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“That’s not what we were doing, angel.” Kayce steps forward, but I stand up with my fists curled, and it stops him in his tracks.
“No? Then what was it? Please, I would love to hear this.”
Drew sighs. “We were worried that if something happened to you, we wouldn’t be able to find you. After what happened at the practice stadium, we didn’t want to risk it.”
“So, youBig Brotheredme? You couldn’t even talk to me about it? Maybe, I don’t know, ask me about what you want to do and get my consent?” I look at Ronnie, who is now biting her lip watching this all go down. “You are always watching me, always keeping me locked up here…” I trail off my words and tilt my head to Ronnie for her to follow me.
“Wait, Raelyn, stop,” Asher pleads.
I turn on my heels and face them all. “No, I won’t stop. Let me ask you all this question: What makes you any different than the monster who held me captive in that house? He controlled everything I did.” I turn to Kayce in disgust. “What I ate and how much I ate.” Then I look at Drew. “Kept me locked up and under his watch twenty-four-seven. So what? It’s a nicer house, so I should be thankful that I am now your captive?”
I don’t give them a chance to answer; I walk back into my room with Ronnie trailing behind me. I slam the door and lock it, letting out a long, shaky breath before falling back on my bed.
“Are you okay?” Ronnie asks, her voice hesitant.
I don’t answer her for a moment, but then shake my head. “No. Not at all.”
“I’ve never seen you so vocal. Girl, I don’t know what these guys did to you, but you are like a whole different person.” She sits down on the bed next to me.
I blow out a breath. “It’s not the guys. This is me. I remember it all. I remember every fucking detail.” I run a hand down my face.
Her eyes widen. “Wait, really?”
I nod. “From my kidnapping to the dungeon of horrors. Though I don’t remember much of the house itself because he kept me pretty drugged.”
“You need to tell me what happened, Raelyn. Maybe we should go to the police.”
I shake my head. “No way. I just want to get home. Besides, they have an FBI friend who hasn’t done jack shit with anything. In fact, I haven’t heard from him in weeks at this point. So, it doesn’t matter.”
“Can I ask how you were kidnapped? Like what happened?” She frowns as she fidgets with her hands.
“My memories have been jumbled up until now. At times, I saw my kidnapping in different places or with different people. It’s only recently that I can be sure that this was what happened.” I rub the back of my neck.
Ronnie sits there and stares at me for a moment. “Okay, so your brain was scrambled eggs for a bit. Confusing different parts of the memories. So, then what actually happened?”
I blow out a long breath. “I had just gotten off work. I was a stripper. That entire day, something felt off. But I’ve had those days before. Just usually meant there would probably be some creep who would try something at the club in a private room.”
The memories flood back as I talk to her, and I have to hold back my tears.
“Chanel, you got a private dance requested!”Jeff yells at me.
“I’m off for the night. Tell them to pick someone else.” I shoo him away.
“He is offering five times the normal rate.”
I stop dead in my tracks. “Wait, what? Are you serious?” Jeff nods his head, and I stick my black-raven wig back on. “Well, I could use the money. Guess I’m working some overtime tonight.”
“I knew you wouldn’t say no.” Jeff smiles.
Trey nods to me and leads me through the crowd. The odor from the cigarettes and the smell of sweat stink up this place. Smoke fills the room, and the lights flash all over as I follow Trey through the club.
When we reach the private rooms, Scott, another security guy, gives us both a nod and opens up the red curtain.
We stand outside room six. I take a few deep breaths. No matter how many times I do these, they are not my favorite. Many times, the clients get touchy feely. And the no touch rule still stands even in the private dance areas.
“I’ll be right outside. You have the clicker, right?” Trey asks me. The clicker is a little button that I have clipped inside my wig. It’s not noticeable, but it’s wirelessly connected or something to a red light outside the room.
Trey stands out there, and if there is anything that goes wrong, I press it, and the light will go off, letting him know I need his help.