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Chapter Two

Ana

I hate everything about this club Walking through the front doorsbegins i every e they want to jerk off to, a notch on their bedpost they can brag about

Does that sound full of conceit? Maybe There’s a difference between knowing you appeal tobeautiful I feel tired At twenty-six, I’nore it I don’t have a choice

“Hey, Ana! Looking good tonight,” Joe, the sometimes-bouncer at The Dive, hollers out I s, scarred, beefy shoulder before walking on back to the private area

I know the way by heart, which is good, because lasses It doesn’tned tounobtainable

In truth, the sunglasses hide the bags underroo able to sleep is a bitch

I sit down at theI keep my shit in fall to the floor Joyce immediately comes over and starts the major tease job she always does on ht Hell, o on But Ithe Ice Queen who every man wants to melt, so I let Joyce have her way

“You’re late,” she chastises

“Been out looking for Allen”

“Still no luck?”

“None I’ to lose hope, J”

I hate having this conversation I like Joyce She’s been good toWhen she squeezes ht in response, our eyes meet in the makeup mirror We’re so different, but she’s like the mom I’ve never had She’s fifty-two but looks to be in her early forties She has this brown curly hair that she always has styled and teased yet clipped up out of her way Joyce has these pretty green eyes with flecks of gold in theive her credit for

“If you don’t start sleeping, it’s going to affect your show, Ana”

“I know I tried”

“Might have worked if you’d quit crying over that damn brother of yours”

She’s not wrong Still, I can’t seeo in every way thatis any easier He’s been gone for over a

“He’sin my stomach

“Yeah, but he’s killing you”

“I can’t help it”

“I know, doll I know Let’s see what s,” she says with a sigh, going to work on my face

Twenty es to pull off a s of the stage and wait for o I let the h my routine like a well-seasoned veteran I should be; I’ve been dancing for nine years now I started before I was legal It’s aet you I can work the pole and I can shake the ass I can do everything needed toforit when inside I’ for e? Always leave the unconcerned that my breasts are co ofJoe puts the white silk robe around me and I lean up to kiss his cheek

“Thanks, big guy,” I tell hi about dancing I did it for a few months when I hit sixteen I needed the -outevery dime she could on her next hit You have to do what you have to do When ot free of her, in a way, and found new paths Allen never bothered, instead following into save one

“Another great show as always, Ana”

I squeeze his ar rooht, and then I can leave I need to try and search for Allen some more, or try old contacts I haven’t used in years I can’t reh all the chaos that is h to allow sleep

I sit down at the chair in front of ht, which I gratefully take It’s a routine of mine I always have a smoke after I dance The nicotine helpsand , and I try my best to squash down the panic over Allen I’ve tuned out the roo on his finger reaches over and takes away the cigarette, I’m unprepared

“Sorry, you’re not supposed to be back here,” I say, annoyed, and look around for Joyce to signal for Joe “And can I please have arette back?”

“No”

“No?” I ask the big tall mountain of a man He’s easily six foot five, but he’s broad as a house He’s got dark hair that’s cut close to his head in the back and a little longer on top, dark eyes, and he wears a suit that probably cost et for food did the last two er

“My woman doesn’t smoke That was your last one”

“Your wo about the way he says that seeainst my chest Fuck Where is Joe? “Listen, I don’t knoho you think you are, but—”

“That’s easy, Ana I own you,” he answers, and his words strike fear deep inside of me

Soany attention

Chapter Three

Roman

I watch her eyes dilate withhitches in her chest Fear It can be the biggest aphrodisiac there is At least for

delicious A tad too skinny, but she has a plump round ass that I plan to leave pink witha ely enough, the part of her body that drawsand slender, the delicate bones and cordedto the animal inside ofday, leaving a bruise to broadcast to any fucking person around, man or woain He’s been standing at attention ever since I saw Ana’s picture, and being this close to her is justit worse

“Ready to go?” I ask,hard it’s painful I plan on pounding into that body and leaving her so sore, she won’t walk right for a week It will serve her right for tying my dick up in knots