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“It’s anickname,” he snaps. “Besides, you don’t letanyonecall you by your first name. Only your parents and Jule. You practically tore my head off theone timeI uttered it.”

I realize just then that he’s right. But hearing Dylan’s voice speak my name sincerely didn’t affect me. Usually, my skin crawls. It irks me even when coming from my brother Jule, but I’ve learned to tolerate it over the years. It wouldn’t have been correct to yell at him for it. After all, he too lost his parents.

My dad loved my first name.Victor of the people, a champion, mija. That’s what you are. A heroine.

I squeeze my eyes to the point of pain. “I’m sorry, Noah. I hadn’t even realized…”

I understand just then how dangerous it is that Noah and I have known each other since we were kids, that he knows me better than most people. I mentally kick myself. He doesn’t deserve a half-assed attempt.

I take a deep breath to steady my next words. “I was desperate to know what he had to tell me. All I could focus on was my parents—”

Noah’s arms embrace me suddenly. “You’re right. It’s stupid of me to bring up my jealousy now.”

“You’re…jealous?”

Noah eyes me. “He’s conjured his own little nickname for you. Of course, I’m fucking jealous.”

I sigh a frustrating breath. I don’t want to deal with a jealous bout. Noah is the first boyfriend I’ve had, and perhaps this is how they all act, but I irk at the idea of having him prey over me with ownership and contemptuousness. I am nothis.

“I’m gonna go home now.”

“Yea, you have to go to work in exactly seven hours. I guess I’ll see you.”

My head drops as he leads me out. He leans into me, to kiss me maybe, but I turn and exit his temperature-controlled trailer and head back home alone. So much for coming over and smoothing things out.

I focus my thoughts on what the night will bring instead of Noah. He’s leaving on a work trip and I won’t see him for almost three weeks. But I can’t be near him right now.

9

Justice

Tonight I’m working with Jas atNym-Pho, a club sixty miles west.

Not just any place, but a nightclub reserved for those with dark tastes, and although the money is going to be fucking amazing, I’ll be wearing very little clothing. On the positive side, my face will be hidden.Nym-Phois a private club and discretion is key. It’s excellent bank, and although Jasmin has lectured me constantly about how I’m expected to act and how she wants me to handle touchy clients, I can’t shake the nerves off.

“No sex?”

“We snuggled.” I shrug and watch from the corner of my eye as Jasmin’s face screws up and she shakes her head.

“I’m just wondering, with your past and all.”

I avoid looking at her. I don’t want to discuss my very recent past riddled with indiscretions and promiscuity.

We’re busy readying ourselves for a night shift. I have Jasmin, and her supervisor promotion, to thank for the gig.

I can’t keep scraping by with all the other jobs I get from the agency. And the couple of nights I worked atRibbons,I was able to gather enough money to register Jule back into the prominent school program he deserves to attend. I wasalsogoing to be able to see our littlecerrofriend in action. He wasn’t going to return toRibbons,but he was becoming a regular atNym-Pho.

I had a feeling it wasn’t his first time fondling an underage girl. If the fucker wouldn’t come out of his cage, I had to find a way to him. My readers were already anxious to find out what else I’d reveal about him.

“We can do our makeup and hair here, but we’ll have to get dressed at the club.”

The attire atNym-Phois… no attire. Jasmin’s outfit consists of a black thong with fake diamonds in the front, nipple covers, and six-inch heels. Her mask is what will cover themost skin, only her eyes, mouth and chin will be visible. Once she convinced me to pick up some shifts, she purchased me an outfit.

Jasmin’s thin and petite. I’m curvy, with thick hips, a small waist, and huge tits. I suffered the night I wore her corset and pants toRibbons. I couldn’t breathe, and the girdle left me with bruises. I open the bag and look around to make sure Jule is still in the shower. I want to tell him not to waste water and hurry the fuck up, but I take this time to look at my uniform for tonight.

Fuck. It’s just stretchy belts. A small triangle will cover my nipples and pussy.

“What the fuck, Jasmin!” I lift up the bands. “How am I even supposed to wear this shit?”

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