Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75585 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Or…I could find clients outside of work.
No. The chances of winding up dead that way were huge. I’d rather Val just shoot me if I was going to die.
I pulled myself off the floor, pulled on the robe Val had left for me—why did he bother to be thoughtful if he was just going to leave me?—then picked up the money and my discarded jock strap.
I prayed the rest of the dancers had already left. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this. If someone even looked at me wrong, I was sure I’d start crying again. They all knew I’d been with Val, and they hated me for it. They wouldn’t hesitate to taunt me for looking sad afterward.
You might be sad, but you were a damn good whore for him.
No. I wasn’t listening to that evil little voice. I’d enjoyed it. I’d done that for me. I didn’t need Val to stay and pamper me. That was never part of the agreement.
I wiped away the last of my tears and opened the door. After waiting a moment, I determined there wasn’t anyone else around.
I sat down and counted the money Val had given me. Two thousand dollars. He’d said he wouldn’t pay my debt, but now he was giving me far more than I would have asked for. I needed the money, but I hated how he’d teased me into believing that he actually cared.
21
VALENTINO
I’d stumbled across the private hallway into a small office located next to the surveillance room. It was the one place at the club where I could go and no one would bother me. I needed a moment alone and a strong drink.
I intended to stay in the office until I’d polished off the whisky I had stashed there. By then, I might be calm enough not to kill the next person I saw. But when I heard the door of the room Liam and I had used creak open, I couldn’t stop myself. I waited until his footsteps had passed by me, then I followed him, moving silently. He went back to the dressing room, and I exited from back of the building and got in my car so I could sit in the lot and wait for him.
It was a damn good thing I did. I wasn’t the only one there. Another man was loitering, looking back and forth from the door to Liam’s car.
I studied the man more closely. When I realized it was the same man who’d been watching Liam, the one who’d demanded a lap dance, the one I’d thrown out earlier for putting his hands on my man, I opened my glove compartment and pulled out the gun I kept there.
I considered taking him out immediately. He’d already pissed me off, but I’d gotten flak from my father for killing the man who’d touched Liam in the private room—I should have known I’d never keep it secret from him. Another death here wouldn’t be good. I kept my gun in my hand though, because if he approached Liam, if he laid one hand on him, he was dead. I’d deal with my father. I’d say whatever I had to.
I’d promised Liam my protection, and I was going to give him that, no matter how much he wanted to deny what he felt for me. What was happening between us?
You’re falling for him.
I was and it was dangerous, but I couldn’t help myself. When I was with him, I felt more alive than I had in a while. I felt like I might be able to have something for myself instead of sacrificing for others.
The back door of the club opened, and Liam stepped out. He was wearing the robe I’d left and carrying a bag that must be stuffed with his clothes. I wanted to go over, pick him up, and bring him to my car so I could hold him and tell him I was going to take care of him, even if we had to run from my family.
There wasn’t really anywhere to escape them, though, not with the resources they had.
Liam hoisted his bag further on his shoulder and tied the robe tighter as he walked toward his car. The man pushed away from the truck he’d been leaning against and headed toward Liam. Moving silently, I opened my door and stepped out of the car.
He said something I couldn’t hear, and Liam jumped, obviously startled. I needed to talk to Liam about always being aware of his surroundings.
Liam stepped back, flattening himself against the car.
Get in. I tried to send the command to Liam telepathically, but he didn’t get the message. He stood there, paralyzed, as the man kept talking. I moved slowly toward them. Neither of them had caught sight of me yet.