“Fuck, maybe you should relax and let one of us mend that broken heart for the night, baby.” Tilting his head to the side, his eyes go heavy while looking me up and down, his teeth biting into his bottom lip. I suddenly regret wearing this black halter top and shorts. I should have worn something less revealing. Crossing my arms to shield myself from his intrusive stare, my face heats.
“You’re such an asshole. I’m not sleeping with you or any of your men to pay off my debt.”
Rubbing his hands together, he looks off into the darkness. “It’s going to be a very long debt to pay back then, Monet.”
Sighing, I drop my head, my hand rubbing at the ache in my chest. I don’t know why I don’t just sleep with him, get it over with and be done. It’s not like I’m saving myself for my one true love or some prince charming. Probably because twenty-thousand-dollars’ worth of sex is a lot, and just one time with Damian is too many.
“When will my debt be paid? Hmmm? How much am I making cleaning up your club like some club skank?”
“Until I say you’re done.”
“W-What? You can’t do this!” my voice rises, despair and anguish battling in my chest. As if my life means nothing, he turns and waves me off.
“You’re killing my fucking buzz. Go home, Monet.” The disgust in his voice makes me wonder if he would even sleep with me if I did say yes. He seems like the type to show interest until I give in then act like he’d never stoop so low.
Swiping my hair from my face, my hands on my hips, I lift my chin.
“I’m fine. I can do this,” I say, my voice wobbly but determination strong. Turning on the heel of my Vans, I head toward my shitty car.
* * *
Taking 190 West, I head into Death Valley, the night sky opening up to nothing but sparkling diamonds in the black sky and the dry, warm air sweeping through my windows. I’m going to get this paid off, and I’m going to get a real job, a shitty apartment, and maybe a dog. This too shall pass. Putting my hand out the window, I head toward Father Crowley Lookout, needing to clear my head and get as far away from Titans MC as possible. Getting away from the fucking town of Beatty all together is the actual goal.
Turning off the highway, I park, and make the extra hike to the actual lookout that sits above a canyon made from volcano rock. Coming here every night helps me cope with my racing thoughts and look at the big picture. Crossing my arms, I stare out into canyon. I was told this place was named after a priest. He tried to save the dried lands and bring people together, but nowadays, people show up to see jets fly through it. A gust of wind whistles up from below and dances around me, and I can’t help but smile thinking it’s a sign from above that I’m going to get through this rough patch. Richard used to always call me a hippie because I believed in energies and auras. A lot of good that did me. If I could truly read energies or auras, I would have seen the bad energy that fucker projected. I guess his six-and-a-half-inch dick kept me distracted. Biggest I’d ever seen. He was my first for a lot of things. Like when my mom died and I moved in with Richard, I was so scared, but he made me feel at home so quickly. In my grief, I took whatever I was given and settled, not knowing what Richard was giving wasn’t anything. Not really.
My chest tightens thinking about being alone and I sigh, letting my whole body take place in the great exhale, hoping the canyon takes my hurt and replaces it with strength.
Footsteps from behind cause me to stiffen and slowly glance over my shoulder. A couple young looking guys come walking up from the road, heading straight toward me. The moons shines down on them like a spotlight, showcasing them, warning me to look out. I see them all right, and their vibes are telling me to get the fuck out of here. The one leading the pack is shirtless in a pair of dark pants, his head shaved on the sides with hair grown out on top, falling into his eyes. His shitty tattoos on his arms and chest look like his buddies did them with a needle and pen. Taking a step forward, the one in the middle chuckles and spreads his arms out wide to keep me from walking around him.
“Well, well, well, look what we got here, boys. A lone little wolf out here basking in the moon.” His tone voice is rough and husky.