Page 55 of Under Your Scars

“Fine. Yes, we had a thing, but it’s over now,” I mumble. “Can you–”

“I’ll get him off your back for a hundred bucks,” Kate proposes, and I happily pull a Benjamin from my bra and hand it over. She smiles and plucks it from my fingers, stuffing it in her own bra. “Pleasure doing business with you.” She saunters over to where Christian is sitting, has a short conversation with him, and like magic, he stands from his seat and leaves. Kate turns around and playfully bows. “You’re welcome.”

I make a noise somewhere between a scoff and a laugh. “What did you say to him?”

“Told him you’d meet him outside in five minutes.”

I give her a teasing scowl. “You know if I don’t meet him, he’s just going to wait outside all night for me, right?”

“So let him,” she mumbles, going back to work as if it never happened. She smacks my ass lightly. “Make him work for it.” We share a laugh and then go back to making drinks, exchanging small talk with the patrons and each other. I glance at the panic alarm around my wrist and clear my throat.

“Hey Kate?” I ask, trying to sound nonchalant, but I know she can see right through me. I should really tell the Silencer to go fuck himself, especially after whatever the hell he did to me last night, but something in my gut tells me this might be my only chance to get some information about the club. Maybe I can use it as leverage to get him to leave me alone. “What can you tell me about the club downstairs?”

Her eyes glance up and around to make sure there are no wandering eyes or ears. “Not much. Our locker room is right by the elevator, and I’ve been here a long time so…sometimes I hear things. If you want to get in, you have to be invited by Valenti, and there are only two keys. That's all I know.” Kate gives me a sympathetic look. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?”

“I knew the second Valenti got a look at you that you would be next and, well, I’m just sorry. I wish I could tell you I knew how to get you out of his grasp. You’ll eventually get a price on your head, Elena, and that's when he’ll take you downstairs.”

“Kate, I’m…” I hesitate. I want to tell her so badly that I’m going to help put a stop to it, but I don’t want her to judge me for teaming up with a serial killer. She’s never mentioned the Silencer before, but for all I know, he could have killed someone she knew. That’s the thing about this city—everyone has an opinion on our resident psychopath. I think I only have a soft spot for him because he saved me the night we met. I don’t think that’s enough to erase his sins. “Never mind. Just…whatever happens to me, it’s not your fault.”

I begin to wonder why Kate has never been taken downstairs. She’s a beautiful girl, and the patrons here love her. She’s the perfect, curvy physique with thick thighs and the sexiest bit of tummy jiggle a woman could possibly have. She’s also nine inches taller than me and has the prettiest strawberry blonde hair that always looks amazing. She has big blue eyes she adorns with massive fake eyelashes and eyeliner sharp enough to slice through skin.

Not that I would wish that fate on anyone, but to put it bluntly, she seems like the kind of girl that would fetch a high price. Certainly higher than me.

Oh my God.What the hell is wrong with me? Am I so screwed up from working here that I’m comparing our imaginary price tags based on our looks?

I’m disgusted with myself. I need to get away from this club before I start getting delusional. I bet this is exactly what Frank wants, so that we don’t start forming alliances or friendships that could compromise his money.

I tell Kate I’m going on my break, and hastily make my way to the locker room. I sit on the bench and pull my phone out of my bag. I have two text messages from Christian begging me to come outside, and then another message from an unknown number.

Unknown: I’ve got your boyfriend’s head in my scope.Want me to take him out?

I know he’s entirely serious. I don’t even think twice about the fact that he has my phone number. I’m honestly more shocked that he hasn’t used it until now.

Me: No, asshole. Leave him alone. Meet me after my shift, we need to talk.

Me: Maybe starting with the bite mark on my neck you psycho.

Unknown: Don’t act like you weren’t begging for that and more last night. You’re lucky that’s all I did.

Me: What are you talking about?

Unknown: Don’t remember throwing yourself at me? Shame.

What the fuck? He’s lying. He must be. I was drunk, but I wasn’tthatdrunk.

Me: You’re lying.

I immediately get a reply. A photo. I’m curled up next to him, using his chest as a pillow while his arm is wrapped around me.

Me: That doesn’t prove anything.

That fear I felt when I first met him is back, and I delete the text thread and shove my phone back into my locker as if that will also rid me of him.

Back at the bar, I get to work helping Kate with the endless stream of orders. As we’re mixing and pouring and serving, I ask her about her life away from this Lounge. We never talk about normal things.

“Have you always lived in Meridian City?”