Page 5 of Moments of Malevolence

But I could be if Sarah fucking pisses me offone more time.

* * *

Louise pulls me by my arm to her area.

My guys are all taken care of for now, and luckily for her, her men were late. So it all worked out well in the end.

“They recognize me,” she whispers.

“They do?” I ask, rolling my eyes.

“Yes, I went to school with the twins. They don’t talk much.” Her grip tightens on my arm as she continues pulling me along.

“You really can’t do the rest yourself? You’ve already served them, and it is your job,” I state.

“They didn’t want to order, so I stepped away and got you. See if you can get them to order.”

Technically, they don’t have to order anything. They pay a large fee for the private tables as it is, but it’s all about up-sell, up-sell, up-sell. The more we up-sell the larger the tips.

When we get to the edge of where they are seated Louise stops and turns to me. “I’ll go and see if your men want any more drinks while you look afterthem.” She says “them” as if they are forbidden. When I don’t move, she pinches her lips together. “Please,” she begs.

“You owe me so big, you know that, right?” I say, pushing my lilac hair behind my ear. I should have dyed it pink. That would have made the boss happy, too bad I am not about making anyone happy but myself.

Louise leans up and kisses my cheek before she runs off, leaving me standing there. I sigh and step around the corner where I am immediately met with three sets of eyes. They’re all staring at me as I climb the stairs until I’m standing directly in front of them. I don’t know the color of their eyes, but their stares are laden with darkness, and I feel them creeping all over my body.

“Howdy, boys.” I smile as I voice the line we have to say when greeting customers. Cowboy bar, remember? And we aren’t even in Texas. Good Lord. “I know Louise has served you already.” I check and notice all the alcohol is untouched.Weird.“But I was hoping I could persuade you to partake in some of our top-shelf liquor.” When none of them respond, I open my mouth to go for a different angle when someone else walks up the stairs. This guy offers me a smile as he takes a seat.

“Bring us the Macallan,” he says.

“The thirty year old?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“We only serve that by the bottle.”

“Yes, yes.” He waves me off. He turns to the three other men. “We’re celebrating.” I start to move when another voice stops me, sending shivers all over my body.

“What’s your name?”

That voice—it’s familiar.

No, it can’t be. Surely not. Goosebumps dot my skin as my brain matches up the name with my most regular customer. I spin around to find the speaker and come face to face with a man who is so deadly gorgeous I immediately know he isn’tmyZuko. I don’t see anyone who would call to have sex over the phone; this man needs no help in that department based on his looks alone.

“My name’s Alaska. Holla if you need anything.” I give him a wink and step away.

As soon as I get to the bar to give my order, Louise is back and gluing herself to me.

“Did they ask where I went?” she whispers.

“No, they hardly spoke. Some new guy came in and ordered for them.” She checks over her shoulder and sucks in a breath.

“That’s Grayson. He’s younger, but as far as I know, he is the only friend they have,” she shrugs. “Well he’s the only one they are seen speaking to at least. He also owns the sex club downtown.” I’ve heard of that place, even considered getting a job there before I found the phone sex job. Plus, I find hugs weird, so letting someone touch me, especially for money, would be way worse. Just thinking about it gives me the shivers.

No, thank you.

“So they can afford the alcohol they just ordered?” I ask her.

She nods her head. “Absolutely. They could probably buy this place if they wanted to.” She laughs. “You wouldn’t think it, considering we come from the same beat-down, fucked-up area…” She pauses. “We made our way out of it, though I hear they still live there. Lord knows why.”

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