Page 21 of Violent Truth
I reach for his hand. He pulls me to my feet.
“Harness your anger, Dice-kun,” he says. “She did this to herself. And you?Youare going to control your future. You’re going to find that rage inside of you, and you are going to use it. You’re going to be far stronger than you ever imagined.”
Mother used to call me weak. This man is talking about strength. Could I be strong like him? Capable of killing someone?
“That woman took away your control. But I’m going to make sure you always have a choice—”
“That woman was my mother,” I say.
The man flinches, surprised at my interruption.
“She gave birth to you,” he says quietly. “She was never your mother.”
My eyes lock on the stream of blood on the ground, then follow it back to the empty eyeball sockets. The orbs of flesh are sitting in a red pool now. She can’t see me anymore. She won’t know that it’s my fault. She won’t hurt or drown me again.
Warmth enters my body, comforting me.
I shake my head, angry at myself for being relieved. She was my mother. She gave birth to me. She gave me everything.
Or is this man right?
“This will strengthen you,” the man says. “Use your anger to propel you into action. Try it for me.”
Desperate to please the man—to pleaseanyonenow that Mother is gone—I study his face, then try to match his expression.
The man smiles. He’s so much easier to please than Mother.
That woman.
“Come with me, eh?” the man says. He rests his hand on my shoulder. “My name is Endo Tomo. You can call me ‘oyaji.’ I’ll take care of you now, Dice-kun. I promise.”
CHAPTER9
LILY
present
“You promise this is worth it?”James asks. He relaxes into the oversized bean bag, taking in the curtained private room. “This is a lot of money for a dance. You sure you don’t do more for my brother?”
Mr. Harry and James could be identical twins if it weren’t for Mr. Harry’s added wrinkles and gray hair. James dyes his hair brown, and to me, it shows that he’s the lesser brother. The one that’s hiding something far more dangerous than what a gun manufacturing CEO is capable of.
I put my drink down on the side table, and James slaps my ass.
“You know the rules,” I say coyly. I sway my hips, pretending like it’s a flirtatious reprimand, when really, I wouldn’t be doing this with him if it weren’t for his brother. I want Mr. Harry to think we’re friends. It’s the only way I’ll get closer to answers about Piper.
“Come on,” James says, grabbing my hand and pulling me into his lap. “Let’s have some fun.”
I brace myself against the giant bean bag. James’s erection—like a beetle burrowing into the dirt—needles into my thigh. I clear my throat, putting on a pleasant smile. Hard-ons are normal here. Usually it takes at least rubbing my tits in a customer’s face.
James must be eager then. How am I so lucky?
Not.
I stand up and resume dancing. James clicks his tongue.
“How much do you split with the club?” he asks. “A girl like you could make a lot more money working outside of here.”
My chest tingles with nerves. Some strippers do side work—or extras—outside of the club, and to be honest, I’ve done it before too. It was with someone I trusted.
