Page 55 of Cruel Steps

“That’s not hate, babe. That’s possessive lust. I’m gonna need extra padding today at practice.”

“No, you won’t. Just tell him you’ll tell me.”

“Yeah. Because tattle-telling is badass. Sic my girlfriend on my QB?”

“Then pack extra ice, too,” I huffed and stomped off. Why could guys protect girls, but if girls tried to do the same, it made them weak?

“Peanut! Don’t be mad.” He laughed, catching up to me. “I’ll be good. I promise to report back to you.”

We didn’t see Holden on our way out, so we separated at the quad. Cody headed to grab a snack before practice while I continued to the parking lot. I looked up the club the asshole had mentioned while I walked and noticed a now-hiring banner on their website. Clicking on it, my eyes bulged at the hourly rate. It might be worth a stop on the way home.

I neared my car with trepidation, sighing in relief when there wasn’t a rose in sight. The drive to Club Ember was quick, and I pulled into the empty parking lot. A beefy guy at the door gave me a look, but let me in.

“Can I help you?” a guy asked. He was so pretty that I stumbled. His muscles had muscles, and I’d never seen cheekbones that pronounced before. He looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties, and if I had to guess, he was the manager.

“I, um, saw you were hiring.”

“How old are you?” he asked, eyeing me.

“Twenty-one.”

“You have any experience?”

“Sorta. I’ve never served, but I can dance.”

He walked around the bar and eyed me. Not in a predatory way, but more like he was determining if I’d be worth the interview. Finally, he said, “Pick a song and show me what you got.”

He nodded to a stage with a DJ booth, and I gulped. I hadn’t expected to dance right this second, and nerves hit me. Pulling out my phone, I selected a song and removed my shoes and jacket. I did a few stretches, grateful I’d worn a loose dress. When the music played, I let my body move how it wanted, telling the story of the past few days and releasing everything I’d held in.

I lost myself in the rhythm, even forgetting I had an audience. This was where I sparkled. Feeling this confidence was a pleasant reminder of who I’d become the past two years. Working at the club would be a good reminder of that. It would be more than a paycheck.

As I finished, slowly returning to reality, I looked at the bar. The man leaned against the counter, his face calculated. “I’ll be honest. That was better than I expected. Most girls come in and think they can dance, but all they know how to do is shake their ass and tits, which, let’s be fair, is what most of our customers want.” He paused, chewing something over. “Are you sure you want to work here? That was art, and I feel like I’m doing you a disservice by giving you a job in a club.”

“If I can dance however I want, then I want the job.” I kept my head held high.

“You go to Hayward?” I nodded. “What’s your name, sweetie?”

“Mer,” I said with confidence. Time to take back my identity.

“Okay, Mer, I’ll give you a shot. Come back tomorrow when you’re done with class, and I’ll have paperwork for you to fill out. We’ll go over your availability and figure out a schedule. Welcome to Club Ember, Mer.”

I beamed, feeling better already. “Thanks, um, what should I call you?”

He smiled like I’d asked the best question ever. “I’m Hendrix, but you can call me Boss.”

CHAPTER

TWENTY

HOLDEN

Locker room chatter echoed around me, accompanied by the screech of pads as they were lifted off shoulders. The season’s first game was tomorrow, and we’d just had our last practice. The team was fired up, and excitement funneled through the locker room with raucous laughs, good-natured ribbing, and slaps of towels.

All my thoughts should be on game plays and taking out the Bulldogs tomorrow, but the only thing I could focus on was my step-sister.

Punishing her. Fucking her. Protecting her.

Emerson had seeped under my skin, and I couldn’t get her out. After our encounters at the beginning of the week, I’d avoided and ignored her as much as possible for the rest.

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