Page 26 of Knot So Damaged

“Fuck, did she just threaten us? God, that’s hot. Come back, Little Devil. I want to know more about your devious plans for us.”

Conall has a smile threatening to curl my lips, even more so when I hear a hand slap his stomach and his responding grunt.

Is that one to Valley, zero to the Alphas?

It feels as though every exposed bit of skin on my body burns as I spin around the pole. I know exactly who the sets of eyes belong to.

Victor, Conall and Olis.

I make sure to add a little extra spice to my dance knowing that they are watching me as intently as they are.

I try to not let their focus disrupt me though, instead keeping my attention purely on the way my body moves and contorts as I work the stage.

The vibe tonight is completely different.

Gone are the men that used to hoot and holler at us as we danced. In their place are Alphas and Betas in suits, brown liquid on the rocks and stacks of cash in their hands.

Instead of throwing dollars, they are throwing big bills.

I don’t have to count what is currently sitting on the stage waiting for me to know that I have already exceeded what I would normally earn in a day. Well past last week's takings.

I have to hold back the tears. Breaking down and crying on this stage in a skimpy outfit would do terrible things for my night.

Instead, I work myself to the bone, spinning, dipping and shaking my ass like my life depends on it.

If these guys are going to pay this well, I don’t mind going the extra mile.

By the end of my stage set, I am exhausted. Not only is my money sack completely full, but so is the garter I am wearing around my leg that is full of hundred dollar bills.

I all but collapse into the brand new chair at my dressing room station.

It wasn’t only the front of house that the new owners renovated. They also completely transformed the back area. Instead of the dancers having to fight to get a station, we were each given one of our own. Our stage names have been engraved into plaques above themirrors. Lockers with actual working locks sit behind us well stocked with makeup, toiletries and all the hair tools that we could possibly need.

No matter how much I despise our three new owners, I have to cut them a bit of slack for how thoughtful they have been towards us. Ivan didn’t give a single fuck about us apart from how much money we could make him earn.

There is a small whisper in my head that maybe not all Alphas are the same. It's only small and quick, a fleeting thought, but it was there.

I can’t be that wrong about them can I?

All of the Alphas that I have dealt with, especially since I emerged as the ’inferior designation have been exactly the same. Aggressive, abusive assholes who think way too highly of themselves. Which is why the doubt has slowly begun to creep in. Because as far as I can tell, these three Alphas are nothing like that.

If anything, they are the complete opposite.

While they have shown me that they do have some stalkerish tendencies, they haven’t forced my hand at anything.

When I feel their eyes on my skin, I don’t get that icky feeling that I normally do. It's the polar opposite.

I instead feel safe. Like nothing in this world could hurt me ever again.

I know that is just the Omega side of me that refuses to stay suppressed. Which is why I can’t trust it.

I can’t trust anybody.

Because the moment I do, the script will be flipped and I will be back to where I was four years ago.

Trapped and hopeless.

Chapter Nine