Page 76 of Dare to Dance
I huffed out air. “Pen, I don’t have time to play games.” Granted, it had been over two weeks since she’d been high as a kite. “Ruby is the girl with auburn hair who works at Firefly.”
“Oh, that girl. Yeah, well. I overheard Trent, you know that guy who made my dad’s life hell when he tried to take his company. Anyway, Trent was at Firefly that night I was there listening to the band. I’d gone to the restroom before you even showed up, and there was an office not far from the restrooms. I couldn’t help but overhear him telling someone he had a client that was interested in Ruby.”
I let go of Penelope and fisted my hands at my sides as I tempered my anger. Twice now, Ruby had fought. Maybe Trent had a client who wanted Ruby to fight again. But all I could think about was Trent talking about pimps.
“Did you hear anything else?”
“No.” She checked her phone. “I just remembered. The gym is closed for your fight.”
“Yeah. I’ve got to get back.” I wasn’t sure what to make of Trent and his client, or how Ruby played into that conversation. If it had anything to do with pimps…
My nostrils flared at the image of the short, squat businessman who’d stood out at Ruby’s fight against Vickie. He’d been dressed as though he was in a courtroom—tailored suit, silk tie, and crisp white shirt. Maybe Vickie worked for him. After Raven left, I would give Vickie a call. She’d given me her number after the fight with Ruby. “Glad to see you’re okay.” Then I headed to the daycare room.
“Kross, wait,” Penelope said.
I turned. The men were wrapping the ropes with the cushioned covers.
She swung her hips toward me. “I just remembered one other thing. I did overhear Trent asking if Ruby had a pimp. Are you dating a prostitute?”
My anger had been building since Penelope mentioned Trent. Now, my face had to be redder than blood.
“Kross,” Ms. Waters called.
Motherfucker!
Penelope’s phone rang. She answered as she took off. Good thing. I had the urge to scream at her. I would have bet she’d seen Ms. Waters behind me and wanted to throw me under the bus.Penelope doesn’t know that Ms. Waters is a social worker.True, but the rich girl had a knack for fucking things up.Breathe, man.
I relaxed my shoulders as I faced Ms. Waters, cussing under my breath and praying she hadn’t heard Penelope. She’d heard. Penelope’s voice carried in the gym, even above the noise of the workers.
I couldn’t make out what was going through Ms. Waters’s mind because her expression was completely blank. In her line of work, I guessed she’d seen and heard all kinds of things.
Ms. Waters touched the corner of her glasses. “Prostitute? Is Ruby selling her body?”
“Absolutely not.” She worked as a waitress and fought in underground fights.
However, she had physically transformed from dirty and grungy to clean and normal overnight. Not to mention, she worked for that scumbag, Tommy. Who knew what else he was into other than stealing cars and holding illegal fights? Plus, Trent had been at Firefly each time I’d been there. He had dropped the word “pimp” into a conversation he’d had with a friend the night I’d first found Ruby. Stop doubting. Ruby is not selling her body.Maybe not, but she had been uneasy all week, and she had been acting odd earlier. No. I refused to believe Ruby would sell her body.
“Then why does your expression say you’re not sure?” Ms. Waters asked. “Is there something you want to share?”
“Firefly isn’t the best place to waitress, but Ruby works hard there. I can assure you that she isn’t selling her body.” Absolutely not. When we’d had sex the first time in the hotel, she had been shy and nervous. That alone gave me proof she wasn’t selling her body.
Ms. Waters pressed her lips together. “I’ll determine that. It’s time for Raven and me to go.”
No amount of pleading or begging would have erased the disappointment slashed across her face. Man, things had just gone south. I had to get my ass over to Firefly and convince Ruby to take Kade’s job offer.
23
Ruby
Chomping on a fingernail, I was alone as I paced around a penthouse in some building in downtown Boston. The one-bedroom suite overlooked the city skyline and screamed expensive with leather furnishings, stainless steel appliances, artwork that probably came from a museum, and fresh flowers in every room. The sweet fragrance of orchids tickled my nose as I drifted past the dresser in the bedroom. I hugged myself as I took in the panoramic view. The lights from buildings near and far twinkled around me. I wished I was stargazing rather than standing there with my heart sputtering, thinking how stupid I’d been to get myself into this predicament or to show up at the gym to tell Kross I loved him. He knew something was awry. Regardless, he had to know how I felt about him before I gave myself to a complete stranger. My decision and actions tonight were strictly to protect us and keep the wheels moving so we could get Raven back. Hopefully, in the end, the three of us could be a family.
“Who are you kidding?” I asked out loud as I tossed a look over my shoulder at the skimpy black dress that was laid out on the bed with black pumps beneath it. “Kross won’t want you if he finds out what you’ve done.”
Making my way to the bed, I huffed then laughed, sounding like a maniac. I’d torn out of the gym in a heap of tears. I couldn’t face Kross any longer. I was afraid if I spilled my guts to him, then Trent would make things much worse for my case. So, for the last two hours, I’d been trying to figure a way out of my mess. I sat on the edge of the bed, and a shiver crawled down my spine as I thought of Trent’s final words before I’d gone to see Kross. “If you do anything to screw this up, not only will I make sure your case is buried, but I’ll send pictures of you fighting to your social worker with a note that you’re a bad mother.”
A sob burst out of me. I was a bad mother. I’d let my daughter be taken from me. I’d let myself be lured into fighting. I’d all but begged Tommy for a job.No sense in pitying yourself. It isn’t going to get you out of the task at hand.
I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. I had under an hour to get ready. Trent’s instructions were specific—be dressed by the time his client arrived. I had no idea who his client was. I’d asked, but Trent had said that I didn’t need to know.
