Page 29 of Party Girl: How a Naughty Omega Finds Love
ChapterNine
WHITNEY
Twisters is dark and seedy and gross. The air smells like artificial cotton candy, and the floor is sticky. Curtis glances at me over his shoulder to make sure I’m following. I know better than to disobey him in his domain. As soon as I’m alone, I’ll figure out a plan. I can’t stay with him. He’s not going to mate me. My cheek aches where he hit me, reminding me of what he plans to do with me. Beat me into obedience.
I have to get out of this place.
A woman hangs on to a pole and moves her hips, head drooping. Her hair covers her face, but I’m pretty sure she’s not aware of her surroundings. Some guy is trying to hand her money. She keeps swiveling her hips, completely ignoring him. The club is only half-full. Another group of guys are snorting lines of coke off a glass table top. Pretty ballsy to do that so openly, but I don’t think Twisters has many rules.
Curtis lights up a cigarette and holds a door open for me. I walk into a dimly lit hallway, waiting for him to come in too. He blows smoke at my face.
“Third door on the left. I’ll come get you in an hour. Be ready to shake that sweet little omega ass.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from telling him no. An hour isn’t long, but it might be enough to find a way out. He lets the door close, and instead of going to the third door like he told me too, I rush to the one at the end of the hallway. I twist the knob, but it’s locked.
Fuck. I smack the metal door and turn, checking my options. I don’t know what any of these rooms hold back here, but I know the third is probably the safest option. I doubt Curtis would take kindly to me snooping, and if anyone is in the other rooms, they’ll rat me out.
A woman in a skimpy, cheetah-print thong bikini is lying on a threadbare couch. She startles when I enter, and her drug-glazed eyes meet mine. Taking me in, she slowly lifts her arm, like it’s weighed down, and gestures to a rack of outfits.
“Pick one.”
“Are you Nova?” Curtis had said Nova would love me, but this woman doesn’t seem too excited to see me.
She nods then sighs. “Does it matter?” she asks, closing her eyes and turning to face the inside of the couch.
“I have to get out of here.”
A soft laugh. “You won’t.”
Fuck. Forget her. I skip the outfits for now, searching the room for a window or a hidden door. There’s nothing. My hands shake, and I lean against the wall, banging my forehead against it.
“Dammit.” This isn’t how things were supposed to go. I was supposed to be matched with a pack. I was meant to finally get away from my fucked-up life.
Fate really does hate me.
“Whining won’t help,” Nova says, voice husky. Her long, black curls fall over her shoulders as she sits and tips her head back. “The sooner you realize that, the better. Curtis doesn’t like criers.”
I let out a derisive snort. “I don’t think Curtis likes anything.”
“You’re probably right.” She sounds so tired. Standing, she holds on to the side of the couch to catch her balance. “Give it a second,” she says, like this is a normal part of her day. When she finally rights herself, she steps into the tall stilettos in front of the couch and walks to the rack of outfits.
She wobbles a little, but she’s still far more confident in those shoes than I would be. I catch traces of her omega scent over the disgusting perfume hanging in the air. Curtis must have bought her too.
“You’re a size eight?” She looks at me. “You ever dance before?”
“At clubs.”
She gives me a pitying smile, reaching for one of the more modest scraps of clothing. Missing the mark, she stumbles and falls into the clothes.
“Whoa, hey, are you okay?” I rush over and help her off the floor. Her skin is clammy.
She groans. “Fine, fine. A little dizzy is all.” Grabbing my hand, she puts all her weight on me to pull herself up. I stumble slightly, but find my footing before I fall over too.
“Maybe you should sit down.” I try to lead her toward the couch, but she wrenches her arm from my hold.
“I said I was fine. I have to dance soon.”
“You can’t dance like this,” I say, grabbing her again as she starts to sway on her feet. “Are you drunk?”
