by Mary Abshire
“Jessica his here. I’m going to try to get to her. Stay back for a while.”
He lowered his gaze before he passed behind her.
Emily kept her focus on Jessica as she approached the crowd at the bar. She didn’t want to interrupt Jessica if she happened to be working. Plus, she didn’t want to seem like a needy hooker looking for a friend. There had to be a way to get her attention without being obvious. She just needed to get in her line of sight.
A couple of men stood behind the guy Jessica was chatting with. One man had just received a drink from the bartender and held it in his hand. Emily moved closer, staying to the left but trying to avoid getting liquor on her clothes if the drink spilled. After the dark-haired man stepped back with his cup, Emily quickly squeezed behind Jessica’s guy.
Emily put her hand on his shoulder. He wore a blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a white t-shirt underneath. “Sorry.”
He glanced back. “No problem.”
Jessica tilted her head. “Carrie?”
Emily leaned over the bar. “Jessica?”
A big smile showed up on her face. “Hey you.”
The guy took a step back and gave Emily a once over. He had short spikey hair, wore stud earrings in each ear, and appeared to be her height. He looked young, mid-twenties if she’d guessed right. Jessica appraised her too.
“I’m so sorry. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything,” Emily said.
“Nonsense,” she said. “We’re thinking of going upstairs. Care to join us?”
“I’m Erik.” The man extended his hand to her.
“Carrie,” she said as she accepted his greeting.
“Come with us,” he said with a jerk of his head.
“Sure, as long as you don’t mind more company,” Emily said.
Erik slid his arm behind Emily before he pulled her to his body. “The more the merrier.”
Jessica widened her smile and gave Emily a nod. Although Erik’s touch made her feel a bit awkward, she ignored the urge to push him away. This was her chance to build a reputation, even if it were only a fake one.
“Let’s go,” Emily said.
Erik walked near her right while Jessica stayed on her other side. Together, they headed for the stairs. Emily scanned the area to see if Andrew were watching, but couldn’t locate him.
“I’m so glad to see you again. Did you get a chance to call?” Jessica asked near Emily’s ear.
“I left a message and nobody called me back,” she said.
“Did you mention you spoke to me?” Jessica asked.
“No. I didn’t know if that was appropriate.”
“It’s fine. You can say you spoke to me,” Jessica said before they started climbing the staircase.
“I really need to talk to your friend to try and clear up my problem,” Emily said.
“He might be here,” Jessica said.
“Really?” She tried to sound excited. “I hate to ask, but do you think there is any way possible…”
They reached the top of the stairs and passed by the bouncers. Erik led the way through clusters of men and women socializing in the sitting areas. Not many empty seats were left on the floor. He found a vacant spot on the side closest to the dance floor. There was a vintage red settee and two other cushioned chairs. He sat in the center of the vintage seat.
Jessica stood nearby, scanning the area. Since she hadn’t sat yet, Emily decided to stay standing too.
“Can I get us some drinks?” Emily offered.
Jessica spun around. “Erik, I want to introduce Carrie to a friend of mine. Would you mind waiting here for a few minutes?”
Emily’s pulse sped. She presumed Jessica had located Michael.
“Sure, but hurry back,” Erik said.
Jessica slid her hand into Emily’s. “Come on.”
“Where are we going?” Emily asked as Jessica pulled her around the socializing groups.
“My lawyer is here. He comes in a lot to check in. I’ll introduce you.”
Emily scanned for Andrew. Instead of finding him, she spotted the demon. He sat two rows away from where he’d been the night before. A young gal with blonde hair sat on a cushioned sofa facing him. Beside her, a thin man wearing a suit had his arm draped around a woman with brown wavy hair and huge breasts. Emily’s heart acquired more beats as she approached the demon. Her last encounter with one had not ended well. On second thought, it had ended perfectly because Andrew had destroyed the demon before he could rape her.
Jessica brought Emily to a halt near the demon’s side. He looked up at her. “I’d like you to meet someone.” Jessica looked at Carrie. “This is Michael Lazzari.”
Emily held out her hand. “Carrie Reynolds.”
He rose from his seat. The demon wore dark pants with a maroon button-down shirt and a black blazer. Emily suspected he’d arrived straight from work. Although she’d seen him from a distance several other times, he seemed taller up close. His brown eyes stayed fixed on her.
He shook her hand. “Carrie Reynolds, nice to meet you.”
Nausea crept upon her as she stared at him. He was better looking than the last demon, but the simple fact he was evil didn’t sit well with her intestines. She clutched her wristlet to help her deal with her unease.
“I met Carrie last night and we had a chat. She’s got a situation,” Jessica said.
“Oh, what is it?” He looked from Jessica to Emily.
“I moved here from Florida. I have some pending charges that I need cleared up.” Emily refrained from saying much since others were close by. She had to assume they knew nothing about his business affairs, especially with hookers.
His gaze lowered and then slowly crawled up her body. Plenty of men had done the same thing to her already, but for some reason she felt violated when the demon did it.
“I’m also looking for a job. I’m a good … server.” The word she used in place of prostitute was the first one that had popped into her mind. She hoped he grasped her intent.
His lips twitched and he slipped his hands into his pockets. “We have plenty of those.”
Emily sensed he understood her code, but wasn’t interested in her. Maybe he was bluffing, but she couldn’t risk that he wasn’t. She decided to persuade him of her value. “I’m clean. I don’t do drugs and I’m not prejudiced toward anyone. I’ve been with multiple … friends, and a few people who like to play with … toys.” The mammoth lie made her want laugh and cringe at the same time. Did hookers really say such garbage in a job interview? Did she need to give details about her blowjob experience?
“She left a message, but no one called her back,” Jessica said.
“Uh huh. Well…” He took a step closer and withdrew one of his hands from his pockets. He offered Emily a card. “Call my office and set up an appointment. We can discuss your charges in more detail. Do you have a criminal history?”
“No. It was my first offense.”
A touch of relief shot through her as she took the card from him. Playing the role of a whore in front of a man Andrew planned to kill wasn’t easy, but she’d done it. She stuck the card inside her wristlet.
“That’s good. I won’t be able to help you until we work out the retainer fee,” he said.
“I understand. I’ll call in the morning.”
“Call the other number Jessica gave you too,” he said. “Make sure you get a meeting scheduled.”
Emily gestured for his hand. He clasped hers and gave it a firm shake. Lips together, she forced a smile. She really hated touching demons.
“It was nice to meet you. I look forward to discussing my case with you soon,” Emily said.
“Likewise,” he said before he released her.
Jessica slipped her arm around Emily’s waist. “Come on, let’s get back to Erik.”
Emily followed Jessica’s lead and together they walked back the way they’d come from. She searched for Andrew again as they weaved between groups of people chatting. A
lthough she couldn’t find him, she had a feeling he was watching. And if by chance he was still on the dance floor, then she hoped he was having a good time. The night was still young and she wanted to stay and enjoy it, even if she were playing the role of a prostitute.
Chapter Twelve
Andrew sat on long cushioned bench with a woman on each side of him. Donna, the one on his left, had her hand on his knee. Typically in the past, a woman’s touch would’ve aroused him. Donna was a beautiful woman with long brown locks and hazel eyes. She had a nice rack and slim body. She danced well with him. Several men had looked her way, but Andrew wasn’t one of them and Donna’s touch didn’t inspire his member to spring to life. His thoughts were concentrated on one woman and she was sitting with another man and a prostitute.
Jennifer, the other fine lady sitting on the right of Andrew, said something and Donna laughed. Andrew faked a chuckle as he glanced over Donna’s shoulder to get a view of Emily. The man sitting beside her had his hand too far up her thigh. Emily smiled at him, and then looked at Jessica, the hooker next to her. The three of them appeared to be having a good time.
“How long will your business keep you in town?” Jennifer asked as she ran her fingers through her blonde hair.
Andrew twisted to face her. “I’m not sure right now. It’s looking like I’ll probably be here another week.”
He veered his gaze past her to the demon sitting three rows behind him. After Emily had spoken with him, the demon had moved in front of the couple on the sofa. The demon had been chatting with them until the blonde woman he was with came to his side. Together, they walked through the maze of people.
“Will you be able to come back here tomorrow, Andrew?” Donna asked.
“I should be able to,” he answered while he kept his attention on the man he had to kill.
The demon stopped in front of the bouncer near the staircase. The woman with him continued down the steps. The demon spoke to the bouncer. After he finished, the bouncer turned his head and searched for someone in the crowd. Andrew quickly shifted his gaze in the same direction. Three groups of people were in the bouncer’s line of sight, including Emily and her two friends. Andrew shot his gaze back to the demon. The bouncer nodded his head and then withdrew his cell from his pocket. Seconds later, the demon descended the staircase.
“Is your hotel nice?” Donna asked. “We could always go there if you want.”
“I don’t think my roommate would like that,” he said, watching the bouncer who held the phone to his ear.
“Is your roommate a guy?” Jennifer asked.
“No, and she’s very business minded,” Andrew answered.
While sitting with Donna and Jennifer were good for appearances, the two annoyed him. His focus remained on the bouncer talking on his phone. He seemed to be taking glances in Emily’s direction. Why? Was it because Emily had spoken to Michael? Did the demon want her followed? Whatever the reasoning, Andrew had a gut feeling the bouncer was monitoring Emily.
“Your boss made you share a room with a female co-worker?” Jennifer asked.
“Yes. Only two of us came here, so my employer was trying to save money by putting us in one room,” Andrew said.
Emily stood and faced Jessica. She spoke to the hooker briefly before she walked away. Digging into her small purse, Emily headed to the back.
“Ladies, I need another drink,” he said as he stood. “Can I get one for either of you?”
“Sure,” Donna said.
“Whatever you’re getting is fine. I’m not picky,” Jennifer said.
“Same here,” Donna added.
“Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back,” he said before he left them.
He proceeded to the bar in the back where Emily had stopped. If Michael had instructed others to watch her, Andrew needed to let her know. The bartender had his back turned as he prepared her order. Andrew came to a halt at the counter next to Emily. He withdrew money from his pocket. As he set it on the bar, he met her gaze. She smiled at him.
“The bouncer seems to have a special interest in you,” he said softly.
“Is that right?” she asked. “What about you? Have you got a special interest too?”
“Not the same way he does,” Andrew said without offering her a hint of a grin.
The bartender twisted to face them. He set two drinks on the counter in front of Emily. He shifted his attention to Andrew. “What can I get for you?”
“Two beers please,” Andrew said.
The bartender took his money before he turned to fix Andrew’s order.
Emily lifted the cups and took a step back.
“I’d be careful if I were you,” Andrew said to her. “You seem to be getting extra attention.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded. “Thanks.”
The protective instinct within him encouraged him to follow her as she walked away. He resisted, knowing she was safe in the club, even if the company weren’t the straight and narrow kind. Regardless, he’d continue to watch her from a distance.
Andrew’s gaze lowered to her perfect ass. He could stare at it all night in that dress. And so could every other man. He shook the thought from his head before it angered him.
With his drinks in hand he returned to Donna and Jennifer.
“Where’s yours?” Donna asked as she took one of the cups from him.
“I’ll just take a sip from yours and Jennifer’s if you don’t mind. I don’t like to drink too much.” He sat between the two ladies.
Jennifer took a swig before she handed the beer back to him. “Take as much as you’d like.”
“Aren’t you sweet,” he said before he poured some booze into his mouth.
She smiled and placed her hand on his arm. “But you are the sweetest. I bet you taste delicious.”
He handed the cup to her. “Well, I wouldn’t say sweet. More like salty.”
“Salty is good.” Donna offered her drink to him and he took it.
“He can be both,” Jennifer said while he gulped more beer.
He gave the beverage back to Donna. Past her, Emily laughed with her two friends. The man had his hand on her knee again.
“Either way, I bet he tastes better than a lollipop,” Donna said.
“Oh, I’d lick every inch,” Jennifer said.
“I’d suck on a lollipop,” Donna said.
“Me too,” Jennifer said excitedly.
Andrew chuckled. “Ladies, I’m sad to say I don’t have any suckers on me.” He kept up the pleasantry, but he preferred to keep close observation of Emily.
“Do you have any hard candy?” Donna asked.
“Good one,” Jennifer said.
“I might,” Andrew said. “But you’ll have to wait and see.”
“I can wait,” Donna said.
Jennifer set her empty cup near her feet. “Me too. Hard candy is the best.”
Donna drank more beer, giving Andrew another chance to gaze beyond her. Emily and her two friends rose. They finished drinking and then set the cups on the table. He suspected they were about to go somewhere.
“Why don’t we head back downstairs?” Andrew said.
“Are we going to dance?” Jennifer asked with excitement beaming in her eyes.
He took her hand and stood. “I think we should.”
Donna set her cup on the ground before she rose. She curled her arm around Andrew’s. “I think we should too.”
Clingy women were the worst in his opinion. Donna seemed to be one of them. Still, he smiled as they headed for the staircase. Emily and her company were about to reach the other side of the stairs. By the time he would reach them, he wouldn’t be too far behind her.
The bouncer on Andrew’s side of the steps watched Emily going down. He withdrew his phone and started moving his fingers over the screen. Andrew now had little doubt the bouncer had been instructed to watch her.
Donna let go of his arm when they reached the steps. “We could go back to my pla
ce later. My apartment isn’t big, but it’s comfortable and we’d have it to ourselves.”
“I love the sound of it,” Jennifer said. “What do you think, Spencer?”
His attention stayed on Emily as she reached the main floor. Holding hands with Jessica, she headed toward the dance floor with the man at her side.
“Let’s dance for a while. I’m not ready to go anywhere yet,” Andrew said, leading them in the same direction Emily had taken.
Bodies crowded the floor while loud music vibrated under his feet. He kept his gaze locked on Emily and wedged through the mass of swaying bodies. When she stopped with her friends, Andrew continued around them. He kept a distance with several bodies separating them, but he could still see her.
Donna and Jennifer danced in front of him. Andrew’s feet quickly adapted to the rhythm while his body gyrated with the rest of swaying men and women. Emily held Jessica’s hands as they faced each other. The man danced behind Emily. His hands were on her hips and stayed there through the duration of the song.
From one tune to the next, Andrew kept his attention on Emily. She caught him looking at her a few times and smiled. She looked happy and full of life. Other men stepped in front and behind her. A young thin man with blondish-brown hair kept returning. He liked to touch her the most, either with his hands or his body. Each time he did, Andrew’s level of unease grew. When the man’s hands came close to her breast, Andrew nearly stormed over to punch him. Emily had moved away just in time to avoid being groped.
Donna and Jennifer continued dancing with Andrew. Jennifer moved closer and ran her hand down his torso. She tried to go lower, but Andrew caught her wrist. He twisted her around and grooved behind her. She laughed and didn’t seem to notice he was trying to avoid her touch.
The two friends Emily had arrived on the floor with eventually disappeared. Emily stayed through song after song. The way she carried her moves and her cheerful expressions, it seemed as if she enjoyed the energy of the music, the freedom, and the attention. But he had to wonder if she liked it a little too much. She played the role of a hooker well and it bothered him. At some point, he wanted to join in the game. He had a part to play as well as she did. And if the thin man kept touching her, Andrew the pimp was going to make an appearance.
