Page 77 of Dare to Dance
I ran a hand over the silky dress on my left that reminded me of a piece of lingerie. It was short with a scooped neck and spaghetti straps. Another sob erupted. I balled up the garment then threw it at the window. I wasn’t changing into that.
Buck up!
With tears stinging my eyes, I studied the phone as though it was my lifeline. Maybe it was. Maybe Norma could help talk me out of this mess. I pulled her parents’ number out of my pocket. Pete had given me Norma’s number after she had called the bar last weekend to let us know that she wouldn’t be back in town for a while. Since then, I’d spoken to her on two occasions from the bar phone. I’d kept the conversation light because Pete had been lurking nearby, but all I’d wanted to do was tell her about Trent. I’d planned to tell her the night I’d made the deal with him, but she’d been excited about me coming clean with Kross and had been babbling about making arrangements to visit her parents. I hadn’t wanted to depress her. Honestly, I’d thought of backing out of the deal at the time, but if Trent could convince a judge to bury my paperwork, then he could do the same for Kross and his paternity test.
I dialed her number. The line rang once.
“Hello.” Norma’s voice was light and relaxed. A pang of envy gripped me for the briefest of seconds. I was more than happy for her, but I longed for the day when I could be with family and not have a care in the world.
“Norma,” I said.
“Ruby? I was about to call you at Firefly. I’m taking the train in tomorrow for Kross’s fight.”
“Really?” I tried to infuse happiness into my voice.
“Why do you sound like you’ve been crying? What’s going on? What did Tommy do to you?”
I sniffled. “It’s not Tommy.” Well, it kind of was. “I need some advice.”
“Did something happen between you and Kross?”
I laughed through another sniffle. “Please don’t judge me or hate me, but I’m working for Trent.”
“No!” she shouted as though she knew what I was doing.
We’d both agreed he was the scum of the earth, but we’d never discussed what we thought he did.
“Don’t do it, Ruby.” She didn’t sound mad, but remorseful.
I bounced my knee. “You don’t even know what I’m doing.”
“Oh, yes I do.”
I rubbed a hand on my leg. “How do you know?”
She lowered her voice. “Remember when we met Trent in Tommy’s office, and Tommy asked Trent if he had an opening for us? Then Alex shouted no. I asked her flat out that night after you fought Vickie if he was a pimp. Her face went white. Then she confirmed he was and that she worked for him. So, Ruby, don’t let some asshole take away your dignity. I’ve been there, and I regret what I’ve done.”
I couldn’t help but think that Alex owed Trent too.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” It wasn’t as though her knowledge of Trent would have changed the situation since she’d learned all this after I made the deal with Trent. It wouldn’t even change my current decision to stay or leave. I was curious, though.
“I promised Alex I wouldn’t tell anyone. She was scared and ashamed. Besides, you were fighting and not on Trent’s radar.”
“Did he confront you?” I asked.
“No. Every time he looked my way, I gave him the finger. I promised you I wouldn’t sell my body. I meant that.”
I promised I wouldn’t fight. Look at me now.Silence filled the line as bile crept up my throat. “Trent says I owe him ten thousand dollars.”
She choked. “For what? Diamonds?” A little sarcasm filtered through her tone.
“Because I was late for the fight. He and Tommy lost money. I know even if they did lose money, I should tell them to fuck off. I did until Trent threatened me with Raven. He knows a judge that could bury my case. He told me before I came to the hotel that he would send pictures of me fighting to Ms. Waters with a note that I was a bad mother if I backed out of the deal. I can’t screw this up with Raven. Even if Kross gets custody of her sooner than me, the court could ban me from seeing her because of what I’ve done.”Or Kross could fight for full custody without visitation rights if he finds out I’m prostituting myself.
“Ruby, where are you?”
A tear dropped. “A penthouse in some apartment building called The Lexington.”
“Don’t do this,” Norma said softly. “Please. Think of Raven.”
