Page 3 of Casino King

Walking over to the stage area, I get a smile and nod from the show’s manager, Dan, and return it with my own, getting in the zone for the seduction I’m about to perform. That’s what my solo is – a seduction. And I love every second of it because it’s so opposite of who I am normally.

When the music changes and the curtain rises, I spin out onto stage, the crowd’s applause filling my ears. But when my eyes float over to the table against the wall, it’s still empty, and my smile slips momentarily.

I’ve gotten used to having him there, and without feeling his eyes on me, it feels like my performance isn’t as powerful. I know I’m good, but he makes me better.

After the show, I walk back to my station with the other girls, and my eyes are immediately drawn to the bouquet of black roses waiting for me.

What? How?

I reach for the card and eagerly pull out the thick cardstock from the envelope, needing to see his beautiful script.

I’m sorry I couldn’t be there tonight, I had business to attend to. But I know you were beautiful as always.

-A

Opening the jewelry box, I’m once again struck speechless. Nestled in the velvet is a pair of dark red ruby stud earrings with little diamonds surrounding the stone. They’re absolutely stunning, and I know they’ll look beautiful with my solo costume. Which I have a suspicion was the drive behind him choosing these.

The pad of my finger circles the tiny diamonds around the ruby and my mind wanders to the image of who he is and why of all people he’s chosen me to shower with extravagant gifts and attention.

Maybe one of these days I’ll finally find out.

Changing into my post-show clothes, I wipe my makeup off as best as I can before I can get home to take a shower, and start making my way down the small back hallway. My thoughts drift to the beautiful earrings in my bag and I bite my bottom lip to keep from smiling like a fool.

I have no reason to think anything other than he’s a man who likes to give the woman he enjoys seeing dance gifts, but I can’t help thinking of what it would be like to be with a man like that. A man with expensive taste who probably has a big important job, an expensive car, a fancy house, and gets whatever he wants.

Men like that are usually already taken, though, which is probably why he’s stayed anonymous these past five weeks. He’s probably married with a girlfriend on the side, and I’m just something pretty he likes to look at when he’s bored.

It doesn’t feel like that, but I don’t know…

Pushing those thoughts away, I drift back to thinking about what it would be like to feel his eyes on me when he’s standing directly in front of me. Those are more pleasant thoughts.

Taking my keys out of my bag, I unlock my car, and as I reach for the door handle, I see a shadow loom over me right before a hand grips my upper arm and spins me around with a roughness that has me squealing out a strangled cry.

The face of a complete stranger fills my vision, and I manage to let out a scream before his hand covers my mouth, filling my senses with the scent of cheap beer and cigarettes.

“Don’t scream,” the man growls. My wide eyes stare up at the imposing figure, knowing straight away he’s most definitely not my mystery man. He drinks expensive whiskey, wears expensive Italian suits, and would never lie in wait for me in the parking lot just biding his time until he can make his move. “I saw you dance earlier. You’re so sexy.”

“Get off of me,” I try and say behind his hand, but it comes out as a muffled string of inaudible words.

Bucking my body forward, I try to break free from his grip, but his hand on my arm just tightens as he pushes me against my car.

Panic starts to set in when I can’t make him budge, and my wide eyes look around for anything and anyone who can help me, but I come up with nothing.

“Stop fighting me,” he snarls. Pulling his hand away from my mouth, I suck in a ragged breath like I hadn’t had oxygen for minutes when it’s only been a few seconds.

“Get off of me!” I yell in his face, trying to push him off of me.

A sharp sting flashes across my cheek and my head is jerked to the side, pain automatically spreading from where he hit me.

“I said don’t scream!” His harsh voice drips with malice, and I know he’s not going to stop at just cornering me to talk.

No. I refuse.

Struggling with every ounce of strength I can manage in the pinned down position I’m in, I fight him. I grunt and huff and manage another scream before he backhands me again and clamps his hand over my mouth. A putrid taste fills my mouth knowing I can’t fight off a man twice my size who’s determined to have me however he wants me.

I don’t know how long I struggle to break free, but just when I’ve all but given up hope that I’ll come away from this without having his filthy hands all over me, he’s suddenly yanked away from me.

A man dressed impeccably in a dark suit throws him against the nearest car by the neck, punching him in the face. “Who the fuck do you think you are hitting a woman?” His deep, angry voice is sharp and pointed. He punches him again in the face – hard. “She said no.” Punching him in the gut, the bastard folds over with a pained grunt.

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