Page 3 of Lord of Vice

I headed out, staring into my rearview mirror every few seconds. Thankfully, no one was following me. Within twenty minutes, I pulled into the tiny parking lot of the shitty apartment I lived in with Sheila. I wouldn’t consider the girl a friend, but she’d needed a roommate and I’d needed a place to stay. We worked opposite shifts, which meant we rarely saw each other, which was good since we barely tolerated each other.

What living with her had offered was a safe place to keep my Goldendoodle. Even the bitch, as I’d referred to Sheila more than once, had a soft spot for my one-year-old fluff ball. He’d been my constant companion, a gift from my grieving father after my mother had died. I couldn’t and wouldn’t lose him under any circumstances. I grabbed my bag, wasting no time heading in through the main door. At least our building was fairly secure, even though located in a less than pristine part of town.

I took a deep breath before jogging up the three flights of stairs but the moment I reached the landing, I was even sicker inside than before. There were boxes tossed just in front of the apartment door without care, some turned over from the force used, what little I had to my name spilling out. Stunned, I couldn’t move for a few seconds before Sheila appeared in thedoorway, tossing another one, the few stuffed and hard toys I’d managed to purchase for Remington flying from the box.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I demanded, my voice shaking, but at least I’d found it.

Sheila stiffened, obviously not thinking I’d be home so quickly. She raked her hand through her long hair before throwing a hateful look in my direction. “What do you think? Tossing you and the smelly mutt out of my apartment. I knew you were worthless the second I met you.”

Oh, shit.

I glanced over my shoulder, half expecting Rocco to be glaring at me from the bottom of the stairs. In another second, anger boiled from deep within, the longing to scratch out the girl’s eyes strong.

No one treated me this way.

I moved closer, dropping down and picking up my baby’s toys. I could hear him whining from inside. Since he didn’t come to greet me, that meant she’d caged him or tied him up somewhere, which wasn’t necessary. He was a very good boy.

“Why?”

“Because it’s my place and from what I understand, you can’t pay your rent. I’m finished with dealing with the shit you leave around and that fucking dog.”

Maybe I should consider myself lucky that she didn’t own a gun since she was fucking Rocco. I knew it. I’d felt it. I hated her for it.

What was I saying? I hated my entire life.

“Get the fuck out!” she screeched once again.

A strange sense of anger wafted over me, my former resolve kicking in. I was stronger than this. I could handle this bitch.

The smile on her face almost made me go postal but I stopped myself at the last minute, smiling instead. “So the rumors are true and you’re sucking Rocco’s cock. Or is it Sylvester’s? Anything to climb the ladder, no matter how disgusting.” With that, I did exactly what I’d done to Rocco.

I cold-cocked her, watching gleefully as her long, lean toothpick body was tossed against the wall beside the apartment door. There was far too much joy in my head, all the stupid things I’d put up with over the last few months floating in the front of my mind.

“You bitch! Get out now.” Her face was bright red, a clear indication I was right. She fought to stand and I snorted, shaking my head.

“Gladly.” I righted the box, placing it gently on top of another before getting in her face. “If you laid a finger on Remington, I will kill you.”

And I meant it.

CHAPTER 2

Penny

Four days of living out of my car. Four days of searching for a job to no avail.

Four days of worry.

Four days of questioning everything about my entire life.

By day three, it had become apparent that the Morelli brothers had made a few phone calls, making pretty much everyone involved in clubs, resorts, casinos, and other entertainment facilities terrified to even look me in the eyes, let alone hire me. I’d put in enough applications to fast-food joints I couldn’t remember the number. And yet, not a single phone call.

Maybe I should be grateful they hadn’t gotten one of their goons to kidnap me, tossing me in the trunk of a car. I shuddered at the thought but knew it was still possible.

I’d dared take a shower at the local YMCA, which had also allowed me to recharge my cell phone, which I needed to keepfully charged and paid for if I wanted any hope of getting a job. However, the last night of sleeping in the parking lot had been terrifying, two thugs coming close to getting into the car. Thankfully, Remington Steele’s bark was worse than his tail wags. He was a lover, not a fighter, but the assholes hadn’t known that.

I couldn’t keep doing this, especially since I had twelve dollars and forty-two cents to my name. And only a day and a half’s worth of puppy food left. I sat back in my seat, rubbing his soft fur. I’d yet to cry, but as the tears finally sprang to my eyes, I realized I was in a heap of trouble with little way out.

I didn’t even have gas money to return home.

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