by Peyton Banks
There was something in her eyes. Something he wanted to discover. Something made him want to erase the pain that he recognized in her large brown pools. Something was haunting her.
How did he know?
His past was plagued with darkness.
But her smile, those dimples appearing on her cheeks, brought him out of the darkness.
“I have no claim on her,” Dallas replied. His gaze roamed the establishment and settled on Candi passing out drinks at a table full of women. She laughed at something one of them said, and his gut clenched.
She was absolutely beautiful.
“So, you wouldn’t care if I asked her for her phone number?”
Dallas’s gaze swiveled to Tanner who cocked an eyebrow at him. His friend would be considered handsome by women. Hell, he always had a female hanging off him when they worked the bar. Red clouded his vision at the thought of Tanner making moves on Candi. A vision of his fist plowing into Tanner’s face appeared in his mind, but that wouldn’t satisfy Dallas. “You do, and I’ll shoot you in the face.”
He meant it, too.
Dallas and Tanner were both police officers for the same precinct. They had met a few years ago, and Tanner had become one of the few men he’d call a friend. It had been Tanner who had helped Dallas get in to work security at The Commoner. It wasn’t that he was so strapped for cash he needed the second job. Dallas needed to stay busy.
Half of his life, he’d served his country before joining the police force. He had been a bright-eyed boy of seventeen when he’d enrolled into the Marines. Now at the age of thirty-six, he was left cold and hollow. He’d seen so much death in his years in the service. Things most people shouldn’t even know about. It had been his job to ensure that most Americans didn’t realize certain things were going on in the world. Things that haunted him and caught up to him in his sleep.
So taking a second job helped him escape the nightmares.
He couldn’t offer Candi much.
He was too riddled with scars from his former life that any woman with half a brain would run far from him.
It didn’t keep the desire for her away.
Tanner barked a laugh and shook his head. “Roger that, old man. I’m going to circulate for a few minutes. I’ll be back.”
Dallas scowled, watching his friend disappear into the thick crowd.
A burst of deep laughter and heckles grabbed his attention. Dallas caught sight of a group of men laughing and slapping each other on the backs while they were seated in Candi’s section. He instantly went on alert. By the looks of them, they were already heavy in their cups. He scanned the club and found Candi standing at the bar. She had yet to go over to the new table. He’d have to keep a close eye on the bunch. Men like that were unpredictable. Drunk, potentially high on something, and out to party.
Dallas met the gaze of Liam, another bouncer in the bar. They shared a nod. Liam must have picked up on the guys, too. They would keep an eye on them, and if they got out of hand, Dallas and the bouncers would handle them swiftly.
Dallas tensed. Candi walked over to the table of men. She smiled, but it wasn’t her usual killer-watt smile. Dallas was able to read her body language clear across the room. She was uncomfortable with the men at the table, and her guard was up.
Good.
The music in the bar seemed to grow louder. Dallas grimaced. It wasn’t his type of music, but then again, he wasn’t getting paid to critique the song choices of the DJ.
“You see table forty-five?” Van, the fourth bouncer in the bar came to stand by him. He was a big, burly man with a full beard and crazy hair that stood up in every direction.
The four of them usually worked the same nights. Throughout the week when it wasn’t as crowded, four bouncers weren’t really needed. Friday and Saturday, they were there in full force to keep the place safe for not only the patrons, but for the employees also.
“Yeah.” Dallas refused to take his eyes off Candi while she took the men’s orders. “Make sure the bar knows they pregamed.”
“Will do.” Van moved on and headed toward the bar.
They would need to ensure the bartenders knew the newcomers had been drinking before they’d arrived, so that they wouldn’t over serve them. Safety was their top priority as security.
Dallas relaxed slightly once Candi moved away from the table to put their order in. He narrowed his gaze on the men, and his gut clenched. He didn’t like the feeling he was getting. His gut never was wrong and had saved his ass many times over when he’d been in desert with his men. He trusted it then, and he trusted it now.
Chapter Three
Candi blew out a deep breath. Her night had been going great so far, but now she had table forty-five filled with a rowdy bunch of guys who thought they were the life of the party. She gripped the counter of the bar tight. Her anxiety was rising with the thought of going back to the table.
“You all right?” Kay asked, coming to stand by her while they waited for Tony and Micki to make their drinks.
“Yeah. Just got rowdy wannabes in my section,” she muttered.
She glanced back over her shoulder at the table and caught the eye of one of the guys. He threw her a wink, and she rolled her eyes, turning back to Kay. Her friend knew her background and must have seen the apprehension on her face. They were close, and Candi had confided in her about Lamont.
Her ex-husband was currently serving time in prison, which she was thankful for. When he’d been notified that their divorce had been granted, he had started calling her collect from jail. She didn’t know how he’d gotten her telephone number. Her heart raced thinking of that first call. She’d answered her home phone, and when the recording for the person’s name calling played, he’d only left her a message.
A piece of paper doesn’t mean anything. You’re still mine.
A chill passed down her spine at the memory of his words.
The only thing that comforted her was that he was locked away. He couldn’t hurt her.
“If you need someone to switch with you, just say the word.” Kay laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Candi nodded and forced a smile. “I’ll be fine. I can’t do that to ya’ll. It’s already crazy, and it’s only ten o’clock.”
Tony sat two of the drinks on her tray. “Give me one second, and I’ll have the rest ready,” he said before turning away.
With the crowd, Toni and Micki were working in sync with each other to ensure everyone was getting their drinks quick, fast, and in a hurry.
“Just say the word, and we’ll switch,” Kay said. Micki brought Kay her drinks. “Promise me you’ll come get me.”
“I promise.” Candi sighed.
Kay stared at her for a brief second. Appearing to be satisfied with what she saw, she grabbed her tray and walked away. Candi scanned the club and caught sight of Dallas walking around. Relief filled her at the notion that he had moved closer to her area.
“Here you go, pretty lady,” Tony announced, bringing her the last of her order. He tossed her a wink before moving down along the bar.
“Thanks, Tony,” she said. Hefting up the tray, she turned and made her way to the table. Her heart pounded, and she tried to will it to be still. She’d served plenty of drunk, out-of-control customers before, and this would be no different. She’d smile, keep the drinks coming, and dodge their hands.
“There she is!” the guy in the group with the baseball cap on yelled out.
Candi took him as the leader.
“I’m back.” She smiled. She’d play along and sent up a prayer that they were decent guys out for a good time. She began passing out the glasses.
“What’s your name again, sweetheart?” the guy in the button-down asked.
She tried to not to roll her eyes as she handed out the last glass. Her name was always the butt of jokes. When she was younger, she had thoughts of changing her name once she was of legal age, but then as she got older, she’d learned to embrace her name. “
Candi”
“I’m sure you’re just as sweet as your name implies,” Baseball Cap stated. He knocked his drink back and leaned toward her. “I love that sexy accent of yours. Where you from?”
“Is there anything else I can get you guys?” She tried to redirect them. She tucked her tray underneath her arm and pulled her pad and pen from her apron.
“My buddy, Mike, here is getting married next weekend. Why don’t you give him a little lap dance?” Baseball Cap asked.
Cheers went around the table.
Candi shook her head and didn’t lose her smile. “I’m sorry, fellas. This isn’t that type of place. If you want lap dances, that’s a street over.”
“Oh, come on, baby,” Button-down, whined. He inched forward and slid his hand along the back of her thigh.
She jerked away from him and stepped back.
“You’re a sexy little piece of ass. Mike’s never been with a black woman before.”
“Well, he won’t tonight,” she snapped. Her hands trembled, so she slid the pad and pen back into her apron. It was time for her to walk away.
“This is Vegas.” Baseball Cap grinned, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
The other men around the table narrowed their eyes on her. This was definitely not good.
“What happened to the saying, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?” Mike asked.
“I said no,” she said, this time with more force in her words.
They weren’t listening.
“Candi, baby. We all could have a good time.” Button-down reached out and snagged her wrist. His grip was tight, and she tried to pull away but couldn’t. “We’ll make sure you are paid well.”
Panic filled her chest. She tugged again, but he and the others laughed.
She cringed, tears filling her eyes as a flashback of her past came racing forward.
“Lamont, you’re home early.” She walked out of their bedroom. She was off and had been doing laundry and tiding up the house.
She glanced around the living room at the few men who were with him. He smiled and waved her over.
“Come give me a kiss to welcome me home, Candi baby,” he said.
She swallowed hard and put on a smile. She didn’t want to upset him so walked across the room, feeling the eyes of his guests on her.
She didn’t recognize the three men who sat around her living room. She wasn’t sure what type of crowd her husband had ben running with lately. She tried not to ask too many questions, because when she did, he’d let her know he wasn’t pleased with her.
He pulled her onto his lap. His hand rested on the back of her neck and allowed him to guide her lips to his. She instantly smelled the alcohol on his breath.
The kiss was hard and bruising. He forced his tongue in her mouth. Her body stiffened, and she tried to relax, but the fact that there were three men she didn’t know watching them, freaked her out a little.
“Lamont,” she breathed, breaking the kiss. His hardness was pressing against her hip. She was confused as to why the sudden need to kiss her or even show affection. Usually when he came home and had been drinking, he’d just go straight to the bedroom and pass out. “Everything okay?”
“I can’t want my wife to greet me properly when I come home?” he snapped.
She swallowed hard and nodded. His eyes narrowed on her, and she bit back a curse. She shouldn’t have questioned anything.
“I’m just making sure you’re okay. That’s all, babe,” she said, quickly trying to put him at ease. She patted his chest, but the damage had already been done.
“Ya’ll hear that. Wifey wants to make sure I’m okay,” he announced to the room.
Dry chuckles went around.
“I wish I had a woman fine as her worried about me,” one of the men said.
The pit of her stomach gave out as she glanced around. Her attention was brought back to Lamont who pressed himself against her.
“I know how you can make me feel okay.”
“Lamont, baby. Why don’t we go back to our bedroom and talk privately,” she insisted, fear creeping into her chest. She didn’t like this side of her husband. Her hand trembled again as she rested it on his chest. “Please, baby.”
He gripped her face in his hand, tight, while he rubbed her lips with his thumb. A smile spread across his lips, and she sat, paralyzed.
“On your knees, Candi.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “But, Lamont—”
“Now.” His grip on her face tightened.
Her vision blurred with tears. This was a new low of humiliation.
“Now this is what I call entertainment,” a deep voice said from across the room.
She slowly slid to the floor, kneeling before her husband. The sound of his zipper cut through the air.
She blinked and allowed her tears to run down her face.
A large hand appeared on Button-down’s arm, and Candi jumped.
Dallas.
“Release her or I’ll break your fucking arm,” Dallas growled.
The dark storm that rolled in on his face had Candi’s heart racing.
She snatched her arm away from Button-down, who released her. She stepped away as the men around the table all stood.
“Look here, buddy. We were talking to Candi, and this here is none of your business,” Baseball Cap remarked. This crooked grin remained in place as he glanced around at his buddies who all chuckled.
“It’s my business when you’re putting your hands on her.” Dallas was much larger than them. His height and muscle gave him an advantage.
Candi watched Tanner stroll over to them, and the glint in his eye revealed he’d been waiting for a little action.
“We have a problem?” Tanner asked, coming to stand next to Dallas.
Candi looked around the bar, catching sight of Liam and Van making their way to them through the crowd.
Her body shuddered, and she couldn’t get enough air into her lungs. She tried to take a deep breath but couldn’t draw any air in.
She had to get away.
Candi scrambled, rushing toward the bar. She sat her tray on the counter and bolted into the kitchen.
“Candi!” Kay called out behind her.
She paused near the door that led outside behind the restaurant where there was a little area for employees to take their breaks. Turning, she watched Kay approach her with worry on her face.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She nodded and rubbed her damp hands along her jeans. “I’m taking my fifteen, if anyone is looking for me. I just need some fresh air.”
“Want me to come outside with you?” Kay asked. She stepped forward and leaned on the wall.
“No. I just need to be by myself.” Candi spun and pushed through the door that led outside.
The cool desert air hit her. She breathed in deeply and made her way over to the stone bench. Sitting, she tried to relax but was too shaken up.
Those men were just a bunch of drunk jackasses.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she closed her eyes and began her breathing excises she’d been taught to help with her anxiety.
Chapter Four
“Lamont, please. No!” she begged, walking backward, away from him.
He stalked toward her with pure rage on his face.
“How is it, I left you alone for two minutes and come back to find you talking with another man?” he snarled into her ear. He grabbed her arm and tugged her behind him.
She cried out from his tight grip.
“It was nothing,” she said, praying no one had seen them leave.
They were at the factory he worked at for the Christmas party. He dragged her down an empty hallway, and her heart slammed against her chest.
The music was loud and echoing down the hallway. They came to a closed door away from the party. He pushed it open and forced her into the room.
“Get in here,” he snapped. It was a small office with stale air and barely anything in it a
side for a desk and a chair. It was windowless, and with the party going on, no one would hear them.
She backed up with her hands raised. “Please, Lamont. It was nothing. He was going around talking to everyone.”
“I see how the men look at you.” He advanced on her, trapping her between his larger frame and the wall. He gripped her face with his hand and held her in place. “You want their attention, don’t you. I don’t give you enough?”
“Yes, Lamont—”
Her head snapped to the side. He’d caught her off guard with the back of his hand. Her face stung, and a cry built up in her chest, but it was stuck. She stumbled, and her heel slipped, and she flew forward. Her head slammed against the corner of the desk with her body landing on the floor.
A warm sticky substance gushed from above her left eye.
Blood.
Her head ached, and sharp pain radiated from her forehead to her ear. A groan escaped her lips at the feeling of his hands gripping her legs. He pulled hard, dragging her across the floor. She cried out and tried to hold on to something.
“I’ll give you attention,” he growled.
She screamed and attempted to fight him off.
Candi awakened with a strangled cry. Her legs were kicking, the feeling of being held down taking over her.
She blinked and saw it was just her blanket on top of her.
Leaning back against her pillows, she forced herself to relax. Her eyes focused, and she took in her small bedroom.
“It was just a dream,” she murmured, running a hand along her face. She released a deep sigh. Pulling herself from the bed, she stumbled to the bathroom, stripping her clothes off. She was hot, sticky, and in desperate need of a shower. Her nightmare had caused her to work up a sweat.
She flipped the water on and stood waiting for it to warm up. She tried to push the memories of her dream from her. Steam filled the room, and it helped her relax. She stepped into the water and allowed it to comfort her. The warm sting reminded her that she was alive. That had she stayed with Lamont, she may not be here.
Candi turned and pressed her hands against he wall and allowed the water to pound onto her back. A good shower always helped her through the nightmares.
