Page 33 of Everest

Promise goes to grab her purse. “Want some help? I don’t mind.”

“No!” I rush the word out, causing Promise to look at me with wide eyes.

Recovering, I wave my hand. “I mean, I’m fine. No biggie.”

“Okay.” Promise eyes me skeptically. “As long as you’re sure.”

I lean in and give her a hug. “I’m sure.” Then I turn toward Luna and Piper and sign. “I’ll catch you ladies later.”

Piper and Luna bid their goodbyes before I take my leave.

As I’m walking out of the bar, I sense familiar eyes on me. My skin tingles with awareness, only this time, I don’t look.

Pink Paradise is packed tonight, and the patrons are growing increasingly rowdy. Or should I say, the group of guys here celebrating a bachelor party? Bachelor parties are the worst! Meaning, for some reason, they have in their tiny pea brains that said party entitles them to behave like creeps. On more than one occasion, Royce has had to remind them to keep their grimy paws off the girls. Tony has a strict no-touching rule, even regarding private dances. He also has a three-strike rule,and this group has used up two of their strikes. I block out their insinuating gestures as I finish my last dance. Launching myself at the pole, keeping my legs wide as I skillfully complete a full twirl before flipping my body upside down. I wrap my legs around the pole, then thrust my chest outward as I run my hands along my breasts while my fake red hair dangles down toward the stage.

I catch a flash of movement from the corner of my eye right before one of the imbeciles from the bachelor party rushes the stage. His buddies whoop and holler. Panic sets in, and I lose my balance. My grip on the pole gives, and I crash to the stage. “Fuck!” I cry out when a sharp pain shoots up my tailbone.

The next thing I know, all hell breaks loose.

Just before the lights go out, I see a large figure tackle my would-be groper. The girls working the floor scream and scatter down the hall toward the dressing room, while I’m hauled up off the stage by Royce, who picks me up with ease.

“Oh my God! What the hell just happened?” I twist in Royce’s arms to get a look at all the commotion, but all I see are chairs being thrown and people scrambling to get out of Dodge.

Once in the dressing room, Royce sets me on my feet. “Nobody leaves this room,” he booms before slamming the door shut. The girls and I stare at each other.

Journey rushes to my side. “Girl. Are you all right? That was one hell of a fall you took.”

“My ass feels like it's on fire, but other than that, I’m okay.” I walk over to my locker, pull out my jeans, and pull them over my G-string. I don’t bother with a bra as I slip my T-shirt over my head. There’s something too vulnerable about standing around half-naked, so I don’t waste any time getting dressed. Plus, after what just happened, there is no way Tony won’t shut down for the rest of the evening. The other girls follow suit and begin cleaning up and getting dressed.

Twenty minutes later, Tony barges through the door, his face red with fury. He scans the room until his eyes land on me. “You okay, sweetheart?”

“I’m good, Tony.”

“I’m fuckin’ sorry that shit went down. I should have kicked their asses out sooner. This shit is on me.”

“It’s all good, Tony. Promise.”

“Fuck no, it’s not. Nobody hurts one of my girls. He’s gonna pay.”

Before I can ask Tony what he means by that statement, he changes the subject. “Club is closed. And don’t worry about tips. I’ve got you covered. You girls get on home. Give Royce fifteen, and he’ll escort you to your cars.”

“Tony.” I stop him before he leaves. “Any news on Amara?”

Tony’s face turns grim, his lips thin, and he shakes his head. “Not yet, but I’m workin’ on it.”

I close my eyes and let out a sigh.Maybe I should try looking for her again.

“I know what you’re thinkin’, and I’m telling you right now, London, to leave this shit to me. The only thing you need to do is take your ass home. Like I said, I’ll catch you up to speed when my guy finds somethin’.”

I narrow my eyes at Tony, but my expression doesn’t faze him.

“Tell me you got me so I can go clean shit up.”

“I got you, Tony.”

Tony then turns on his heel and disappears down the hall without another word.

I sling my bag over my shoulder with no other reason to hang around.

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