Page 53 of Unbreakable

Arizona

I’vecomehomeeveryday over the last two weeks to flowers from Draco and random food deliveries of all my favorite foods from Knox. They’ve been messaging non stop, but I’ve chosen to ignore them. It's for the best and I just don’t have it in me to deal with their drama.

But tonight is going to be a good night no matter what they do. Ash is finally coming back to work at the club and I can’t wait to see her. I’m in such a hurry rushing out of my apartment, I run smack dab into the person I’ve actively been avoiding.

“Ohh, sorry Knox,” I say quickly and try to duck around him, but he keeps playing the side step dance with me.

“Ari, babe, I’m glad I ran into you. I’ve been wanting to talk to you, do you have time? Or later, it looks like you’re in a hurry to get somewhere.” he asks, placing his hands on my shoulder to hold me in place, and damn if his touch doesn’t send electricity shooting through my body, making a beeline straight to my clit.

“Yeah, I need to get to work so if you’ll let me pass, I’d appreciate it.” Knocking his arms off my shoulders I try to scoot past him, only for him to block me again.

“Ari, I really want to talk to you, clear the air between us. I miss you.” he implores, as he moves closer into my personal bubble.

“Look Knox, now is not the time. The time would have been over a month ago when two men decided to act like jackasses in my home. I’ve got to go to work and I don’t have time for this today.” I tell him more harshly, giving him a slight shove as I move pass him and head down the stairs, straight to my car. My brain is urging me to turn around and go back, to scream at him about how much his actions hurt me that night and over the last month. Why? Why wait until now to talk to me about what happened? Why the fuck did he wait so long? Why not then?

I open my car door and slide into the driver’s seat, then let out a blood curdling scream and pound my fists on the steering wheel, making sure to not hit the horn. I give myself five minutes to release my rage before reeling it back in. After a couple deep breaths, I turn the car on and back out of the parking spot.

Pulling into Hell’s Desire, I feel the anger roll off me, tonight is going to be great I tell myself. Well, until I see the other man who has me tied up in knots. He’s been in every night and I don’t expect tonight to be any different. Plus, my girl Ash is back so I’m almost positive the security will be laid on thick, especially with her being what Vee calls the club Princess.

I used to dream of being a princess when I was a little girl, then I learned fairy tales don’t exist, only horror stories do, and the unlucky ones have to live them. I give Hank a wave as I enter through the door, he’s in a deep conversation with a group of guys, who from the sound of it, are trying to get an underage boy into the club.

I head straight to the back to change and put on my face. I’m scheduled to be on stage in thirty minutes. I’m going for a cowgirl theme tonight, don’t ask me why. When I saw the cowgirl hat I had to have it. I also had the perfect number to wear it with so what better reason to buy it. The costume really gives me a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader vibe and I’m digging it.

Once I’m completely dressed, I head out of the room passing Jade on her way inside.

“Hey Jade, how's the crowd tonight?”

“Like a pack of wild hyenas. They’re going to love what you got going on. By the way, the hottie who’s always at the bar when Vee is working is back and his friend is planted firmly in front of the stage. He must have already heard you were working tonight. You should ask him out.” she tells me, wagging her eyebrows.

“No thanks, I’ve had enough men drama, but feel free to take him for yourself.”

“Girl, that boy doesn’t even know I exist, must be taken notes from the guy I’m actually into.” Her voice dropping, sadness seeping through her words. She has it bad for Javier and he feels absolutely nothing for her.

I hear the emcee start speaking and know I need to high tail it to the stage. “That’s my cue, I’ll see you on the floor.” I call out to her, hastening my steps to get to the stage and hit my point when the first beat of my music hits.

For this number, I performed my normal tricks on the pole that has all the other dancers other than Jade hating on me, before moving to the floor, deciding to do more booty popping movements and slithering across the floor. Turned out to be a good choice with the amount of bills lying on the stage.

While the last few beats play, I crawl across the floor, jutting out my hip to the guy Jade was talking about, letting him reach up and pull the band of my G-string out to stick some dollar bills inside. He gives me, what would be for most women, a panty dropping smile, before pulling his hand back. I toss him a wink as I slowly stand and sashay off the stage.

I quickly change into my next costume and make my way back out onto the floor. I’m standing at the bar getting some water from Vee, when I see her eyes go wide and a huge smile light up her face before she’s moving from behind the bar like a bat out of hell.

You ever want to see a sight that will have you doubled over in pain from laughter, watch a woman in stripper heels run. It’s the most awkward, uncoordinated thing you will ever see in your life, how I didn’t fall and bust my ass is a mystery.

Vee dives into her arms, beating me there, and I take them both into mine. All three of us start crying, hell I’m going to need to fix my makeup after this.

I feel a tap on my shoulder, drawing my attention.

“Hate to disturb the reunion, but you got a private party and you need to touch up your face.” Javier tells me, before heading off to break up a fight that’s about to start between two very intoxicated men.

“Well, I have to get to work, but I’ll be over to talk to you just as soon as I can, Ash.” I give her one last huge squeeze, and kiss her on the cheek before taking off.

The night passed in a blink of an eye, and the crowd was crazy the whole time. I did manage to make it over to see Ash a couple times and do a brief and concise catch up, she even mentioned wanting to resume dance lessons which made my heart happy to hear. I know she went through some crazy shit and carries alot of scars, both physically and mentally. Vee told me she’s been seeing a therapist, which is where they were the day Ryker was shot.

It’s still crazy to think about how close they came to being killed if it wasn’t for Ryker’s quick thinking. I don’t know the whole story, but from the bits and pieces I’ve been able to overhear, Ash has a stalker who followed her here and there’s a mole in the club, who may or may not be working with the stalker. It’s like a lifetime movie come to life.

I’m in the dressing room, just finishing changing from my last set to head home for the night, when I hear a deep voice and a girl’s giggle. Fucking annoying ass giggle if you ask me. I pick up my bag looping the strap over my forearm and walk out of the dressing room into the hallway to see Bash, standing there with the same girl who came into the room the night he fucked me. She’s standing in front of him with her back to me and her hands trailing down his chest.

I quicken my steps to pass them, not allowing the hurt show that he’s with her, especially after he slept with me and what he had to say about her. I hear him call out my name but keep going, not wanting to hear what line of bullshit he has to spill.

---