“I own it.” He reached into his pocket and handed her the card. “Come on Friday night. The drinks will be on me.”
“If I come to this club will you stop arriving here?” she asked.
He nodded.
Maybe by the time Friday came he would have forgotten all about her. Do you want him to forget about you?
His attention was nice, flattering even, but he scared her. The suit he wore told one story while the bruises on his knuckles told another. She didn’t know which story to believe about him and would rather have nothing to do with him.
“Friday?”
She nodded again.
“No, I need you to say you’re coming.”
“Why?”
“Because I know you’ll keep your word and not go against it.”
Staring at the card, shame filled her. “You don’t know me.”
“I know enough about people. Come to the club and I promise to leave you alone.” Over his shoulder she saw Lydia enter the store. Her friend paused when she saw Caleb. “I’ll go for now. You don’t come Friday, then I’ll come back.”
“You’re threatening me.”
“I’m hoping you’ll see it as a determination to get to know one another.”
“I don’t want to get to know you.” The words spilled from her lips before she could stop them.
“I hope you’re wrong. Give me a chance.” He stepped back, and within seconds he was gone.
Staring at where he stood, she gazed down at the card.
“Wow, Donna. What did he want this time?” Lydia joined her behind the counter.
“He wants me to go to his club.” She handed the card over to her friend.
Lydia took the card and whistled. “I love this place. It’s a little shady, but they’ve got great service and drinks there. Are you going?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not really my scene.”
“I’ll go with you. Darren will come with us. That way we’ve got some protection.” Lydia handed her back the card.
“I don’t know. I’m not really into the club scene.”
“From what you told me, Donna, you’re not into any scene. You’ve not got much of a choice. He wants to get to know you, and at least this is a public place.”
Seeing Lydia’s point, she pocketed the card. Part of her was overjoyed about his attention while the sane part of her knew it was a mistake. There was something off about Caleb, but she just didn’t know what.
Chapter Three
On Friday night Caleb was sat in the VIP area drinking a strong scotch and looking over the club. From his vantage point he saw everything and everyone. He knew a select group of girls were seated in line with the dance floor so any man who wanted some action would see them instantly. A group of men were being watched with caution as they looked dangerous to him. He’d dealt with a lot of men carrying roofies for the girls. No woman was going home or being raped by a guy she didn’t want.
He had standards.
Henry threw himself down into the chair beside him. “I’m bored.”
“Go and find yourself some entertainment. I’ve got stuff to do.”#p#分页标题#e#
“You’re waiting for the blonde.”
Caleb glanced toward the door as another group entered the club. They were scantily clad women looking for action. He’d gotten the file on Donna Smith within twenty-four hours of asking for it. The reward he’d paid was over ten grand, but it was well worth the money. Every little detail, even her medical history, was down on paper for him to read. Tuesday he spent all day at his apartment reading through her file. He knew about the drunk driver who was serving time for killing her parents and about the foster parents, also dead, whom she’d lived with after the accident. She’d graduated from school at eighteen and was working within the month of their deaths. Her grades were good but not brilliant. She didn’t even apply for college.
She’d changed jobs five times before getting the job at Dreams. Her employers adored her. Donna was a hard worker, and she didn’t have any serious medical problems. She’d not been in the car when her parents were killed.
What he did know was the fact she wasn’t on any birth control pills. There was nothing exciting about her and she didn’t pose a threat to anyone, yet he couldn’t get her out of his head. She was there all the time.
“This is dangerous for us, your obsession.”
“I’ve never had an obsession, Henry. Stop worrying about it.”
“It’s a woman, Caleb. Fuck her already and move on. I know I will.” Henry stopped a waitress to order a beer.