Page 6 of Revelations

“You take one more fuckin’ step toward her and I’ll end you,” Raptor roars, appearing out of nowhere as he steps in front of Gavin, a lethal look on his face and a coldness I’ve never seen filling his eyes.

“I don’t need you to defend me,” Genesis says, holding her head high as she moves to the side of Raptor so she can glare at Gavin. “You wanna hit me for blowing your secret, go ahead, Gavin. I’m not the one stealing from my job. You’ve been doing that shit since I started and it took me less than a day to figure it out. You’re not slick and I’m surprised no one else caught on to your ways. Though I guess having a drug habit and gambling addiction will make anyone desperate to get their hands on money. Since the club more than likely makes thousands of dollars a night, you got greedy. Get the fuck over yourself.”

“Looks like we caught our thief,” Vault says, stepping through the front door with Ghost at his side and most of the other members of the club. “Call in Monroe. I want to press all the charges we can against this fucker. Genesis, are you willin’ to testify against him?”

“I am. I don’t want to see the club continue to lose money because of one greedy fucker. Can I get ready for work now? It’s gonna be a long as fuck night since Athena was just fired and I’ll have the entire floor by myself,” Genesis asks, more than a little sass in her voice as she moves her gaze from Vault to me.

Nodding my head in response, I watch as she leaves the main floor while the dancers remain in their seats until I release them. Gavin is surrounded by Raptor, Ghost, Valor, and King.He’s trying to assure them Genesis is lying as I make my way over to the bar and look under the counter. Sitting there are two bottles of top shelf liquor. They’re behind some boxes and if I didn’t know to look for anything, I would’ve never found them. Turning my back on the room, I open the register and count the drawer. I make sure it starts at two hundred dollars at the end of the day. It’s already sixty dollars short as I turn to face King. He gives me a nod and pulls out his phone.

“Got it,” King says after a few minutes before he locks his phone again and slides it in his pocket.

“I haven’t done anythin’ wrong!” Gavin yells when Vault steps up in front of him.

“Yeah, you have. You’ve stolen from my club, been a fuckin’ douche to Genesis, and your days of bein’ a free man are over. Someone in jail will make you their bitch and it’s the better solution for you. If I were to let my guys have you, they’d rip you to shreds before buryin’ your body in a shallow grave. Thank anyone you can that we’re turnin’ you into the cops instead of dealin’ with you ourselves,” Vault says, his voice low and deadly as I make my way back to the center of the floor.

“Girls, get ready for the show tonight. If you’re not scheduled to dance, get dressed in a uniform because you’ll be helpin’ Genesis on the floor. I’d highly think about handin’ over any tips you make to her tonight because she’s done everythin’ for every fuckin’ one of you since she’s been here. It’s time for you to repay the fuckin’ favor. You’ll get paid the same amount she does for waitressin’ and you aren’t to give lap dances or go into the private rooms. Tonight, you’re a fuckin’ waitress. Any of you got an issue with that, you know where the fuckin’ door is. Until I get a few more waitresses in here, you’ll all take turns helpin’ Genesis. Listen to her and do what she tells you to,” I inform the dancers as they all nod their heads in agreement.

No one says anything as they make their way to the locker or dressing room to get ready for the night. Kat walks through the front door just before Monroe. King meets the cop by the door and pulls his phone back out, showing him the video of what was already recorded. Gavin has no clue we caught him and didn’t need Genesis to spill his secrets. He’s going to deny everything and try to pin this shit on her or someone else. I already know how he fucking operates. I look toward Gavin and my eyes immediately land on Raptor. He’s standing tall and his eyes are locked on me with hurt and confusion filling them. My heart hurts because I’m the reason for that look.

Monroe gets Gavin out of the club and the girls who will be helping Genesis on the floor make their way over to her as she looks up wide-eyed at them. Dream, our head dancer, lets her know what’s going on and Genesis turns to look at me. Tears fill her eyes as she starts to blink fast to hold them back. I’ve seen it happen from the girls in the club before so I know what’s going on. Offering me a small smile, Genesis turns back to the girls and starts telling them what needs to be done. Dream and Mandy quickly get to work and start preparing all the tables on the floor. Kat heads behind the bar and Deegan makes his way back to the front to let me know Athena has left the property. Nix stops by to talk to Genesis for a minute and I glare at him before he laughs and heads toward his area to get ready for the night ahead. Everyone in the club quickly leaves so I can get ready to open. Raptor doesn’t even stay behind for a drink or anything. He’s still fucking pissed at me and I can’t blame him.

Chapter Four

Genesis

YESTERDAY WAS SURREAL. Two people got fired, Gavin was arrested for stealing, and the dancers will be helping on the floor until Devil hires two more waitresses. Not all of them are happy about it, but they won’t speak out either. Devil is on a firing spree and we’re all worried about walking in to find out we no longer have a job. At the end of the night last night, my tip jar went from one that’s usually full to two overflowing containers. When I asked where all the money came from, Kat told me I’d earned it over the last several months and it’s what everyone owes me. I can say out of all the changes, Kat behind the bar is the one I like the most. She’s fast, friendly, and doesn’t take anyone’s shit. Dream tried to tell her how to do her job and Kat put her in her place really quick. It took every ounce of willpower not to laugh my ass off. I don’t know Kat well but she’s a great person and hangs out with Morgan a lot. They’re both at the clubhouse and spend their time together there. I honestly want to get to know her just based on how I’ve seen her act at Enchantment one night.

Enchantment was busy as fuck last night and I’m glad Devil had the girls help me on the floor. If they weren’t here, I don’t know what I would’ve done. I told Morgan when I got home that I was covered in sweat, lost about five pounds, andwas so damn exhausted I could fall asleep standing up. Morgan laughed and told me if she weren’t babysitting for me, she’d get a job there for the money alone. Yeah, I had a good night last night. I don’t see it lasting, but I’m sure I will be able to put away money for a rainy day until new waitresses are hired. That’s something I’m rarely able to do and I can’t wait to add to the extremely small nest egg I’ve started so I can get Matie and myself out of this shitty one-bedroom apartment.

After seeing Morgan out of the apartment last night, I quickly washed up and changed into a pair of shorts and a tank top before checking on Matie in the one bedroom the apartment has. My bed is in the living room now and I’ve made it work so far. It won’t last for long, but for now I’m doing the best I can. Making sure the baby is covered and warm enough even though it’s warm in the apartment, I hesitantly walk back into the living room and climb in bed with the baby monitor right next to my ear so I’ll wake up when Matie does. It’s the same thing I do every night when I go to bed. Thankfully, I’ve gotten the baby on a schedule and he really doesn’t get up throughout the night unless he’s sick or something. Malinda is really missing out on one of the best little guys ever. Matie is such a good baby and I will make sure he knows how much he’s loved on a daily basis.

Getting up before Matie this morning, I take a quick shower in the lukewarm water my apartment has. After dressing and running a brush through my short hair, I get his breakfast ready so I can go in and wake him up. Walking into the bedroom, I find Matie playing in his crib. It’s one of the cheapest I could find when Malinda first dropped him off with me. I spent every last penny I had to my name on the baby to ensure I had everything he’d need.

“Good morning, sweet boy. Let’s change your diaper so we can get you fed,” I say, moving around the room to grab a fresh diaper, his wipes, and an outfit for the day.

Walking back to the crib, Matie looks up at me and smiles, gibbering in his baby babble that makes my day because it makes me feel as if he’s trying to have an actual conversation with me as I change him and explain everything I’m doing.

“Let’s get you out of these pajamas, Sweet Boy,” I tell him, unzipping them and pulling them off as Matie starts kicking his legs and swinging his arms around. “You’re so silly. Time to change your diaper.”

I take care of changing Matie and putting a pair of little sweatpants on him with a tee-shirt proclaiming him as the world’s best eater. It’s true in his case. Matie was underweight when Malinda dropped him off to me, but he’s made up for it in the months since I’ve had him. He’s put weight on and is now in the correct percentile for his age. The doctor is very happy with his progress in the months I’ve had him. Dr. Craven is an older man who has been in Pine View for the longest time from what I’ve overheard. He’s never once asked me questions about Matie’s parents and that makes me happy as hell. Especially since I’ve seen him looking at me more than once as if he can see the truth of the situation I’m in with this baby boy.

“I’ve got your breakfast at the table. Let’s go eat,” I tell him, lifting him from the crib and cradling him close because I know it’s just a matter of time before I won’t get these baby cuddles from him any longer.

Sitting down at the small table in the kitchen area of the apartment, I hold Matie on my lap and feed him the cereal I’ve mixed with baby food. I used his favorite fruit today and will use what’s left of the container for lunch. Today will be relaxing even though I have errands to run because I’m not working tonight.I always feel on edge and like I’m under a microscope when I’m at Enchantment. Especially lately with the way Devil’s been watching me as I work my shift. Anyway, we should be back in plenty of time to feed Matie before I clean the apartment from top to bottom when he lays down for his afternoon nap. While we’re shopping he’ll take his morning nap. It’s not ideal, but I’ll work around it as I always do.

I walked with Matie to the store this morning. It’s a beautiful day outside and the temperature isn’t too high to make us sweaty and uncomfortable. I try to walk as much as possible when I have him with me. My car isn’t exactly trustworthy and I refuse to get stranded with the baby somewhere. Even in the city where a hundred cars will pass me by. I don’t trust anyone and a stranger stopping to help me when I have Matie isn’t a risk I’m willing to take. So, we walk everywhere and I point out different things to Matie when we’re outside. I’m always trying to teach him things even if he can’t understand me yet. Dr. Craven told me it’s a good thing to do with little ones so I’ve been keeping it up every day as much as possible.

Walking through the city, I know it’s not the best move to make with the baby. Beggars can’t be choosers though. If I thought public transportation would be any better, I might take it. However, I’m scared of the public transportation here and have never been brave enough to take it. Add in Matie and I refuse to do that shit. I’ve got my taser on me and I’m not afraid to use it. If it comes down to protecting Matie or someone coming after us, I will do everything in my power to protect this little boy. Including giving up my life in order to ensure he gets to live his. Thankfully, it’s early as hell and the sun is shining bright. If it were darker, I wouldn’t even attempt to walk to thestore and would pray the car ran long enough to get us to the store and back again without hesitating.

Crossing the street after walking the four blocks to the grocery store, I only hesitate long enough for the cars to pass before jogging across the road. Traffic is hell here and on the way back I’ll stay on the side of the store until we get close to the apartment. I’m talking to Matie the entire time we cross the street and make our way through the parking lot of the store. I don’t notice much around me once I pass something. However, my eyes are always rotating around the area in front of us. If any enemy comes at us head on, I want to know. It’s not good enough if someone comes up behind me, but I’ll do everything I can to get away with as little damage to myself as possible.

We enter the store and are hit with a cold blast from the air conditioner. Matie gurgles in his baby babble while closing his eyes. I can’t help but laugh at him as I grab a basket and place it on my arm while pushing the stroller around the store. We bypass the produce section. I’d love to have fresh vegetables and fruit in the house to snack on, but I can’t afford it when I have to buy formula, baby food, baby cereal, diapers, and everything else the baby needs. I often go without because of the things Matie needs. I’d give up everything possible to make sure he has everything Malinda never provided for him. That’s why I want to save as much money as possible. I’d love to buy a home for us. I’ll settle for the ability to move us out of the crappy apartment we’re currently in to somewhere new and better.

Walking up and down the aisles, grabbing the bare necessities for myself and everything Matie needs, I feel someone watching me. Their eyes are drilling holes in my back as I discreetly look around and find Raptor following me. He’s currently hiding at the end of the aisle with his head and upper body showing just enough that I can tell it’s him. I’m not surewhat he’s pretending to look at right now, but his eyes are darting around so I know he’s not paying attention to the item in his hand. I’d laugh if anger wasn’t starting to fill me with the thought of him following me around to threaten me again. He better not try a fucking thing with the baby here. I’ll gut him the next time I see him alone and make sure he knows that’s beyond inappropriate.

Pretending I don’t notice him walking behind me through every aisle of the store, I get what I need before heading to the cashier to checkout and bag everything to take home. Loading everything from the heavy basket onto the belt next to me, I pull out the bottle of water I made Matie before we left the house and hand it over to him. Giving him water is new and something I’m trying to get him used to drinking once a day to start out with. It doesn’t always work, but I’ll keep trying. It’s why I have a case of water loaded in the bottom of the stroller already. I won’t give him tap water and use bottles of water to make each bottle he has throughout the day.

“How are you today?” the cashier asks me, a friendly smile on her face that lights up even more when she puts her attention on Matie who smiles at her in return.

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