Page 30 of Captivated

“Yes, and you are?”

“My name is Cassie. Sam, the manager of Dark Horse, said he’d contact you and put in a good word for me.”

“Yes, he called. He also said you might come with some trouble.”

“No. No trouble. I handled that situation. It was all a misunderstanding.”

“He didn’t tell me any details, but he said you’re a good dancer who will bring in customers once they see you. We have enough girls tonight, and it’ll be slow since it’s Monday, but if you want to come in tomorrow around five or six, I’ll see what you’ve got and we can go from there. Sound good?”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll see you then.”

Hanging up, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, lifting my face to the sky to feel the cold air on my bare skin.

A storm is coming. I can feel it. The sky is darkening and the air has that smell to it that brings back memories of my childhood in Boston. I love the snow. It’s always been a comfort for me. It gives me an excuse to stay inside and snuggle under a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa and a slew of movies to pass the time.

I walk back to the house and call for my brother. “Sean! You want anything from the store? I need to grab some things.”

He doesn’t answer, so I climb the stairs and knock on his door. When we came to live with our aunt, Sean and I shared a room for a few years until I started sleeping on the pull-out couch one night, and just never went back. I didn’t mind. I wanted my own space, but I wasn’t going to kick my little brother out of our room.

When our aunt passed, it took me a few weeks to gain the courage to go into her room and clear her things out. But since then, I’ve turned her room into mine.

“Sean? Are you awake?” I ask softly through the door. I don’t get an answer or hear any movement from inside, so I pop my head in. He’s not here.

Shit.

Where did he go?

I quickly send him a text. I don’t need him getting into any more trouble.

Me:Sean, where did you go?

Sean:Don’t worry about me, Cass. I’m going to fix what I did.

Oh, no. What the hell does that mean?

Me:Please don’t tell me you’re gambling to try and win your debt.

Sean:I know what I’m doing, Cass.

Me:You don’t. What money are you even using? Look, I got you $85,000 to give them, and I’ll get the rest. Please just come home.

Sean:How the fuck did you get $85,000?

Me:It turned out that new Range Rover was mine, so I sold it this morning.

Sean:Again… What the fuck, Cass? How was that yours and you didn’t know?

Me:Someone thought it was an appropriate gift and it wasn’t. So, I sold it. Don’t ask questions, Sean. Just get home. Now. Don’t dig a bigger hole we’ll never get out of. That’s how we got in this mess.

Sean:Fine. I’m on my way.

I breathe a sigh of relief and collapse onto the couch.

I can’t believe him. Well, maybe I can. This is who he’s been for the past year and I’m only finding that out now.

~ Chapter 11 ~

Nico