Page 56 of The Dollhouse

My feet drew me to the door, and I exited the backroom in time to see Lake hurrying towards the exit of the club. Past the strobe lights, past the half-naked women and the men drooling over them, he left without looking back.

Carter stood before me, prickling. “That was quick.”

I adjusted my suit, feeling itchy, for whatever reason. “It did not go how I expected.” I had to leave money with Autumn for Crystal, to thank her for her help, even if her help didn’t really do much, in the end. Still, I owed her the cash, and I always paid my debts.

“Don’t even tell me.”

“He’s loyal to Zoey,” I muttered.

Carter glared at me. “I saiddon’ttell me, boss.” His voice I could barely hear over the pounding music, but his expression said enough. He was as thrilled as I was to let Zoey continue her dalliance with Lake, but seeing as how there was nothing we could do without angering our girl, our options were very limited right now.

So limited, in fact, about the only thing we could do was suck it the fuck up.

Chapter Fifteen – Zoey

Everyone could tell I didn’t want to be fucked with the next time I worked at the Dollhouse. Even the customers I served knew, just by glancing at my face, I was not in the mood for their flirty attitudes or wandering hands. And, of course, Roman and Carter weren’t here, so I actually had to, you know, work.

The absolute horror.

I was on my break, standing in the back of the Dollhouse, just outside the side door. I leaned my back against the brick building, staring up at the night sky, at the moon hanging there. My jacket sat over my shoulders; even though I was near the door, I’d learned it was never good to go on your break while wearing next to nothing. It would only invite the occasional pervert to try to take up your time.

Why couldn’t things be simple for me? Why couldn’t I just be happy? You’d think that, after the whole thing with my sister and my ex, anything would be better, but all this shit with Roman and Lake… it wasn’t better. I was responsible for it, I knew, even though I’d known all along I could never have both.

Or, really, all—since Carter and Roman were pretty much a package deal.

Having them all was selfish and unrealistic. Most girls didn’t have multiple boyfriends, especially girls who came from a family like mine. It just didn’t happen.

Hah, if my parents could see me now, they’d label me a hussy. A slut, a whore who opened her legs for anyone and everyone, and you know what? I didn’t care. I didn’t care what they’d think about me now, because they were not good people. They could literally go fuck themselves while jumping off a bridge and I still wouldn’t care.

I wouldn’t even go to their funeral, I didn’t think.

Was that cruel? Maybe, but it was true.

Fuck my parents.

Heaving a sigh, I was about to go back inside, figuring there was no point in prolonging my break when working would make the time go by faster, but the moment I turned to go back inside, someone else was walking out.

Crystal.

I’d be the first to admit, she and I hadn’t really talked much lately. I’d been so lost in my own world, not to mention paranoid that she felt negative things about me after I pretty much stole Roman and Carter out from under her—along with the money they gave.

“Oh, good,” Crystal spoke once she saw me, “I was hoping you’d still be out here. I need to talk to you.”

Even though I had no idea what it could be about, my heart still sunk. For whatever reason, I knew this couldn’t be good. I returned to where I’d been standing, watching as Crystal came with me.

She leaned on the wall beside me, a fuzzy jacket around her shoulders as she stared out at the parking lot surrounding us. Not another soul in sight. The back was where the girls and Autumn parked their cars during their shifts; customers were not allowed back here. We had a gate around it, along with a bouncer guarding it, very similar to the man who stood near the Dollhouse’s doors, always ready to leap into action should someone get too handsy or rough with one of the girls.

“What’s up?” I asked, not feeling very talkative in general. Still, for Crystal to seek me out like this, it had to be something.

Crystal let out a sigh, and it was a while before she spoke, “Look, I don’t know everything that’s going on with you, but I know you’re tangled up with Roman—a lot more than anyone else here ever has been. He, uh… the other night, Carter brought Lake here.”

Carter brought… what? Oh, Roman and I needed to have a little chat. Didn’t I tell him no more kidnappings?

She must’ve seen the worry on my face, for she quickly added, “He’s fine, I saw him walk out of here just after.” Crystal acted like she wanted to say more, but she stopped herself, her lips curling into a frown.

Well, it was a relief that Lake walked out of here, at least. Ugh, you’d think he would’ve wanted to talk to me after, but… but then again, maybe it was the last straw. One kidnapping too many. Maybe Lake was officially done with me, wrote me off because of everything Roman did. I couldn’t blame him for doing that, but I could get hella pissed at Roman for it. “What happened?” Crystal probably didn’t know, but I figured it was good to ask, just in case.

“Carter brought Lake into the backroom with Roman,” she said.

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