All of it.
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I sucked in a deep breath and refused to let myself cry again. Cooper and his antics didn’t deserve even one more tear.
I stripped out of the clothes and changed into something fresh that wasn’t completely coated in Cooper’s scent and then left the apartment, formulating a plan as I went.
I was locking the door behind me when I felt someone watching me. I spun around and jumped back at the sight of my landlord. “Oh, hi, umm, listen…” I started.
He stared at me expectantly.
“I got the letter. I understand. I’m on the way now, actually, to get you some money.”
He crinkled his brow. “What are you talking about?” he asked.
“For rent? Is it too late?” I cringed, waiting for his reply.
“Allison, your rent has been paid up for the next year. I got a call from the bank this morning about a wire into my account. Your rent has been paid up for the next twelve months.”
“What?” I gasped, my mind reeling at his words. “There must have been a mistake. I don’t know anyone that has that kind of money…” My voice trailed away as the realization hit me.
Yes, I do. I know one person who probably has that kind of money hidden in his couch cushions.
“Shit.”
“Is there a problem? I can call the bank.”
I held up a hand to him. “No, no, it’s all right. Thank you for the information.”
He smiled at me and I walked the other direction. My mind had been made up. I knew what I needed to do.
I was forced to take the
bus across town to get back to Marco’s and by the time I arrived, it was dark outside and a line of men were wrapped around the dilapidated building. I didn’t want to go past them, worried that some of them had seen my dance the night before, but I needed my money. I put on my best “fuck off” face and strode across the street and pushed to the front of the line, where the security guy let me through.
“Allie Cat! What the hell are you doing back again?” Marco greeted me as soon as I stepped into the door.
“Marco, where’s my money?”
His face was blank, as if he had no idea what I was talking about. “Allie Cat, I don’t mean to pry or nothin’, but your gentleman last night made it pretty apparent that you’re not supposed to come here anymore.”
“I don’t care what he told you. And by the way, he is not my gentleman. Actually, not a gentleman at all, but that’s beside the point for now.”
“Allie Cat, I don’t have your money,” Marco said. “That guy grabbed all your stuff before you got off stage.”
“I know, but the money was on me and I don’t remember what happened to it.”
I considered him, trying to decide if he was telling me the truth. He stared back at me, and I realized he wasn’t lying. He didn’t have it.
Then where was it?
Searching my memory, I remembered that I got off stage, I gathered the money in my hands, and then I saw Cooper. Damn. Everything else kind of went blank after seeing him. The horror, shame, and anger took over my other senses. Including my memory, apparently.
“All right.” For a moment, I thought about asking him if I could come back that night and dance, but I knew it would be too risky. Cooper would probably come haul me out again if I even tried, and I wasn’t willing to go through that humiliation again, being carried over his shoulder like a child pitching a fit in a supermarket.
I took one more look around and then left.
If the cash wasn’t at the club, then there was only one place it could be.
I went around the back of the club and released a huge sigh of relief at the sight of Cherry Bomb. The last time she had been left somewhere overnight, things had gone very badly. My heart sank as I realized that the duct tape-covered seat likely wasn’t going to get fixed for some time.