I FOLLOWED ZADIE INTO OUR SUITE, my mind a whir of what I needed to grab on my way to work. It was nearing seven. I really needed to be on my bus as soon as I could bust out of here.
I didn’t notice Zadie had stopped moving until I ran into her back. She whimpered and reached behind her to grab my hand. That was when I saw him. My heart stopped beating.
“Hello, Helen.”
Amir had made himself at home in our living room, sitting comfortably in the armchair, his gun on his lap. His dark eyes were predatory, the mirth from the upturn of his mouth not coming close to reaching his gaze.
I got in front of Zadie, blocking her as much as I could from Amir’s attention. “I know I’m late but—”
He waved me off. “I don’t need reasons. You can give those to Reno and see if he’s feeling forgiving. I’m just here to collect.”
A storm lurched the insides of my belly. Swallowing back nausea, I squared my shoulders. “I had it. Someone went into my room and took my money when I was sleeping. I just need tonight to earn it—”
He sat forward, elbows on his knees. “Helen, Helen, Helen, come on. I do not care in the slightest. I don’t want to be here, playing my brother’s errand boy. Give me the cash, and I’ll be on my way.”
“I don’t have it.” I folded my arms over my chest to hide the shaking.
He arched a brow. “You don’t have the cash you owe my brother and you’re giving me attitude?”
“I’m not giving you attitude.” I couldn’t help the rise of my chin.
Amir chuckled darkly. “Baby girl, give me something to work with. I really don’t want to do what I’ll have to do if you don’t pay.” Amusement fell away, leaving the black hole that occupied Amir’s insides. “But I will.”
I swallowed hard. “I need a couple hours. I’m dancing tonight. I’ll make what I owe Reno by the end of the night and bring it straight to you or him…whatever you want me to do.”
It physically hurt me to kowtow to this man, but I was smart enough to know I had no choice. I would kiss ass for Luciana. I’d do anything to protect her sweet.
“Hmmm…” He sat back, rubbing his fingertip along the barrel of his gun. “How do I trust you’ll do what you say?”
“I don’t have a choice,” I rasped.
“That’s right, you don’t.” He stretched to peer around me. “If I let you leave this room, I’ll need collateral.”
I held my hands out to show him how empty they were. “I don’t have anything. If I did, I would have given it to Reno.”
He stared at me hard, then let his eyes travel to Zadie. “You’ll come back for her.”
My spine went ramrod straight. “No.”
“Yes. Leave your friend here. I’ll trust you to come back for her.” He grazed his palm over his crotch. “You’ll want to come back for her as soon as possible.”
“No. I can’t—”
Zadie ducked around me to stand beside me. “It’s okay, Helen. I’ll be fine.”
Amir’s eyes flared at the sound of Z’s sweet voice. The interest I read in him made me want to scream. I’d done this to her. I’d pulled her into my filthy, low-life world, and now here we were, down in the dregs together.
“Yeah, Helen, she’ll be fine.” He nodded to the couch. “Come over here, little mama. Have a seat.”
Zadie moved automatically. If Amir had touched her, I might have lost my mind, but he only watched. He also shoved his gun in the back of his pants. It barely loosened the noose around my throat by a millimeter, but at least I could breathe a little.
“If you hurt her—”
“You’ll what? Brain me with your bat?” Amir canted his head, like he was truly interested in my answer.
I’d forgotten Batty completely. At some point, I’d let it drop to the floor.
“I’ll ruin you, Amir.” I had no idea how, but I knew I meant it all the way to my bones. If Zadie didn’t walk away clean from this, none of us would be walking away.
His laugh was dry. “Get out of here. Shake that pretty ass and bring me my money. You don’t need to worry about anything else.”
“Zadie,” I started to go to her, but Amir tsked and shot his arm out to block Zadie from me. “Zadie, I’m so sorry. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I promise.”
She blinked at me with shiny eyes. “I know you will. I’ll be fine.”
“That’s right. Sweet little Zadie will be just fine with me. Maybe you’ll come back and we’ll be best friends.”
I narrowed my eyes on Amir, who was leaning toward Zadie like he was interested. “Don’t even think about it.”
His gaze was like a whip on me. “This discussion is over. Get the fuck out.”
“Zadie,” I rasped.
“Go, Helen. I’m okay.” She was holding herself straight, being brave, and it made me want to destroy the furniture. But her bravery gave mine a charge. If Zadie could do this, so could I.
“I’ll be back soon,” I swore.
Then I grabbed my stuff and ran.
It took me five hours of shaking my tits, grinding on laps, and giving away pieces of myself to earn what I owed Reno. Every time I wanted to go backstage and curl into a ball, I thought of Zadie’s brave little face, and it spurred me on.
Carina perched on my dressing table, crossing her long, shiny legs. “You did good tonight, babe.”
I looked up from unbuckling my Lucite platforms. “I hate it.”
“I know you do, but you’re damn good at it.” She squeezed my shoulder. “At least there weren’t any of those Savage U shits out there tonight. Boys think they’re big shots, then give me two dollars for a tip.”
I shuddered. “I don’t know how you do it every night.”
“Life, babe. This is where it took me. It’s not forever, but for now, it works. And I don’t hate it the same way you do. It’s a job for me, not a moral decision.”
“I’m not judging you.” I placed my borrowed heels on the table, scooting them close to Carina.
She palmed my crown. “Never thought you were. I’m just telling you how I can deal.” She let go of me to press her hands together. “Now, are you sure you don’t mind catching an Uber?”
Carina still had two more hours on her shift, but I was done. I’d covered my stripper gear with sweats and wiped off some of my lipstick, ready to run out the door. I assured Carina I was perfectly fine, then I booked it, my phone in hand, to order my Uber.
I made it to the other side of the parking lot, almost to the sidewalk, when a group of people started coming toward me. Assuming they were headed to the club, I stepped out of their way to put in the order for my ride.
“Helen.”
My head jerked up, and my stomach bottomed out. Reno, flanked by his goons and two women, had closed in on me while I hadn’t been paying attention.
“I have your money. I’m sorry it’s late, but something—”
Reno caught my hoodie in his fist, tugging me closer. “I’m not in the mood for your sad story. Payment is due at five p.m. When you don’t pay me on time, it tells me you do not respect me.”
I couldn’t bring myself to lie and say I did respect him, so I took the cash from my pocket and shoved it at him. A goon took it from me, opening the envelope to count the bills.
“It’s all there.”
Reno glanced at the cash, then me. “With added late fee?”
My fists clenched, but I kept myself calm. “Yes, I included that.”
The goon informed Reno the money was all there, then tucked the envelope in a hidden pocket inside his jacket.
“Good, good. Very good, Helen.” Reno placed a hand on my shoulder, getting way too close. “Here’s the thing, baby. This is your second late payment. You know how I feel about that. It makes me think you don’t respect me and my business.”
“I do. I had the money but someone—”
Head whipping to the side from the force of Reno’s backhand, I tasted blood and fire. My hand flew to my burning face, but I had no chance to recover before he struck again, shoving me backward so hard, I skidded onto my ass.
Reno crouched down beside me, grasping my hair in his fist. “I don’t give second chances, no matter how sweet of a cunt you have.” His other hand went to my throat, squeezing tight enough to mostly cut off my air. I grappled with his hold, clawing at his hand. I couldn’t die here. Not with Zadie waiting for me at the dorm and Luc counting on me. This couldn’t be my end.
When my vision started to go black, he let me go, and I fell on my back, gasping for air. Reno towered over me, his expression ugly yet bored as he spit on me.
“I own you, Helen. You’re lucky I don’t hit women, baby, or you’d be hurting a lot worse tomorrow.” The two women came forward, one reeling back her leg and connecting to my ribs before I could brace for it. “Jackie and Chantal don’t have anything against hitting other bitches, though.”
He let them loose on me. I got to my hands and knees, only to be kicked back down. My cheek hit the pavement so hard, I saw stars. One of the women kicked me again and again, and I knew if I didn’t get up, they’d kill me. I just knew it.
Wheezing for air, I pushed up, getting my knees under me again. I took a blow to the back of my thigh, another to my hip, but I didn’t fall. My vision dotted when another boot struck me in the ribs, but I was determined to stand. I had to get to my feet, or I’d die. I’d die at a strip club and be another sad headline. I’d be reduced to a dead stripper. Luc would have to remember me that way. Zadie…oh, I couldn’t even think of what would happen to Zadie. I had to get up. I had to get out of here.
I was on my knees, kneeling in front of Reno. I looked up at him, but he wasn’t even paying attention to what was happening to me. He was chatting with his goons like they were out for coffee. I opened my mouth to scream, but it never came.
A pointy-toed boot connected with my jaw, sending me flying back. My vision flashed white, and my brain went hazy. Everything became dull, far away, like I was underwater. The hits stopped, then voices faded. It took me some time to understand it was over. Reno and his crew had left me lying there.
I didn’t know if I could stand, but my hands worked. I took my phone from my pocket, hitting the first contact I recognized. He answered on the second ring.
“Helen?”
“Lock…please, I need help.”
