Page 60 of Neverland

How had my luck changed so greatly? The Dominic I knew in school was a completely different man. We hadn’t spoken a great deal since the night in the street, but he said his father, as a graduation gift, had given Dominic one of his clubs. Perhaps responsibility had led to this radical change. I wasn’t about to think he was a hundred percent reformed. There was still, on occasion, an ominous glimmer in his dark eyes that raised the small hairs on my neck. But ever since he raised me off the street and had me seen to by his family doctor, I’d seen a different side of him.

While I was confined to bed rest nursing broken ribs, his family friend who everyone called Momma G, took care of me. Although she had a hard exterior, her heart was pure gold. Dominic came to visit regularly and would lie across the bottom of the bed, head propped on one hand and we’d talk until late. He inquired about the last two years, wanting to know my side of the story and why I’d suddenly disappeared. He’d told me how the whole town had been talking about the brutal Sommers murder. How media had camped outside the school for weeks after pestering the students and staff for interviews, so they could cipher any dirt they could on the family.

Police had been called when students gave false eyewitness accounts on the murder. When I asked about Romeo, he suddenly had nothing to say except that the Sanchezes were forced to move, so Mr. Sanchez could find work.

“I can arrange to have some furniture brought over this afternoon while I show you the club.”

I bit my bottom lip, the nerves kicking in. “Dominic, I’m not even sixteen. How can I work in your club?”

He smiled and winked. “Where you’re about to go, anything is possible.”

~~~

The SUV pulled to the curb. Dominic jumped out the front passenger side and opened the back door for me. The street was bustling with party-goers, women in dresses I could only dream of owning, and men fawning over them like they already knew how their night was going to end. Dominic took my hand as I slid out, and then closed the door before the SUV took off.

“Ready?” he asked.

No.

“As I’ll ever be.”

He studied me curiously before a slow smile spread across his face. “Well then, let me introduce you to your second home.” He swung his arm for dramatic effect and pointed to the club’s sign, each letter made up of small light bulbs giving it a magical allure. My stomach dropped, mouth growing suddenly dry.

This couldn’t be right.

Was it all just a cruel joke?

It was sickening how the world replaced the last beautiful memory I had with something that would later become a hell I couldn’t escape.

“This is a place where all your dreams can come true, Lucy.” Dominic’s voice brought me back to the present. “Welcome to Neverland.”

~~~

I worked as a server for approximately eight days and three hours before Dominic’s father, Mr. Salvatore walked through Neverland’s doors. His entrance was something akin to how I imagined the Messiah’s arrival to be, if the Messiah took the devil’s form. The flashing colored lights illuminated his presence, some patrons shaking his hand as he passed, some servers avoided his path altogether. The last I’d seen him was when he’d ‘saved’ me from his son. Before then, when he’d thrown me against the hood of his car, the stolen loaf of bread falling onto the sidewalk. I still remembered the feel of his breath against my skin. I could still hear the words he whispered in my ear. And it seemed, he still remembered me.

Stopped in his tracks by a businessman patron, Mr. Salvatore feigned interest and a laugh before he saw me over the man’s shoulder. It was instant recognition, a smile just for me. He held my gaze and I felt him delve deep into my trembling soul, the tray of drinks in my hand starting to rattle.

“Hey, sweetheart,” the man at the table next to me called.

“Yes?”

His eyes flicked to the tray and then back to me. “You just gonna stand there with our drinks or are ya gonna hand them over?” His tone was light and friendly, but I didn’t want to test his patience.

“Yes, I’m sorry,” I said, carefully placing each drink in front of the men. They all seemed like the regular type who preferred the main floor, happy only paying for stage shows. The type who’d leave their wife and kids at home on a regular basis to attend a club like Neverland, wishing they had their youth back.

“Why don’t you stay here and chat a while?” the man asked.

My cheeks burned at the sudden attention, four pairs of eyes watching me closely.

“I’m sorry, I’m just a server. But I can get one of the girls to come over.”

He shook his head, not satisfied with my response, his gaze lingering on my breasts. “No, you stay, we’ll tip well.” I changed my mind. He was type of man who was allowed to leave his wife and kids at home to frequent a club like Neverland because she’d receiving a heavy hand if she protested. Immediately uncomfortable, I stepped away, only to have a hand slide up my thigh and cup my ass. He winked and squeezed, and as I wriggled out of his hold, I noticed Mr. Salvatore watching with interest, a frown marring his face.

Was he displeased seeing me reject a paying customer?

I left the men in a hurry, keen to collect the next order and be seen doing my job. Still feeling his stare, I glanced over my shoulder and saw Mr. Salvatore talking with Dominic, their topic of conversation was obvious. Me.

Mr. Salvatore left, disappearing into the crowd who’d gathered to see Candi take the stage. Dominic closed in, his face unreadable.

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