Page 22 of Violent Truth
James on the other hand? He gives me the creeps.
“So what are you in town for?” I ask, changing the subject. “Are you and Harry close?”
“We’ve got a side business,” James smirks. “I’m in town for a new shipment. It’s a real moneymaker.”
“A moneymaker?”
“Yeah. You want to get in on it?”
“I don’t even know what it is.”
He pats the seat next to him like I’m a dog ready to follow my master’s orders. And though it annoys me, I sit next to him like he expects. I need James to like me too. I’ll do anything to find Piper.
“You know, sometimes, even the most illegal things can be lucrative,” he says. “Just about anyone who wants it—like really fucking wants it—will pay for it, you know?”
He could be talking about drugs; plenty of drug dealers come into our club. Something about his tone makes me think it has to do with Piper, though.
“So what drugs are you moving, then?” I say, playing it cool. “Or is it something else?”
“Something else.” He eyes me up and down, then focuses on my tits. “You like to have fun, baby? Harry and I can cut you in on the deal. We’ll take good care of you. You’ll never have to worry about a thing once you work for us.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It’s so obvious. Whether he’s a pimp or a slave trader, he’s referring to what happened with Piper.
Piper is trapped in a human trafficking ring.
As much as it hurts, I force a smile, hoping that James doesn’t notice my stilted body language.
“I like taking care of myself,” I say flirtatiously, forcing myself to play along. All I need is information, then Dice and I can get Piper out. “I’ve got my adult panties on these days, you know?”
James laughs. Fear sneaks its way under my skin.
I wish Dice was here right now.
James pats his belly. “Screw the adult panties, babe. I can show you arealgood time.” His bulge twitches, and I force myself to swallow bile. I need to do this.
For Piper.
For Dice too. He needs information about GHF’s other offer.
“You wouldn’t happen to know anything about a group in Japan?” I ask. “Another business Mr. Harry may be working with?”
“Oh, the Japanese?” he chuckles. “Let me tell you. The Japanese want guns. I swear, my brother is getting pounded hereandin Tokyo for guns. You know what, though? The Tokyo ones have babes. You can make a lot of money off of them.”
He reaches for my tits. I twirl around quickly, avoiding his touch, then I shake my ass.
“You’re a bad boy,” I tease. One day, I hope he suffers for all of the horrible things he does to women. “Do you often pay sex workers?”
“Sure. Sex workers,” he mumbles. His hand rubs his inner thigh, stroking his beetle bulge. “You know, I’ve always had a thing for goth chicks.” He skims my sides. As long as he’s not touching my ass, tits, or pussy, I don’t care. I just want him to be distracted enough that he tells me something decent about Piper or whatever is going on in Japan. “I hear they give the best head.”
I swallow hard, tension firing in my gut. Each second that passes makes it harder to get through this nightmare lap dance.
Get him talking. That’s all I need to do.
As I bend over again, making my ass clap in his face, I glimpse at the curtains leading out to the hallway. I want Dice here right now. He’d never let James do anything to me.
“You’re not going to confirm or deny, are you?” James asks. “Do you like playing games with my heart?”
I bat my lashes at him. “I guess that’s my little secret.”
