Page 51 of Poison

I just rolled my eyes and walked away. I didn't even bother covering up.

"Want a bump?" Cherry asked before I could leave. She held up a small mirror with a line of Nova resting on it and a straw.

Goodness knows I needed the extra energy boost to make it through the night. After taking the bump, I headed for the back door.

"I'll meet you out there in a sec!" Cherry called after me.

The back area of the club was fenced, but I noticed two men opening the gate to allow a truck in, and it pulled up directly in front of me. The instant the driver stepped out, I froze in shock.

He pulled the cap from his head and approached me with an electronic clipboard, subtly lifting a finger to his lips. "Shh."

"What the fuck are you doing here?!"

Vic acted like he was scrolling on the tablet. "Just act casual."

"What. The. Fuck. Are. You. Doing. Here?"

"I got a job as a delivery guy for the Nine Rings. Coming here today was all part of the plan."

Cherry stepped out of the back door. "Don't freak. Act casual."

"Again, what the fuck?"

"I'm trying to talk Hobbs into giving Vic a job." She slung an arm over my shoulder. "As far as anyone is aware, he and I are dating, and Vic is a breeder."

I grabbed my hair, unable to act as casually as they expected me to. "Bitch, Trevor knows what he looks like! How does this help anything? You're putting him in danger!"

Cherry shook her head. "No, he doesn't. He's met Vic only a couple of times, and Trevor is around all kinds of people all day long. He doesn't keep pictures of his clients. He's not allowed to."

"You think I was going to wait too much longer to see you again?" Vic asked. "I may not be able to touch you, but we don't know how long our plan is going to take. I can't stay away that long... I have missed you so much."

"I was so stupid for leaving," I whispered.

"Why did you?"

With a heavy sigh, I explained how I tried to do laundry and ran into someone who recognized me. Leaving out the part about selling my body, I even explained how my birth giver betrayed me.

"That fucking cunt," Vic muttered.

"She always sucked." Crossing my arms, I leaned against the wall, trying to act as if Vic's presence didn't make me want to jump his bones. The last thing we needed was for security to give Trevor a heads-up. "How will you afford to pay the toll if you get a job here?"

Vic grinned. "You get a work pass. Think about it, what kind of rich snob from Top Hill wants to work in a bar unless they own the place? They hire outside help. It's how I was able to deliver here."

"He even has a pass for his interview tomorrow," added Cherry.

"How did you guys even figure this stuff out?"

"We didn't live in a tower for most of our life, unlike you. Because Trevor has always had his hands on you, you never had to look for a job. Cherry and I did, so we had to learn what was what."

"We should go back inside before we're missed, Starburst. We should practice the song a few more times before patrons show up."

I offered Vic a reluctant wave, saying a silent goodbye. I didn't want to say that I would see him later since there was no guarantee of that. I could only pray that Trevor would hire him.

Chapter 38

I was nervous when people started showing up. I wasn't sure why; I had done routines like this thousands of times before, but when the spotlight hit me, all my insecurities melted away. My movements were flawless as I flung around the large ring until it dropped down low enough for me to step onto the stage. Cherry and I rushed to the microphones, where we both sang a sexy duet. As we sang the last note, we ended the act by dancing on the poles.

The moment our routine was finished, we headed off to freshen up. I was expected to mingle. As I left the dressing room, I stayed in Starburst mode. This was no different than getting men to pay for my drinks at Hell's Gate. I sauntered through the crowd, making note of anyone who looked like they wanted to party. Eventually, I found my target. A group of four men who had been eyeballing me the entire show. Their outfits suggested wealth, and let's face it: this was Top Hill, and everyone was rich here.

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