Page 61 of Shadows of Justice

Not very hooker-like, Viv.

“Get out. Get out now, or I’m coming in there,” I hear in my ear. The malice in Leo’s tone raises goosebumps on my skin. He’s teetering on the edge. “Do not force my hand, Genevieve. You won’t like the outcome.”

Trismo holds up his blade and runs it down my cheek, its touch like death’s finger itself. I force myself to hold his gaze, not daring to show him fear or chancing a look at the camera above VIP.

“Not ‘too good,’” I say, and shoot an irritated look at Magnum. “Just a professional. I’ve been screwed over before. Money up front.”

“Sugar doesn’t mind being paid up front—in cocaína, that is.” Trismo smiles, amused at his own joke. Sugar nods dumbly from beside him, running her finger over the remnants left on the table top and then spreading it over the top row of her teeth.

I stick out my chin, narrowing my eyes.

“Not my thing. Money is my drug.” His eyes glimmer at my words like the black diamonds in his teeth.

“You’re shy for a whore.” He grins, and I force myself to match his smile, my teeth clenched together. “You just need a pick-me-up. Trust me, you’ve never had shit like this. Have some. You’ll feel more friendly in no time.” He fills the blade with a generous bump of the white powder and holds it out to me.

“No, really, thank you though,” I say sweetly. “You’re very generous.”

“I said, have some.”

All traces of humor leave Trismo’s face. His tone is like ice down my spine. Magnum’s fingers begin to twist in my hair, and threads his other hand through the holes in my fishnets. I swallow. I know I’m at a crossroads, one that could literally mean life and death.

Something in Trismo’s eyes tells me that this is a test.

“You’re probably right. Just what I need, baby,” I say, and wink at him.

I watch his shining shark teeth gleam as I say goodbye to who I once was, and snort the line of cocaine off the edge of the blade.

“She’s gonna puke!”

I barely hear Sugar’s laughing voice. The hot sweat that covers my skin is suffocating, its presence like another layer of clothing that is too heavy and too cumbersome for my shaking frame. The right side of my nose is on fire, and the lava continues on its trek of destruction as it filters down and coats the back of my tongue and throat. The Dogs chuckle, watching my eyes dart around the table as I concentrate on my breathing.

“A whore that doesn’t like cocaine. That’s a fucking new one,” T-Bone snickers from across the table.

“I told you,” I grit out, swallowing copious amounts of saliva. “Not my thing.”

“So you just like sucking dick for money ‘cuz you, what, don’t want a nine-to-five?” Lucky asks, breaking into laughter before he dips his head to the table and rails his own line.

“Daddy issues,” I growl, wiping sweat from my brow.

The dancers sway. The music vibrates my body. My heart stutters, the thrumming of my pulse resonating loudly in my ears. Magnum’s greasy finger strokes my arm. All my teeth have gone completely numb, the taste and smell of acetone like a poison, overpowering all of my other senses. Everything is happening too fast and too slow, and the walls close in on me.

Out of nowhere, I think of Collette. I realize she must have felt just like this at some point. I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the coked-out tree.

My father would get a fucking kick out of this scene if he could see me right now.

I know I’m not going to puke, but my one chance to get out of this hellhole is not lost on me.

I cover my mouth, feigning the urge to heave. All the gangsters whoop and laugh, scurrying to get out of my way as I dart through VIP and around the stanchions, clearing all the stairs in one leap. I head to toward the bathroom and sidle up to the shadows, hiding amongst the liquor-infused crowd.

I spot the time—3:47 AM. I’m cutting it close.

“Go to the bathroom and leave. Now, Genevieve. This has gone far enough,” Leo says in my ear. I bite my lip, nearly considering it, the coke leaving me jittery and my thoughts scattered.

I glance up at the camera in the corner above my head.

“I’m getting this done,” I say, gaze locked on the little red light. I distantly hear Leo curse and the muffled sound of a crash in the background.

The late hour hasn’t seemed to deter the attendance of the patrons, and I use that to my advantage. I dart through the crowd and down the hallway, moving fast. I know I don’t have much time. I reach the door and push it open a crack, listening for voices on the other side. Hearing none, I slip into the storeroom, and the sudden silence weighs heavily on my chest. No voice in my ear, and no sounds come from the surrounding space. I know then that I’ve lost my connection to Leo, and there’s no going back now. I don’t waste any time getting to my target, hidden in the last row of shelving on the right.

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