by Melissa Jane
“I do want that. Lots and lots of stars.”
Romeo’s eyes lit up gleefully. “I know I can’t give you the country with all your stars, but I can give you this. Lay down.”
“Huh?”
“Trust me. Lay down.”
Doing as he said, I shuffled into position and watched as he lay next to me, his hand on the lamp switch.
“Are you ready?”
“I don’t know what for, but sure.”
Romeo flicked the light and the treehouse fell into darkness.
“Wait for it. Look straight up.”
I stared into a sea of nothingness, and then as my eyes adjusted, they started to take form. At least a hundred glow-in-the-dark stars lit up the treehouse ceiling. It was a magical sight that stole me from my heinous world and catapulted me through a galaxy filled with dreams and promises of a better future.
A tear slid from each eye, tickling their way down my temples.
“Thank you,” I whispered into the darkness.
His pinkie hooked over mine. “One day, Lucy, there’ll be a star with your name on it, and it will be the most beautiful.”
Chapter 5
NOW
It was a full house on a chilly Friday night and the patrons were feeling frisky. The regulars were in attendance claiming their usual positions. Some were big spenders who’d enjoy a tease before booking something more lucrative. Their credit cards were ready and their wallets were lined with plenty of cash for tips. Others simply had a few drinks while watching the girls’ dance, often too embarrassed to converse even with the waitresses.
“Babe,” Blaze called as I walked from the dressing room. She practically sprinted like a graceful gazelle and took both my hands in hers. “Can I share your locker?”
“Sure, but why?”
Again, she jumped up and down with school girl excitement. “So, looks like this is my last week here!” She couldn’t spill the words fast enough from her glossy lips.
I was excited for her, but I also froze with fear.
“And the new girl…” she continued, “… has started early, and to keep the peace, Momma G says to move her in fully, so I need to squeeze my shit in with yours.” Blaze shook my hand. “Babe, why aren’t you saying anything?”
“I’m going to miss you, that’s all.”
Blaze pulled me into a hug, and while her sequined bra scratched my chest, it felt good to be held by someone I cared about, and who cared about me. “I’m going to miss you, too, honey.” She gently pulled away so she could see my face. “But I promise when I get there I’ll find us both work so you can come and join us.”
“Sounds good.” It sounded perfect but it would never happen.
“The floor, ladies,” a voice boomed down the hall. “Get on the floor. There’s not enough girls there.”
Blaze rolled her eyes so far to the back of her head, her irises disappeared. “Fucking jerk-off,” she said, her relationship with Anton still on a rocky road.
“What’d you call me?” he snapped, yet Blaze seemed completed undeterred.
She spun on her heel. “I called you, a… Fucking. Jerk. Off.”
Anton closed the space with just two easy strides that would take us four. Without laying a hand on Blaze, he used his size to back her against the wall. There wasn’t a flicker of fear in her pretty eyes, but my nails cut into my soft palms, hands instinctively fisting just as they did as a young girl when my father charged at me.
“I cannot wait until you fuck up so I can see you get fucked up.”
Blaze smiled revealing perfectly straight teeth and a wicked gleam. “Keep waiting, douche bag. ‘Cause I’m outta here come tomorrow night.”
“And fucking good riddance to you.” With a stony-eyed stare, Anton left, but not before yelling over his shoulder, “Now get to the fucking floor and do your job.”
“What the hell did you ever do to that guy to piss him off so bad? Honestly, I swear he comes within an inch of hitting you every time.”
Blaze was still wearing her stunning smile. “I refused to fuck him and left him with blue balls, I guess. You know what that does to a man.”
She swung open the door to the main floor making a grand entrance that immediately drew eyes despite two girls putting on quite the show on stage.
“See you in VIP,” Blaze said before heading straight to one of her high tippers. We were both booked out later on, and us hitting the floor was merely to draw in new customers.
I found Gerald who we called a ‘rock.’ A rock in this industry was someone who comes to enjoy the shows, but spends very little, if anything, and certainly was not a tipper. Gerald was an overweight tax accountant, who was also one of the loveliest people I’d met. Despite being a regular in a strip club, he was a shy personality and hated being approached by the girls. Except me.
“Hey, Gerald,” I greeted, squeezing his arm.
“Evening, Diamond,” he replied, and even under the dim floor lights I could see his cheeks blushing. “That’s a lovely color on you.”
I glanced down at my outfit. The lacy dress was a deep purple in color. I hated it. Dominic had picked it out for me to wear. Anything he chose, I despised. Gerald and I fell into easy conversation. He liked to tell me about his new side-ventures which included cyber-hacking. I didn’t much understand it but showed my enthusiasm for his passion. After all, I was probably the only female in his life he actually confided in.
A waitress I hadn’t seen before, who I guessed was the new girl set to replace Blaze, sidled up next to Gerald. His relaxed demeanor with me quickly changed when someone unknown entered his personal space. I even found myself frowning at her overfriendly proximity. Her lace-covered breasts rubbed against his arm, and in his discomfort, he inched away desperate for space.
“We’re fine here, thank you,” I said to the girl who was balancing her silver tray with one hand while tracing a nail seductively down his arm.
“Just doing my job,” she replied, cocking a smug eyebrow at me. She was a young, slight girl, yet loaded with attitude, especially as she waltzed toward the table Blaze was attending. If she thought I was rude, she was in for a shock with Blaze.
“I’m sorry, Gerald. She’s new and doesn’t know our patrons yet.”
“Why do you work here, Diamond?” he asked, rolling his shoulders to relax. “You seem like such an intelligent girl. How did you end up in a place like this?”
It wasn’t the first time he’d asked, and it wouldn’t be the first time I’d redirect the questioning.
“Maybe I’m waiting for my white knight to come along and save me. So, tell me more about your victims of cyber-hacking.”
His mischievous eyes lit up but quickly turned to concern when they flicked to something behind me. “You’re being watched.”
I turned, spotting Anton with the DJ, both blatantly staring. The DJ was a snitch. It was the first thing I’d learned being here. He watched the floor wishing and hoping he’d find someone he could run and tattle-tale on.
I turned back to Gerald. “I guess I better work the floor. Catch you later.”
Leaving Gerald, I caught sight of Blaze who was flirting up a storm holding her audience captive. Envious of her talent, I wondered how she was such a natural. She loved being center of attention and men never hesitated to give it.
“Hey!” A hand circled my wrist, throwing me off-balance and against the body of an arrogant frat boy. “No touching allowed,” I reprimanded. I’d purposefully avoided this table because dealing with frat boys was not something I had patience for. Especially this lot who had no qualms in manhandling a woman.
“If you touch me, I’ll allow it,” he quipped, believing his line was original.
“That’s not going to happen, so let me go.”
“Oh, come on,” he persisted. “Come sit on my lap for a little bit and then you go get back to what you’re doing.”
“Not unless you wanna pay for it,” I said, attempting to free myself from
his grasp, his fingers digging deeper.
He gestured to one of his friends across the table. “It’s my buddy’s birthday, can’t you show him some love?”
“There’s a show on stage—”
“Fuck that, we want you.”
“Well, we don’t do lap dances on the floor, so you’ll need to book in for one, and I’m all booked out tonight. Sorry.”
The frat boy’s mood shifted drastically with the rejection, pulling me so close I could have become drunk off the fumes. While I winced in pain, his buddies simply watched on. “Listen, whore. I asked you nicely and you’ve been nothing but a fucking bitch.”
Was this guy for real?
“Get the fuck off me,” I snapped, fighting to free my arm. “Who the hell do you think you—”
“I could buy this club…” he interjected, reveling in self-importance, “… and your ass with it. So, when I ask you to give my boy a birthday dance, you fucking agree.”
“You’re drunk, so I’m going to ask you once again to let me go before I get you removed from the—”
An icy blast of liquid splashed over my face, chests, and breasts. Gasping from the sudden cold, it took a moment to register what he’d done.
“Look where you are, bitch,” he continued to antagonize. “You don’t get to say what—”
The next act happened too quickly. I blinked and the frat boy’s voice disappeared and so did his face. I blinked again and the room was suddenly sideways, but before I hit the floor, arms hooked under mine and placed me firmly on my feet again. Dominic was at my side, all fury and rage. His fingers flexing and balling into fists.
“Lay a hand on her again, and I’ll cut it clean off,” he warned, his tone ice-cold. Sprawled on the ground, the frat boy worked his jaw to ease the pain, his so-called friends standing back, hands raised in peace as security circled around the scene.
“Do you know who my father is?” he arrogantly asked, further igniting Dominic’s rage.
With a leg either side of the frat boy, Dominic gripped his shirt collar. “I don’t care who your fucking daddy is. The question is, do you know who the fuck I am?”
When the boy couldn’t answer, Dominic kneed him in jaw with a sickening blow. It knocked the frat boy unconscious, his friends now starting to protest.
“Get the fuck outta my club,” Dominic shouted causing security to snap into action.
I was visibly shaking, both from the icy drink and from the explosive scene. There was no denying Dominic’s temper didn’t rattle my soul. He simply terrified me, and that wasn’t even the worst of it.
The whole club was staring and I wanted to hide. A concerned Blaze caught my attention and I silently let her know I was unhurt.
“You’re due in VIP,” Dominic snapped, clicking his fingers for a waitress to tidy the table. When I didn’t move, he pulled me in close to be out of earshot. “Go fucking clean yourself up and get to VIP. Now!”
The threat in his tone spurred me into action and once I’d changed and fixed my make-up, Momma G gave me a tequila shot to calm my nerves.
“Stay away from him,” she warned. Like I even needed to be told once. “He’s not going to be happy about what just happened.”
“No one told him to hit the guy.”
“Dominic doesn’t need much encouragement when it comes to anything to do with you.”
I didn’t need to force myself to stay away from him. I’d give anything to put an entire continent between us, but I wasn’t to be so lucky.
The next four hours passed quickly, and I was fortunate enough to spend the time with just one group, a group so entertaining, I was able to put thoughts of Dominic aside. There were no kinky requests, no unwelcomed touching, and no Vice detectives in sight. They were content in my presence and a few mini-laps to spice things up. They were also generous with both tips and shots, and by the end of my shift I was starting to feel the effects of too many tequilas.
Blaze had been in the booth next to mine for most of the night, sharing winks whenever we caught the other’s eye. I was talking with Courtney, the only female in my group, when a stony-faced Anton approached Blaze from behind and tapped her shoulder. She gave him just enough attention to hear what he had to say and then turned back to her patron seemingly ignoring Anton’s instruction. Pissed by her dismissive response, he wrapped his meaty hand around her slender wrist and dragged Blaze through the Staff Only door that was guarded by Carter.
My gut twisted. “Oh, shit!” What the hell was Anton up to?
“What is it?” Courtney asked, concerned by the change in my demeanor.
“I’m just going to check on the drinks order,” I lied with a convincing smile. “I’ll be right back.”
Carter could already read my expression as I approached. “I have no idea,” he said before I had a chance to ask.
“That didn’t look good. He knows Blaze is leaving and he seems pretty set on....” I didn’t want to finish the question. “I know you can’t leave because the other girls are here, but I’m just going to check on her.”
“Hey,” he said, stopping me with his stern voice. “If you see him doing anything to her, make sure to come right back here and get me. Don’t you dare think you can handle it yourself.”
I nodded my thanks and slipped through the Staff Only door. I ran through the hall, careful to check all the dark nooks favored by Dominic when he was on a warpath. Nothing.
“Momma G, have you seen Blaze?” I asked rounding the kitchen door. She was serving soup to a few girls who were about to start the morning shift. She threw me a look I knew to be a lie.
“She’ll be back out,” Momma G said, failing to disguise the regret in her voice.
What was going on and was she in on it?
I wasn’t ready to give up. “Where is she, Momma G? Anton dragged her away and—”
“Diamond,” a voice boomed behind me. The four girls startled, one dropping her soup spoon clattering into the bowl.
I turned on the asshole, feeling an overwhelming rage toward him. “Where’s Blaze? What did you do with her?”
“You’re needed in Dominic’s office,” he said, unperturbed.
I wasn’t going anywhere, especially not to Dominic’s office. “No,” I replied, defiant. “Where is she?”
He inched closer, squaring his shoulders. “Are you gonna walk freely or do I have to drag you like a dog?”
I was momentarily caught off-guard. Despite his closing proximity, there was a definite tone-shift, and one I didn’t expect.
“What?” I asked, surprised. How had it come about that I was in trouble? Was it because of the drunk frat boys?
Running out of patience, he took my wrist like he did with Blaze and proceeded to drag me down the hall.
Why was he doing this?
“Let go of me,” I screamed, kicking his legs and scratching at any exposed skin within reach, but not once did he flinch when I made contact. It did, however, worsen my situation. Anton was a big, burly man who could throw us girls around without breaking a sweat. And dragging me up the stairs to Dominic’s office was no different.
“No, no, no,” I desperately pleaded, nails clawing the balustrade. I couldn’t be left in the same room as him, not when he was getting so close to losing all control.
“Beg all you want, bitch, it ain’t gonna do anything for you.” Anton turned on me, twisted an arm behind my back and slammed me against the wall. My cheekbone throbbed and I whimpered against the pain.
He pressed his full weight on me, his stubble scratching my face, breath stinking of cigarettes. “I’m so tired of all you fucking bitches,” he seethed. “Trash like you and Blaze shouldn’t cry innocent and expect people to believe you.”
What the hell was he talking about?
“What did we do?” I asked, genuinely perplexed and undeniably frightened.
Anton jerked my arm higher sending an excruciating jolt of pain through my body. I screamed and pleaded for mercy, but only when I
forced myself to go limp in his arms did he ease up.
“You’re all the fucking same. Lying, filthy whores.”
I was trembling uncontrollably, feeling like my world was spiraling out of control.
“Now walk up these stairs properly, or I’ll drag you by your hair. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” I nodded, done with the pain.
Anton still kept a grip for the remainder of the stairs. Once outside Dominic’s office, he knocked twice before entering.
“What the fuck?” I murmured, feeling the need to flee.
What the hell was going on?
My eyes flicked around the room searching for answers, but I still couldn’t understand why Blaze was in the middle of room, on her knees, on top of black plastic.
Her usual clear complexion was marred with bruises and swelling, her lips split and bleeding. Sobbing quietly, she looked up and mouthed a desperate, “I don’t know.”
Behind her, Dominic paced back and forth, jaw twitching, hardened eyes radiating an unwarranted fury. He was like a rabid dog just short of frothing at the mouth.
Anton shoved me forward and forced me to my knees in front of Blaze.
When the men had a quiet word with each other, I stole the opportunity. “What’s happened?” I hissed.
Blaze’s composure crumbled. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know,” she rattled, clearly distressed.
Dominic’s snakeskin shoes circled, ominous and calculated. I didn’t dare look up. Instead, I willed Blaze to get ahold of herself. Incomprehensible mutters spewed from her mouth. She was too far gone, too broken from her beating.
“When you work for me…” Dominic started strong, startling us both. “I ensure you go without wanting.”
I figured that statement was directed at Blaze given she was the one who’d up until this point was granted freedom.
“But when my generosity is abused…” he chuckled with spite, “… and the wool is pulled over my eyes, you can expect some form of retaliation.”
“We haven’t done anything.” Blaze hiccupped, and I wished she hadn’t even opened her mouth.
Positioning himself behind her, Dominic fisted his hand through her fiery red hair, yanking her head back until she faced him.