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Except that’s exactly what Hades implied when we sealed our deal with a kiss. I barely manage to keep myself from asking how Tink sealed her deal. It’s none of my business, and she obviously doesn’t like me that much already. “So we all just work in the club?”

“Pretty much.” She moves back to the racks and pulls out a pair of shorts. “These should work. Put them on.”

This time, I don’t bother to argue. I’m obviously not going to get much in the way of explanation, and I gave my word to Hades. I won’t let something as mundane as modesty get in the way of keeping it. I strip out of my jeans and pull on the shorts. They’re smaller than I expected, barely covering my ass in the back and hugging my cock and balls so snugly that they create an obscene bulge in the front.

And, except for the front panel, they’re made of see-through mesh.

“Hades can be something of a traditionalist, so he likes us barefoot.” She considers me a full second longer and shakes her head. “I can’t really blame him for taking the deal now that I see what I’m working with. You’re pretty.”

The way she says it makes it sound like it’s a bad thing. “Thanks?”

“This way.” Tink leads me deeper into the room and through another door that takes us into what I recognize as an employee dressing room. She stops in front of an empty locker. “This will be yours. We don’t use locks because nobody is dumb enough to steal from one of Hades’s people.” She opens the locker and pulls out a thick black leather collar. “We wear these while on shift.” She dips back into the locker and pulls out a thick green circular ring and I have a horrified moment of wondering if she’s going to demand I wedge it onto my cock, but she just snaps it into the hook at the front of the collar.

The one that looks like it attaches itself to a leash.

Just like that, I can picture it. Kneeling at his feet in this ridiculous fucking outfit with a chain attached to the collar, its leather handle dangling from his graceful fingers. My gut goes tight and I have to fight not to physically respond. It doesn’t seem to matter. Tink sees it. She gives me a sad little smile. “Welcome to the Underworld.”

Then she drags me along to training. In the next few hours, I get a crash course in BDSM, submissives, safe words, and what exactly is expected of me working here. The first couple of weeks will be observing and basically acting in a role similar to what I did back at my old job—serving drinks, working the front lounge. I’ll also be doing more hands-on training… with Hades.

I don’t know if I look forward to it or dread it, but I’m too nervous right now to know the difference.

Tink glances at her watch. “It’s time.” She surveys me. “No one will touch you without permission, but that won’t stop some of those assholes from messing with you verbally. Don’t play into it, because if you snap, Hades will punish you and he’ll do it publicly. Just keep your eyes down and mouth shut. And listen. We do a recap at the end of each night with the information gathered, so pay attention, even if you don’t recognize the players.”

It’s too much and too little all at the same time. I don’t know what I expected when I said yes to him, but this isn’t it. He’s throwing me in the deep end, and there isn’t a single person who will help me if I drown. Tink might feel a little bad, but honestly, I can’t get a good enough read on her to know for sure. She might just as easily shrug and move on to the next new recruit with the same amount of crankiness.

But as I fall into the familiar rhythms of taking drinks orders and moving through the tables and bar, things start to unwind for me. This is familiar. I know how to do this, even if it’s a relatively new skill. The rest of it will figure itself out, but I can get through tonight.

Or so I think, right up until I catch a familiar profile out of the corner of my eye.

I turn to find Meg standing near the bar. She’s wearing a pair of tailored slacks and a deep purple bra-like top that I can almost see through. Why is she here? She should be well on her way to freedom. Not haunting this place where I’m currently trapped.

Unless…

Unless she came for me?

My chest feels tight as she strides toward me on wickedly high heels. There’s no familiarity on her face, nothing to indicate her thoughts. The warmth she showed me in that apartment above the restaurant remains nowhere in evidence. This woman could be a stranger for the cold way she studies my body, lingering on my chest and cock before trailing down my legs.