Page 14 of Claimed By the Boss

“Hey,” says a soft voice from behind me.

I turn to see another Omega, a petite redhead with a kind smile.

“Take this.” He holds out a small white pill. “Trust me, it’ll help take the edge off.”

I hesitate, staring at the tiny white tablet in his hand. Addiction destroyed my family, so I’ve always been wary of drugs. But I can’t deny that I could use something to calm my nerves right now.

Swallowing hard, I reach out and take the pill from him, pressing it against my tongue with a shaky breath.

I force a weak smile. “Thank you.”

“The first time is always the hardest.” He pats my shoulder gently before leaving me alone once more.

With trembling hands, I change into the scrap of fabric, which does nothing to protect me from the chill in the room.

As I glance around at the other boys getting ready for the night, I catch sight of myself in the mirror. A stranger stares back, his slender form adorned in seductive clothing, his light brown eyes wide with fear.

I barely recognize myself, and anxiety claws at my chest. The weight of the situation presses down on me with suffocating intensity. My eyes close, and I take steadying breaths, willing the drugs to kick in faster.

This will only be a one-time thing. I just need enough money to pay off Gino, then I can find a new job. After tonight, I’ll never have to do this again. The thought provides little comfort, but it gives me something to cling to as the minutes tick by.

“Leo?” the madam calls out, jolting me from my thoughts. “You’re up.”

“W-Who’s my customer?” I stammer, trying to quell the tremors in my voice.

“Richard Ballcrest.” Her foot taps against the laminate floor with impatience. “He specifically requested you for tonight.”

My heart plummets into the pit of my stomach, and acid rises in my throat. I’m going to be sick. After what happened in the parking lot, the mere thought of being alone with Rich in one of those back rooms sends waves of terror crashing through me.

“No.” I shake my head, backing away. “No, I can’t… I won’t go with him.”

“Excuse me?” Her penciled-on eyebrows lift, and a hush falls over the room.

“I can’t do it.” I hold up my hands as she advances. “Please, anyone else. Just not him.”

“Listen, Leo.” She marches toward me, her voice cold and unsympathetic. “You don’t get to choose your customers around here. If Rich wants you, he gets you. Understand?”

“Please…no.” Tears prick at the corners of my eyes.

The drug I took earlier starts to take effect, making my limbs heavy and my thoughts hazy, but it does nothing to dull the sharp edge of panic slicing through me.

“Get yourself together.” She grabs my wrist, her patience worn thin. “You’re going in there whether you like it or not.”

Her sharp nails dig into my flesh as she drags me out into the hall, my chest tightening with each step. If I go through with this, there will be no turning back, and that knowledge terrifies me more than anything else ever has.

My bare heels slide helplessly against the floor as I strain to escape. “No, no, no. Please, I changed my mind.”

Gasps leave my lips, my panic attack growing stronger, making it hard to breathe. I feel like a helpless animal being dragged to slaughter.

“Enough!” She looks at me with a mixture of disgust and annoyance, as if my terror is nothing more than an inconvenience to her. “You’re going into that room, and you’re going to do your damn job. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you’re on your back for the next three days. You can take all the customers who come in.”

I try to take a deep breath, but the tightness in my chest refuses to let air into my lungs. Sweat trickles down my spine, and my legs tremble beneath me. How am I supposed to go through with this when every fiber of my being screams for me to run?

“Please, don’t do this,” I beg, tears streaming down my face.

“Shut up.” Her palm cracks against the side of my face.

Pain blazes through my skull, and my vision swims, my body shaking so hard I would collapse without the madam’s hold.

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