Page 45 of Broken Discipline
Go where?I thought, but I stopped myself from saying it out loud. I didn’t want him to think I was actually considering his offer. I put my tray on the table next to me.
“No,” I said, crossing my arms. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m working.”
“Don’t test me, Ramona,” he growled.
A tension seized my stomach, but I pushed it down, not letting his words get to me. Finn didn’t own me. A contract may have bound me to Bruce, and that contract may have transferred to Finn somehow, but we werenotin Opulent Gates or Fairview anymore. We were in Oakmont,myhometown. He had no power here.
At least, I told myself that.
“No. I’m working,” I said. “If you truly have any respect for me, then you’ll back the hell off.”
I straightened my shoulders, trying to pretend I was as fierce as I sounded. Finn’s eyes flashed with rage, and heat burned in my cheeks. I knew exactly what he was capable of, but I had talked back anyway.
But I couldn’t let him control every aspect of my life. I had to have my independence, and if that meant working here until I figured out a new plan, then I was going to do it. Even if The Raw wasn’t my first choice, it was stillmychoice. And I had chosen to leave Finn.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I repeated.
Finn cracked his neck to each side, then looked down at me.
“Fine,” he said with ice in his tone. He took a seat in the far booth, near the lap dance bench, keeping himself angled so that he could watch me from afar.
I let out a breath, and soon, everyone went back to what they were doing. But for the rest of the night, Finn’s eyes beamed into me like a spotlight, making every hair on the back of my neck stand on end. It must have driven him crazy that I refused to go, and I knew I would probably pay for it later, but I needed to do this for myself, to hold on to that last grasp of a boundary that I had left. If I let Finn anywhere close to my heart, then everything would fall apart, and I couldn’t take that emptiness again.
Blister grabbed my arm as I passed him. His ponytail lingered on his shoulder like a boa constrictor curling under a tree.
“You got a minute?” he asked.
I sighed. “What do you need?”
He angled his chin toward the lap dance bench in the back corner. One of the other cocktail waitresses, dressed in a bikini, was grinding her ass on a customer’s lap.
“I’ve always wanted those from you. Never thought I’d get the chance,” he said.
Nerves tumbled in my chest. I held the back of my neck.
Finn was watching me talk to Blister. This wouldn’t end well for any of us.
“I’ve never given a lap dance,” I said quietly. “Sorry.”
“Come on,” Blister said, pulling my arm. “What do you have to lose?” I scowled and he smacked my back. “Loosen up. It’s a joke.”
I lifted my nose. “The answer is no, Blister.”
He pulled out his wallet, showing me crisp hundred-dollar bills, like a bouquet of fresh flowers. In truth, I had always been curious about lap dances, but my ex, Hyde, had been too jealous to let me. If anyone offered me money for a dance, Hyde gave me double that offerfor free.I never took his or their money, but once Hyde disappeared, I had considered the option again. Lap dances were easy, and I needed something in my life to beeasyfor once.
In the end, I sold drugs for Blister, thinking somehow that selling drugs was the better option. And yet, I was right back where I started.
“No,” I said.
“I didn’t want to resort to this, but your debt isn’t over.” He tilted his head. “I found the cash, and I don’t knowhowyou found the nerve to do it, but I know you killed my men.” He licked his lips. “A lap dance isn’t a lot to ask. You don’t go to jail, and I get to touch your ass for three minutes.”
My fingers vibrated as I pressed them against me. He thoughtIhad killed his men?
He angled his head toward the entrance. “Let’s take a look outside. Shall we?”
I followed him to the doors, and as soon as he pushed them open, my chest tightened. Tank’s tires were completely slashed. Two men stood a few cars down. They bowed their heads at Blister.
“What did you do?” I whispered.
