“No. I got a promotion. I’m Devlin’s assistant now.”
The smirk drops off her face at my words.
“Devlin? I think you mean Mr. Harrigan.”
I don’t get a chance to respond. More girls come flooding into the dressing room.
“Everyone stays in the back,” one of them announces.
”Men ruin everything. I was having a good money night,” another says.
I spot one of the red exit signs and make my way toward it. I slip out, and the alarm sounds for a moment, but I quickly let it fall closed behind me. I realize my mistake the second the lock clicks into place. I’m in the back of a creepy, deserted alley.
“Lovely,” I breathe. I may have grown up being a bit sheltered, but I know to keep my butt out of back alleyways. Nothing good ever comes from being in one.
I hightail it out toward the street I know the bus stop is on. I almost make it to the end before a hand wraps around my wrist. I spin around and try to kick whoever it is that has grabbed me. He’s got my one hand, and I’m holding the bag that contains Mama in the other.
I lose my balance and start to fall. Devlin catches me once again. “Are you trying to run from me, doll face?”
“No. I was walking.”
A smirk pulls at his lips.
I spot blood in the corner of his mouth. “You’re bleeding.”
He rights me on my feet. I reach up and swipe my finger across his lip.
“It’s fine. What’s not fine is you leaving out the back door. I told your little ass to stay put. I’m also sure Brenda would have told you that none of the girls walk themselves out when they’re done with a shift. We take everyone’s safety seriously here.”
“You were busy.”
“Never too busy for you.” He takes my hand. “I’ll take you home.”
“No. The bus stop is right there.” I point to it. “Look! The bus is already here.” I try to reason with him, but he’s already tugging me along.
“Fight me on this, and I’ll pick you up and carry you to my car,” he says right before I’m about to pull back. That’s rather tempting. I enjoyed it when he picked me up earlier. I wouldn’t be against feeling dainty again.
“Fine,” I huff. Devlin pulls out his phone and texts with one hand. I only recently got my own phone. It blows my mind when I see people use them so easily. Especially the whole texting thing.
“Where am I taking you?” he asks as a black SUV pulls up in front of us. He opens the door for me. I swallow hard, not because I have to admit that I’m staying at a shelter, but because this is reminding me a bit too much of my father.
“You have a driver?”
“Sometimes.”
I slip into the vehicle. “Do you not want to tell me where you live? I can always get it off the paperwork I'm sure you filled out tonight. Along with your real name.” I settle my bag on the floorboard and open the top for Mama. She’s fast asleep. I’ve noticed she’s been really tired and hungry lately.
Devlin reaches over me. I freeze when his warm breath tickles the side of my cheek. It’s not until the seatbelt clicks loudly into place that I realize what he’s doing. I was so sure he was about to kiss me, and I think I was going to let him.
“My real name is Diamond.” My last name is the only thing that’s actually fake on the papers I filled out. “I’m on 57th and Abbey Boulevard.” His face gives no reaction, but the driver must hear me because he pulls away from the curb.
I settle back into the seat. Okay, maybe this will be easy. When I get there, I’ll slip out, and he’ll never know. The ride is silent until we pull up to the corner of the address I’d given him.
“Change of plans, doll face,” Devlin says as he slips out of the vehicle and holds his hand out to me. I take it. “I need a full-time assistant.”
“What does that mean?” I ask when my feet hit the ground. I try to turn back to grab my bag, but Devlin closes the door before I can.
“You’re staying with me.”
“My cat.” I reach for the door handle, ignoring him.
“She’s my insurance.” He tugs me along. “Let’s get your things quickly. We don’t want to make Mama wait.”
5
Devlin
The shelter is just as grim as it seems from the outside. I escort Diamond through the front, where a matronly woman attempts to stop me.
“Women’s quarters only.” She gives me a stern look. “No men allowed.”
“He’s with me, Loretta.” Diamond scoots closer to my side.
“Oh, no, he ain’t. I will not be allowing any trafficking on my watch.” She reaches under the shabby desk and pulls out an even shabbier baseball bat. “Diamond, you get on in here, and this man is going to wait outside while we have a chat.”