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“Yourinjuries were so fucking bad.”

I hugged myarms around myself, suddenly feeling like I was backed into a corner. “Yes, Iknow, Shawnee. Thank you for reminding me.” I was acting like a bitch but thisanxiety resting on my shoulders scratched at my skin, and I didn’t like it. “Ineed Sammy.”

“You alsoneed to go home, finish packing, and drive up to see your mom. And you need tostop by the clubhouse and talk to Tiny.”

“What’s hegoing to do?” I sounded like a whiny brat, but I just wanted people to leave mealone.

“He canprotect you from Will.” Shawnee took a step toward me. “I’m not trying to bemean, but I just want you safe.”

I slumpedonto a pile of crates, dropping my head in my hands. “I moved to get away fromhim. And now he’s here.” I lifted my head. “Do you know what he wants?”

“No, butI’ve been asking around.”

I placed myhands in my lap and started picking at a loose string of a hole in the knee ofmy jeans. “You haven’t heard anything?”

“No.” Shesighed. “I haven’t. The guy who came here a few weeks ago…”

I looked upthen, meeting my best friend’s stare.

“He knowspeople. Although, he doesn’t usually help adults but I’ll see what I can findout. If I can find out anything at all.” She huffed, blowing a loose strand ofhair out of her eyes.

“I justwant to be left alone.”

“Hey.”Shawnee crouched at my feet, covering my hands with hers. “I love you.”

“I love youtoo and I’m sorry for being a bitch.”

“I’m usedto it.” She winked.

I laughed,gently pushing her back onto her ass.

She laughedalong with me. “Seriously though, you need to do what I said.”

“I know.Sammy is dealing with some family stuff anyway.” I huffed. “I just want to livea normal life for once.”

Shesnorted. “Even if you never would have married Aaron, your life was anythingbut normal.”

“What doesthat mean?” I frowned.

“You’re sonaïve sometimes.” She pulled me to my feet, hooked an arm around my shoulders,and led me from the storage room. “You’re beautiful. I don’t think you knowjust how beautiful you are. Even before you hit puberty. I was always jealousof you. But not in a mean vindictive way of course.”

As wewalked down the hall to the back entrance of the club, I listened to her words,unable to believe what she was telling me. She was jealous of me?Shewas beautiful. I always wanted blond hair growing up. I even tried bleaching myhair once and my hair turned out orange instead. So, I gave up quickly and mymom was none the wiser.

“Why do youthink you didn’t have to audition for Candace when we applied here? I had to.So did the other girls. But one look at you and Candace knew that the guyswould be eating out of the palm of your hand. It’s also why she charged extraif they wanted you to get naked.”

“I don’t dothat anymore.” My stomach clenched at the memories of me dancing completelynude for guys who threw money at me.

“I know youdon’t but what I’m saying is that with your looks, both Candace and Ronny knewthat you could make them money.”

“I guess.”I liked the owners. Ronny was a good guy and Candace always treated us well.They had an odd marriage that I could never understand, and they cheated oneach other countless times, but I couldn’t say much when I, for one, was nowherenear being perfect. But if I were married again, with the right man, I wouldn’tbe sleeping with anyone else that’s for sure. That was all Aaron. And I bentover and took it because I wasn’t strong enough then to do anything about it.

“Justplease be careful. That’s all I’m saying.” Shawnee went into the section thatheld the costumes, change rooms, and everything else we needed to just getaway.

“I will.” Iwent to the lockers and grabbed my purse and sweater. “I’ll tell my mom yousaid hi. You know you can come with me, right?”

“I know,and as much as I want to, I need to make some extra money, and I have somethings going on.” She gave me a small smile.

“Everythingokay?” It wasn’t like her to keep secrets from me, but I also knew that shewould tell me whenever she was ready.