I let my legs go and drop to a split, my pussy hitting the stage, and then I silently say my nightly prayer that I don’t catch anything from the exposure. Dropping onto my back, my legs spread, I throw my head back in a mock pose of ecstasy before dragging my hands from my ankles to rest at the apex of my legs. Making sure all these idiots can see every bare inch of my sex.
The crowd goes electric. Crossing my legs, I roll and get to my knees, where I continue to play with my body. Seducing the crowd to give me every last dollar.
By the time the last note of my music hits my ears, the stage is so full of money that I can’t even see the black flooring through the cash.
My escape.
It is worth every second of the humility I just endured.
I collect the money and stuff it into the bucket that Pearl tosses my way. Then she cleans off the pole as I finish cleaning my earnings off the stage.
“Thanks,” I pant as I rush past her.
I have about two minutes to dump this money into the safe I keep in my locker before Shawn finds me. Not even giving a care to my nudity, especially since he will just pull anything I put on it my body off, I dump the bucket’s contents into my safe and slam it shut.
I just know that tonight is the night I get the hell out of here.
“Emersyn, Emersyn, Emersyn. That was quite the show you put on tonight. If I didn’t know better, I would think you actually enjoyed yourself out there.” He comes up against my back. The cheap fabric of his suit roughly rubs against my oiled skin. “You going to fight me tonight, little Syn?” he rasps against my ear, biting my lobe. He’s started asking this question each night he takes me.
And every night since, I’ve answered him the same way.
“In your dreams.”
“One day, Emersyn. One day, when I have my ring on your finger and your dear old daddy gives me this club, you’re going to learn where your fucking place is. Your fucking lippy mouth will only get you so far. The Ram might put up with it, but I sure as hell won’t.”
He grips my arms and spins me before pushing me against the lockers. The metal scrapes against my back, cutting it open in some spots, but I don’t make a sound.
“Get on your knees and suck my dick, bitch,” he demands.
I drop instantly, wondering in the back of my head if it’s still rape now that I’ve stopped fighting him.
It doesn’t take him long before he grabs both sides of my head and starts thrusting into my mouth with a bruising force.
“That’s right. Take it all. Take all of Daddy’s dick.”
God, how repulsive can he get?
I attempt to keep my mind from engaging. I let my body take over and try to go to my happy place. When his hand curls around my neck, it becomes obvious why he started this new game. He wants my attention, and what a better way to get it than taking my air?
When he lifts me to my feet, his needle dick falls from my mouth and I struggle to control the fear at my lack of oxygen. Roughly, he pushes me forward, causing me to crash into the table in the middle of the room. Makeup and clothing scatter around us as he lifts me, flips me, and then slams me onto my back. His hand goes back to my neck before he forcefully pushes into my body.
I’m on the verge of blacking out, his thrusts picking up speed, but then I finally come out of my head and grab ahold of his wrist with my hands. Trying desperately to get some much-needed air, I claw at his skin, begging with my eyes for him to let up.
“That’s right, Emersyn. Fucking fight me,” he pants, sweat beading around his forehead and rolling down his neck. “Fucking fight, bitch!” he screams into my face.
I’m seconds from passing out when I feel his body disappearing. I sit up, struggling to let the air in, and meet the crystal-blue eyes of my savior.
“You okay?” he asks.
I nod mutely. A million questions rush through my head, but not a single word escapes before he nods and slams his fist into Shawn’s face. I want to weep when I watch him crumple to the floor, passed out cold.
“I’m Zeke, but my friends call me Coop. I know you don’t know me, but I promise you can trust me. I was walking to the bathroom and I heard him . . . and, shit . . .” he trails off, running his hands through his thick, blond hair. “I’m not going to hurt you, but I would like to help if you’ll let me.”
I can’t stop the tears if I wanted to. Silently, I nod, still not trusting myself to speak. Then I hastily throw my clothes on, open the safe, and shovel all the cash I have into my duffel bag. There’s nothing else here I need.
“Come on. Let’s get you out of here.” He reaches out, my savior, and takes me out of my hell.
I don’t look back once.
*
Coop takes me back to his hotel, helps me get cleaned up, and offers me some clean clothes that don’t smell like an ashtray. He only leaves me long enough to get some bandages to clean up the cuts on my back. I’m not sure what it is about him that has me trusting him instantly. Maybe it’s because, as far as options go, he’s my best one. For all I know, he’s some crazy serial killer and I’m playing right into his hands.