Total pages in book: 6
Estimated words: 5781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 29(@200wpm)___ 23(@250wpm)___ 19(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 5781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 29(@200wpm)___ 23(@250wpm)___ 19(@300wpm)
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Chapter One
ZADIE
“Are you sure this is the place?” my brother Rosco asks when he pulls up to the restaurant.
“Yeah. It’s not open for another hour, but they told me to come in early,” I explain as I reach for my purse.
He reaches out and grabs my hand, and I stare down at the leather bracelet around his wrist. The black cord has been there so long it’s faded at the edges, but Rosco never takes it off.
“You’re not lying to me, are you?”
I don’t make eye contact as I tug out of his hold. “Of course not. Thanks for the lift. You’d better hurry or you’ll be late.”
“Fine. I’ll be right here when you’re done. Don’t make me wait,” he orders as I get out of the car.
I feel his eyes on me as I walk to the front of the restaurant and knock on the glass door. There’s a sign that indicates they’re closed, but thankfully, someone comes from the back and unlocks the door. He’s probably close to my age, which I’m happy about. In my experience, adults ask too many questions.
“Sorry, we’re closed,” the guy says, and I wave to Rosco.
“Listen, I know you’re not open, but my brother thinks I work here. Could you let me in until he’s gone?” I give the guy my biggest smile with pleading eyes. “Pretty please.”
The guy looks at Rosco’s car and then back at me. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“No, he’s just overprotective.” I smile again, and after a second, the guy opens the door and I walk inside.
Watching out of the corner of my eye, I see Rosco pull away from the curb and drive off. I breathe a sigh of relief as I thank the guy and go to leave.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks, and I nod.
“Absolutely.”
Once outside, I begin to walk in the direction of the shops on the other side of the restaurant. It’s not too far but far enough that Rosco won’t be suspicious. He’s always hovered over me since as far back as I can remember, but it’s gotten worse since I turned eighteen. It’s like now that I have the ability to leave, he’s tightening his grip harder than ever.
I’m not sure why he’s so worried about me leaving because where would I even go? He’s several years older than me, and most people think he’s my uncle. I used to ask him what happened to our parents, but all he would say is that they took off, so I stopped asking. It’s always been the two of us, and he’s all I know.
It doesn’t help that he's pissed about me getting a job, but I can’t keep letting him pay for everything. I’m not exactly sure what he does for a living, but I know that he works for someone really important, and when people see us on the street, they walk the other way. I’ve never been afraid of Rosco, but there is a real sense of danger that lurks below the surface.
When I see the place up ahead, I take a deep breath and remind myself that it’s okay. I’m doing this for the money and so Rosco doesn’t have to work so much.
The chime over the door sounds when I enter, and the guy behind the counter puts down his book and stares at me.
“You got ID?” he orders, and I nod.
It’s not actually my ID but my best friend’s. Shelby and I are both eighteen, but I didn’t want them to know my real name. Sometimes when people see it, they make a face or get really quiet, so I decided the best way to get this job would be to pretend to be Shelby.
“Right here.” I hand it over, and the guy looks at it for a long moment before giving it back to me.
“You here to work or shop?” His tone hasn’t changed from barking orders, so I assume this is just the way he talks.
“Work,” I say, and he nods.
“Good. I’m Tony. You go on in fifteen minutes.” He eyes what I’ve got on. “You got something else to wear?”
I nod and hold up my bag. “Is there a place I can change?”
He points to a wooden door that’s labeled office, and I walk toward it. On the way, I pass a few shelves that are filled with all kinds of things I’ve never seen before. I want to stop and read the packages, but I just keep going and try not to think about what I’m about to do.
A few days ago, Shelby texted me and told me she made five hundred dollars in cash after working one night at Secret Pleasures. The adult toy store not only sells everything you need for the bedroom but also has a small stage in the back. She said they call it the peep show and explained what she had to do.