Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Tatum
Okay, so I’m a bigger wimp than I thought because the second I walked into that empty ass apartment, I lost my shit. I must have cried in Kodiak’s arms for a solid ten minutes, but the moment I saw my mother's empty bed, I sobbed like a little bitch for another thirty.
Then I took a long hot shower, packed a bag for work, and got my ass out of there. Cruising down the street to the club goes faster than before. I won’t admit that the easily shifting gears on the new bike from Hayden make the ride easier.
I’m here several hours early. We’re not even open yet. I’m hiding in the break room, trying to fix my new budget.
Math has never been my strength. I need to write it out several times, so I know I haven’t fucked it up.
“Tatum!” Dream sees me and makes her way to my side, pulling me in for a hug before I can stop her. I don’t mind it, she’s very affectionate, always hugging everyone. “Thanks for the hours yesterday. I’m trying to save up for a new car,” she huffs, and I nod, understanding the need to save up for something big. After Declan sent me home, he called Dream in to cover the rest of my shift. Most nights, we work the same shift, but we do have to have a day off eventually. Unless we get asked to cover someone. Yay, bonus hours!
“Of course. Thanks for covering for me.” I smile, and she gets an eyeful of my budget all written out.
“Jeez, nearly ten grand a month? For what?” Her eyes are wide, and I sigh.
“My mom.” I don't elaborate. I can’t. I might start crying again. I’m not usually so emotional, but I swear these suppressants Declan sold me are ass. I need to buy more. I never did get that extra pack.
“Damn. Well, the next time I get a group room, I’ll convince them to bring you in. You know how some Alphas go wild for Omega on Omega dancing.” She winks at me, and I tilt my head, looking up at her gratefully.
“That would be amazing.”
“I heard there will be a huge group tonight, too. I have to go clean up the floor and get ready, but I’ll talk to you soon.” She gives me a little wave as she leaves. My chest tightens because the last time I had a friend like her, he fucked me and then ditched me. Not that I’ll be fucking Dream. I am glad to know her, though.
I get lost in the math and don’t notice when someone walks up behind me.
“Boo.” Hayden’s so close that his lips graze my ear, and I shiver violently.
“Fucker,” I swat at him as he chuckles, pissing me off even more. “Why are you here? You don’t work tonight,” I grumble, and he smirks.
“How do you know my schedule?” He wiggles his eyebrows at me, and I roll my eyes.
“Shut up.”
“Shut me up.” If the way he wiggled his eyebrows at me wasn’t enough to give away his meaning, then his tone sure would.
“Leave me alone,” I complain, stuffing everything into my bag and getting up to go get ready. I’ve sat here so long that it’s nearly time for me to clock in. Hayden moves until he’s in my way and refuses to let me around him. I stomp my foot and look up at him. “What?” I grumble. I expect him to be smirking or making some equally annoying handsome face, but he’s got this look like he’s about to confess to murder, and I frown. “What's wrong, why are you looking at me like that?” He’s making me nervous.
“There are a lot of Alphas coming in tonight. Not all of them are good men. Be careful, and try not to attract the attention of the really shitty ones.” Hayden lifts his hand until he’s rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ll be around if you need me. Please, try not to get anyone killed.”
“What? What does that mean? Don’t get who killed?” I jerk back, my heart doing a little flip at his words.
“Any man puts his hands on you without your permission, then I’m cutting them off. You can wear them as a necklace.” The wink and dimpled smirk are devastating to an Omega’s libido.
“You are unwell. You need help. Seriously.” I shake my head and pretend the thought of him being psychotically overprotective isn’t sexy as fuck. “I’m single, Hayden. Alphas are going to touch me. Especially the paying ones.” I shrug. Even though I’d absolutely rip the arms off any Omega that dared to touch him in front of me. I have no right to feel possessive, and yet…
“I am in fact very unwell when it comes to you, Starlight. And I said without your permission for a reason. I’m not na?ve to your role here. But no means no, and we take that very seriously in this classy establishment.” He puts on his authoritative voice, and I snort as he puffs his chest up.
“Oh, yeah? Is that why you ignored my demands to be left alone in the parking lot? Because you take no oh so seriously?”
“We were outside the club.” Hayden shrugs, and I burst out laughing. He’s fucking shameless!
“If anything happens, I will follow protocol and alert security like always,” I call out over my shoulder as I make my way to the locker room.
“And then I’ll dismember them,” he shouts back, and I snort. This guy.
Absolutely unhinged.
“Jeez, they’re being so handsy tonight,” I grumble to Dream, as I place the next drink order on my tray.
“I know! But the tips are insane. I think I’ve made over three grand!” she whisper-yells, and I shrug. There is that, I guess. If I’m not careful, one of them is going to end up handless, if I believe Hayden’s threat. Every once in a while, when I make the mistake of letting my eyes wander the room, I catch sight of Hayden prowling the floor like he’s just looking for a reason to beat someone up.
Like now. He’s just lurking in the corner. He usually works VIP.
“So, are you and Hayden a thing?” Dream wiggles her brows at me, leaning in conspiratorially.
“What?! Oh my god, no!” I yelp, and she snorts like she doesn’t believe me at all. She looks at me like I’m a bad liar, one eyebrow lifted, and a teasing smile lifts one corner of her lips.
“No? Because he’s been circling you like you’re an injured seal, and he’s a hungry killer whale.”
My eyes go wide, and then I frown because what the heck did she just say? “A what now?”
“You heard me. Stop trying to deflect. He looks at you in a way I’ve never seen him look at anyone else in the two years I’ve worked here.”
“He was hired after me,” I say, frowning.
“Uh, no. He owns this place with his brothers… Declan and Kodiak…”
Now she’s looking at me like I’m the crazy one. Which is valid. Because, “What the fuck?”
I know by the look she's giving me that my mouth hanging open and my eyes wide as saucers, is not the reaction she was expecting.
“Thought you knew, since you two are always arguing like you’re about to rip each other’s clothes off.”
I don’t have time to respond as I grab the last drink in my order and head to the table to serve the grumpy ass men that sat in my section.
None of them acknowledge me as I set their drinks down and ask if they need anything else. When none of them responds after a long pause, I scurry away to check on my other, much smaller tables.
I get lost in my thoughts and just move on autopilot. I knew that Hayden had older half brothers. He was raised by his older brothers’ mother because his mother died when he was young.
They share a father, who’s also dead. Being nearly the same age and going to school together, Hayden was my best friend for a long time before we became more. Until we had sex, and he abandoned me. We know nearly everything about each other, or at least we did. Three years ago. I don’t even bother pretending this revelation doesn’t rock me a little bit.
He never really talked about his older brothers because of the fourteen-year age gap between them, and the fact that they weren’t around a lot when he was young. He just referred to them as his brothers. I’d never even met them! I can’t believe I didn’t put the clues together sooner. Idiot.
“You’ve got a dance. I’ll cover your tables.” I startle at the Alpha woman who barks at me. She cringes, clearing her throat. I’ve seen her on stage before. She’s magnetic. Mesmerizing, even. “Habit, my Omega is sassy and only cooperates when I add a little bark.”
I smile because the sweet way she blushes at the mention of her Omega is cute. “No worries, and thanks.”
“Back that way.”
I nod at her gesture, even though I already know where to go. I make my way through the club and down the back hall, leading to the private rooms. There’s a monitor that I have to log into, so I know which room to go to.
The same room we used when I met Kodiak. I’m two steps from the door, when I’m tugged back by a firm grip wrapping around my wrist.
“Deny the dance, Tatum.” Hayden growls.
I flinch at the cloudy darkness in his eyes. He’s not looking at me, but instead, scanning the hall like he’s expecting someone to jump out at us. I snap out of the shock and shake my head. “No way, I asked Declan to give me a chance, I’m not going to reject my first offer.”
He looks like he’s contemplating tossing me over his shoulder again. “You’re testing me, and I’m only capable of so much self-control, Omega.”
“You said you wouldn’t act like a cave man unless I was touched without my consent. Well, I’m consenting. Let me do my job. I have bills coming out of my ass, and I need every fucking penny.”
He clearly doesn’t like the snark, sass, or backbone I’ve developed since he abandoned me. Though his scent calls to me like a siren song, so maybe he likes it just a little. “I’ll be watching. One fucking thing happens that you don’t agree to, and I’m snapping his neck and fucking you on his corpse.”
“You keep saying shit like that, and someone is going to lock you up!”
He smirks. Like declaring he’ll fuck me on a dead body isn’t outlandish. Seriously. The fuck is up with him? What an absolutely bananas thing to say! “Never claimed otherwise, Starlight.”
“First, if the man paying for a dance steps out of line, I’ll call security. What are you even doing over here? Shouldn’t you be up in VIP? Second of all, fucking me isn’t an option.”
I don’t let him respond because I’m already stepping away from him and reaching for the door handle. I stay behind the curtain and make my way around to the stage. As I step through the curtain and into view, the Alpha currently sitting on the couch looks up from his phone.
He’s older. Clearly older than me, maybe fifties or even early sixties. Obviously, I have a thing for older men, but this is pushing it. I don’t like the way his gaze feels threatening.
Declan and Kodiak are in their mid-thirties, have these sexy ass frown lines, and their eyes crinkle when they smile, showcasing their age in a way that I can’t help but find attractive.
This Alpha… Not so much. He looks filthy rich. His shoes, clothes, watch, even his glasses, all scream wealthy. His hair is slicked back, and he just looks arrogant as all fuck. I wonder if I’ll be able to steal that watch…
Dream and a few of the other Omegas I work with have coached me over the last few weeks on how different kinds of Alphas expect us to act and how to spot them. Of course, this is mostly a guessing game, and I could be super wrong because not everyone projects their likes and dislikes so easily…
I go with shy, sweet, and oh so innocent. My hair is down and curled, and I slipped my pleaser heels on before heading in here. There’s a little shoe rack hidden in the same alcove as the monitor where we check rooms and requests.
His request said “pole, lap, tits.” I assume that means start on the pole, move to his lap, and then flash titties.
I have nipple pasties on. Red hearts that sparkle. I don’t know if I can show more than that without wimping out. I didn’t have a problem showing Kodiak my goodies, even when I had no idea who he was.
I’ll just pretend this Alpha is here because he’s completely infatuated with me. That I’m the most entrancing thing he’s ever seen, and he just couldn’t help himself.
Dream also shared her trick for getting into the moment when you’re extra nervous or dancing for someone you don’t fancy. Make up a lie and believe it.
So I pretend I’m the prettiest thing this guy has ever seen, and he’s in love with me, but I’m unobtainable, so this is the most he can ever have of me.
Hayden said he’d be watching me too. Is this dance for the man on that couch or the Alpha spying on me?
Doesn’t matter. I stay up here for three songs, using every move I’ve learned, thankful that the DJ’s sets are shorter than average songs. The man doesn’t speak until I’m walking off the stage toward him.
“Crawl.”
I gulp at the bark as it seizes hold of my muscles. He used a lot more force than necessary, and I don’t like the way I immediately bow to his dominance. I drop to my knees and crawl, thankful that a lot of money goes to keeping this place clean. My scent must be reaching him, even with the suppressors in the air system, because I can smell him from here. Stale cigarettes. He’s a smoker, and his natural scent is hidden under all that nicotine.
When I reach him, I don’t look up into his eyes, even though Dream showed me how to do it in a sexy way she swears by. Some Alphas think Omegas should be submissive at all times and never challenge an Alpha's dominance by meeting their eyes. The closer I get, the more I think this guy is one of those Alphas because of how strong the dominance that radiates off of him is.
I place my hands on his thighs and use them to rise, stepping between them. I keep my eyes trained on the buttons of his pristinely pressed shirt.
“You’re a sweet thing, aren’t you? Unmated. Packless. Bondless.” He observes me for a moment, then says, “Unprotected.”
I don’t like his tone or his words. Or the way he just reaches up to yank my bra cups down. My breasts bounce from the motion, and when he sees the pasties, he fucking snarls.
“Thank you, Alpha, you’re kind for saying so,” I whimper, letting a whine slip free, as my scent spikes, trying to soothe his anger instinctively.
He grunts as I spin until I’m giving him my back. Normally, that would be a bad idea. I’m the prey, he’s the predator. It’s a sign of submission, and I do not like it one damn bit, but I’m safe in here. Even if my Omega instincts are freaking out. I just know I need to be careful, if I’m going to earn a decent tip. There’s no way I went through this to not get paid. He only paid for twenty minutes. I can take another ten minutes of him being a dominant jerk.
The smack that lands on my ass isn’t so hard that I can’t handle it, but it does take me completely by surprise, especially when his hand wraps around my throat, and he tugs me backward, and fully onto his lap.
“You’ll come with me, I think.”
I freeze, the way he’s touching me. The way he’s speaking… The shiver that travels across my skin is involuntary. I lift my hand, making a fist. It’s our distress sign. The response time is thirty seconds, and I start counting in my mind. Please let them be close. Please…
I get to three before the door slams loudly against the wall, and the curtain swings open, and is partly ripped off the rod as two men stomp in first, flanked by three more. Oh, thank fuck. My body melts from the relief. The tension in my body leaves in a whoosh as I relax.
Hayden and Kodiak stand shoulder to shoulder. The Alpha’s grip tightens for a second before he releases me, and I scramble forward and into Hayden’s arms as Kodiak addresses the handsy Alpha.
“Gio, what are you doing here, buddy? With your hands all over the merchandise? You only paid for a dance.” Kodiak’s words are as cold as ice and send a chill across the room. The words themselves are casual, but his tone suggests impending violence.
I try not to growl at the suggestion that I’m just merchandise. Fucking rude. He’ll get an earful from me about that later.
“Escort the Omega to the locker room.” Hayden hands me off to one of the three men that followed him in here, his face a mask of cool indifference. As if I mean nothing to either of them at all. Okay, ouch. Assholes.
As soon as we’re out of the room, I let out a long sigh of relief, despite my annoyance with the two Alphas I can’t seem to avoid. “I’m good, you can go help them.”
The Beta scoffs. “Yeah, right. I choose life.”
My mouth pops open because… What a strange thing to say? Why are all the men around me saying the weirdest shit all of a sudden?
I let him take me to the lockers and decide to freshen up. I clean up my makeup, fix my hair, and change into my extra pair of heels that I can actually walk in for the rest of the night. The doors open, and I don’t bother checking who it is. Dream has a distinct rose scent that can’t be replicated.
“Uh, should I be worried?” she asks as she gets closer.
I throw my hands up at her question because honestly? Maybe… Weird things are happening.
“Is it a full moon? Is it feeling radioactive or whatever?”
Dream snorts at my exasperation. “Retrograde. And I have no idea. All I know is Trev from the security team, who rarely shows his face on the floor, is guarding the door…”
I spin around to stare at her. “He’s still out there?!”
“Yep. The only reason he let me in is that I have a cute ass, and he likes my scent.”
I snort at her joke, tilting my head side to side. “You do have a cute ass. But this is excessive! I need to get back to work. I think I’ve been in here long enough.”
Only I don’t make it to the floor. I get stopped at the door. “I can escort you to Declan’s office. Otherwise, you need to stay in there.”
He tips his head behind me, and I turn to look at Dream, who just smirks. “Declan’s office then.”
“Where’s my escort, Trev?” Dream pouts, blinking big eyes at the Alpha.
The man blushes beet-red at Dream’s teasing. She’s gorgeous. And he clearly isn’t immune to her charm.
There are obviously pieces to this puzzle I’m missing.
“Have a good night, Miss Dream,” he murmurs, nodding to me to walk ahead of him, and we head up past VIP toward Declan’s office.
“Thanks.” I murmur.
The Alpha nods as I pass him, heading into the office door he’s holding open for me. I didn’t check the time, but I guess it’s probably only been twenty minutes since I left the private room. The door is being pulled closed behind me, but Declan stops the Alpha.
“You know what to do.” Declan says.
“Yes sir!”
I’m just standing here looking between them. “Want to fill me in?”
He stares at me as I sit across from him, crossing my arms over my chest.
“In the future, if Hayden requests you refrain from dancing for a particular client, please listen.”
I blink. Blink again. He’s not looking at me as he returns to shuffling through the stacks of paper on his desk. As he continues, my eyes are drawn to the shiny bit of metal I can just see at the edge of the desk.
“Beg your finest pardon?”
He sighs like he’s not impressed with my sass. It just came out. I shouldn’t sass Declan. But… It’s been a long damn night. “I believe you heard me clearly, Tatum. That man you let spank you is not simply a customer. He’s dangerous, and if Hayden was less worried about your feelings, you could have avoided the entire ordeal.”
“I didn’t let him spank me, he spanked me, and then I called for help, just to make that clear. And why would Hayden be the one making such a request? Doesn’t he work in VIP? As a bouncer?”
Declan has always seemed pretty laid back. Like he didn’t have much stress, and most things don’t bother him. He’s a wildly sexy Alpha with a delicious scent. What’s he got to be so bothered about?
“I know Dream informed you that Hayden is my little brother and part owner here.” How the fuck… I shiver, thinking these men might be watching me more closely than I realized.
“How do you know that? When did you talk to Dream? Were you spying on us?”
I have to wonder if I’ve struck a nerve when his jaw clenches. What, he doesn’t appreciate being accused of basically being a stalker? Who would have thought… “You can continue serving. You’ll still be paid for the dance, and if you’re chosen for another one, we’ll be monitoring the customers on our end and rejecting any that are a threat.”
“What do you mean threat? If that guy was so dangerous, why even let him get to a private room? Why did Hayden even let me walk in there?”
The way he rubs at the bridge of his nose agitates me. As if this conversation is beneath him. “Hayden made a mistake and wasn’t aware of some information that I won’t be sharing with you, either.”
I huff, accepting that this conversation is probably going nowhere. “Okay. Sorry. I shouldn’t have talked back. I just don’t like feeling like everyone is lying to me or hiding something from me.”
“I’m not trying to keep you in the dark to punish you. You’ve done nothing wrong in need of punishment. There are things I can’t tell you for many reasons, and I take the safety of my employees very seriously.” Employee… Ouch. Right. I’m just his employee.
Okay, fair, but also that shouldn’t make me feel so let down. He’s your boss, not your boyfriend, freak, stop lusting after the man. It’s because I’m so lonely. That has to be it. My scent sours, growing stronger, calling out to the nearest Alpha for comfort. To my horror, he senses the shift in my mood, and I jump to my feet to cut off whatever he’s about to say as his look softens. I start to turn, sliding my hand across the edge of the desk, and make my escape before this gets worse. “Thank you, sir.”
“Tatum.”
I pause. I already made it several steps, and when I glance back, I’m not expecting the raw fury I find in his eyes.
“You have no idea how close you were to being in an extremely terrible situation. Hayden’s instincts proved right, and in the future, we can only keep you safe if you listen to us. I don’t want to see anything bad happen to a sweet Omega like you.”
“All that concern, over a simple employee?” I grumble, lifting my chin. He can’t say shit like that after reminding me I’m nothing more than an employee to him.
“Why do you insist on pushing, hmm? You won’t be satisfied until I snap and bend you over my desk, will you?”
The wide-eyed look he gets from me is justified. Because for the fiftieth time tonight… What? “Declan?”
His husky laugh sends a shiver over my skin. “Go on, Little Omega, before you tempt me into something neither of us can walk away from.” He watches me so intently, I can’t help but shiver. I believe him. If I keep pushing, he will act.
I walk away, but there’s a large part of me that wishes I had stayed and pushed him just a little further.