Chapter 13
Tori
Space. That’s what I needed. Fresh air and a minute to breathe.
It was impossible to think with Bennett’s hands on my skin. With the smell of his cologne and sweat surrounding me. Or under the trance crafted by his wicked smile.
What in the hell do you think you’re doing, Tori?
I raked my hands through my hair after letting it loose for the second time. I pulled and tugged at it, trying to twist it back into the sleek chignon I’d had at the start of my shift. The way it was before going into the private room with Bennett. That had been a mistake.
The large bathroom mirror in front of me revealed everything. The truth. My flushed skin. Swollen lips. Tangled hair. Wrinkled clothes.
“Damn it!” I shook my head, sending my long auburn waves back down again. “This is fucking hopeless.”
I wasn’t sure if I was talking about redoing my hair or forcing Bennett from my thoughts.
I slammed my hands onto the cool granite counter and leaned forward, dragging in long, slow breaths. I pinched my eyes closed, no longer willing to stare at my reflection. I didn’t recognize the woman staring back at me. That girl was weak, impulsive, and out of control. That was Tori. I couldn’t be Tori anymore. I was Avery now. I had to be. Avery was the girl that would keep me from getting killed.
I groaned under my breath and then pushed off the counter. I tossed my hair back up, dug the pins in place, and smoothed my hands over my clothes. I had only an hour left before my shift ended, and I could go home again. I could get out of the clothes that smelled like Bennett and sex and scrub the night from my skin.
It was time to be smart. Playing the damsel in distress wouldn’t work. This was real life, not some damn princess movie.
“Get it together, Avery.”
God, am I going insane?
I didn’t linger over the question. Afraid of the answer, I’d come up with in the end. Instead, I pushed out of the bathroom and stalked back through the dimly lit club to the office. Two girls were covering the bar, so I knew I had time to get my head screwed back on straight.
“Avery? That you?”
I went ramrod straight at Paige’s voice, wincing before pushing fully into the room. She was seated behind the desk in the office that she and Reed shared. She was wearing her chic pair of reading glasses and studying the computer screen in front of her. Her eyes drifted from whatever was on the screen to me, and she smiled.
“Hey! Where did you disappear to?”
Shit. What was I supposed to say? I was off fucking one of the clients? On the clock? Yeah…that’s just what I needed. To get myself fired.
I slapped on a casual smile and went to the desk I always used to review the supply list or other tedious paperwork.
“Richie has some people in his private room. I was making sure they were all happy.”
Paige nodded. “Aha. He sure is here a lot, isn’t he?”
I shrugged. “I guess so. That’s good, though, right?”
Paige hitched one of her slim shoulders. “Sure.”
With a sigh, I lowered myself into the cushy chair at the desk. My whole body ached from being with Bennett. The things he did, the way he made me feel. The way his warm hands caressed my body. The hot kisses. The man was sex on a stick—and I had to stop thinking about him.
I flicked on the small silver lamp and wiggled the mouse to wake the computer up. It chimed as it came alive. “Like you said, if Reed trusts him, then he’s gotta be all right.”
“Those two have been talking quite a bit. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that Richie’s pitching Reed some new business venture. I know we have the hottest club in Hollywood, but it seems a little intense that he’s here every night.”
I glanced over my shoulder as I waited for the email program to appear on the screen. Paige had removed her glasses and was absently twirling them in one hand as she stared blankly at the wall opposite her place at the large desk.
“Are you guys looking for another business opportunity? It seems like the club keeps you both insanely busy as it is.”
Paige smiled. “Reed always likes to try new things. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with him in the first place.”
My cheeks warmed. Paige and Reed were my bosses, but due to the nature of the job, they were incredibly open people and made no secrets about their nontraditional sex life.
“Oh, Avery!” Paige flapped a hand at me, her smile wide and cat-like. “You work in a sex club. You can’t get so flustered.”
I gave a nervous laugh. “I’m not!”
“Uh-huh. Besides, you can’t act like you don’t have fun around here too from time to time…” Paige’s eyes glittered with amusement.
Did she know? But how?
Paige giggled at my panicked expression. “I saw you sneaking off with that hot new bodyguard Richie’s been bringing around. At least, I think he’s a bodyguard. That’s what Reed said. Security consultant or something. It’s all the same to me. A hottie is a hottie! So, tell me what happened. Did you two enjoy one of the private rooms?”
My eyes went even wider. “I’m so sorry, Paige. I won’t let it happen again. I know I was on the clock. You can dock my pay if you want?—”
“Avery, stop. It’s fine!” She laughed again, slightly shaking her head at me. “Girl, you worry too much.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Hell no! I’m happy for you. If I wasn’t with Reed…shit…I’d be jumping his bones, too.” She smirked. “So, tell me, who is he? What’s he like? Did he rock your world?”
I felt my cheeks flush again. I wasn’t a prude, far from it. I was a burlesque dancer in Vegas when I was Tori and had never even heard of the Sanderson crime family. But Paige was my boss, and I’d only known her for a handful of months. It seemed odd to discuss something so intimate. Besides, I couldn’t tell her who Bennett really was. As far as she—or anyone else in the club—knew, he was Eric Starr.
Paige pounced as I scrambled through my answer. Her eyes went wide and bright. “He did! I can tell! Are you going to see him again? Or was it a one-time thing?”
I laughed nervously. I hated to lie. “I don’t know! It was probably just a one-time thing. He’s only in town for a little while.”
At least, I thought so. Yet, the reminder made my heart sink. How were we going to say goodbye again?
Snap out of it, Avery. He’s not yours, remember?
“I served him drinks the first night he was here, and we were flirting. I guess it was bound to happen eventually.” I shrugged, trying to play it off. “You’re sure you’re not mad? I mean…that wasn’t exactly the most professional move on my part.”
Paige grinned. “I’m not mad. I mean, if you turn into a jackrabbit, and I can’t find you and the bar isn’t stocked, we might have to have a different kind of talk. But I don’t think you’re that kind of girl.”
I nodded. Paige was right. I wasn’t that kind of girl. Bennett was the first man I’d been with since I’d fled Kentucky and my carefully crafted life—or, more accurately—carefully crafted lies.
Paige looked like she was about to ask for more details on the encounter, but the door flew open before she could, and Reed came storming inside. He cut a sharp glance over at me, and I recoiled. I’d never seen Reed angry before, but there was no doubt that something—or someone—had pissed him off.
“Hey, baby, what’s wrong?” Paige asked, shifting in her seat.
Reed raked a hand through his thick hair. “We need to talk. Avery, would you mind?”
I jumped from my seat, flicked off the computer monitor, and hurried to the door. “Not a problem. I need to check in with the girls at the bar.”
“Check-in and then take off for the night, Avery,” Paige instructed, her tone cool and calm, despite her husband’s intense presence.
“Okay. Thanks, Paige. Reed.” I nodded at both of them and slipped through the door. I’d barely taken three steps before it shut with a solid click.
What the hell was that about? Whatever it was, it had to be pretty serious to get Reed so pissed off. Was it related to Richie and the business deal Paige had mentioned?
I shook it off and went to the bar, casually scanning the room for any sign of Bennett. Hopefully, he’d already left for the night. I couldn’t face him right now. I still needed to figure things out. I had a feeling that the next time we saw one another, he’d want to have a serious conversation, and I needed to decide what I wanted before then.
“Hey, Syd. How’s it going out here?” I asked, rounding the bar.
Sydney, the best bartender on staff, flashed me an easygoing smile. “Everything’s great. Tips are off the fuckin’ chart tonight. Richie’s guys sure know how to live it up.”
I smiled but couldn’t fight the pit-in-my-stomach feeling at the mention of Richie. I knew I didn’t know everything, but there was a sense of danger surrounding him.
“You heading out?” Sydney asked after glancing at the small clock we kept tucked under the bar. Parkston’s On the Hill was like a Vegas casino. The atmosphere had to be strictly maintained to encourage certain…behaviors.
Soft lighting lowered inhibitions and provided a sense of anonymity. No clocks on the walls ensured fewer distractions and stress. All club employees spoke in husky tones, offered warm, flirtatious smiles, and wore semi-risqué clothing to help set the mood.
I glanced around the club once more. Things were definitely winding down for the night as it neared midnight. There still was no sign of Bennett. I nibbled on my lower lip, wondering if I should ask Sydney if she’d seen him leave. But that would only draw more attention to my interest in him. If Paige knew we’d hooked up in a private room, who else did?
Sydney didn’t appear to know. Or, if she did, she was hiding it well.
“Yeah, I think I will. As long as you’re good here?”
She nodded. “Yup. All set. Barbie will be back soon anyway.”
“All right.” I stooped to access the small safe under the bar. The bartenders stashed their stuff in there at the beginning of the night. Paige told me I was welcome to leave my belongings in the private office, but I liked the safe. It was easier, and even though it was shared, it was secure enough for me. Besides, I didn’t have much worth stealing. A few bills for cab rides or emergencies. A couple of maxed-out credit cards under my fake name. And my driver’s license with the picture I loathed. I can still remember the day it was made. How scared I was.
I sighed as I retrieved my purse, wondering for the millionth time how I’d ended up in my predicament and how on earth I was supposed to get out again.
“You okay, Avery?”
I straightened, tossed my purse over my shoulder, and offered Sydney a—hopefully convincing—smile. “Sure. I’m just tired.”
She arched a brow. “All right. Well, if you need anything, just let me know, okay?”
“Will do. Thanks, girl. See you tomorrow night?”
She smirked. “You know it.”
I brushed my hand along her shoulder as I left the bar area but didn’t stop to look back before making my way to the door.
The air outside the club was brisk yet felt good against my skin. I’ felt slightly feverish all night. I sucked in the crisp air and sighed deeply. The street outside the club was quiet, and I hoofed it about a block to where I usually caught the bus. I didn’t like riding the bus after dark. It just didn’t feel safe to me. I preferred Uber or a cab when I could afford it or had a particularly rough night.
As I neared the bus stop, I spotted a truck idling on the corner. It struck me as odd. Other than the club, this was a secluded area. The truck had very dark tinted windows, making it impossible to see inside.
The passenger’s side window rolled down as I walked past the truck. My stomach flip-flopped as a bolt of panic rolled through me. But then a familiar drawl reached my ears.
“Tori, get in the truck. I need to get you out of here.”