Page 38 of Act of Passion

Auberi motioned for Malik to follow him as he made his way deeper into the club. He went up the stairs to a roped-off darker section. They passed by several bouncers who all seemed as if they knew Auberi well. They probably did. The man was more than likely aregular.

Instantly, he was hit with the scent of honey and lotuses, making him stumble slightly, his beast surging up. Malik stopped and took several deep breaths, hoping to stave off a full shift. He inhaled again and was hit with the smell of Brooke oncemore.

“Tut?” asked Auberi, touching Malik’s shoulder and chasing away the scent of the woman who haunted Malik to thisday.

Auberi led Malik to a large back room that offered a view of the dance floor below but that was so dimly lit, none could see up and into it. There was a table, a booth, a bed of all things, and several oversized comfy chairs. The table had two gold-colored masks on it. When Malik saw the theme of the masks—ancient Egyptian—he shot Auberi a hardlook.

“Sit. Put this on,” the vampire said, handing Malik a mask that looked a great deal like a rendition ofTutankhamen.

Malik eyed the mask and his friend. “No. I’m goinghome.”

Auberi grinned. “Indulge me. I think you’ll enjoy it. This surprise is one of my better ones. Let’s give you a birthday toremember.”

Malik stared at the mask. “It’s not mybirthday.”

“Tut,” said Auberi, knowing Malik disliked the nickname. “You’re being very boring. You didn’t used to beboring.”

Malik tensed and took the mask. He put it on as Auberi put on a similar one and then took a seat in one of the oversized chairs. This was going to end poorly. Anything Auberi thought was fun normallydid.

Chapter Thirteen

“Brooke,”said Joe, the bartender for the VIP section, as he stood behind thebar.

Brooke made her way over to the man and sighed when he pulled out a half-mask. This one was different from anything she’d been asked to wear before. The thing looked to be plucked from an Egyptian museum. “You have got to be kiddingme.”

“Nope. Some big spender set this up. Wait until you see the outfits he had sent over for you and Stacey to wear,” said Joe, looking less than amused. He was a middle-aged man who had tended bar for over twenty years. He was protective of the women who worked there and wasn’t like some of the men there who tried to be touchy-feely. He also didn’t look happy with the client for thenight.

“They didn’t tell meyouwere on tonight,” said a shrill voice from behindBrooke.

With a groan, Brooke turned partially to see a buxom fake redhead there, chomping on her gum. The woman raked her gaze over Brooke and sneered. “You always make bigger tips than me and you don’t even let the men touch you or anything. I don’t get it! I strip all the way down and give them anything they want, yet you makemore.”

“Stacey,” warned Joe. “You know the rules. No full nudity and no touching. I don’t care how big the tips mightbe.”

She rolled her eyes and took a second mask from the bar top before heading to the back changingroom.

Reluctantly, Brooke followed. Neither woman said another word as they changed into the skimpy outfits. There was a skirt that barely qualified as one. Most of the material was sheer white. The waist portion reminded her of something from an Egyptian museum, like the mask. She couldn’t help but think of her limited time in Egypt. It had been amazing and terrible all in one. She’d gotten the most precious gift ever, yet had endured something no one should ever have to gothrough.

She adjusted the thin material of the top and then put her mask on, waiting for Stacey to harness her giant breasts into the top. They barelyfit.

Glen, one of the bouncers, opened the door slowly, his eyes closed tight. “Youdecent?”

“I am. Stacey is debatable,” said Brooke with a hard look in the woman’sdirection.

They’d been at odds since Brooke had started at the club nearly a year ago. Stacey liked to break the rules to make bigger tips. Brooke couldn’t stomach the idea of being touched by any of the men who frequented the establishment. She also wasn’t about to get naked for any ofthem.

She had certain needs that went above and beyond carnal pleasures and ran more along the lines of survival, which was why she’d even sought out a job at a club like this. She fed from the sexual lust in the air. She’d never dare give in to her darker side and engage in sex with the men from the club. No. If she needed to sate the need fully, she’d call Gram. He’d come and do what neededdone.

She’d dance and pour their champagne but nothing more, no matter how much Stacey tried to push theenvelope.

Brooke wasn’t proud of her job, but it paid the bills and kept food on the table. Plus, the establishment had rather loose hiring practices and didn’t require a background check or anything in the way of real references or identification. It wasn’t as if she could work in cyber security like she’d planned. No. She’d be too easy to possibly find, even with her skill set, if she worked for a legit company. She did odd jobs on the side that were computer related and far from legal, and she did utilized her skills to try to stay a few steps ahead of the madmen hunting her. She did whatever it took to stay hidden from TheCorporation.

She had done the impossible. She’d gotten away from them and lived to tell the tale. So had Edee. The two had been close before but the ordeal they’d lived through had left them inseparable. They stayed on the move together, staying off the grid, always worried they’d be located again. It had been a year since their last run-in with The Corporation, but that didn’t mean they were homefree.

She headed to the door and Glen held it open for her. Stacey followed behind. They followed Glen to the VIP room. As they entered, music that made her think of Egypt came on. To the left of the door was a large bucket of ice with champagne bottles in it. Not just any ones. The most expensive the club had tooffer.

There were grapes, cut-up fruits, and cheeses on small wood trays. Stacey took one tray and Brooke grabbed theother.

Glen stood at the entrance, putting his back to the room. He’d only intervene if one of the women shouted for help. Other than that, they were alone with the bigspenders.

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