Page 41 of Cruelly Fated
“Get out!”
“Allie, you must see some truth in what I’m saying—”
I swung the door open and stood there, waiting.
Marley let out a heavy sigh, then marched toward me. He paused at the threshold, hand on the frame. “I only want what’s best for you,” he said quietly.
I refused to meet his gaze. He exited without another word. I shut the door behind him and rested my forehead against it. Argh. How could he have ever suggested that I leave Grandpa behind? I kicked the door and then let a few tears fall. I simply had no energy for more.
“Here, you need some under your eyes,” Margie, the dancer with a stalker problem, suggested. She brought her concealer to the back and made me sit on a stack of crates. With a tiny droplet, she dabbed under each eye, then smoothed it in with her fingertip. Stepping back, she studied my face.
“Much better. Now you won’t scare off your tippers.” She grinned and bounced away.
Lance leaned against the wall, scowling at me.
“Alright. Alright, I was packing all night. Happy?” I dusted off my hands and fluffed my hair. Margie was right. I needed high tips tonight. Especially since it was a fae holiday, and all food and hospitality joints raked in cash, even on a Monday. The only Monday of the year Larry opened the club’s doors.
“You moving out?”
“It’s a long story, but…yeah. The house is too big, you know? I’m downsizing,” I lied. No way was I letting news of the foreclosure spread and heap more shame onto Grandpa.
“So where you going?”
“Small apartment. I’ll invite you and your fiancée over once I’m settled.” Another lie, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell the truth, that I’d be spending the night in my car. I patted his arm and headed toward the floor to do my usual pre-opening sweep. The cleaning crew tended to miss things.
I had just set chairs down when a shadow appeared behind me, and I gasped.
“Easy there,” Larry drawled, his repugnant fingers brushing my lower back as he scooted beside me. I hadn’t pegged him as stealthy, but then again, I’d never wanted to know anything about him.
“I heard about the, ahem, unfortunate house foreclosure,” he whispered.
Every muscle in my body locked. How the hell did he know?
“Don’t worry, I’m excellent at keeping secrets.” His voice dipped into something slimy. “And since you’re in need of a place, I’d like to offer you the guest studio upstairs. If you agree to headline at the new club, I might even waive the rent. Long-term.”
He leered at me like he’d already won.
I clenched my jaw because otherwise, it might’ve dropped. Larry had nerve. And an ego so inflated it needed its own zip code.
“I’ve got a place to stay for now. And for the other part of your offer…I’m still figuring out my next steps. I’ll get back with you,” I said, swallowing hard. “If that’s okay?”
I couldn’t accept anything from this man, not even one night in that studio. Accepting it would mean giving in to his influence and giving him power over me.
Larry clucked his tongue. “Oh, well, I’ll be waiting for you to come to me,” he said with an unsettling glint in his eyes.
I returned to the back, head spinning.
“What was that about?” Lance asked.
“Honestly?” I exhaled. “No clue.”
Lancehad insisted I leave early tonight, which meant midnight, so I could get to my new place. My jam-packed car hadn’t gone unnoticed in the employee parking lot. Surprisingly, Larry didn’t mind my leaving early either. The tips were decent, but I couldn’t fake another smile or tolerate one more patron’s suggestive comment. The lack of sleep the night before didn’t help with my short fuse either.
I slipped behind the steering wheel and let my head fall against the backrest. After a deep breath, I reached for the ignition—then froze. A note lay tucked in the cup holder. I unfolded the paper, brows pinching together.
First off, don’t blame me, your car doors were unlocked. You should be checking your back seat before you get in. Safety first.
My stomach plummeted. I twisted around violently, using my phone’s flashlight to scan the back of my car. Racks of clothes and trash bags I’d packed cluttered the space, leaving no room for anyone to hide. Still—why the hell would someone leave that kind of note? Was this some twisted joke?
