Page 19 of Knot So Damaged

Fuck this week.

After wasting away the rest of the day trying to distract my mind with trash TV, I begin getting ready for work again.

Sunday is the final day of my work week until Thursday rolls around again.

I feel an edge of disappointment when I have to say goodbye to Amity again. I know why it is so important that I go to work every night that I can but it doesn’t stop the mom guilt. That evil little voicein my head telling me that I shouldn’t be working and instead staying at home with my daughter every night.

Yet the other voice in my head is telling me that if I miss one night of work, we will lose everything that I have worked so hard for. That we will end up on the street and at the mercy of Alphas that will control us; again.

It feels like l won’t win no matter what I do. I just know that I can’t let the latter happen ever again. Especially not now that I have someone else that I need to think about. Someone else that I need to protect.

My best friend's face is the first to greet me as I make my way into the dressing room. Her smile is wide, her face bright with an excitement that I could never feel being in these walls.

“What has you all happy, Lulu?”

Instead of giving me shit for using her nickname, Luna grins even wider, bouncing over towards me and enveloping me in her arms.

“You will never believe what happened, Cherry. Ivan sold his club to some billionaire! The new owners came in earlier to introduce themselves to us. Apparently, over the next few days, they are going to shut the club and remodel it for a reopening on Friday!”

It takes me a moment to catch on to what exactly Luna is saying.

“Ivan’s gone?”

She grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me. “Ivan is fucking gone!”

My breath exhales in a broken shudder. Relief deflates my entire body. Even though I despised my now old boss, I held onto this job with both hands. Now that he is gone, it might actually be enjoyable to come to work each day.

Maybe the new owners will ensure that nothing shady goes down behind closed doors. Maybe the next time a client shows a bit too much interest, instead of selling them a dancer, they will get kicked out.

A slight grin remains on my face as I get dressed for my shift. I have a stage set first up followed by privates with two of my regulars.

I decided to keep my ‘Fuck Alphas and Men’ theme going for this weekend. My metallic silver set was too good of an option to pass up. I swipe a final layer of red lipstick over my lips, smacking them as I look over myself.

Not to toot my own horn but damn, I look fucking good.

I keep my smile on until I hit what feels like a brick wall as I walk out into the hallway that leads to the main stage. A chuckle and hands on my shoulder that cause sparks to fly through my body from the brick wall has me stepping back.

I can’t help holding back my gasp as I come face to face with Victor.

“Are you stalking me now?” I accuse, unable to stop a growl forming in my throat.

“Me? Stalking you? Baby, I would prefer for you to know just how obsessed I am with you.” His chuckle has my stomach twisting up in knots but I ignore it.

“You aren’t fucking funny, Victor. I told you to leave me alone.”

Victor’s eyes widen as he looks down at me. His salt and pepper hair seems lighter tonight than it did last. He is also missing his glasses.

Maybe he has contacts in…

Victor shakes his head, chuckling under his breath, “Ah, so you have met my brother. It doesn’t surprise me that he has already managed to piss you off. He has a tendency to do that.” He raises his eyebrow as hedoes his best smolder—one that works on me as my knees threaten to collapse beneath me—before taking a step closer into my space. “My name is Conall. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Conall lifts my hand up to his lips, keeping his eyes locked on mine and places a delicate kiss to my slowly heating skin.

I’m shocked out of my trance-like state as shouts from the other end of the hallway startle me.

The man before me isn’t the man that has been following me around.

No, he is in fact that same man's twin brother.