Inked Armour

Security stepped out of the shadows, prepared to shut the guy down. A wordless conversation took place between the guy on security detail and the dancer, then she stepped down off the couch and reached for the suit’s hand. He followed her into the shadows. While security and the suit exchanged words, the dancer picked at her fingernails, looking bored. When the men were finished dealing, the suit and the dancer disappeared through a hidden door. Business as usual. The possibility that Tenley could have witnessed any of this made me ill.

I headed to the back of the club, where security guarded the hallway leading to Sie

“You called.”

“Sie

“Hayden?” Tenley said.

I closed my eyes briefly at the sound of her voice, then turned.

She looked terrified. She was tucked into the corner, sitting on a barstool with her hands in her lap. I didn’t want her exposed to this place, seeing what went on here, coming to obvious conclusions about what I did when I was a regular patron.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, anger replacing my relief at seeing her.

“I needed to find Sarah.”

That Sarah would be the first person she sought out was just another kick in the balls. I bit back a bitter retort when the strobe lights hit her face, illuminating a trio of vicious red lines. I moved closer, lifted her chin, and tilted her head. Scratch marks ran from her temple to her mouth. Even still, the contact was as electric as it had always been.

“What happened?” I asked with more bite than I meant to.

“I had a chat with Sie

“She did this to you?” When Tenley nodded, I looked to Jay. “I want to talk to her.”

“I don’t think that’s in your best interest.”

“Tough shit. I want to know why the fuck I’m picking Tenley up with marks on her face.”

“Well, Tenley’s right here. I’m sure she can tell you.”

“I want to hear it from Sie

“Maybe we should just go,” Tenley said softly, sliding off the barstool.

“Not a chance,” I snapped.

Tenley ignored me and shifted forward, wincing as her left foot hit the floor and then her right. When she took an unsteady step toward me, her knee buckled, and she latched onto the bar.

I grabbed her by the waist. “What the hell?” I shot Jay an irate glare.

Fights happened all the time at The Dollhouse. The girls got territorial over clients, drugs, whatever. But security never let it get far. After a couple of slaps they were hauled off each other. Messed-up faces and ripped-out extensions didn’t make money.

Whatever had gone on between Tenley and Sie

“I’m fine,” Tenley said thinly, her fingers digging into my shoulders.

“Bullshit,” I spat, a

She could hardly bear her own weight. I drew her closer until her entire body was pressed tight against mine. As angry as I was, I was too fucking needy to give a shit that she was only holding on to me because she’d drop like a stone otherwise. That ratcheted up my frustration even more.

I kept my arm fixed around her waist, feeling her gasps against my stomach as Tenley found her balance. She kept a hand on my forearm as she took a step back and struggled to put weight on her right leg.

“Sit down and don’t move,” I ordered, lifting her back onto the stool. She complied, which was pretty fucking atypical. She looked to be seconds away from tears. Rightfully so. Sie

The standoff with Jay ended when Sie

Of the two women, Sie

“Came here to collect your trash?” Sie

I stepped in front of Tenley, blocking her from Sie

Sie

Tenley huffed from behind me but I ignored the commentary on my relationship with her. Sie

She gestured to Tenley. “That slut broke my fucking nose!”

I bristled at the pejorative. “Watch your fucking mouth.”

“Your little plaything called me a whore!”

I kept my tone flat to avoid feeding into her dramatics. “So you thought you’d fight her?”

“She came in here and acted like she had you all figured out. She got what she deserved. I should have her arrested for assault.” Sie

“So you’re telling me Tenley hit you first?”

“You need to muzzle your bitch,” Sie

I leaned in and Jay shook his head in warning. I put up a hand in a show of submission. I wasn’t stupid; he’d lay me out with one shot. “Answer the damn question. Did Tenley hit you first?”

“She came into my club!”

I’d heard enough. “You really are a piece of work.” I started to turn away.

Sie

“I’m not looking to purify myself. I’ll own the shit I’ve done, but I don’t have to end up like you. You keep falling into the same hole, wondering why, when you’re the one holding the shovel. I hope you enjoy burying yourself.”

“Fuck you!” Sie

“Glass house, Sie

“You asshole!” she screeched, grabbing for an empty glass on the bar, but Jay snagged her around the waist before she could reach it.

Tenley’s eyes were wide as I hauled her out of the way. When Sie

I half carried Tenley across the club. When I burst through the front door, my car was being towed out of the parking lot.

“Fuck.”

Max just gave me a look that said I should have known better.

“Where’s your car?” I barked at Tenley.

“Over there.” She pointed across the lot.

I headed in that direction, my arm around her waist. She was still having trouble walking without support. Her Prius was nowhere in sight. “Where’s—”

Tenley lifted a remote, a red BMW beeped, and the engine turned over.