Page 4 of Shattered

The cleanup service and the death of a well-paying club member meant that my debt would increase. It was hard enough to pay back what I initially owed Dahlia. And with this big of a screw-up, there was a chance she would take me off of entertainment. I wouldn’t even be able to pretend to be a body painter anymore. I would cook and clean at less than minimum wage, most of which would go towards my debt anyway.

“But you can’t—” Haley started, but Dahlia cut her off.

“Stay out of this. Another word about Mel’s punishment and I will make sure to double it.”

Haley fell silent. Even if it seemed like I couldn’t trust her, I appreciated her attempt. But there was no way Dahlia would budge right then, and we both knew that.

Dahlia motioned for us to walk farther inside. “Luckily, that serial killer is out there. Killing all of the johns and tricks and clients alike. This,” Dahlia nodded in the direction of Aldrich’s body, “isn’t the killer’s normal victim. Too rich. But the Cultivation Service can make it look like another target.”

Another target. Another body to dispose of. I didn’t care about a serial killer. Aldrich was dead. And Haley was alive.

I felt nothing for them. Only the swallowing stillness that crept inside of me, threatening to bury me with it.

“And not a fucking word about this from either of you ever again,” Dahlia pointed at both of us. “I don’t want to know why you were both here. I don’t care why, honestly.”

The rest of the conversation was muffled. Even when my parents had left me with nothing a few years ago, I hadn’t felt like this empty.This deceived.

If I could start the night over, I would do it all in the exact same way. I would always protect my chosen family, even if it meant taking another person’s life. But Haley hadn’t looked out for me like I would have looked out for her. I had thought we were like sisters, but you never could tell where a person’s loyalties were, not until moments like this.