He nodded and motioned for one of his friends, who stepped up beside him. “We’ll walk you there.”
She blinked, surprised by his offer. “Oh, that’s okay. You don’t have to.”
“No, ma’am. My mama taught me not to let a woman walk alone if she feels unsafe. And after this, I reckon you don’t feel safe right now. We’ll escort you.”
“Thank you.” Her throat ached with emotion. While they looked like badass bikers, they certainly had their hearts in the right place.
They walked in silence down the sidewalk.
When they arrived at the front door of the Triple X, Catty turned and gave the burly man a smile. “Thank you. I appreciate what you did for me.”
“Not a problem.” He shrugged.
“There should be more gentlemen like you in this world. It would make for a better place.”
The big guy ducked his head and his cheeks flamed red with embarrassment.
He wasn’t used to getting a compliment, and she wasn’t used to handing them out. She gave him another smile before walking inside.
She crinkled her nose at the smoke-filled room. Despite the depressing aura of the place, her heart felt a little lighter today at the kindness she’d been shown.
She hadn’t expected respect from a total stranger when she needed it the most.
“What’s gotten you smiling like a possum?” Celine groused, and she blew out a puff of smoke that enveloped Catty’s head.
“Nothing.” She shrugged and continued on her way toward the dressing room.
Celine walked beside her. “I guess you heard about Jill.”
Catty stopped and turned. Unease settled in her gut. Surely she hadn’t come back to the club. She had a plan and dreams and determination. “What do are you talking about?”
“They found her body near the shipyard.” Celine sniffed and stubbed out the butt of her cigarette into a nearby ashtray.
Catty’s feet froze to the floor. She wrapped her trembling hands around her stomach in a futile attempt to stop the nausea snaking up her throat. “Oh my god. What happened to her? She was supposed to go back to school.” Fear trembled in her throat with each word she spat up.
“It’s a damn shame. That girl brought in a lot of customers.” Celine looked point-blank at Catty. “If she’d stayed where she was supposed to, she’d probably still be alive.”
“What?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Celine was a tough manager, but surely she didn’t agree with keeping someone from living their lives.
“Her place was here, at the Triple X.” She waved her fresh cigarette in the air. “You girls know what you are getting into here. And it’s not like you aren’t being well compensated. Hell, we even have dental. Do you know how many companies don’t have dental?” Celine shook her head.
Catty’s veins pumped cold blood through her body as she looked around the club. Suddenly the Triple X seemed to take on a whole new persona. A whole new bad vibe.
“All the other girls know about Jill. Best they use this as a learning experience.”
“And what’s the lesson in this?” Catty snapped.
Celine narrowed her eyes and pressed her thin lips into an invisible line. “She should have known her place in this world. Should’ve been grateful for her job and kept her ass where she belonged.” She took a long drag and blew it out in Catty’s face.
She cringed and held her breath. Anger bubbled in her veins and she wanted nothing more than to shift into wolf and escape this hell.
Hiking her bag higher on her shoulder, she headed for her seat at the makeup mirror.
And according to Celine, exactly where she belonged.
Chapter Twenty
Lucien weaved in and out of the crowd like a ghost dressed in black. The humid air clung to him. With the weight of his leather jacket, he was going to be soaked in a matter of minutes.
He rolled his shoulders and headed in the direction of the Bourbon Street. It was dark and hot, and he knew the city would only grow louder as the night drew on.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. He passed couples holding hands, families headed into restaurants to eat dinner, and single girls looking to celebrate and have a good time. People knew enough to keep their distance and step out of his way as he approached, but curious enough to stare.
He passed a group of bikers leaned up against their parked motorcycles. A couple of men looked up and gave him a nod by way of greeting. He returned the hello.
He had no destination in mind, but his feet did. When he ended up in front of the Triple X, he stopped.
He inhaled deep.
Catty was inside. He could smell her scent even though it was hours old.