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going to leave it for now, G, but we both know you aren’t fine” He

ran his hands through his hair “I’one ten rounds with a

heavyweight champ, he spun on his heel and left the office She drove him insane

The moment Lefty exited the room, Gia locked the door behind him and slid to the floor

She rested the back of her head against the door Her shoulders shook with her silent sobs Tears rolled down her cheeks Memories assailed her, the sound of dancehall music, the feel of

blinding lights and roaht I was over this Thethe country and building her life fro to the United States had her reverting to the

frightened youth she’d once been Furious with her regression, she swiped at her tears and gained her feet, stu into the bathroom

“You will not let her win” She stared at her reflection “You’re a survivor It’s what you do no matter what She can’t touch you now You made sure of that” There’d been a reason she went in with the Dueling Devils and catered to motorcycle clubs They appreciated loyalty and protected their own She’d learned a long tiht, and the ones with the poweron the faucet, she splashed her face and blotted it dry with a towel She reached for the bag of touch up items she kept in the top drawer of the vanity

Cale from her mini meltdown, she cursed her past and the claws it had sunk deep into her I’ll never be nors But I can be happy and successful, which is more than I ever let myself dream of for a second

Satisfied with her appearance, she carefully rebuilt her walls She was Gia, the ball busting bitch who did as she pleased, took no shit, and made everyone believe she was untouchable

After everything she’d been through, she took the treatave permission, and then you’d better come correct Better for the pep talk, she squared her shoulders and left the bathroo the office door, she stepped back into the world she’d created

The pounding base, dihts, and boisterous voices were familiar and, as fucked up as

others would find it, co Here, the women were in control They used their bodies to tease, tantalize, and get paid The men could look, but they knew better than to try to force any of her people She sold a fantasy, not adult entertainirls knew better than to turn tricks on the side What they did in their spare ti as it didn’t involve the club

She weaved her way through bodies glancing over the tables Her girls did their jobs well

Drinks were full along with laps and people appeared content She ignored the rowdy group in the VIP section The last thing she needed to do was run into Lefty again right now Thea barbwire course