Page 53 of Brighter Than Gold

I glanced at Callan for permission.

“Go. It’s better than being locked in here by yourself.” He walked over to me and leaned close. “Be safe, Reyah,” he whispered.

“I will.”

It was probably for Verosa’s sake, but Callan placed a gentle kiss on my forehead before he turned to leave. His familiar smell sent a rush through me. The affectionate touch was a relief I didn’t know I needed. He turned down the hall to head outside, and I followed Verosa in the opposite direction.

“Is the Princess all right?” I risked asking as we walked to the main floor.

“Doubtful. Why do you care?”

“Whydon’tyou?”

She glared back at me. “You’re becoming very bold, little girl.”

“Passivity hasn’t gotten me very far,” I shot back.

Verosa’s lips flattened into a thin line as she held herself back from verbally thrashing me.

“The Princess is as good as can be expected. It is in Lazio’s interest to keep her alive. At least for now. She’s being tended to.”

An invisible weight immediately lifted from my shoulders. Yates was alive and being looked after. We had time to figure out how to free her.

“Thank you,” I said. I knew Verosa gained nothing from her confession.

“Reyah, you’re back!” a sunny-blond named Kindra said in greeting. “Will you teach us another game?”

Kindra collected me from Verosa and brought me to a table where several other girls waited. Their civilian clothes were long gone, and each lady was dressed to seduce. Plunging neck lines, towering heels, beads and feathers decorated all of the women. Whether it was forced or genuine, all of them had been exceedingly nice with me, and I was grateful for an ounce of normalcy.

I taught the girls another game, one they could play with clients and hopefully swindle a few extra coins from them. They were very grateful for that one in particular. As evening crept on, the women became busy with the guests that entered the brothel. I sat cozily at the end of the long bar sipping the cranberry juice the barkeep had offered. Even he was pleasant and kind with me. Knowing a limited amount of my situation, he’d made sure the gentlemen kept a healthy distance from me.

I watched with a bird’s eye view of the goings-on of the cathouse. It was a unique perspective I’d never had before. I watched women work too hard over men who were not interested, and the men who thought they were simply so handsome and charming that they could take the lady to bed for free. I saw women feeding the nervous ones drink after drink knowing they would lose control of both their manhood, and their wallets. I pegged one or two gentlemen that were worrisome, and I was glad that the Rats working as security were quick to intervene when necessary. In all, this would have been a place I’d have been happy to work at in my old life.

“Still waiting?” Kindra said leaning over the bar next to me. She smelled of honey and sex.

“Still waiting.” I fixed a twisted strap on her brassier and she smiled at me. “Have you been having a decent night?” I asked.

“It’s unusually busy. My last client haddeeppockets though.” She rolled her head back dramatically before stealing a sip of my juice.

I quickly covered my mouth as a sudden yawn overtook me. I wasn’t used to these late nights anymore.

“Go to bed, darling! There is no reason to torture yourself staying up and waiting.”

“No,” I said shaking my head. “I’m waiting for Callan.”

“If wives always waited up for their husbands, they may never sleep at all.”

Under normal circumstances, she would probably be right.

“I’m too nervous,” I admitted.

“As much as you probably won’t like hearing it, Lazio is good at what he does. I know it isn’t exactly your choice to be here, but he’ll protect what he deems valuable, and I’ve never seen him bring anyone in like this before.”

Somehow that did settle my fears slightly.

“I appreciate that.” I smiled fondly at her.

The room suddenly hushed around us and both Kindra and I turned to the door. My whole body went rigid as a familiar, ugly man stepped through.

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