“The fuck is wrong now?” My eyes lift up, and there’s Raven, no bra, chest heaving, hands on her hips, and fury written all over her face.
“Nothing. I just need a damn break.” Swear to Christ, it’s getting to be a shit show around here.
“You need anything?” She doesn’t say a word. Instead, she plops down, covering her face, and breathes deeply a few times, leaving my head spinnin’ and wondering whose ass I’m about to kick.
Eight
Raven
I’ve been dancing since the minute I turned eighteen. Luckily, I hit the ripe age of twenty-two when they changed the rule to no under the legal drinking age being allowed in a strip club. Not that everything the Diamondback MC does is above board. Though, hiring girls here would mess up them keeping this club on the books. It’s kind of hard not to abide by the government’s rules when you have a liquor license.
I ignore everything around me. The only thing I thought about when I walked off the stage in the middle of a set was finding Maddox. I went to the private room only to see it empty. The dressing room didn’t show me any signs of him. My last hope was the office. I didn’t care what kind of scene I created, in my head, if I got to Maddox, I’d be safe. Now I just need the courage to tell him what the fuck just happened.
“Raven, I can’t help ya unless you tell me what’s goin’ on.” Maddox is squatting in front of me.
“I swear it was a figment of my imagination. When I’m dancing my mind blanks, there’s nothing but myself, the music, and the lights. Apparently, my mind is all over the place because one minute I was dancing, and the next my eyes were on a spot in the corner. A woman was there. Which usually is no big deal, it’s not like this club is just for men, except I know who she is.” I look up at Maddox. His eyes are on me, zero judgment in them.
“Yeah, who was she?” Maddox’s hands rub my thighs.
“My mom, but I haven’t seen her for years. I came home from school one day, and she was gone, moved out, all of her things were gone. Mine weren’t though. She packed up and left. Though, how she was able to do that is beyond me. Half the time, Mom was high off anything she could get her hands on.” I grab Maddox’s hand, needing to hold on to something while I admit this to him. I didn’t even tell Selena what all had happened, just carried on like it was expected. “The worst part was that she didn’t leave a note telling me she was leaving. I was there with her the day before, then the next day, it was like she vanished into thin air. My room still had all my things, and there I was alone at the age of eighteen, in a dilapidated trailer, working and going to school, and the only people I had in my life were my best friend and her parents. It hit me then that I was always meant to be alone, the unwanted child from birth through my school years and well into my adult years.” My story isn’t complete. There’s so much more to say about when I saw her and who I saw her with.
“Come ‘ere.” He has me up out of the seat, carrying me out of the room towards the dressing room. My nose finds the crook in his neck, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that even though I have this feeling of rightness, it’s something I shouldn’t get comfortable with. Maddox is one person, but Razor is definitely someone else, and that comes with nothing but danger.
“Out! Everyone out!” Maddox bellows as we make our way into the dressing area. I’m not exactly sure why. Being naked isn’t something that’s a big deal when it comes to being around other women.
“Sorry, Jenna.” I slide out of his arms, but he doesn’t let go of my hip.
“No worries, girl. If I had a man like Razor carrying me around and barking out orders, guess what I’d be doing.” She grabs her bottle of water, walking out.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I tell him, but he’s not listening.
“Get dressed. You can tell me the rest of the story once we’re out of here.” He nods to the camera in the corner, making me realize that Maddox doesn’t want my story told to anyone who could replay those videos.
“Okay.” I hurry up, grab my clothes that I wore earlier, forgoing stripping out of the panties I wore on stage even though I hate wearing panties with leggings on any given day. The name of the game is getting out of here, and fast. It doesn’t take me long to slide my clothes on, then Maddox’s hand is in mine, and we’re walking down the hall towards the back door. Apparently, I’d follow him anywhere, and that thought scares the living shit out of me.