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)
“If you need anything, talk to Vito or Trevor. I know Trevor is…gruff, but he will help you. I’ll see you when I’m back. Our agreement still stands.”
The hard look he gave me made me shiver. What would he do to me if I took other private clients while he was gone? I knew I wouldn’t though. I didn’t want anyone but him to touch me. I was such a fucking fool. Now I wouldn’t be making any extra money for the next few weeks. I wanted to ask Val where he was going, but I didn’t want him to know how curious I was. “I’ve never met Vito. How am I supposed to know who he is?”
“Trust me, when you see him, you’ll know he’s my brother.”
When I walked into work the next day, I saw how true that statement was.
There was a man leaning against the bar. At first, I thought it was Val. Then I registered that this man was shorter, his shoulders thicker, but Val had been right, there was no question they were brothers.
Tyler waved at me, then leaned toward Vito and said something. Vito stood and walked my way. When we were a few feet apart, he held out his hand. “I’m Vito Marchesi. Val told me to keep an eye on you this week.”
His smile was different from Val’s but just as seductive. While Val’s gave off a hint of malice and the desire for something dirty, Vito’s smile was open, relaxed, charming.
“I won’t cause you any trouble. I’ll dance my sets, then head home.”
Vito’s smile widened. “I’m not worried about you causing trouble, but I’m going to make sure no one bothers you. If you have any issues with customers or employees, tell me immediately. We don’t want a repeat of last night’s little problem.” Vito might appear easy-going, but I saw the predator in his eyes as he spoke.
I nodded and hoped I could talk without my voice shaking. “Right. I don’t want that.”
“I’ll have someone walk you to your car each night until we’re sure it was an isolated incident. I promised Val I’d keep you safe, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
I really wanted to know where Val was. “Thank you.”
“Check in with me when you’re ready to leave tonight. If I’m not around, talk to Tyler or Trevor. Don’t trust anyone else.”
I wondered why they hired people they didn’t trust, but I wasn’t going to question him. “I will.”
I wanted to resent Val ordering him to watch me, but I had to admit I felt better knowing someone was making sure I didn’t have any other stalkers. I didn’t want to be involved in any more murders, but I also wanted to be safe walking to my car when I got off work.
What had happened the night before had me shaken. I hadn’t wanted to come in today at all, but it wasn’t like I had a choice. I had to keep working as much as I could.
The next few weeks passed uneventfully. I didn’t have any more parking lot encounters or even anyone trying cop a feel as I walked through the crowd. Vito’s hulking presence by the side of the stage probably had something to do with that. I wasn’t sure if Val had told him to watch me that closely or if he was just taking his job seriously.
Despite Val’s absence, the other dancers were just as standoffish to me. They still saw me as his pet, and I supposed that’s what I was because I wasn’t going to walk away from our deal, no matter what I’d insinuated the night before. At least I enjoyed being with Val, and he did take care of me, even if every time he touched me I fell a little more under his spell.
The generator he’d bought had been a lifesaver, possibly literally. It was still hot as hell in the storage unit whenever I returned there after my shifts, but at least I knew that once the generator-powered fan had a chance to get going, it would cool the place down enough that I could actually sleep.
As the days passed, I missed Val more and more. I dreamed of him, thought of him every moment as I danced, and when I woke up with morning wood, he was the only thing I thought of as a jerked myself off.
I received my pay stub and a loan receipt on Saturdays. The Marchesis were serious about record-keeping, though I doubted the government saw the records I did. After the first week Val was gone, there was far more deducted from my debt than my salary plus the tips I’d asked Vito to put in the safe.
Val hadn’t come to see me, but he was paying for my services like he’d been there every night. I should insist he take the money back, but I didn’t have the strength to protest his gift.