Page 3 of Collide

You see, it transpired he had spent years on the street when he was younger and no one had helped him, he’d had to claw his way out of homelessness and was now the proud owner of a number of local mini-markets and some properties around the city.

Joe had a vision of making Hollows Bay a better place and while he always knew he was fighting a losing battle, he would do what he could, donating food to shelters and hosting fundraising days. He was an angel disguised as a portly fifty-year-old man. It had been our lucky day when we met Joe and I thanked whatever deity was out there for him every day.

The apartment Joe let us crash in was a new purchase, and he hadn’t got around to advertising it, it was empty with the exception of some old mattresses, but given Angel and I had spent the last few weeks crashing on concrete beds, we felt like we had landed in the fucking Ritz.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, but Joe never quite got around to advertizing the apartment. After Angel and I left the train station, Toby decided to leave Hollows Bay and make a life for himself somewhere else. I was sad to see him go but I understood his reasons for getting the hell out of the city.

After a while, Angel and I lost contact with the others from the station, but it was for the best, they were part of a life I didn’t want Angel to remember.

Joe gave me a job in one of his shops, he even helped Angel enroll in a state school. He was fond of Angel, always showering her with affection that she was missing from our parents, and in return, she doted on him.

I didn’t earn a huge amount of money in the shop but with Joe’s help, I managed to turn the apartment from an empty building into something resembling a home for Angel and me.

Life was finally on the up.

We lived in that apartment for two years until I turned eighteen when completely out of the blue, Joe had a heart attack that claimed his life.

It’s funny, in the weeks that followed, Angel and I mourned his loss more than we did for our own mom. We owed so much to that man and I never got the chance to repay him for the kindness he had shown us.

At his funeral, I made a promise to Joe that one day, I would pay his deed forward, I would show someone the same kindness and opportunity he had given to us.

But the world can be a cruel mistress and likes to fuck you in the ass when you are down.

Shortly after Joe’s funeral, Angel and I were kicked out of the apartment by the city council who had taken ownership of Joe’s shops and properties as he had no will in place nor legal next of kin. His legacy became the property of the city, who could do whatever the fuck they deemed appropriate to do, and they deemed it appropriate to sell everything and make as much money as they could.

Greedy fuckers.

Once again, Angel and I were on the brink of becoming homeless and my already fragile heart was at risk of shattering into a million pieces at the thought of Angel having to live on the streets again.

That was until I saw an advert that piqued my interest, an advert I knew would solve a hell of a lot of problems.

I bet my last fucking dollar that the little girl fromAladdindidn’t end up working in a strip club.

Chapter 1

Riley

“Babe,you’reupinfive,” Kendra called as she walked into thedressing room, perky tits on full display and dollar bills shoved into her glittery G-string.

She was panting heavily, having just finished her routine on stage,and her gorgeous dark skin glistened with a delicate sheen of sweat.

Kendra was beautiful, if life had handed her a different path, shecould have been a supermodel, but like most of the girls who worked in the club, she’d had a shitty upbringing, parents who didn’t give a damn, and was doing what she could to get through life.

Tonight, she had pulled her black afro hair into a tight bun on top ofher head, leaving curled tendrils to frame her face. The glittery hot pants were the only item of clothing she wore, showing off herhugeboobs and toned figure, you never would have guessed she had given birth to her baby daughter, Zara, only four months ago.

“Thanks, K,” I smiled at her in the reflection of the mirror where Iapplied the last flick of blusher to my cheeks. “What’s the crowd like tonight?”

“It’s a busy one out there, a couple of Bachelor parties that are welland truly here to party.” Kendra winked at me as she finally pulled a top over her breasts.

I gave myself one last look in the mirror, feeling good about the way Ilooked tonight. I had curled my chestnut hair so it hung in soft waves down my back instead of hanging straight like it usually did. My dark brown eyes were framed with thick eyeliner and I had blended my eyeshadow to make it smokey and seductive.

To finish my image, I picked out a bright cherry-red lipstick whichmade my full lips look plumper than usual. The outfit I wore for my first dance of the night consisted of green and brown camouflage hot pants that were so tiny my ass cheeks hung out of the bottom, and an army green bra that tied into a halter neck and held my boobs firmly in place.

I’d opted to wear chunky black army boots on my feet, no theyweren’t quite as flattering as high heels, but fuck did they make it easier to swing around the pole.

I had been working at Club Sin for nearly three years after finding theadvert in the days after Joe died. I’d been hesitant at first, telling myself it would only be for a few months until something better came along.

Yet here I was, three years later, and if I was honest, I absolutelyfuckinglovedit. Not only did I get to dance every single night, but I also made reasonably decent money. Money that helped keep a roof over mine and Angel’s heads and helped to keep the little toerag in school.

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