The glitz of the reception doesn’t continue behind the scenes. The corridor is dimly lit and the smell of sex hangs in the air. A filthy scuffed carpet feels gritty underfoot. I blink as a naked woman strolls past me into one of the side rooms. Jess leads the way, not even registering the woman. She couldn’t have been more than nineteen. Not far off how old Jess was. Barely a woman to my mind. Fuck, give me crooks and missing people any day.
The corridor opens up into an office area. A thin wall separates the desks from what looks to be the main studio. I can only see a little bit of it, bright lights and a couple of cameras, but the cries of a woman are enough to fill the picture. A reedy, bleached blond guy spins in his chair and narrows his eyes as he spots Jess.
He points at her then taps a finger to his lips. “I remember you now. Jessie, baby, you’ve changed. What happened to my golden girl?”
I curl a fist at my side at his familiar reference and Jess grips my arm, giving me a sideways glance that tells me not to do anything stupid.
“Marky,” she greets, a tentative smile on her face. “How are you?”
He stands and kisses her cheek. “Haven’t you grown? What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re looking for work?” He turns and runs his gaze over me “Or perhaps your friend is?”
“Not likely,” I say through gritted teeth.
“I was hoping you could help, Marky. I was looking for Lucas.”
Marcus folds his arms and rocks back slightly on his heels. “Whatever for?”
“Do you know where he is?” I snap.
“You’re an aggressive fellow aren’t you?” A smile twitches on his lips. “I don’t know to be honest. He was fired. Tried to force himself on one too many girls, I’m afraid.”
Marcus’s words rattle my head. Jess never said the guy had a habit of forcing himself onto women, just that he tried to blackmail them. Did he do the same to her? I concentrate on breathing in pungent air through my nostrils and controlling my roiling stomach.
“Do you have any clue where he went?” Jess presses.
“He was going to set up his own production company, I believe.” Markus waves a dismissive hand in the air. “I haven’t seen anything from him, so who knows if he succeeded. Still it’s only been a month or so.”
Jess and I exchange a look. A month or so. Might explain why he turned his attention onto Jess.
“Does anyone know where he might be?” I ask, voice harsh and tired.
I’m tired, my head still hurts and fear is inching into every part of me. I can protect Jess, I know that, but from everything? From the memories of this place? With Lucas hanging around in the background, it’s a constant reminder of the world she left behind. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to defeat all her demons, not when I’m carrying a few of my own around. I glance at her, study her strong pose and determined chin. Her steady gaze and unclenched hands. The opposite of me at the moment. Admiration makes my heart stretch. Jess has been through more than most people will ever have to suffer and yet she’s here, confronting her problems. Makes my problems pale in comparison.
“Speak to Cindy. She dated him for a while. She’s just taking a break.” Markus points down the corridor and I conclude the naked woman we passed was Cindy.
“Thanks, Markus.” Jess offers a smile and Markus shakes his head.
“You coulda made it big, baby girl. Shame you got old on me.”
“This world was never for me, you know that.”
He snorts. “It’s never for any of us at first, baby.”
A jaded look flickers in his gaze but I can’t feel any sympathy for the man. He makes money out of vulnerable girls. If that haunts him at night, I’m glad. I curl a hand around Jess’s arm. “We need to get moving.”
“Sure. See you around.”
“See you, baby girl.” Markus presses a kiss to her cheek and heads back to his computer.
Heat churns through my veins. I can’t wait to get Jess to bed and replace all the slime ball’s kisses with my own.
“Come on. Let’s talk to Cindy.”
“Sure.” I nod distractedly while I quell the urge to smack the back of Markus’s head as he views kinky shots on the screen. I had no idea. This seedy, desperate world is so far removed from my own.
We head back down the corridor and Jess knocks on the door we saw the woman go into.
“Come in!”
Jess takes the lead and we enter the messy room. Underwear, alcohol bottles and cigarette butts litter the place. On the dressing table is a variety of make-up and a couple of tubs of prescription pill. Sat in front of it is a slender blonde woman and she’s still naked. I keep my gaze on the mirror behind her as she gives me the once over.
“Who are you?”