Page 61 of Cruel Steps

I appreciated the sentiment, but before Brighton, it had been a long time since I could trust females to have my back and not stab it. I pulled on a hoodie and grabbed my bag, ready to be home. Stepping out into the dark hallway, chills ran down my back as I walked to the back door. The sounds of the club were muted here, and the only light came from red recessed lighting along the floor. It gave the hallway a red hue, making it feel more ominous than a hallway should.

The door came into sight, and I let out a breath. Reaching to push it open, I gasped when an arm pulled me back and pressed me against the wall. Ricky stood over me, squeezing my wrists and pressing his body into me. He smelled of sweat, his overabundant use of cologne doing nothing to mask it. I wrinkled my nose and turned my head, wiggling my lower half.

“Let me go, Ricky.”

“Now, now. Is that how you talk to the person who got you this job, new girl?”

Snapping my head forward, I leveled him with a glare. “You didn’t do shit. I got this all on my own, jackass.”

“Such crass words. I should teach you how to speak to me.”

“If you don’t take your hands off me, I’m going to scream.”

“Go ahead; no one will come.” He pushed his pelvis into me. A hard length met my stomach, and I tried not to gag. “Now, how do you want to show me your thanks? I think you’ll look best on your knees.”

“Get off me!” I screamed. “Help! Fire! Rape!” I couldn’t remember which word was more likely to grab someone’s attention, my mind muddled with information as adrenaline coursed through me.

“Hey! Let her go!” someone shouted, and I wanted to cry in relief.

I bucked against him, a renewed sense of strength rising in me. His grip tightened, and I whimpered. He shoved my hands back against the wall and butted my head. Someone started to smack him from behind, but he was too big for either of us.

“Fucking slut! Stop! New girl owes me. She likes it,” Ricky babbled. He turned his head, and I realized it was JoJo, whacking him with her shoe. His distraction gave me the leverage I needed, and I raised my knee, nailing him in the groin. His grip instantly lifted, and he bent over. I moved away from the wall and pushed him away, kneeing him again in the head for good measure.

“What the hell?” a deep voice shouted, coming out to investigate.

“See, Boss! I told you he was a creep. He had Emerson against the wall and wouldn’t let her go,” Jojo said. She wrapped her arm around me, and I realized I was shaking. A light overhead flickered on, and I squinted against the sudden brightness. Hendrix stood over Ricky, his stance imposing and his face hard. If I were the one on the ground, I’d be scared shitless.

“They’re liars! She was going to give me a blowjob until this bitch showed up. Don’t listen to them, Henny.”

“Shut the fuck up, Ricky. I told you if I found you doing anything, you were out.”

“But you promised,” Ricky whined, finally seeming to understand the shit he was in.

“I promised Aunt Lyla I’d give you a job; I didn’t say you could do whatever the hell you wanted.” He glanced over his shoulder, nodding to someone. “Take him out and make sure everyone knows he’s no longer allowed in the club.”

“Yes, Boss,” one of the big beefy guards said. He lifted Ricky like he weighed nothing. It was then I got a good picture of his face. His nose was bleeding, and he had a scratch on the side.

“That your handiwork, Jo?” Hendrix asked, nodding.

“Just the scratch. Mer kneed him in the balls and nose,” she said like a proud mama. Hendrix snorted and nodded.

“I’m sorry this happened, Mer. Let me know if you need any medical attention, and I’ll cover it.”

“I think he just got my wrists,” I said, looking at them. They were red and splotchy and would bruise.

“He got your head, too,” JoJo said, touching my cheek gently. I winced and pulled away. I appreciated their kindness, but I wanted to go home.

“Do you want to press charges?” Hendrix asked. “I’ll support whatever decision you make. It’s your choice.”

The concept I had a choice overwhelmed me. Having to face him and tell more people about what happened was too much, and I shook my head before I could think more. If I went down that spiral, I wouldn’t make it home, and I just wanted to shower and go to bed.

“No. Thank you. If he can’t come here, I’ll be fine.”

Hendrix hesitated, searching my eyes before he spoke. “If you change your mind, let me know. An official incident report will be written, and I’d like you to do one on your next shift to cover our bases. Your safety is the priority.”

“I’m good. Thank you.”

“Okay. I’ll walk you out to your car.”

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