Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Doumar led them to one of the fuck rooms with a peep window, ushered them inside, and said to Sky, “Strip.”
Bono stepped forward. “I’m capable of handling this.”
“This is how we do business at the club.” Doumar took a challenging stance, letting an inch of the leash go. “You want to take me on?”
Bono opened his mouth to speak, but Sky put a hand on his arm.
“It’s all right.”
Doumar leaned on the wall, watching with a smirk as she stripped. When she was naked, he took her bundle of clothes. “Do your thing, baby.”
With a wink, he closed and locked the door.
Sky swallowed and motioned at the bed. “Shall we get started?”
“No.” Bono gripped her arm. “We’ll do nothing of the kind.”
“You paid.”
“I paid for your time. What I do with it is my choice.”
“You want to talk?” she asked with a wry chuckle.
“What’s going on? Why is he doing this? I thought he didn’t share you.”
“It’s his way of punishing me.”
“For what?”
“He’s just not happy with me. He doesn’t like it when I defy him.”
“Why did you defy him?” He moved closer until their bodies touched. “What did he do to you?”
She stared up at his face. “I always defy him.”
“What did he mean when he said you need money?”
“Doumar always needs more money,” she said evasively.
“It’s me, isn’t it?” His tone was dark. “He’s jealous.”
She cupped his face. “It’s not your fault. This is my life.”
“Not for long.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Soon, this’ll be over.”
“Shh.” She leaned against him, burrowing her face in the clean-smelling fabric of his shirt. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”
He placed his hands on her hips and guided her to the bed. “Sit.” When she’d obliged, he took the silk sheet from the bed and draped it around her. “I promise you, I’ll find a way.”
“Be quiet.”
She reached for his pants, but he caught her hands.
“What are you doing, Sky?”
“I have to give you something in return for your money. He won’t let us out unless I’ve performed.”
“I won’t let him treat you like a prostitute.”
“This has nothing to do with Doumar. I want to.”
“Not like this.” He sat down next to her and pulled her into his lap. “Why doesn’t your door have a lock?”
“At the trailer park?”
“Yes.”
“Everyone knows this symbol.” She let the sheet slip to reveal the tattoo. “No one will touch me. They know it’ll cost them their lives.”
“I didn’t mean for the others. I meant a lock to keep him out.”
“I can’t keep him out.”
“He doesn’t own you, dammit.”
“Let it go, please. You don’t understand.”
“Explain it to me.”
“Bono, please.” She sagged against him. “I’m just so tired.”
“It’s all right, beautiful.” He kissed her temple. “You don’t have to talk, not unless you’re ready.”
“We’ll be in here for at least an hour.”
“Then sleep.” He eased her back onto the bed, covering her with his body. “I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She closed her eyes and did exactly that. It felt like she hadn’t slept in days, and it felt like she’d only been asleep for a few minutes when Bono woke her with a gentle stroke of his hand over her shoulder.
“Wake up, beautiful.”
She shot upright. “How long have I been out?”
“Almost an hour.”
Her gaze moved to the door that stood ajar. “Who opened it?”
“One of the security guards.”
He took her hand and drew her to her feet. “Where’s the changing room? I’ll take you.”
“That won’t be necessary. It’s better that you go.”
“Finished?” a voice said from the door. “Did you earn your money?”
She looked up to see Doumar leaning in the frame.
“She did,” Bono said, turning to the other man with a threatening stance.
“Baby, go change.”
“Doumar, I—”
“I said go change.”
“Go,” Bono urged gently. “I’d like to have a word with Doumar.”
Bono waited until Sky was gone before he walked to Doumar, stopping short of him. The Dutchman had to crane his neck to look up at him.
“What’s wrong?” Doumar laughed. “Couldn’t get it up? Maybe you’re not as virile as I imagined. Or maybe my whore wasn’t accommodating. You do know how to take your due from a woman, don’t you? She needs a strong hand, and I’ve already told you, in my club, anything goes. It would be a terrible waste to throw all that money into the water for nothing more than a cuddle.”
“I paid. How I spend the time is my choice.”
“Touché.”
“You do know I’m going to kill you, right?”
“Funny you should mention that. I said exactly the same thing about you.”
Bono smiled. “Good. Finally, we’re on the same page.”
He walked from the club, resisting the urge to go look for Sky. She had enough on her shoulders as it was. He didn’t need to add to it by making Doumar even more jealous.
Lann and Clelia were waiting a block down the road with the van.