“If it stays around long enough to reach it,” Brianna quips and giggles. I can see a new light in her eyes, one that hasn’t seem to burn lately. “Two glasses or just the bottle?”
“Go with just the bottle.” I didn’t expect Brianna to go grab it, but she does quickly and is back within the minute unwrapping the top to reveal the cork. She tosses the wrapper aside and pulls the cork out and hands me the bottle. I take a large gulp while she sits down and then hand it over to her.
She takes a massive mouthful herself before she speaks. “It’s been a long time since I did this with anyone.” She then gives a sad burst of laughter. “It’s been a long time since anyone actually responded to me.”
“Well, I’m here now,” I comment and find I cannot find any hate toward her like I once had. All my animosity toward to Brianna has died a silent death and, right now, I am just pleased to have a person near who I know well. I’ll deal with how much I trust her later. “Why did you go back to the drugs?”
Brianna scoffs at that question, then she takes a swift swig of the rose wine and passes me the bottle. “After I helped Clara and I lost you, I found a lot of self-loathing in me. Then when you disappeared, it got worse. I blamed myself, hated you for leaving me, then hit the realization that the only person who cared for me wouldn’t give me a second chance. You wouldn’t come back and save me, but when I took a hit, it felt like for a moment in my life, nothing mattered. I didn’t think of everything I did wrong because I stopped myself from feeling anything.”
“When was your last hit?” I ask out of curiosity.
“A few weeks ago,” she admits quietly. “Clara’s threats were enough to get some rehab and now I’m as sober as I can be.” She looks at me, a deathly glaze to her eyes that resonates with strength to stay clean. “Eli was the one who found me,” she comments nonchalantly. “A few minutes later and I’d have been a goner. Sometimes I do really wish he had just gotten delayed somehow.”
“Don’t say that!” I retort horrified. “Never think that.”
She looks away, her head bowing forward in a shameful manner, and I see the tears begin to course heavily down her face. She doesn’t say a word, just begins to cry, and as they hasten I realize that Brianna’s been all alone since I left. I react by putting the bottle down behind us and wrap my arms around her. I allow my grasp to tighten, but only when she clings onto me with utter desperation as if I’ll disappear into an oblivion if she didn’t.
“You don’t have to do this alone anymore,” I whisper at her, running my hand over her head, soothing her the best I can. “I know it’ll take time to get us back to where we were, but I know we can.”
“I wish you’d come home,” she mumbles against my shoulder. “I wish I never drove you to leave. I wish I had never done any of that.”
“Hey, it’s okay,” I break in, trying to get her to have a little sense.
“No, it’s not,” Brianna pulls away as she says that. “It wasn’t just Clara who lost you. I did too, and I would do anything to have you back here. Just not like this.”
Maybe, just maybe I’ll give Clara what she wants just so I can be close to Brianna again because maybe she’s right. Maybe I need to release my inner Viper Girl.
“After you left it all got worse. Clara worsened, she changed the club. Made sure no client wanted us outside of the club.” She looks at me brokenly. “She made sure I paid for sure with ratting you and Jace out.”
I furrow my brow heavily. “What do you mean?”
“She made sure Henry knew about my past. He didn’t believe her at first, but when he found me with a needle hanging out of my arm, he turned his back on me. He didn't want to be with a low-life junkie," Brianna murmurs, averting all forms of eye contact. “Can you blame him?”
“If he loved you, Bree, he would have helped you out. Not judged you for your mistakes,” I remark heatedly, quite disgusted in how he treated a woman he made believe he loved.
“It doesn’t matter. That’s just a little proof on how it all changed.” She’s now looking out at New York, not at me. “If I’d never been her snitch, it never would have become what it did.”
“You really need to learn how to not blame yourself for everything,” I scold her lightly. I know how Brianna works, I might even be the only one who knows that. “It’s one of your greatest downfalls and I hate it. If I blamed you, would I really be here, right now?”
“Yes,” she states and turns her head to gaze at me. “Because that’s who you are, Joely. You’re the one who forgives and loves whatever. You don’t let on how you really feel, you just love everyone.”
“If you hadn’t noticed I’ve changed since I was last working in the club,” I mention dryly and reach back for the wine bottle.
“I noticed how Clara didn’t like the back talk you gave her in the pit the other night,” Brianna titters, the alcohol swimming her veins. “You’re welcomed back, and you cussed all the way.”
“Well I wasn’t going to make it an easy transition for her to enjoy. After seeing Jace beaten for her to get her own way, I can’t be at her beck and call. She won’t kill him because she knows I’ll go completely volatile at that, so she’s left with The Runaway Viper.”
“And she hates every single minute of you and your wayward behaviors,” Brianna finishes and hands the bottle to me. “That’s something I could willingly drink to.”
“Me too,” I agree promptly snatching the bottle off her. “She’s going to be back in like half hour, wonder her thoughts on me being disgustingly drunk?”
Brianna shrugs at me. “Not sure, but there’s always the two bottles in my fridge we can use to test it?”
I start to giggle, realizing I’m now tipsy as the wine hits my empty stomach. “I like your thinking, Bree.”
I’ll do anything to piss The Boss off.
Chapter Thirteen
“I’ve noticed you’ve lost weight,” Eli notions as he places a sandwich in front of me. “Stop working for a moment and eat a little.”
I shake my head and push the plate away. “I feel sick as it is. I don’t think I could stomach it.”
“You need to eat.” His command comes softly rounded with an inner toughness, but I know he means well.
“I need to be treated like a human being,” I state blandly and push the plate further away than before. “That’s what I need.”
Eli shakes his head, taking the plate and putting it onto another table behind him, away from me. He had seen me slump into one of the vacant seats after I had cleaned the floors twice over. Now, he just sat with concern riddling every surface of him. “You look really pale. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” My retort is snappy, and I know I’m being harsh, but I no longer feel like something worth the worry. Not when my woes lie so heavily on everyone else. “Please tell me you have news,” I whisper to Eli, my voice not far from begging desperately. “How is he?”
“He’d be better if he rested.” Eli doesn’t beat around the subject. “He’s driving Josh and his brother insane, but they’re working on things. I don’t know who’s watching me, so I haven’t stuck around too long, but he understands. Jace wants me here watching over you.” His admission just garners a simple nodding motion from me. “He’s worried about you.”
I give a tight grin, apprehension fills me like a good friend all over. “I’m fine.”
“Far from it,” Eli disputes, chortling in disbelief. “You’re starting to weaken from living in that room; barely eating, barely speaking.”
“I’m fine,” I repeat myself in the same dry, despondent tone. “I won’t give her what she wants from me, so I live in that room, barely get fed, and barely have anyone but you to speak to. To be honest, it’s a better deal than feeling like I’m some prop for men to get their kicks from.”
“But it’s not doing you any good,” Eli muses sternly. I can hear the roughness hit his throat, the feeling of despair tightening it. “Plus, I know you saw him last night, and
it’s kicked you right back down.”
It was only last night there was a whole load of commotion at the back doors to the club. Shads and Benson were made to escort an intruder off the premises. When I walked past on my way back to the pit, I saw the doors wide open, heard the screaming, but all I really took notice of was Jace. The moment our gazes met I felt my heart pound heavily, unlike it had in the past week or so. The moment he was gone, the beating slowed to a nonexistence.
“He came back for me,” I whisper and look to him with blurred vision. “Why does he keep fighting for me, Eli? I’m a waste of his time. What did I do for him to love me so much?”
Eli chuckles in response. “You are one of the most intelligent women I know, but when it comes to that man you are totally oblivious. Your husband loves you because from that first moment you met you both found that missing part. I even saw it, so Clara must have. He won’t lose the one thing that saved him, and I won’t tell that you again.”
“Are you going to go back to him with this?” I ask, already convinced of the response.
“Oh yes, Gilbert,” he tells me, tapping me on the nose. “You get away with nothing.”
I roll my eyes, giggling at his conspirator persona.
“Joely!” My name pierces the air as Sam hollers across the club, cutting my laughter off. “Clara wants you in her office now.”
I stand up, stumbling a little with my light-headedness as I go. Eli catches me, and I quickly push him off, I don’t want to appear frail to Sam. “Thanks,” I say and begin to pass him by.
“You’re eating when you come back,” Eli pressures as I walk away, and I have to agree.
I take the slow walk, feeling like a lamb being lead to my slaughter once more. The ball of dread that’s filled my heart rolls over, multiplying within me as I walk past Sam and head down the corridor. However, my tardiness and lack of urgency awards with an impolite grab before I’m spun around and met by Sam’s domineering figure.
He grabs me by the collar of my cardigan, pulling me up straighter from my stooped stance and leans in closely. “He might care about you, but I don’t give a fuck, so get in there and stop dragging your feet.” He throws me against the wall, pinning me against it. “You’re fucking lucky she gave you a second chance and allowed that husband of yours to live. God knows you deserve worse.” He releases my clothing, only to frame my throat with is opened palm. I feel his leg move my legs apart, placing it between them to trap me furthermore. “The things I could do with you, Joely. I’d make sure you regret every bad move you’ve made while here.”
I close my eyes, feeling my body break into an icy cold sweat as fear explodes upon every nerve ending. I whimper as he leans in, scared of what he’ll do. I feel so weak and pathetic. The old me would never do this, but here I am allowing the man who tried to killed me have his way with me, and I’m just too weak to fight back.
“Leave her alone,” Shads intercepts Sam, but he doesn’t move. “Do as I say before I have to pull you off her. I will make you regret ever thinking this was a good idea, Sam.”
I scurry out from under Sam’s imposing manner and hasten my speed away from him to Clara’s office doors. The large black painted oak seems so overbearingly large, and I’m not sure if it’s because of how I feel or Sam’s sudden threat that has me warped with fear - but as I knock, I know it sounds hesitant. I hear Clara call, and I wipe my face of the straggled tear that escaped after Sam’s assault. I push the door open and enter the room.
“I was told you wanted to see me.” I manage to speak without sounding like some poor victim. When Clara looks up at me, I feel my body quake. She narrows her sights upon me and again my stomach bottoms out, nausea cripples for me a second, and I just remind myself to breathe.
“Are you okay, Joely?” she asks, ignoring the subject that she used to draw me in here with.
“Yes,” I speak, quickly nodding along with it. “What was it you needed to speak with me about? I haven’t yet finished cleaning the club.”
“That can wait. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” She pushes her chair out and stands up to her full height. Walking around her desk, she hurries toward me, grabs my hand and pulls me over to the couches in her office. “What’s happened?”
“Nothing,” I feign and offer her a smile. She presses me with just one simple gaze, and my shoulders slump. “I don’t feel great, but I will make sure the club is cleaned before I head back to the pit.” I never thought I’d feel this, but I cannot wait for the door to close on me to that room. I cannot wait for total isolation.
“I’d noticed earlier how you looked nauseated first thing. We can get someone else to clean up,” she alerts me, her voice is calm. She doesn’t show an ounce of hostility, she’s being quite the opposite.
“No,” I defy, shaking my head. “It’s my job.” After Jace’s reappearance last night, I’m sure that’s why I’m here, but I won’t rile Clara any more than I indirectly have already. For once, I have no strength to be defiant and disobey. “When I’m done, I will just go back to my room and sleep.”
“Ah,” she utters, “that’s why I called you in here. You’re not going back to the pit.” She watches me snap my head to face her, and she gives me a smile. “You’re being promoted. That’s why I needed to speak to you.”
“Promoted?” I gasp my question at her. I’ve done nothing to deserve this, so clearly there are ulterior motives.
“Yes,” she clasps her hands together, resting them upon her lap, and smiles brightly. “Sure, you’re not a Viper Girl yet, but you’ve obeyed, and I saw how you reacted last night to Jace’s presence.” I prickle at the mere sound of his name. “I was expecting you to run towards him, not away. I felt keeping you at the bottom of the ranking was wrong, so you’re now working on the bar. You’ll be Eli’s help.” Her announcement stuns me, but for once I feel the anxiety melt away. “You’ll be off-limits, of course, but you’ll be on show. I want you to tease the men, I want you to be the one they all want, but can’t have.”
And again, the trepidation crawls back up my body, invading my senses. There is always something else with Clara. I should never think otherwise.
“I need to get you back in the game, Joely. We have to use your time with us wisely seeing as you got yourself that additional year for your indiscretion before you ran. You’re lucky I didn’t add another.” She then stands back up, her business demeanor falling over her. “You’re to go back to your old apartment complex. I’ve seen you’ve gotten along well with Brianna, especially after we had to pick you up drunk the other afternoon. I want you to go to her apartment, have a good wash, and I think you’re owed a good rest. You’ll come back here with Brianna at seven.”
“And after?” I ask, finding some strength. “Do I get to crawl back to the hole you so lovingly gave me?”
“That all depends on the outcome of tonight.” Clara laughs at me. “Now, go and finish your job so we can get you to the apartment on good time.”
“And if I don’t succeed tonight?” I ask, standing up. “Do I find myself thrown back in that room? Because I don’t think I can be one of your puppets anymore.”
“Your defiance wounds me,” Clara announces, mocking me with her hurt expression. She steps toward me, invading my personal space just how Sam had. “You’ll do as I say or I’ll have to find something far worse for you to live in.”
And again, the caring nature dissolves.
***
This is beyond uncomfortable. I’ve been serving drinks to girls and clients all night, but when I’m behind the bar I can’t stop myself from just consuming the sight of everyone. There are so many of the same clients here. Too many to count have remembered me by name, have applauded me for coming back, have instigated some magical moments happening between us.
I reach up, nervously tugging at the collar around my neck. Clara won’t remove it even when I’m on display. She likes to have claim on me, and she wants everyone to know it. At times, I feel like thi
s damn bit of leather is choking me, cutting my air off, suffocating away all my fight.
Releasing the collar, I see movement at the opposite end of the bar and look up. When I clock Luca alone, I decide to approach her. Ever since I came back, she’s been skittish around me. I understand why, but it doesn’t take the sting away from the hurt that emblazons around me.
“I’ll be right back,” I excuse myself and head to the end of the bar. She doesn’t even notice my presence. “Hey,” I greet her, and she looks up at me in shock. “I thought I’d say hi considering we never get chance.”
“Hi,” she tells me blankly, not looking up from the business card she has in her hand.
“Is that all I get?” I ask, trying to tease her. “Just a hi?”
“What else do you want?” she asks, lifting her head. The girl looking at me is not the same girl who stumbled into the club almost a year ago. They rarely are, but this person is a total stranger. “For us to be best buddies?” she tauntingly asks with gritted teeth. “We’re not supposed to talk to the dog of the club.”
She goes to leave, but I grab her. “What the hell?” I ask her, and my own tone is heated. “What did I do to make you talk to me like that?” I quiz, scowling at her. “Just because she named me, doesn’t mean you have to listen.”
“I’ve learned a lot while you were gone, Joely,” she retorts in a snappy manner. “To be the best, I don’t fraternize with people like you.”
“People like me?” I gasp in revulsion. “I’m not the one who’s changed here.”
She sniggers in response. “Maybe not, but you’re the reason this place is far worse than you ever prepared me for. I bet half of the things we’ve had to go through since you ran away are nowhere near what you ever had.” She narrows her gaze, the daggers flying my way. “I hate that you are the one who got away. You left me, hell, all of us behind.” Her words hit me and the realizm of my actions comes to life all over again. “So, right now, seeing you scrub floors and be treated like a dog are the least of my worries when we have the new clients we do.”
The Runaway Viper (Viper #2) Page 14
