Thankfully, Vida heard her music come to an end. Standing up and hating what she was about to do, she gave her breasts an extra jiggle before turning and exiting the stage.
Sherri was up next, waiting behind the curtain in a silky pink robe. Her music started the second Vida disappeared behind the curtain.
“King wants to see you before you get changed.”
“Thanks.” Vida swallowed hard. She had hoped to get done on time today. She needed to get some lab time in before the grades were due otherwise, unless she had twenty hours logged lab time, she wouldn’t get a grade.
Vida went outside to the bar area, making her way to the booth at the back of the room. She had noticed when she had come out to dance that he was sitting in his private booth. King sat there every night during the first few shows, judging the women’s routines, surveying the crowds and removing customers who didn’t obey the rules of his club.
She was sick to her stomach to have to talk to him.
He controlled everything within the city, moving between the spoiled world of the rich and entitled to the dregs of human society who had long ago lost their morals. He earned money legally through his clubs and illegally through gambling and prostitution.
She had met him a couple of times when her mother was unable to find a sitter. He would hide her in a back room during her mother’s show. Even as a child she had recognized the fear everyone had in their eyes when he was near. However, he had been her only recourse when her friend, Sawyer, disappeared a month ago.
Sawyer had been working as a waitress in a restaurant downtown when she met Rick Redman and began dating him. Vida still remembered her getting ready to go out for the evening in a new dress and freshly done nails. Vida, sharing an apartment with Sawyer, had been skeptical of the over-groomed businessman’s interest in Sawyer when he had picked her up that night. When she didn’t return, her skepticism turned to downright fear.
Worried sick, Vida had gone to the police. They put out a missing persons report, but it had been of little help—Sawyer had no family or friends other than Vida. Vida, not receiving encouraging answers from the police, had turned to King for help. Within twenty-four hours, King discovered information that had terrified Vida.
Rick Redman was not the concert promoter he had told Sawyer he was. The bastard was a pimp for high-class call girls. Vida had sunk to the floor when King had told her, envisioning Sawyer drugged, raped and held captive against her will.
She had begged King for help and he had agreed to help, but for a price. Vida would move into his club where he could keep an eye on her while he would try to get Sawyer back. He had warned her it would take some time since he needed to find out who Redman worked for.
Vida had wanted to refuse, yet she had known King was her only chance after she had gone to the police and they couldn’t find a trace of Redman. Vida’s options were few; either go to work for King or lose her childhood friend forever. Vida began stripping three nights later after King’s women had given her a crash course in seductively taking her clothes off under the black lights.
Her knees were trembling as she crossed the large dim room. As she came closer, she noticed King wasn’t alone. Vida hadn’t seen the man in the club before. His disconcerting gaze made her want to run back to the dressing room, however King’s frown pulled her forward.
“Sherri said you wanted to talk to me?” She trained her gaze on King.
“I want you to get your bags packed; you’re going with Colton. He’s a friend of mine that I trust will keep you safe. After your current two-week schedule is up, I’ll take you off permanently. Staying with Colton will provide a reasonable excuse of why you’re no longer stripping.
“But how am I going to pay you back?” Vida protested.
King shrugged. “You have already made me a nice chunk of change. Two more weeks of your dancing and six scheduled lap dances should cover my costs.”
Vida swallowed. The dancing made her sick to her stomach, but the lap dances were the worst; she had to become physically close to the men. King charged the men twice the usual cost of his other girls, but they still chose Vida if she was there.
“I’ll pack my bag.” Vida cast a look at the stone-faced man before turning away, happy to be leaving the club, yet reluctant to stay with King’s friend. She was unhappily aware she had no choice in the matter, though.
“Make sure you have her here for her shifts.” King took a drink of his whiskey. “You sure you don’t want one of the girls to give you some relief before you leave?”
Colton shook his head, almost instantly regretting his decision. He was going to be living with a beautiful woman that was off limits and he hadn’t had one in three years.
It was a mindfuck that he didn’t need or want.
Chapter Two
Vida watched as Colton unlocked the door to his apartment. She was still trembling from the ride from King’s club. She had never ridden on a motorcycle before and his snapped, “Hold on tight”, had startled her when she had gingerly put her arms around his waist.
Colton put her bag down by the door. He then moved through the apartment, opening and shutting doors before coming back and picking up her bag.
“There’s only one bedroom and since I’ve only slept on a twin bed for the last three years, you can take the couch.”
“I can sleep on the couch.” Vida would sleep on the floor as long as it was outside of the Purple Pussycat. The club had four bedrooms and each one was shared by three women. If one of the women she was sharing a room with decided to have company and there were no private rooms available, she would bring her guest back to the shared bedroom. Vida had walked into several situations that had been too embarrassing for words before she could tactfully leave the room.
Colton threw her a thoughtful look before putting her bag on the chair. “There is a hall closet; you can stash your stuff there. You hungry?”
“No, I already ate.”
“I have to go out. If you get hungry, there’s supposed to be food in the cabinets and fridge.”
“Okay.” Vida went to the chair, picked up her backpack and began pulling out her schoolbook and laptop. Going to the small kitchen table, she organized everything she would need before sitting down.
Vida felt Colton’s sharp gaze touch on her briefly before leaving the room. She took a deep breath once he’d left.
His presence was overwhelming. His height alone was intimidating without his fierce expression. He didn’t come out and say she was an inconvenience to him, but from his abrupt voice and mannerisms, she could tell he was pissed. Vida had little doubt that he was as much under King’s thumb as she was herself.
He was uptight about something and Vida could tell by his vibes he was anxious to be away from her. The sound of the shower running put Vida’s mind to imagining him without his clothes. She could picture his hard body with water sliding over his flesh.
Determined to change the direction of her thoughts, Vida opened her book and then powered up her laptop, focusing on doing her homework. If she wasn’t careful, she could easily get behind. She didn’t have much longer; only another month and she would have the diploma she had worked so hard for.
Vida looked up from her book when Colton emerged from the bedroom. His hair was still wet and he was wearing a faded pair of jeans and a black t-shirt. He moved quietly, even while wearing heavy motorcycle boots. She swallowed nervously, her eyes dropping back to her book.
“I have to go out for a couple of hours. Lock the door behind me and don’t answer it for anyone. Have you got a cell phone?”
Vida picked up her cell phone lying beside the computer.
“Let me have it.” She was becoming aware Colton had issues with politeness.
Vida handed him her cell phone, watching as he looked it over, then with a series of movements he handed it back to her.
“I programmed my number into it. Call me immediately if there’s a problem.” His face was expressionless as Vi
da nodded her head, not knowing what else to say. She was a nervous wreck being in the same room with him.
She had, until lately, been with young men her own age and had never considered herself shy, yet the last two weeks working at the strip club where men thought she was readily available for their amusement, had changed her. She had quickly learned to become cautious around men.
Colton was different; she’d seen it in his eyes. He had seen her naked and wasn’t interested. Feelings of shame almost overwhelmed her, but she quickly squashed them and reached for her pencil, making notes on her assignment page.
She felt him hesitate before leaving and then the door closed softly behind him. Vida got up; making sure the door was locked then went back to her homework while refusing to allow her thoughts to wander to where Colton was going at this time of night.
A knock sounded on the door just as Colton was about to reach for Rae again.
“You expecting someone?” Colton asked, reaching for his pants instead.
“No. Don’t get dressed. I’ll see who it is and get rid of them,” Rae protested as she watched him cover his taut ass with his jeans before zipping them closed.
“Answer the door.” Colton didn’t stop getting dressed, pulling his t-shirt over his head as Rae shrugged on a bathrobe. He had just finished putting on his boots when she returned.
“He says he has a message from King.” Rae had fear in her eyes. Colton got to his feet and went into Rae’s living room where one of King’s men stood by the door waiting. His impassive face watched as Rae leaned against him as if seeking protection.
“King wants a talk. He’s outside.” Giving the message, he remained still, waiting for Colton’s reply.
“I’m on my way.” A sharp nod and the man left, leaving the door open. Colton took the hint that King meant now.