I just wished he would leave. Thank god I was removing makeup instead of applying it. I’d have had a hard time trying to put on eyeliner. My hands were even less steady than my thoughts, and all I wanted to do was to smash everything on the table.
Shane coming back meant nothing, not when I still had to spend my nights in this shit hole of a club and report to Wes Gromley. There was nothing Shane could do to help me, so how was it fair for him to come in here and try to get my hopes up?
Good thing he didn’t succeed. Lucky for me it would take a little more than a vague promise of help to summon a little faith in me.
“You were great tonight,” Wes said after a moment.
I was running a wipe over my eyes and paused to glance up at him.
“Thanks.”
He cleared his throat. “You always surprise me. I think that there’s no way you could be more beautiful and then you come on stage, and it’s like I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
“Thanks.”
“I mean it, Dallas. I’m in awe of you. I’d like to take you for dinner. If you’ll let me.”
Weird. I could only imagine that his friends were giving him tips on how to win me over, since his rough wooing had so far yielded nothing but rotten fruit.
I was tempted to say no to his proposition, just to see what he’d do. Usually, if Wes wanted to go to dinner, I would be going to dinner, and that was that. I’d never been given a choice before, and if there was any chance of him softening up a little, then I should probably take it. Then again, if Wes did start being kinder to me I might make the mistake of being kinder to him in return, and I didn’t want there to be any question in his mind of my unflinching hatred toward him.
What a pickle.
I decided to go with my first instinct—to test him. I had no idea what this game was, but if it was as fragile as a paper screen, I wanted to reveal that right away.
“Not tonight, Wes. My dad probably hasn’t eaten all day, and I’d like to check in on him.”
Wes pushed off from the vanity and came to stand behind me. He rested his hands on my shoulders but didn’t squeeze, just met my eyes in the mirror and smiled.
“Sure,” he said. “Do you want me to get Grant to drive you?”
Okay, now I was freaked out.
“No, that’s fine.” I mustered up a tight smile.
Wes bent down and pressed a kiss into the crown of my head, then left the room. The second he closed the door my body sagged into the chair, and I let out something between a sigh of relief and a strangled gasp.
What was going on tonight? Was I even awake? I pinched myself and, sure enough, I was conscious. I’d been living a static life for so long, one where I knew the rules, and I knew what I could expect. In the past hour, everything about that world turned topsy-turvy.
It had to be a fluke. Shane’s arrival meant nothing, and I’d probably never see him again. Wes’s behavior was a one-off, and I shouldn’t get used to it. It was nice that tonight I got to say no to him, but I couldn’t expect that kind of treatment in the future.
I had to go forward as if everything was business as usual. I couldn’t afford to indulge in something as silly as optimism, and I’d never survive if I used that optimism to push the boundaries of my world.
Chapter 22
Shane
I was cautious when I arrived, parking my bike a couple of streets down from Satan’s Perch, but the only way to access the alley behind the club brought me uncomfortably close to the front entrance. I was on high alert as I made my way back.
Meeting Dallas outside was a spot of luck. I thought I was going to have to break into the club through the backstage entrance to find her, and I didn’t relish the idea of being in an enclosed space with my worst enemies. Our meeting turned out better than I hoped for, even if she did tell me to go fuck myself.
Jake was right, she was different now. Not only had she changed her appearance, but Dallas was the sassiest, angriest version of herself. She always had that fire inside, but now it burned brazenly, without direction or consideration. Dallas wanted to burn everyone and everything that got close to her, and I didn’t blame her. I wanted to burn most of them too.
Even though I didn’t like that she had to become this person, it looked good on her. She hadn’t let her abusers ruin her. She hadn’t let them win. It took all the steel she possessed, but Dallas hardened herself into an impenetrable fortress, and I was proud of her. I’d worried about her every day for the last three years, wondering what kind of wreck I would find when I returned. It wasn’t that I doubted her strength, just that I didn’t underestimate Wes and Preston’s cruelty. I thought she would buckle and that I’d be coming down here to lift her broken body from the ashes and take her to safety. As it turned out, Dallas didn’t need anybody to carry her. She just needed someone to help clear the path so she could sashay out of her prison of her own accord, and I respected that. I never wanted her more.
I emerged from the alley and started south down the street, thoughts too wrapped up in Dallas to notice the figure walking toward me. I should’ve crossed the road, but I was feeling cocky and alive and wasn’t being vigilant.
I recognized Nelson Vurdock only a second before he recognized me. It wasn’t a long enough second for me to hide, so I prepared myself to fight instead.
Nelson was just as ugly as I remembered, only he’d gotten bigger and fatter since our last meeting. It was like his big personality and overinflated ego were pushing his body out at the seams, and I half expected a button to pop off his shirt, which was at least one size too small, and come flying at me like a bullet. To top it off he now kept his long dark hair in a tight top knot that only exaggerated his swollen features.
“I better be fucking hallucinating,” Nelson boomed.
I offered up a polite smile. “I’m afraid not. Terrible luck for both of us.”
“For both of us?” He cackled. “You’re the one with the bad luck. Does anybody else know you’re here, or were you trying to fly under the radar like the pussy you are?”
“You’re the first of the merry band of idiots that I’ve come across,” I replied.
“This is going to be good.” He made no move to come for me, but cracked the knuckles on each of his hands and grinned at me with crooked, yellowed teeth. They hadn’t been that bad three years ago. From the packet of smokes in his front pocket, I assumed he’d picked up a new habit.
“Preston and Wes are going to kill you, you know that right?”
I shrugged. “They can try if they want.”
“Yeah, you’re all tough now, but I remember when they chased you out of this town with your tail between your legs.”
I snorted. “Not exactly how it went down. And I always intended to come back.”
“Why? For Dallas?” he sneered.
My jaw ticked, and Nelson caught it, his grin widening.
“Don’t you know she’s Wes’s bitch now? He owns her. He gets to do whatever he wants with her, and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it. I would tell you to go home while you still can, but there’s no way I’m letting you leave my sight.”
I tried not to let his words get to me, tried to keep my calm even though I couldn’t stand the thought of Wes laying a single hand on Dallas. I learned a lot of things in the military, and one of them was discipline. Keeping my cool against Nelson’s brand of smug douchebaggery was a piece of cake compared to keeping my cool in the line of fire.
I casually thrust my hands into my pockets and shrugged. “What are you gonna do, big guy? I bet you’re not much of a runner, are you?”
He frowned. No way in hell was I going to run away from Nelson tonight, but the mental image of him trying to catch me, face red and breaths heaving, was enough to make my lips curve into a smile.
“I think I’ll request that Wes breaks that smart mouth of yours first,” he muttered. He started to rifle around in his back pocket, and I knew our volleying of insults, w
eak as it was, was at an end. I couldn’t afford to have Nelson call Wes or Preston out here now. Not yet. I had to be ready for them, and right now the only thing I was ready for was a good night’s sleep. And inflicting a little punishment.
Nelson pulled his phone out of his pocket, but I darted forward and smacked it from his hand before he could dial. His eyes widened in alarm, and he lunged for me clumsily, swiping out with both hands like he was Frankenstein’s monster. I laughed and stepped to the side. He lumbered right past me.
“I don’t think it would be fair for me to kick your ass, but I’m going to do it anyway,” I said, kicking his back and sending him sprawling onto his face.
Nelson groaned and pushed himself up onto his elbows.
“Why am I going to kick your ass?” I said, pretending to interpret his groans as language. “I’m glad you asked. Because, Nelson, you’ve pissed me the fuck off, and I’m not the kind of guy you want to piss off.”
I waited for him to get back to his feet. He turned and glared at me, cracking his knuckles again like he thought it might do some good. I rolled my eyes.
“I’m going to make you wish you were never born,” he bit out.
I laughed. How original.
“Come on then, big guy,” I taunted. “Do your worst.”
Nelson came at me, throwing lefts and rights without any coordination or plan. I dodged most of them, delivering jabs and crosses into his side and face when he opened himself up to attack. His breaths came hard and fast, like a rabid bear with asthma. To his credit, the few hits he got in had some power behind them, but Nelson had always been all bark and no bite. He was lazy. He’d probably never taken on a fight in his life that his friends couldn’t win for him. He’d been an enthusiastic participant in my beating under the bleachers several years ago, but only once I’d been knocked down. I hadn’t forgotten. It felt good to give him a taste of his own medicine, even better to do it with such ease.
Nelson grabbed me by the collar and tried to throw me to the ground, but I held my ground and head-butted him in the nose. He moaned and released me, staggering back as blood streamed down his face. I pulled back and slammed my fist home into his jaw, and his head spun to the right.
Nelson dropped back onto his hands, and I stood over him, catching my breath and evaluating the damage. His face was a bloody mess, bun askew and a few buttons popped open on his shirt. He made no attempt to get back up but held his face in his hands and groaned in pain. I broke his nose. Excellent.
“Had enough?” I asked.
“Fuck you!” It came out nasally and thick.
I chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
I squatted down in front of him and caught his eye, wiping all traces of humor from my face.
“Tell Wes I’m here, and that I’m not the scared little kid I used to be,” I instructed. “Tell him that I’m coming for him, and anybody who gets in my way is going to get the same treatment you did. Got that, or do you want me to write it down for you?”
Nelson glared daggers but didn’t say anything. He knew when he was beat.
“Great.” I slapped my thighs and rose. “I’m off. Great to see you, Nelson. I’ll be around.”
I turned back in the direction I was heading before and walked off, smiling. It felt like I was a step closer to my goal.
I found my bike and hopped on, heading back toward the highway and away from town for the night. I’d accomplished all I came to do today and more, and I was due for a shower and a good night’s sleep.
I thought that talking to Dallas might help me figure out what I could do to get her out of here. She hadn’t been much help, though I couldn’t blame her. Who was I to come in out of the blue and say that I was going to save her? Her attitude didn’t deter me. I was still going to get her and her dad out of Sitka Valley and away from the Gromleys for good, I just didn’t know how yet.
I couldn’t afford to pay their debt, that was for sure.
It seemed hopeless, but I never turned from a challenge.
And I would never, ever give up on Dallas Keane.
Chapter 23
Dallas
Bringing my dad dinner at the shop was fast becoming routine. I’d already done it four times this week, which was unheard of. I spent most nights with the Gromleys, and tonight was the second night this week that Wes had allowed me to skip out on plans after my show to see my dad instead. I was highly skeptical of his motives, but I was going along with it for now. It meant I got to worry a little less about my dad and at the same time I got to avoid spending time with Wes and Preston and their whole grimy entourage. It was a win-win, and I didn’t want to peer too hard into the gift horse’s mouth. I also didn’t want to get too used to it, since I suspected it wouldn’t last.
I let myself in the back door and turned toward his office, stopping when I heard something odd. Laughter. Muffled voices. I frowned.
My dad wasn’t here alone.
I cautiously approached his office door, keeping to the wall and remaining just out of sight. Who would visit my dad this late at night? Or maybe the better question was with whom would my dad have such a pleasant conversation.
When I was finally close enough to spy inside the room, my breath caught in my throat. Shane and my dad were sitting at his desk, each of them with a bottle of beer in hand and smile on their face. I could only see them in profile, but the effect was striking all the same. It was the first time I’d seen my dad happy in three years, and it warmed my heart.
They continued chatting, unaware of my presence. They were reminiscing about Shane’s early days at Keane’s Bikes, when he was gangly and uncoordinated and couldn’t step into the shop without knocking something over. These were memories we didn’t share, but I could picture it so vividly that I found myself smiling too. Such easy days, those were. My mom was still alive, my dad was still himself, and my big Broadway dreams were so close I could taste them. All that stood in my way was a few years of high school and however long it took me to save the money to get to New York. Then I’d be a star.
I made it almost to the doorframe without being seen and decided to announce my presence before one of them caught me watching. I cleared my throat, and two sets of eyes zapped to me.
“Hey,” I said. I raised the bag of Chinese food in my hand and addressed my dad. “I brought you some dinner.”
Dad’s expression, which had grown tight when I first startled him, brightened. He grinned and rose to grab the bag from me.
“Wasn’t I just saying what excellent care she takes of me?” Dad said. “I’d be lost without my girl.”
I knew he meant it as a compliment, but I had to hide my displeasure at the remark. I didn’t want him to rely on me so much. I loved my dad and would always be there for him if I could, but the whole reason we got into this mess in the first place was because he couldn’t manage on his own. Being the parent in our relationship was exhausting.
I looked over at Shane, and a zing of electricity ran up my spine. Even though his posture read relaxed and carefree, the look he was giving me was nothing less than smoldering. I swallowed.
“Can I get a word with you alone?” I asked.
My dad bustled to his feet. “I’ve got to get back to work anyway,” he said. “I’ll eat in the shop. Thanks again for the food, Dallas.”
Before I could protest, Dad was slipping past. Shane stayed in his chair, watching me. The corner of his mouth tilted and the realization of how devastatingly handsome he was hit me full force. Shane had always been good looking, and I’d noted how much of a man he’d grown into at our last meeting a couple of days ago, but now that we were in a well-lit space I was getting the full effect.
His long body stretched languidly in his chair like it was a throne. His emerald eyes sparkled with mischief and something else. Something darker. I was under the hottest spotlight of my life.
“What did you want to talk about?” he asked casually.
His booming voice shook me ou
t of my inspection, and I crossed to the other side of my dad’s desk and took a seat. I tried to look tougher than I felt.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
Shane shrugged and took a drink of his beer. “I figured it would be rude not to come catch up with your dad while I’m in town. I’m glad to see he’s doing well.”
Shane was the only other person in the whole world who cared a lick about my dad, besides me. I tried not to let his concern steer me off track, even when I could tell how much he meant it.
“You know what I mean. Why are you back in town?”
What I really meant was, Are you here for me?
Last time we spoke, all he said was that he could help me. He never said if that was his reason for returning. If it was, I didn’t know how to feel about it. I reveled in my blossoming hope and at the same time tried desperately to trample it down.
As if Shane picked up on my unspoken question, his eyes crinkled.
“I’ve got some business in town,” he said simply.
I immediately deflated.
What was I thinking? Did I actually think he’d come here for me? Just because he said he could help me didn’t mean he would. The Shane I knew was gone, just like the Dallas he’d known was gone.
“Right. Don’t get my dad and I in trouble while you’re here. That’s all I ask.” I stood to leave, and something flashed across Shane’s face.
“Wait,” he said, catching my eye. “Stay and have a beer with an old friend?”
His gaze held me like a tractor beam as I considered my answer. Wes would be furious if he found out. I had already tempted fate by not telling him I saw Shane a few nights previous, though Nelson had staggered into the bar, bloody and bruised, and saved me the trouble. Not that I would have sold him out.
Fuck it. Fuck Wes. Fuck them all.
I sat back down and pulled a beer out of the office mini-fridge, tossing my legs up onto the desk and cracking it open.
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