Chapter 12
Twelve
Sam
When I wake up the next morning, the side of the bed Dalton slept on is still warm, and he left a short note on the pillow.
Client called. See you in a bit.
I smile and put the note back down before crawling out of bed. I take a quick shower and do an admirable job of not jerking off in there even though I want to when I remember the way Dalton had me coming undone the last time I was in here.
When I get out, I brush my teeth and pull an outfit on. Dalton’s sweater he’s been loaning me is on the ottoman at the foot of the bed, but before I can reach for it, my phone buzzes with a message from Nathan.
I open it to see a picture of him and Kayla around a bonfire in her backyard.
He looks so happy that it makes me smile.
Nathan and I haven’t had any kind of traditional holiday since Mom passed, but we were always together for them.
As much as I’ve enjoyed being around Dalton and his family, I’ve missed Nathan.
I text him back and then toss my phone on the bed, where it makes the note Dalton left me flutter to the side. I already miss him a little, which is ridiculous. We’ve only known each other about five days. Surely, I can go a few minutes without seeing him.
The door opens, and I glance up expecting to see him, but it’s his friend. The one who’s been watching me since we got here. Arnie.
He shuts the door before leaning back against it.
I take a step back, but the bed’s behind me so I don’t really have anywhere to go.
“I’ve been trying to remember where I’ve seen you before,” Arnie says, his voice low. “I told Dalton you looked familiar, and he blew me off. Now I know why. I saw you at Vinnie’s. A friend of mine took me there.”
My face warms. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t pretend, Sam. I’m sorry, I mean, Romeo, right?”
I desperately want to call out to Dalton, but my throat is too tight. My voice doesn’t want to work.
“I’m assuming you don’t do cash only?” Arnie reaches in his pocket and pulls out his wallet. “What app do you use now?”
I still don’t say anything. My muscles are locked. I’m not sure I’ll ever move again.
“I’m fucking talking to you.” Arnie shoves away from the door to get in my face. “This is what you do for a living, isn’t it? Give me a fucking show.”
I shake my head. “N-No. You’re mistaken.”
He lifts a hand and hits me so hard across the face that it feels as though my teeth rattle. “Don’t pretend I have no idea what I’m talking about. I saw you. I saw your tight ass in a thong. My friend and I have pictures—”
“Stop.” The word is too soft. Pathetic. I should’ve known this would happen. Should’ve been more prepared.
Arnie stares at me, his eyes narrowing. “Do it. Dance for me.”
“I’m with Dalton.” It sounds like a plea, and I hate that. I’m not dancing for this creep.
“He’s with you because of what you do, Romeo.
Haven’t you noticed you don’t fit in here?
” He takes a step closer to me, his hands sliding under my shirt, along my waist. “And who do you think Dalton would believe anyway? His oldest friend, or the guy who takes his clothes off in front of people for a living?”
My eyes burn, but I blink any tears away. I’d rather go work at Vinnie’s again than cry in front of this asshole. “I said no.”
“Guys like you aren’t allowed to say no.” He pulls one hand back and punches me so hard in the side that I nearly drop to my knees. “Guys like you do as you’re told. Now fucking dance for me.”
My pulse pounds in my head, and I try to swallow past the lump in my throat. I was scared on that lake when the ice broke around me, but this is a different level of fear. There’s no one around to help me now. What will he do if I keep refusing? How bad are things going to get?
“Don’t make me wait,” Arnie growls. He grabs the front of my shirt and jerks it, ripping it at the collar.
“Stop it!” I lift my hands and shove him away, but it’s like trying to push a cement wall. He’s so much bigger than me.
“What? You think you’re too good for it now?” He grabs at the ripped piece of my shirt, but I push his hands away. “You think you can just stop doing it after you’ve given people a taste of you? Get your fucking clothes off.”
I grit my teeth and tug my shirt off over my head.
“Like you do it onstage,” Arnie snaps.
“Fuck you.”
His eyes narrow, and he reaches for me again, but he stops when the door opens.
Dalton pauses in the doorway, his gaze shifting from me to Arnie and back again.
“What the hell are you doing?” His voice is dangerously low, and his anger fills the air around him.
“I-I’m sorry. He said—”
“I told him no,” Arnie interrupts me, lifting his hands. “We—”
He doesn’t get the chance to finish his sentence because Dalton lunges at him. Arnie stumbles back and slams into the nightstand, rattling the lamp.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Dalton pulls his arm back and slams his fist into Arnie’s face so hard that Arnie’s head snaps to the side.
“Dalton, stop it.” I try to grab his arm, but Dalton doesn’t let me get close enough. “Don’t. He’s not worth it.”
This is so much worse than it was at the club. Dalton was angry then, but it’s nothing compared to the rage on his face now.
“He’s not some toy for you to play with. He’s a fucking person,” Dalton snaps, punching Arnie in the stomach so hard that he doubles over. “He’s with me. I’m the only one that gets to touch him.”
Arnie straightens up and tries to push Dalton back, but he doesn’t budge. “I’m sorry, all right? I couldn’t help it.”
Dalton’s whole body seems to grow bigger at Arnie’s words, and now I do grab his arm, trying to get his attention.
“Dalton, stop it. He’s your friend.”
Dalton’s arm is tense under my hand. He shakes his head and shoves Arnie away. “Get the fuck out of my sight.”
“Dalton—”
“You’re done,” Dalton interrupts him. “I will take everything from you. I’ll destroy you for hurting him. Now get the hell out!”
Arnie stumbles toward the door, where Grady and Levi have gathered. My face burns, and I look away from them. How much did they hear?
Without a word, Grady reaches and pulls the door closed as soon as Arnie is out of the room.
“I’m sorry.” The words come out of me small and pathetic.
“What are you sorry for?” He’s still so angry that his voice is mostly a growl, but when he meets my gaze, his face softens.
“I’m sorry you saw that. That it happened.” I turn away from him and grab a clean shirt from my duffel bag. “I didn’t expect you to believe me. He’s your friend.”
“He’s nothing to me.” Dalton comes up behind me, puts his hands on my shoulders. “Let me see where he hurt you.”
I don’t want to obey him, but he’s been so nice to me. He believed me when he didn’t have to. I turn back to him so he can get a proper look at the bruise I’m sure is forming on my cheek. My side throbs where Arnie hit me too, but I pull my shirt on before he can see that.
Dalton lifts a hand and runs his thumb gently across the sore spot. “I’ll always believe you, Sam. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.”
I shake my head. “That’s not your responsibility. It’s not like you’re going to be around once we get back to Haversham.”
My throat is tight, but I push the rest of my words out. “After Christmas is over, we won’t see each other again. I don’t want you making promises you’re not going to be around to keep.”