Page 12 of Taken by Moonlight

The house that was the last connection to my family, my parents and all the love surrounding me growingup.

Homeless, without anywhere to live, was not a good way to start the work week. I ruminated over mychoices.

At best, I had maybe $5,000 in thebank.

I have until Tuesday. I can give you $10,000 by Tuesday, I textedback.

Silence for a moment. Then,Fullamount.

Man, I was screwed. I went over to the stage. You were allowed an advance on your salary. Maybe Norm, out of the goodness of his snake heart, could loan me the remaining twenty grand. I could work it off by putting in extrahours.

I might as well have asked him to sell his mother. Well, actually Norm probably would, for a lot of money. Werepythons aren’t exactly known for their familyvalues.

“No. Absolutely not. I’m not made of money.” The werepython gripped his tablet as if fearing I’d stealit.

No, just snakeskin. I sighed. “Norm, please, I’ll work double, triple hours for free for the nextyear.”

Ignoring me, he walked off. I glanced down at my phone and the text there chilled myblood.

cal & me talked it over. We’ll take the ten grand of yours if you spend the weekend fucking us. He thinks you’recute.

Ohno.

I typed back,I’m worth more than $15,000.

Prick. I did not typethat.

Maybe Dante could loan me the money. He was wealthy and I considered him a friend. Then I remembered the club rules. No staff were allowed to ask financial favors ofclients.

If someone found out I’d asked Dante for a loan, I’d lose this job. With the way things stood at the day job, I needed the club gig tosurvive.

It was Norm or no oneelse.

Returning to Norm, I tugged on his sleeve. He glanced up,frowned.

“Did you set up all the tables?” heasked.

“Norm, please, I’m desperate. I need themoney.”

A sly light entered his beady eyes. I didn’t like it. “Well Peyton, you’re in a jam, but I’m not heartless. Tell you what. I’ll fund the entire $25,000 and get you out of that financial hole for onething.”

His fingers dropped to hiscrotch.

OMG, I am so not giving you a blow job.Yuck.

“Get on stage and auction yourselfoff.”

Blinking I stared. Rubbed my ear. A blow job was bad enough. “Excuse me? I think my hearing is going. You said auction myselfoff…”

Pointing to the bored girls on stage, I added, “Likethem?”

“Virgins are rare. You’ll fetch a high price. Maybe evenrecord.”

A flush ignited my face. I glanced around, but no one heard us. Everyone was too busy with last minute setting up theroom.

“Who told you I was avirgin?”

“Kelly mayhave.”