Page 60 of Injustice and Absolution

“Okay, fine. I’ll meet them.”

Maybe I’ll finally find my rightful place in this world.

CHAPTER TWENTY

DELILAH

Spotlight is located in a stand-alone building, a little off the beaten path, east of Midtown.

Drew described the neighborhood where it resides as safe but not somewhere he’d let me walk alone at night. I don’t know if it’s because the crime rate is higher at that time or if it’s because of his protective nature.

Though Harrisburg is mini compared to some of the larger cities in the United States, this is still the largest city I’ve ever been to. My upbringing was void of travel and family vacations, so this setting is vastly different than what I am used to.

And I feel exhilarated by the change.

“Ready?” He offers me his arm, and I take it, allowing him to lead me into the club.

At seven o’clock on a Monday evening, the music is already thumping against the walls, its catchy beat enticing even me to move to it.

I wasn’t sure if there would be anyone here yet, but I see a couple patrons have started their evening early. Each of them is already enchanted by the topless girl, shaking her assets in their faces as she crawls the length of the stage.

She smiles at them enthusiastically as if to let each one know she only has eyes for him. In return, they happily pay more for the individual attention she gives them.

Drew wanted to wait to come here until tonight, knowing it wouldn’t be as busy, giving him a better chance to pay close attention to me. Which I’m extremely thankful for. As always, he’s attentive to my needs without me having to voice my fears to him.

On Friday, after relaxing my entire body with a massage followed by hours of lovemaking, he finally convinced me to move into his place. I told him he could get me to agree to anything if he turns me into a wet noodle beforehand.

On Saturday morning, I was awoken to the sound of Drew unloading all my belongings into his living room. I stood there in shock as I took in the scene before me. When I told him he was crazy, he was unfazed.

Then he handed me a wad of cash. Responding to my confusion, he explained that not only did my landlord agree to let me break my lease but he gave me my security deposit back when Drew threatened to report him to the city due to the building’s poor condition.

I wasn’t sure I believed Drew’s entire story. I thought perhaps the money came from him directly to make me feel better about my decision. When I questioned him about it, he distracted me with orgasms until I let it go.

The excitement I felt over moving in with Drew was overshadowed slightly by the fact that I didn’t feel comfortable sharing my joy with Maggie. If she wasn’t supportive of me moving out on my own, there’s no way she’d be excited about me moving in with him.

And until we can move past the argument we had when I left, I can’t see myself being able to share any news of my life with her.

But I miss my best friend, dearly. Whether it be from guilt or a need to reconcile, I make a vow to message her this week to try to settle our issues.

“Ethan,” Drew calls to the man sitting just inside the doorway. He’s got a large build with dark hair and eyes. My initial reaction to him is weary. His face screams of malice until he realizes Drew is the one speaking to him. “I’d like to introduce you to Delilah. Delilah, this is Ethan, my most trusted bouncer and head of security.”

Ethan reaches his hand out to me, and I take it reluctantly. There’s something about him that makes me uneasy. But I chalk it up to my normal distrust of new, strange men.

“Delilah, nice to meet you,” he greets, and I wonder if he knows who I am. I know nothing of the people Drew works with other than catching a name or two from time to time.

“Likewise,” I respond with a slight nod.

“Didn’t know you were coming in tonight, boss.” Ethan turns his attention back to Drew.

“I wasn’t planning on it, but I thought it was a good time to show Delilah around. Let her see what goes on and try to convince her to join the team.”

I roll my eyes playfully at his determination. Ethan’s eyes light up with an excitement that helps calm my nerves a little. His face is now the complete opposite of the hard, threatening mask he wore a moment ago. “You’d have a lot of fun here, that’s for sure.”

I look around at the layout and décor of the place. The atmosphereisnice. It’s a little cozier than any other bar I’ve seen, not that I’ve been to many. Just one, actually. But this place isn’t too far off from The Screaming Frog in downtown Gettysburg.

It’s not at all like what I pictured.

I’ve always thought of strip clubs as a place where dangerous men with dark predilections come to get their rocks off by watching girls with little to no self-esteem shake their ass for a dollar.

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