Page 37 of Hitch
And I explain my situation. How my girl wants her slutty self stuffed full of cock. How I don’t trust anyone, but if I had to pick, Todd may as well be it.
If he touches her, I’llwantto kill him. I’llneedhim dead.
But he’s too entrenched in our business. I have more reasons to keep him alive than I do to kill him.
“Do I get five thousand for the hour too?” he laughs. With every passing second, my hatred for Todd grows, but I keep it all in, breathing harshly into the microphone. When I don’t laugh, Todd clears his throat. “All right. I get it. Happy to help make her dream come true.”
I hang up the phone, then glower down at the fence. The top bar is cut in half. I just made more work for myself, because I let myself get distracted by her again. It’s something I’ll have to put off until Braden comes back.
I ball my fists, telling myself that the only reason I’m going to let Todd fuck her is because I need a wake up call. I need to see that she’s a body, just like any woman I’ve had before. Hell, she’s no different from Braden’s crush. And once I can see straight again, I’m going to force her to admit to all the shit she’s done to me.
But inside, in a dark place I don’t like shining any light, I know Reggie’s got me by the balls. I may be stronger, but she’s got the power here, and I despise it.
But once I get that confession out of her, I’ll kill her, showing her just how little effect she has on me. I’ll prove to myself that she has no control in this situation. I’ve always been ahead.
I can share Reggie and not give a damn about the outcome.
Soon, I’ll have my power back.
Soon can’t come quick enough.
Chapter13
Reggie
I step onto the stage,dressed in a blue lingerie set with frills on the straps and immediately see Duane sitting at the tip rail. Adrenaline surges in my chest like bees crawling in a hive. I’ve been unconsciously searching for him, but now that he’s here, the shock still gets me.
I was just at the farm last night. When he promised I would see him soon, he meant it.
Another man sits next to him, but it takes me an extra second to realize it’s Todd. Instead of his typical red vest, he’s dressed in a plain white button-up shirt. He never comes to the stage; he doesn’t want to play favorites with the strippers. So why is he here too?
“All right,” I say nervously as I near the pole. “Looks like trouble found me today.”
Todd snickers, but there’s anger in Duane’s eyes, like he knows he has to be here, and it makes him furious. My limbs twitch with nerves.
I haven’t gone through the footage yet. I’ve been too scared to. Doing so would mean Ihaveto make a decision, and I’m not ready for that yet.
Does Duane know that I found that finger?
“Didn’t expect to see you two,” I say.
Duane puts a stack of hundreds on the edge of the stage. Todd whistles, but before anyone else can see how much he put there, I grab it. Once I’m on my knees, Duane stands up.
“Come find us in the VIP room,” he says in a low voice.
Us?
But before I can ask any questions, he leaves with Todd, heading back to the bar. Todd motions to the corset-clad bartender, and she fixes them a round of shots. I finish my two songs on stage while Duane keeps his back to me, ignoring my performance, like I’ve done something to piss him off that I don’t even know about. In retaliation, I eye-fuck the random customer sitting in a bucket seat on the main floor, though I find myself continually staring at the back of Duane’s head.
Us.
What does that mean?
Back in the dressing room, I freshen up, my body sensitive as I try to imagine what this could mean. My movements are flighty with nervous energy coursing through me. Once I’m out, the bartender sends me to the VIP room, but I don’t see anyone by the podium.
Which means they’re already in one of the private rooms, waiting for me.
I open up the curtains to my favorite room. Duane sits on the sectional, his arms against the back of the couch like a king at ease, and Todd sits beside him. The two of them chat it up, as if this is nothing out of the ordinary right now.
