Page 52 of Dirty Little Secret

“But I don’t—” that’s all I got out before the big guy pushed me back on the table and Jerrie filled up my bellybutton with the first shot.

She smiled as she poured the cool liquid. “Loosen up, Zee. Have some fun.”

Any other time, I could’ve totally let go and gone with the flow. But this time Kane was there. Watching me. Judging me. Finding me guilty of not being the kind of mother he wanted for our son.

I tried not to worry as the guys took turns doing their shots. In the end, the big guy helped me up then placed a hundred in my hand. “Thanks, baby.”

Shame filled me for the first time in a very long time as I placed that bill into my bra. “Yeah.” Ducking my head, I had to go back to my locker to put some of my tips away before they overflowed.

Making sure to take the long way around to avoid Kane, I went into the back. I tried my hardest to sneak past Rob’s office, but he heard me. “Come in here.”

“Fuck!” I pushed the door the rest of the way open. “Look, Rob, I can’t do this right now. I’m a fucking mess. I know you don’t get it or even care to, but I’m a wreck right now.”

“Yeah, I know that.” he pointed at the chair. “Take a seat.”

I didn’t want to take a seat. What I really wanted to do was just grab the rest of my tips, head out the back door, and run away from everyone—Kane included. But his stern look had me sitting down. “’K.”

“You need to tell that man not to come back here,” he said. “He’s affecting your work.”

“I can’t tell him not to come here, Rob.” I looked at him with pleading eyes. “I’m trying to be a part of our son’s life. I’m trying to become what I need to be for my son.”

“And I’m trying to run a fun and profitable nightclub. So what you’re trying to do and what I’m trying to do isn’t meshing. Tell him to leave and not to come back or I will. End of discussion.” He pointed at the door. “That’s all. Get back to work.”

Getting up, I had no idea what to do. I couldn’t tell Kane to go away. I went to my locker, put the cash away, and then headed back out. Kane was no longer at the bar, and I didn’t know if I felt relief or panic.

Ashley came up to me. “He left.”

“Did he ask you to tell me anything?” I asked, hoping he would’ve at least told her to tell me goodbye or something.

She shook her head. “He didn’t say a thing. He put a twenty on the bar then left.” She pulled the money out of her pocket. “I assume he wanted you to have it.”

Shaking my head, I said, “You keep it. I don’t want it.” I had to see if he’d gotten out of the club yet. “I’m taking a few minutes, Ash.”

“’K,” she said, looking like she understood.

I headed to the exit to see if I could catch him, though I highly doubted I would. And even if I did, I didn’t know what I would even say to him.

This will never work.