“Um …” She looked past me as though she was thinking, and after a few moments she replied, “What do you want to do?”
“Really? You think I’d be in a bad mood if I knew what I wanted to do with my fucked-up life?”
“Your life isn’t fucked up.”
“Right. It’s been my dream to dance on a stage topless, praying people will actually give me money for my show and not just sit there for free.” That reply made me even angrier because it was true. A lot of people thought they could come in, order a drink, and get a free show, but free shows didn’t pay my bills.
“Then go back to school.” She smiled. “Become a nurse like me.”
“Blood? Gross.” I shuddered.
Melony chuckled. “Well, look online and see if anything sparks your interest. You can do a lot online, and you’ll still be home with Colt.”
I thought for a moment and then nodded. “Yeah, I’ll look into it.”
“Good. Now, unless you want to be on an episode of Strippers Gone Wild, I suggest you keep your mouth shut about Sommer and Sebastian.”
I groaned. “She was all up in my business when she told me it was none of my business if she gives extras. She’s a hypocrite.”
“She’s your friend.”
I sighed. “You’re right.” We left the bathroom, and when I entered the dressing room, Sommer glared at me. “I’m sorry. I just have a lot on my mind.”
She stood, and her glare turned into a warm smile. Wrapping her arms around me, she said, “Apology accepted. I’m sorry too.”
“Thank you.”
She lowered her voice. “But I want to talk to you about what you know. Come with me.” She grabbed my hand and tugged me to the door I’d just entered through. I looked over my shoulder, and Melony gave me a what-the-hell look. I smiled at her before I continued through the doorway and into the bathroom again.
“What do you know?” Sommer asked as she released my hand.
I shrugged a shoulder. “About?”
She snorted. “You know.”
“About you and Seb—”
“Yes.”
I shrugged again. “I just saw you … on your knees in his office.”
“Oh, God,” she groaned. “When?”
I blinked. “When? It’s been more than once?”
“Ah.” She looked off to the side. “Maybe?”
I chuckled. “I only saw it once almost two months ago.”
She exhaled a breath. “Good.”
“But why?”
Sommer turned and leaned against the counter. “I guess it’s my own fault.”
“What? How?”
“I’ve always thought he was cute, and since I started three years ago, I flirted with him a little. It led to things.”
“More than a blow job?” I whispered.
She nodded.
“Oh, wow.”
“And no, he doesn’t pay me.”
“I guess that’s good?”
Sommer chuckled. “I guess it means I’m not a whore.”
“But our boss?”
“It’s actually really good.”
“Really?”
“If you like a no-strings-attached thing. Plus, he knows what he’s doing.”
The mention of no strings reminded me of Vinny. I needed to talk to him. Maybe that would make me feel better.
“Hey, Brent,” I greeted as I crawled toward him on the stage. Like clockwork, he and his construction crew were here.
“Hey, Scarlett. How’s your day going?”
I chuckled and twirled my legs around as I sat on my butt. His gaze zeroed in on my center and not my eyes when I replied, “I’ve had better. How was your work?” I moved, forcing his eyes to move back up to my face.
“Good. It’s getting hotter out there, and I’m already dreading the summer.”
“I bet.” I continued to dance in front of him.
Brent stuck out a bill, and I turned my hip so he could slip it into my bottoms. “Lap dance for the road?”
I grinned. “Sure thing.”
My two songs of the set ended, and I quickly started to pick up the bills that were left on the stage or had fallen out. I turned to look at Brent to tell him I’d come around to get him, but just as I did, I saw a figure in my peripheral vision up in Sebastian’s office. I glanced up and saw him staring at me—again.
“Have a good night, Scarlett,” Galen, one of the bouncers, said as he held the side door open for me so I could exit.
“Thank you, you too.” I smiled and continued to my silver Corolla.
After I slid in and buckled my seatbelt, I cranked the engine and started to reverse out of the parking space. A car a few spaces over turned their lights on, and when I pulled out of the lot, the car turned in the same direction as I did. “Chains” by Nick Jonas blared through my speakers, and I started to dance a little, moving side to side as I sang at the top of my lungs.
Just as I was about to turn onto the street where my apartment was, I realized the car that left Red Diamond after me was still behind me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I stopped singing. Was this person following me? Who was it? I couldn’t tell what kind of car it was, but it was dark—maybe black or dark blue? Instead of pulling into my complex, I kept going and turned on the next street. The car did too.
“What the hell?” I whispered, Nick still trying to serenade me.
I drove to the Strip, hoping I could lose the car in the process, but it didn’t work. Even though Vegas was always hopping, people were inside partying and not driving down Las Vegas Boulevard at two in the morning. I didn’t know what to do. Every turn I took, so did he—or she—or they.
Deciding to get on the freeway, I merged into the far left lane. So did they, but kept their distance as though I hadn’t realized they were following me. Even though it was illegal, I pulled my phone out of my purse and called the first person I could think of, hoping and praying he’d pick up at this late hour.
“Candy?”
I balked. “Candy? Who’s Candy?”
“You.”
“No, I’m Tessa.”
Vinny laughed. “I know this is Tessa, but did you forget that you smell like cotton candy?”
Yes, I did, because there was a murderer following me. “Right. So, um … sorry for calling this late …”
I heard him yawn. “It’s okay. I’ll pick up whenever you call me. What’s up?”
“I just got off—”
“Is this a booty call?”
I snorted and switched lanes, wanting to get off at the next exit, which would bring me close to Fremont Street. “No, it’s not a booty call.”
“Damn,” he muttered. “Then to what do I owe this two-in-the-morning call?”
“I think someone is following me.”
“What?” Vinny boomed into my ear.
“I just got off of work, and as I was driving home, I noticed this car had been following me since the parking lot.”
“Where are you?” I heard rustling on the other end.
“Near downtown.”
“Come to my place.”
“I need to get home to Colt. Sophia needs to go to sleep.”
“Right. Colt. Meet me at the Target by your apartment. I’ll be there waiting.”
“And what if you’re not?”
“I will be. I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
I took a deep breath, and instead of turning onto Fremont, I went straight, the car still following me.
It had been almost four days since I’d last seen Tessa. Four long days. We didn’t have any plans to get together, and when I glanced at my phone half asleep, I instantly smiled. But then I saw the time, and I was suddenly concerned because it wasn’t like her to call me, let alone at two in the morning. Then to hear that someone was fucking following her …
It made my heart race faster than it had ever raced before and panic and fear course through my entire body.
Lucky for me
, I wasn’t pulled over for speeding because, as I stayed on the phone with Tessa while we both drove to the Target near her place, I wasn’t paying attention to my speed. When I pulled into the lot, she wasn’t there yet, thank God. I’d told her I’d beat her here, but I wasn’t sure if that were possible or not because I lived twenty minutes away. I’d made it in twelve.
“I’m here,” I told Tessa.
“I’m almost there.”
“Is he still following you?”
There was a brief pause. “Yeah.”
“I hope he stops. I’d love to find out who this fucker is.”
“I hope he doesn’t stop,” she admitted. “But I can’t even tell if it’s a guy or not.”
“Whoever it is will get a piece of my mind if they even pull into the lot behind you.”
I heard Tessa chuckle on the other end of the phone.
“What’s so funny?” I asked. I didn’t think any of this was a laughing matter.
“It’s not funny-funny. It’s surreal funny.”
“Surreal funny?”
“It’s just that, before you, I didn’t have anyone to call.”
“Well, it seems as if fate has brought us together at the right time.”
“Thank God,” she exhaled.
“Yeah.” I smiled.
A car pulled into the lot. “I’m here. Where—Oh, I see you.”
“Pull in next to me and don’t get out of your car.”
“Okay.”
I watched as she drove her silver car into the dimly lit, bare parking lot, and then pulled into the space next to my passenger side door. Once she did, I turned my attention back to the entrance, waiting to see if some fucker would follow her in. Target was closed and I’d assume there would be no reason for someone else to pull in. “How close was the car to you?”
“Just a car length or two behind me.”
“Do you—” Before I could finish, a dark car pulled into the lot.
“That’s them.”
The car pulled in slowly. I couldn’t see inside because the side windows were tinted. Wanting them to know that Tessa wasn’t alone, I got out of my car. The car, which I could now tell was black, drove straight instead of turning onto our row. “Write this down.”
“Write—” I read the license plate number to her.
“Shit, I don’t have a piece of paper.”
I hung up the phone and entered the number into my notes while sliding into her passenger side seat. “I got it.”
“What are you going to do with it? They didn’t do anything.”
“We’re calling the cops.”
“Really?”
“Tess …” I turned to face her. “Never ever take shit like this lightly.”
“Have you been followed before?”
“Yes,” I stated without hesitation.
Her blue eyes widened in the dim light. “What did you do?”
“Called the cops.”
“Oh.”
“It’s better to document it and let them run the plates. They can take it from there. I want you to be safe.”
“Okay. Can we do it from my place? I really should get home and let Sophia go to sleep.”
“Yes, I’ll follow you.”
“Okay. Thank you. Really. I feel so much safer with you here.”
I smiled warmly at her. “I would die if anything happened to you.” Those eight words were one hundred percent true, even though it took me off guard that I said them. Escorting and stripping weren’t dangerous jobs until situations came up like what had happened tonight. People got obsessed, and there was no telling what they’d do to have you all to themselves. Even though it had only been a few months, my life would suck without Tessa in it.
She smiled warmly back at me. “I feel the same way.”
I stared at her for a beat, wondering if she meant what I assumed she meant. Before I could ask, I fucking yawned.
“We should really get to my place, and then you can go home, too.”
“I’m not leaving you until we talk to the cops. You’re crazy if you think otherwise.”
“Vin—”
I opened the door. “I’ll follow you.”
“Okay.”
I got out and turned, leaning inside. “Your car smells like cotton candy too.” I winked, and shut the door without letting her respond, and walked back to my car.
After we both started our engines, I followed her to her place, looking in my rearview mirror for any car that might have been following us. I didn’t see any that were consistent with each turn we took. Once we were there, I parked in a guest spot and jogged to where I’d seen her park. I wasn’t going to let her walk anywhere alone.
“You know I work tomorrow night too, right?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you going to escort me every night?”
“If I have to,” I deadpanned.
“Vin—”
“Let’s just get into your apartment and call the cops and see what they say.”
“Okay.”
We walked to the second floor apartment, and with every other step, I looked behind us to see if a car pulled up or a person was following us. By the time we made it to her door, there was no one, and I was hopeful that fucker didn’t follow us when we left the Target parking lot. Tess stuck the key into the lock, and we entered her living room, which was lit by one lamp near the couch. On the sofa was an older lady who I assumed was Sophia.
Her gaze met mine and I smiled as Tessa introduced us. “Sophia, this is my friend Vinny, who I went to L.A. with. Vinny, this is Sophia.”
Sophia struggled slightly to get off the couch, but she made it by the time I moved to her to shake her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Sweet Tessa hasn’t told me much about you, but I hope that changes.”
I turned my head toward Tessa, and she blushed with a shrug. “Not much to tell,” Tessa admitted.
“Yet,” I stated.
Sophia patted my cheek like most grandmas do. “I like you already.”
I smiled. “Thank you. I like you already too.”
“You kids have a nice night—or early morning. This old lady needs her bed.”
“Sorry I’m later than usual. I had a situation after work that Vinny is helping me with,” Tessa admitted, and because she brought it up, I got the impression she looked up to this lady as either a mother figure or grandmother.
“What kind of situation?” Sophia asked, stopping just before she reached the door.
Tessa sighed and looked at me.
“Someone was following her home, and I’m helping her take care of it.”
“Oh my,” she gasped and walked the few feet to Tessa. “Are you okay?” She grabbed her hands.
“I am.”
“It was smart calling Vinny.”
Tessa’s blue eyes looked at me. “I had no one else.”
“I’m all you need,” I stated.
Sophia grinned at me. “Listen to this boy. You need a good man in your life.”
“I know,” Tessa admitted and smiled at me.
“Let me walk you home,” I said to Sophia and started for the door.
“Thank you. Now, Tessa, please call me if you need me.”
“I will,” Tessa replied.
I opened the door, and Sophia and I stepped out. “Lock it,” I stated to Tessa. She nodded, and I went in the direction Sophia led me. “What are your intentions with my Tessa?”
I smiled. Definitely a mother or grandmother figure, and I liked that. I liked her. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”
“What do you mean?”
“I like her, I really do, but you know what I do on the side, right?”
She stopped walking, and I looked down at her. “I actually don’t know what you do for a living.”
“Oh. Well, I’m actually a special ed teacher and will be Colton’s kindergarten teacher this fall.”
“Really?” Her eyes brightened.
I nodded. “Really. I also work as
an escort.”
“Oh my,” she gasped.
I chuckled. “Yeah.”
Sophia turned toward the door we stopped in front of and stuck a key into the lock. “I’m sure you kids will work it out if it’s meant to be.”
I grinned. “I hope so.”
“Now, get back to our girl and do whatever needs to be done to keep her safe.”
“Will do. It was nice meeting you,” I stated again.
“Likewise. Have a good … morning.”
I chuckled. “You too.”
When I got back to Tessa’s door, I knocked lightly. After a few moments, she opened it. “Did you just open the door without seeing who it was?”
“No.” She frowned. “I looked through the peephole.”
“Oh, okay. Now, let’s call the cops.” It wasn’t every day I said those words, and I hoped I’d never have to again.
Tessa called the non-emergency line for Las Vegas Metro, and while we waited for them to arrive to file a report and get more information, we sat on her couch side by side, staring at a blank TV screen.
“Go to sleep if you want. It might be awhile before they get here.”
“Really?”
I stretched my arm across the back of the couch, hoping she’d lean in and sleep against me. “Yeah, it’s non-emergency, but they’ll come eventually.” I figured it would be maybe thirty minutes, but I could tell she was tired because she was yawning. Hell, I was tired, too.
“Tell me about the time you were followed.”
“You really want to know?”
She turned her head toward me. “Of course I do.”
I patted the top of my shoulder, silently asking her to do what I wanted, which was for her to get closer to me. She smiled and snuggled closer. I grinned to myself and held her tighter. “I’ve been followed twice, and both times was because a client wanted more.”
“Like to date you?”
“Yeah.”
“What happened?”
“First time, after I brought a date home, she followed me to my place. She didn’t stop, but I made the mistake of letting her know where I lived by going home. You should never go home if you’re being followed.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know. That was smart.”
“So, what did she do since she didn’t stop?”
“Well, she started parking outside of my place a few nights a week, and then once I found her in my bed.”
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