Kelsey #3
I stare at the flap that runs along the back of the couch to hide the taller than average legs. I probably won’t fit, but what other choice do I have?
I drag the flap over the top of me and wiggle sideways as far as I can go. Somehow I fit into the small, disgusting and musty space. My nose is buried in the underside of the upholstery, my breaths shallow.
There’s something cold and rubbery pressed to my shoulder.
I can only imagine what it is and try not to puke in my mouth. A used Trojan is the least of my problems.
Oh fuck. Is my foot hanging out? Is it visible?
Squeezing my eyes shut, I focus on making myself as small as possible. I can’t let him see me.
The couch above me creaks. A thousand tons of pressure pushes down on my ribs. I start to get lightheaded.
“You can come out, girlie. I won’t hurt you,” he says.
Liar. There’s no way I’m going to do that willingly. But at least, he hasn’t realized it’s me. Surely, he would have called me by his favorite pet name for me had he recognized me. The door opens as someone else enters. “Whoa, you’re a big one, aren’t you? Much bigger than the other—”
Heaven. She must have seen him enter and decided to check on me since Walt isn’t around.
She gasps. “What happened to him? Oh my God? Is that bloo—”
Tick. Thump.
I squeeze my eyes shut as I wait for the thud. Poor Heaven.
The couch creaks as the man from my past gets up. His footsteps move a few feet away. “Pity.”
The door opens again, he walks out, and it closes behind him. Still, I don’t move straight away. He could be waiting for me.
After a few moments when he doesn’t come back, I struggle out from under the couch and crawl over to Heaven.
Her beautiful blue eyes are open, emptily staring up at the ceiling.
My shoulders shake as I suppress a sob. I haven’t known her long, but she was good to me.
She was nice to me. She helped me learn the ropes when I started at Scarlet.
She didn’t deserve this. To die at the hands of a thug like him. He must have thought there was someone else in the room until Heaven made the mistake of coming to check on me. What if he works out there was another girl in here? Gary was watching like a hawk earlier... I choke on a breath.
I need to go. To get far, far away from here. Scrambling to my feet, I press my clammy hands to my midsection and try to calm my rapid breathing. Tottering in my heels to the door, I step outside while clinging to the wall.
The main floor is as busy as usual. Bartenders are running trays of drinks to tables.
The girls are flirting with clients they hope will be big spenders in the back rooms. Sapphire and the other girls working the poles in the middle of the room are encouraging the men watching to tuck tips into their bikinis.
Everyone is carrying on as usual. Unaware that Heaven and Loverboi or whatever his real name is, are lying dead in the VIP room.
I take another breath and continuing scanning the room. My eyes lock on the back of the familiar man sitting at the bar. Shit. He’s still here. And worse? So is Gary. They are talking.
I need to move.
Wobbly legs, stomach full of nerves, I rush across the main floor as quickly as I can while trying not to appear out of sorts. Do not draw attention. Get into the back room, grab your bag, and get the hell out. Pretend you were never here.
Gary claps the man on the back. He grins as they talk.
They seem almost friendly. They walk toward the room with the dead bodies.
Did Gary know he was going to kill that guy?
Did he send me in there aware that there was a good chance I’d be murdered too?
Is that why there was no one watching out for me?
It is, isn’t it? But at least that means Walt is safe.
The sultry music changes to the dirty, gritty crooning of L.A. Riot.
Kill me now. Why can’t I escape him today? It’s like he’s doing it on purpose, like he knows what damn day this is. The beginning of the end.
The girls on the poles switch up. Sapphire leaves the stage for the floor a few feet in front of me. She catches sight of me and her expression turns catty.
I try to sidestep her by changing my route, but she alters hers to get in my way. Whatever her problem is, she’s been nasty to me since I started at Scarlet. Making snide comments or being an outright bitch.
“You’re in my section.” She steps into my path.
Any second Gary will realize I’m not in the room like I’m meant to be. I jostle past her. It’s not like I’ll ever see her face again. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Skank.” Sapphire snaps, shoving me.
My balance compromised, I fall to the floor with a yelp. My ankle is throbbing.
Sapphire swaggers toward the bar with a giggle as I try to gain my composure. My ankle twinges painfully as I stand back up and survey the room.
Our eyes meet. Recognition flares.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
He says something to Gary before stalking toward me. Gary walks around the outskirts, closing in from the other direction.
I have to get out of here. Fast.
Ignoring my ankle, I sprint.