I get the whole ‘pit boss’ thing now.
Sadie came over to a still-woozy Lake—the heels weren’t helping the situation—and started to rub her back. “You okay?”
Lake managed to nod before Amo came in to give her some juice. She took a sip of the liquid and felt some of her life force return.
“I’m sorry, honey. I can only give you five minutes before you need to be out there.”
Lake could tell Sadie felt bad. “I know. It’s ok—”
Vincent spoke over her. “No, it’s not. She can’t fucking work like this. Go find someone to replace her.”
Sadie shook her head. “I really can’t. It’s not my call to make. None of my girls are going to work for free.” She started to walk away. “I’ll try to give you ten, honey.”
She took a bigger drink that time. Oh, God. Everything which had happened was finally sinking in.
“Lake, what the fuck does she mean by that? And why the hell are you working down here?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She pushed away from Vincent, realizing he had been holding her up the entire time.
His harsh voice reminded her of what the hell he had been doing in there with Kim just minutes before.
“Yes, it does,” he growled, going to grab her again.
Lake moved her hand out of the way like he was the plague. “Don’t fucking touch me after what I just saw. What did you come down here for? Or is that a dumb question?”
“We just got done with our first fucking shift. We work down here now.”
First shift?
“You mean you have only worked here one day, and you are already screwing in the bathroom? What was Kim, the fifth one?”
“No, she fucking wasn’t! We just finished our shift five fucking minutes ago!”
Nero started coughing and giving him a ‘shut the fuck up’ sign.
Lake hoped the hurt on her face wasn’t visible to him; she was done with the yelling match. You win, Vincent; once and for all.
“Could you please just go? Like this isn’t humiliating for me enough.” She grabbed the mouthwash they kept on the counter and tried her best to scorch out the leftover sickness as well as the horrible taste in her mouth from seeing him with Kim.
That time, he spoke calmer because she had not been able to hide the hurt in her hazel depths. “I’m not leaving till you tell me why you’re down here.”
Lake threw away the paper towel she had used to scrub her lips, hoping the germs of Vincent’s kiss from months ago were off her. “Fine, I’ll go.”
Nero and Amo blocked the door with Vincent’s command.
“I have to get back to work, Vincent!” She was sick of his games. He didn’t give two shits about her, and she had lost all feeling for him the moment she walked through the bathroom door.
“Tell me why, and you can go.”
I fucking hate him so much!
Her hurt and fury made her spill. “Because Dante was going to fucking kill my father for owing him so much money. I didn’t have a choice!”
“Sweetheart, why did—”
“Do not call me that ever again. If you do, I swear it will be the last word you ever get to speak to me.” That word made her skin crawl after she heard him call Kim that.
Vincent ran his hand roughly through his hair, trying to keep calm. “I could’ve helped you, Lake. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Lake shook her head, trying not to cry. “No, you couldn’t have.”
He tried going to her again. “Yes, I could’ve. And I will. Do you not know who my f—”
She took a big step back from his embrace. “Your father was the one who put me down here, Vincent. No one can help me but me.”
That time, they let her pass and for once, she was able to walk away from him.
* * *
Vincent watched Lake disappear like a wounded animal.
Looking at himself in the mirror, he punched his reflection, shattering the glass. “Fuck!”
“I have completely changed my mind; I fucking love it down here.” For the first time that day, Nero didn’t have a scowl all over his face.
“After seeing Lake projectile-vomit right on that bitch then the other one pimp-slapping her, I can honestly say my life is fucking complete.” Amo was enjoying himself as much as Nero.
“I’m glad you motherfuckers are loving this,” Vincent hissed.
“Yes, I am. You got to watch me fuck up with Elle. If you want her, fucking fix it.”
“I don’t know if you fucking realize this, but Lake isn’t like Elle. She’s not submissive unless you break her, and then she hates you for that. Her goddamn mind is set against the family and this city. Any fucking hope which was left is gone since your father tried to whack hers, and my dad shoved her down here.”