Violet (Club Nymph Book 1)

by Abby Gale

  “It’s too complicated for girls’ night,” she answered nonchalantly.

  “C’mon, we’re pretty smart girls here,” I said.

  “It’s a long story,” she laughed without humor.

  “We have time,” I winked at her.

  “Not enough for this,” she exhaled deeply like she was carrying a ton of burden on her shoulders.

  I didn’t have anything to say after that. I didn’t want to push her when she looked upset.

  “I got pregnant with someone I shouldn’t have. I killed someone, went to jail. Then, I found love. And now… I’m here, dancing in the club,” she said after a few minutes of silence.

  “How?” I breathed out.

  “That’s a story for another time,” she said with a sad smile on her face.

  I wanted to ask who she’d killed but how can you ask someone that kind of question?

  “Wh-What happened to the baby?” I whispered instead.

  “Miscarriage.”

  I couldn’t ask any more questions when I realized she had tears in her eyes. She turned her head aside slightly to hide them.

  “Let’s watch a movie!” Harley said loudly.

  “Yeah! We bought Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL. Put it on, Harley. The best movies for our night.” Salem clapped her hands in excitement.

  I smiled at their attempt to change the topic and took the movie from Harley.

  “Yep. Time for the male strippers,” I giggled and pushed the play button.

  After two movies, we called it a night and I checked my phone. There was one missed call from Kevin. I noticed I had a text from him as well.

  *Dawn, I need more information about the names you sent me. I’m looking for them but I only have names so I cannot do any filtering. Call me ASAP to talk about this.*

  *Are you awake? I’m gonna call you*

  I sent him a message. It was late but I couldn’t wait till morning. My phone rang after a few minutes. It was him.

  “Kevin? I got your text,” I said when I answered the phone.

  “Well, what do you say?”

  “You can stop the background check, then. But can you at least check the owner of the truck for me. Michael Lane.”

  Fabien was preparing files of everyone but I was paranoid after the lie Mike told me. I wanted to have immediate news about him.

  “Repeat the name, please,” he asked.

  “Michael Lane.”

  “Dawn, are you sure? That’s not the name I remember. Wait, let me check.”

  “Are you still in the office?” I asked him.

  “Yeah, I’m still working,” he answered. I heard some typing on the line and waited.

  “I knew it. The owner isn’t Michael Lane,” he continued.

  “Who is the owner, then?” I felt the frown formed on my face.

  “William Harrison.”

  “What?”

  “William Harrison, Dawn,” he repeated.

  “Okay, thank you. Goodnight, Kevin,” I murmured and ended the call. I didn’t know how to make sense of it.

  I went back to the room Harley slept in.

  “Harley, are you awake?” I poked my head inside her room.

  “Violet? Yeah, come in.”

  “I won’t bother you. I will ask one thing and then, get out of your hair. Are you aware of any connection between Will and Mike?” I asked.

  “What kind of connection?” she asked, frowning.

  “I mean…are they friends? I’ve never seen them together so I wanted to ask you about that,” I murmured. I didn’t care if I looked insane at that moment.

  “Friends? No. They don’t like each other. Actually, I don’t even know why they are working together.”

  “Why do you think that is?” I asked. I hoped she had a theory on that.

  “I don’t know. Mike is good at his job. I think that’s all between those two. Just business. Why?”

  She mentioned the same thing as talking Salem about them. I was disappointed that she didn’t have another theory about it.

  “Nothing. Don’t mind me,” I said and stood up from her bed.

  “Well, okay?” she murmured. I was sure she thought I was going nuts.

  “Okay, thank you. Goodnight, doll,” I said and blew her a kiss as I left the room. I knew she couldn’t figure me out but it was better that way.

  What was the connection between Mike and Will?

  “No, you don’t have to send Stephen. Zac will take us to the club, Xander,” I rolled my eyes even though he couldn’t see it. After breakfast with girls, I called Xander but he was trying to be bossy with me without listening what I was about to say.

  “Zac, the club driver, right?” he snorted.

  “Yes. I’ll be with girls and Zac is a good guy. Can you stop being suffocating?” I groaned in frustration.

  “I didn’t say I’d collar you and keep you at home. I just said I’d send you a driver. Is it suffocating now?” he snapped at me.

  After he said it like that…well, I realized that I acted like a bitch.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just…Look, I called you for something else. That’s why I was preoccupied and tensed.”

  “What’s it?” he asked tersely.

  “I don’t have Fabien’s number. I need him to look into something.”

  “Okay, tell me. I’ll call him.”

  I groaned inwardly to his answer.

  “Xander, just give me his number. Please,” I insisted.

  “Flame, will you ever do anything I tell you to without protest?” he growled to the line. I could feel his annoyance on my body like he was near to me.

  “I told you. I will do whatever I think is right.”

  “Fine, Flame. Fine.”

  I hated he wasn’t happy with my decision but I started this alone, I wouldn’t let anyone decide my actions.

  “I’ll send you the number in a message,” he snapped at me. I couldn’t help but smile his attitude.

  “Thank you,” I told him sweetly and before he shut the phone to my face I continued.

  “I missed you.”

  The line went silent for a long while, I had to check if he ended the call.

  “So did I,” he said huskily just before he ended the call and left me with another “heart-throb”.

  I opened his text with a smile on my face and called the number he sent me.

  “Dumont.” Fabien answered his phone on the first ring.

  “Fabien, it’s me Dawn Darcia.”

  “Miss Dawn, hello. How can I help you?” Fabien said with his professional attitude.

  “Mike is driving a truck that belongs to William but they aren’t even friends, Fabien. I need you to search if they have any connection besides business.”

  “Actually, there is another thing I want to tell you Miss Dawn but I didn’t want to say it without having some information first.” His voice was uncertain.

  “What’s it?”

  “I cannot find anything about Michael Lane. I don’t know if he uses a nickname or there is something else behind it. I’ll keep searching, though.”

  “Okay, thank you, Fabien. Be as fast as you can,” I said and after we exchanged our goodbyes I ended the call.

  Who are you Michael Lane?

  “Violet? Zac is waiting for us.” Harley poked in her head in my room.

  “I’m coming right up,” I said and took a deep breath to soothe my nerves.

  ֎

  The car ride to the club was short and fun but I was too distracted to enjoy it. The music was loud enough, no one noticed my silence. All I had to do was smile and nod my head when someone talked in my direction.

  Finally Zac’s stopped in front of the club and everyone got out from the car but me. I was remembering the times Zac told me to be careful in my first days at the club.

  “Violet? Aren’t you coming in?” Sage asked.

  “I’ll be there in a few minutes,” I said and turned my attention to Zac. He met my eyes in the
rearview mirror and turned his head back to me with a smile. His smile dropped when he looked at me more carefully.

  “What’s wrong, girly?”

  “I need to ask you something, Zac. But I need you to be honest with me.”

  “What is it, Violet? What’s troubling you?” he asked. He frowned, his features were concerned.

  “Since the first day here you’ve always told me to be careful. Why?”

  “You seemed like a good girl, I just wanted to warn you, protect you. Is that wrong?”

  “No. No, it’s not wrong. But protect me from what? Why did you warn me?” I asked him.

  “This is a night club, Violet. Dangerous things can happen in here,” he said darkly. His eyes clouded with thoughts.

  “Do you know something about this club, Zac? Look, this is so important to me. Please tell me if you are suspicious of something.”

  “Violet, it might be nothing, okay? It might be just my paranoia or something…but since you’re so persistent on that, I’ll tell you,” he started. He was unsure of telling me so I nodded quickly and hoped he would continue.

  “I’ve been working here for over four years now and…” he trailed off but after a deep breath he continued talking.

  “I’ve witnessed three girls disappear at different times,” he finished his sentence.

  “Disappeared how?” I asked. My hands were shaking, I linked my fingers together to stop it.

  “They left without a word. One day, they just didn’t come to the club.”

  “Maybe they quit the job?” I said as a question.

  “Yeah, that’s what they told me every time, but I feel like something is missing. They were different before they disappeared. Three of them acted the same. They were so cheerful and energetic but then, they changed like someone pushed a button. They shut themselves out and acted weird. I don’t know how to explain it clearly, but they looked so nervous and jumpy. I didn’t realize it back then, but I noticed this after they disappeared,” he said and I could see it was hard for him to explain what he thought.

  “Do you remember the girls’ names?”

  “Yeah. The first one was a dancer, her name was Riley. The second one disappeared eight months later. She was a waitress in the club. What was her name? Umm…right, Annabel. And the last girl disappeared two years ago. Her name was Angel,” he said.

  I knew what I would hear when I asked that question but hearing her name now…I felt like someone was obstructing my air supply.

  “And I was afraid you’d be the next one when I first saw you. Because you had what they all had. That’s why I kept telling you to be careful,” he continued.

  “I have what they had? What do you mean?”

  “You demand attention, V. Just like the others. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you’re seeking it out. I’m saying you draw everyone’s attention just by being yourself and doing nothing. All three before you had the same thing.”

  “So you think something happened to them in the club?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t have any proof of my suspicions. They are all just gut feelings you probably shouldn’t take me too seriously. Because even I don’t believe myself,” he looked as confused as he sounded.

  “Okay, thank you for telling me all that, Zac,” I told him and got out of the car.

  As soon as I stepped into the club I bumped into a hard chest.

  “Whoa, love! Missed me much?” I heard Will’s smug voice.

  “Will…” I murmured and tried to get rid of his arms.

  “Violet, I need you for a business meeting.” Will said when I got away from him.

  “A business meeting? Okay, your office?”

  “No. We need to go to another club. I know I didn’t tell you that before but it’s so important and we’re getting late.”

  “Another club? Why do you need me to be there?” I asked. I frowned while waiting his answer.

  “First, that club has different dancers and we’ll watch their shows. You can catch something new from them, you’re very talented. But beside that, I’ll need your advice in hiring a new dancer.”

  Fair enough, I thought.

  “You’re thinking of hiring a new dancer? Why?”

  He gave me a look from head to toe and back up before answering.

  “For a replacement,” he said with an annoyed huff but before I could figure out what he meant he continued, “To give something different to the club and I can afford one more dancer. Sage and you won’t work as much as you do if I have one more dancer.”

  “Okay. We need to go now?”

  “Yep, we’ll be late if we don’t leave here now,” he said and opened the door for me.

  “Wait! Just you and me? No one will join us?” I swallowed my nerves.

  “Yes, Violet. Why? Am I making you nervous?” he asked smugly.

  I didn’t wanna go God-knows-where with him, alone. But this trip could give me some information. I wanted to tell him I wouldn’t go anywhere with him but I had too many question to ask and this was perfect opportunity.

  I could ask him about Mike, himself and about the club. I could even try to get some information about Angel.

  I let these thoughts tempt me and I went out of the club with him. There was no sign from Zac and I realized we wouldn’t go with him.

  “My car is in this way. Come,” he said and we turned the corner where employees parked their cars if they had them.

  He had a black SUV and opened the passenger door for me. His smug grin got on my nerves but I smiled tightly while getting in the car. I almost sat on the door handle while sliding as far as I could from the driver’s seat to door.

  “Are you ready?” he asked after he got in the car.

  I didn’t like his smirk, the smugness in his voice, and the hungry look in his eyes. I didn’t like him. Period.

  “Yeah,” I murmured and we took off.

  After a few minutes of drive, the realization hit me hard. I was alone with Will and I didn’t know if he was the reason Angel had disappeared. All I focused was Mike, I had never thought the possibility of Will being the suspect.

  What if this was a trick to get me alone?

  “We’re here.” Will said while I was about to freak out with paranoia.

  “What?”

  “We’re here, Violet. The club, the business meeting, remember?” he mocked at me.

  I looked up from the car window and saw a nightclub. I exhaled my breath I didn’t even know I was holding.

  He wasn’t playing a game.

  We came to the club like he told me.

  I was chanting these things to calm my nerves.

  “C’mon, Violet,” he said and got out from the car.

  Don’t let me do stupid things, please.

  I’d sent a little prayer to the above before I got out of the car and followed him. This club was so different than The Club Nymph. It wasn’t sophisticated or expensive. It wasn’t fancy, it was dangerous. With every step I took to the depths of the club, I tried to control my breathings. The club was giving me chills, my hands were shaking.

  “Abramov! What’s up, man?” Will greeted a bald man.

  “William, long time no see.” Abramov said with his thick accent and gave Will a manly hug.

  “This beauty is the one you mentioned?” Abramov nodded his head toward me when he noticed me standing behind Will.

  “Yes, Abramov. Violet will be my guest in the meeting. Are the girls ready?” His voice was tense, like he was trying to change the subject.

  “They are waiting. This way.” Abramov motioned his hand for us to follow.

  When we arrived to the table area I saw four girls were standing near the stage. I looked around, but this club didn’t look like a nightclub, instead, it looked more like a drug traffic point. It was dark…so dark.

  “Will? Why are we here?” I whispered when we located the table.

  “See those four girls? I’ll hire one of them. Abramov will close the club soon
. It will be a good bargain,” he whispered back.

  “Start the show, ladies.” Abramov ordered loudly.

  “Would you like to drink anything?” A redhead came to the table.

  “Bourbon.” Will answered.

  “Same.” Abramov said and all eyes turned to me.

  “Violet?” Will asked.

  “I won’t have anything. Thank you.”

  “Oh, no. I insist. Please, Miss Violet.” Abramov said.

  “Okay. A glass of water, then,” I said uncomfortably.

  “C’mon, love. A glass of water? How about gin tonic?” Will chuckled at my choice.

  “It’s early for me to drink alcohol. I’ll take a sparkling water, then. Please go ahead, start with the meeting,” I said. I noticed Abramov and Will exchange a look, but I didn’t understand what it meant. Abramov nodded at the redhead and she went to bring our drinks.

  As we watched the show on the stage, the redhead returned to the table with our drinks.

  “Violet, you watch the show as we talk about boring stuff, okay? Whoever you choose I’ll hire her as a dancer.” Will said and lifted his glass of bourbon to me.

  I reluctantly clicked my glass with him and took a sip from my glass. I tried to focus on the girls to stop my anxiety about this place.

  The first girl wasn’t anything special. To be honest, I couldn’t stop my yawn while watching her. The next one was better but not that good. I was getting bored so I tried to enjoy myself with my drink.

  The third one was great, she was my choice. All I wanted to do was to give my opinion to Will and leave this place. While the fourth one was dancing I turned my attention to the conversation between Abramov and Will.

  “Okay. Fucking paperwork is done.” Abramov said.

  “Yeah. It was good business, man.”

  “How is Mike?” Abramov asked and Will coughed nervously.

  Mike? Was it the same Mike?

  I tried to stay nonchalant and kept my eyes on the stage but my ears strained to the conversation.

  “The same.” Will snapped at him sharply. I saw he looked at me from the corner of my eye but I acted like I didn’t hear anything.

  There was something between Will and Mike. I was sure of it now.

  “Violet? Have you decided on the girl?” Will asked. His voice was guarded.

  “What?” I turned at him like I didn’t hear what he said. I didn’t want him to doubt that I heard their earlier talk about Mike.