Lifting up her shirt, she closed her eyes waiting for him to say something.
“Take your jeans off. I need to see what I’m working with.”
With her eyes still closed she removed her jeans standing before him in only her bra and panties.
“Turn around.”
Lexie turned around knowing his gaze was sliding up and down her body assessing her for work.
“Good, I’ve got some nice girls who’ll be happy to show you how to work the pole. They’re not feeding an addiction either.”
She stared down at Vincent, who was cooing at Simon.
“What?” she asked. “I would be bad for business.”
“You’re not a skinny bitch with your ribs showing, but you’re what I’m looking for. Men love to see a variety of women, and with those tits and ass you’d earn some decent tips from the men. Get the right song and you’ll be one great dancer.”
“I’m fat.”
Vincent laughed. “You women today. I don’t know who declares someone fat or not, but for me, you’re just right. Get dressed, and you can start on Friday. Until then you can come by and train.”
Like that, Lexie got dressed and was hired as a dancer. She’d never been so shocked in all of her life.
Chapter One
Six months later
Lexie stared at her reflection in the mirror hating every part of herself as she couldn’t find a single reason to walk out of the door. For six months she’d been dancing at Naked Fantasies. Vincent, her boss, wasn’t a bad man, but he expected the best of his girls. When she hadn’t been able to eat for several weeks he’d not liked it and ordered her to eat. He must be the only man in living history who forced one of his strippers to eat food to remain the same shape.
“What are you moping about?” Jenny asked, taking a seat beside her. Jenny was one of the few women Lexie had grown close to. She was a sweet girl with a child of her own. Her husband loved the fact he’d married a stripper and was one of their regular customers.
“Nothing, just thinking about going out there.”
Jenny had taught her how to use the pole without killing herself.
“The men love you, honey. Vincent is worried about you. He’s not like a lot of strip club owners. I know, it’s where I started out,” Jenny said, reaching out to touch her arm.
“What do you mean?” Lexi asked, pushing her hair out of the way. She wore a blonde wig, which irritated her.
“Some owners make us give extra. They have VIP rooms where a lot of shit goes on. Vincent is above board. Anything extra is between the girls and the clients. If a guy wants a blow job, then the girl can give it on her own, but she doesn’t have to.”
On the way out of the club Lexie had seen her fair share of men getting their dicks swallowed by some of the dancers. In the last six months she’d stumbled on more sex acts than she had in her twenty-one years. She wasn’t a virgin. Her lame ass boyfriend at the tender age of sixteen had taken care of that. Lexie was just thankful he’d not given her anything bad or put a baby inside her. Growing up trying to fend for herself there was no room for a child.
“I know I’ve got a good thing going. I just hate it at times. Sorry, Simon kept me up all night. He slept all day, and it was hard to settle him.”
“When is your sister coming back for him?”
“I don’t know. I’ve not heard from her since she dropped him off. I’ve not got a clue what to do.”
Jenny smiled. “Keep doing what you’re doing.”
“Hey, fatty, you’re up next.” Tiffany, one of the tiniest girls she’d ever seen, stumbled into the room. The girl was a known user, and Lexie had stumbled onto the girl shooting up between slots. Vincent went crazy when he found her. He didn’t like drugs on his property.
“Fuck off, slut,” Jenny said. “Go and find your crack dealer to suck off.”
“Fuck you, bitch.”
Tiffany stumbled away.
“Thank you.” Lexie smiled even as the woman’s insults hit too close to home for her.
“Anytime, baby. I can’t stand that slut. She’s a fucking menace and will end up dead od’ing or something. Go on, get out there and kill it.”
Rising out of the chair, Lexie squealed as Jenny slapped her ass.
For the next ten minutes she blocked out the crowd as she wrapped her body around the pole. She’d not become strong enough to ride up and down the pole, but she worked her body to the music.
Over the months Lexie preferred to think of herself as having one man to dance to. In her mind she imagined someone in a suit who was in control of everything. He’d stare at her without losing his cool but knowing he was loving every second of her dance. Her imaginary man helped her through.
When it was over she walked down the steps leaving the men and the stage behind. Vincent was waiting for her.
“What is going on with you?” he asked, escorting her toward his office.
She quickly put her shirt on hoping her body was covered away from prying eyes.
“I’m working.”
He slammed the door closed, glaring at her. “Are you using?” Vincent lifted her arms checking to see if there was needle marks in her flesh.
“What? Hell, no. I’m not using anything.” He gripped her face, lifting her head up to look up her nose. “Stop it. I’m not using anything, okay. I’m just fucking tired.”
“Kid keeping you up?” he asked.
“Yes, he’s keeping me up. I’m doing the best I can.”
“The men love you. You’re a great dancer, Lexie. I need you to keep your shit about you.”
She shook her head. “Are you a saint or something?”
“I’m a father. I need to make sure that boy is taken care of.”
He couldn’t have shocked her more. “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Simon. Why couldn’t you be less of a pain in the ass?” she asked.
“Easy, I’m not your standard fucking club owner. I work this club for a friend.”
“Okay. I’m sorry for worrying you.”
After a few seconds he let her go. Heading back around to the changing rooms she sat in the toilet, heaving up the food she’d eaten. Fuck, she couldn’t handle this lifestyle.
“I can’t believe they’re here. I’ve been waiting for them to get back into town. It has been over two years, and wow, Devil is still as hot as I remembered,” Tiffany said, no
longer sounding high.
Lifting her legs off the floor, Lexie tried to ignore them. She didn’t want anyone to know she was in the toilet.
Diana was with her, giggling. “I love Death. His name is scary, but he fucks better than Pussy.”
Covering her ears, Lexie didn’t want to hear anything. There was no mistaking what they were doing when she heard them inhale deeply. Glancing through the small slit in the door, in the mirror she saw both girls snorting coke. If Vincent was to find them, he’d hurt them real bad. He didn’t like drugs in his strip club.
“God, I can’t wait to suck cock. I tell you, I hate those fuckers drooling over me for a couple of bucks, but Devil, he knows how to treat me,” Tiffany said, rubbing her nose. “That’s good. It’ll keep me going for a while.”
“Come on, let’s get out there.”
Within minutes they were gone taking their giggling with them.
Lexie stayed in the toilet, wiping away her tears.
I’m doing this for Simon. I’m doing this for Simon.
In that moment, Lexie really hated her sister and her entire upbringing. Their mother had been more interested in the bottle and men than in her daughters. Lexie had gotten through school with good grades but not enough to win any kind of scholarship. Kayla dropped out of school, and by the time Lexie left at eighteen she was already working every hour she could.
“Lex, honey, you in here?” Jenny asked.
Opening the stall she stared at her friend who carried the cheap makeup bag.
“You’re on in twenty. We need to fix you up.”
Standing still she let Jenny do her makeup restoring back her night face for the men.
“I heard Tiffany and Diane talking about some group that entered.”
Jenny tensed. “They’ve taken over the whole club, kicking everyone out. When Chaos Bleeds come in, then no one else is allowed around.”