It feels weird to get absorbed into the culture of the club, but I can tell that it’s happening. It’s becoming routine. If my guard is lowering after a week, what will it be like in a month? In three months? What about when I finally have enough money to pay off my brother’s debt?
I really shouldn’t stay. I should count my money and go back to my apartment. But it’s been a long week. I could use a drink, especially after seeing Bram in the crowd. Instead of slipping out when I’m allowed to, I linger in my dressing room until the club starts closing down. I’m hardly recognizable in my regular attire—to people that only know me as Lavender Rose, at least. The last few customers don’t even give me a second look when I walk back out to the main part of the club.
“Are you staying?” Will, the bouncer that normally watches the back door, looks over at me when I walk to the bar.
“Yeah, I think I’ll have a drink.” I smile and sit down.
“There’s going to be a lot more than alcohol on the menu tonight.” He chuckles under his breath and pulls a bag filled with white powder out of his pocket. “Want some?”
“Uh, no—no, thank you.” I quickly hold up my hand and decline his offer for what I assume is cocaine.
Steve pours me a drink. Wine. The hardest thing I’ve ever had except for that one time at a party when I tried a shot of vodka. I’m a lightweight. I found that out a long time ago. The glass of wine will give me a buzz, and I’ll need someone to walk me to a cab if I have two.
Will is right. The party isn’t a social gathering to have a few drinks. There are drugs. There are dancers teasing bouncers. Rhonda is having a discussion with Max that seems to be leading to a trip behind the curtain for something other than a lap dance. I’m out of my element. I can count the number of times I’ve been drunk on one hand. I don’t need a single finger to count the number of times I’ve done drugs.
I watch everything. I feel like a voyeur witnessing something taboo and forbidden, but it isn’t. It’s everyday life for my co-workers, my boss—the world I walked into willingly because it was the best route to a financial solution.
“I think I’m going to call it a night,” I say to nobody in particular. “I need to get some sleep.”
I’m ignored. I assume I’m pretty boring to them. I’m not partaking in anything interesting. They don’t notice when I leave my glass of wine on the counter and head for the door. Will normally watches me until I’m out of sight when I leave the club, but he’s too busy with drugs and the stripper who is showing him the kind of attention he’s looking for.
The city is dangerous, but my route home isn’t that bad. I normally walk to the bus stop, and there is a stop pretty close to my apartment. Something feels off. Almost like the spidey-sense my brother used to talk about when he was younger, when comic books were more interesting than gambling more money than he had in his pocket.
“Kiana.” A voice nearly makes me jump out of my shoes, but I recognize it before I freak out.
“Mr. Diaz.” I turn toward the older Hispanic man who steps into the light that surrounds the bus stop.
“I believe your next payment is due.” He narrows his eyes, and if I didn’t know any better, I would swear that the hazel in them was glowing red.
“I…” My hand moves to my purse. “I have it… I was going to bring it to you tomorrow.”
“Lucky for you.” He takes a step forward. “I was in the neighborhood.”
My blood is ice cold and molten at the same time. I fumble with my purse and pull out the money Max gave me at the end of my shift. I’m not brave enough to count it. I just use it like a shield, bait that keeps Mr. Diaz from taking another step toward me.
“Good girl.” His finger slides along my knuckles before he pulls his hand away. “I hear you’re quite popular at Max’s club.”
“Am I?” I ask, but it’s hardly a question.
“I knew you would be.” He laughs under his breath. “That’s why I suggested it in the first place.”
I don’t know how to respond. I’m at his mercy, and I just want him to be satisfied with my payment and walk away. The bus approaches, and Mr. Diaz gives me a nod—permission to leave. I scurry toward my bus so fast I almost trip over my own two feet. I’d prefer to meet Mr. Diaz in the daylight. He’s scary enough without the cover of darkness that somehow makes him even more sinister than he already is.
I’ve bought my brother another day. That’s what truly matters.
I need to make sure Bram doesn’t call my father. I don’t know how to get in touch with him, but I have to try something.
Even if I have to tell him the truth about why he saw me on that stage.
Chapter Four
Bram
One hand lingers on my phone. The other holds my whiskey. I’ve been stuck in this position since I got back to my house. One quick tap with my finger will call Kiana’s father, but I don’t know if I’m ready to have that conversation.
There’s so much we would have to talk about before I would be able to tell him the real reason I’m calling. We haven’t spoken since the day he asked me to buy his stake in the company. I don’t know if his intention was to sever our friendship in the process, but it sure as
