Violet Grenade(86)

Fighting the sickness rising in my throat, I move toward the bed. There's hardly enough space on the mattress for two people to lie side by side. But I guess that's not the point. The Point Girl, Marie, said if I came here a virgin, I'd leave here one. Well, I suppose I am a virgin. But I'm not so innocent, and I know there are plenty of other things a man and woman can do that skirt the line.

I'm still surveying the area when someone raps twice on the doorway. I spin around and find Jack blocking the light from the kitchen.

He moves toward me like a beast of prey, eyes locked on my body.





Chapter Fifty-Four

Cost of Supplies

Before I can speak, his hands are on me. He buries his face in my neck and mumbles that he hated the way we parted the night before. His body pushes against mine until I'm walking backward. Until the backs of my knees hit the mattress and I sit down.

My heart pounds inside my chest, and I struggle to catch my breath.

I was sure I could do this, but now my body won't cooperate. If I don't do something to lessen my anxiety, I'll die of a heart attack. Jack sits next to me and slides his arm around my waist. His other hand squeezes between my knees.

"There's still so little I know about you," I manage to say.

Jack nuzzles my neck. "We have all the time in the world to get to know each other."

"Is that what you want, Jack? Truly?"

He pauses and looks into my eyes. "Yes, it is. I may have come here to forget my troubles, but the moment I saw you was the moment everything changed for me." He strokes my face, and it feels like blisters form beneath his touch. "Such an innocent face. So vulnerable."

What did he just say? Wilson snaps. Innocent? Vulnerable? This guy is living in his own head. You're just a prop for his twisted fantasies.



       
         
       
        

I don't push Wilson down like I usually do. I'm relieved he's back, because I may need him if this gets out of hand. I'm sure I must do this. But I'm also certain I don't want to.

"What's wrong, baby?" Jack grips my hand and looks at me as if we are a couple on our fiftieth anniversary, and he knows me all too well.

"My mother is sick." I don't know where this lie comes from. Maybe it forms so quickly because it's not a lie at all. "She needs money to pay for her prescriptions, and she doesn't have it."

"Can't you send her some of your earnings?" he asks. "Surely you have money after how many nights you've worked here."

"It takes too long to apply for a withdrawal, and it makes the madam wary when we do."

Both truths.

Jack rubs his jawline. "I'd give you money, Domino, but that house manager said if we ever did that we'd be fined and wouldn't be able to return. I'm not sure he could actually fine me, but he might be able to keep us apart." Jack grabs my hands like a thought has occurred to him. "Do you want to stay here? I mean, long-term?"

The hopeful glint in his eyes softens my resentment, and I decide that just this once, I'll tell him the truth. "No, Jack. I don't want to stay."

"Then maybe I could pay off your debts."

My entire body goes cold. "My what?"

"That manager guy-Mr. Hodge?-he said if I had enough cash he might be persuaded to let me take one of his girls. Would you ever want to … ? What I mean to say is, how would you like to come and live with me? It would take me a few months to get that kind of cash but-"

"I'm for sale?" I ask, stupidly.

"No. Of course not. Well, not exactly." Jack's face pulls together. "You didn't know? They said you were working off a loan and that most of your earnings went to that debt. But that we could pay it off for you, and that'd release you from your contract."

I rub my hands over my arms, fighting nausea. Of all the messed-up things I expected to happen tonight, this was not one of them. How dare Madam Karina? How dare Mr. Hodge? To pitch us as products? To tell the customers we are but bodies to be traded for cash? This house is a mass burial site. The further I dig the shovel in, the more skeletons I discover.

I shoot to my feet, knowing if I don't get fresh air, I'll lose it. But first, there's one thing I want to clarify. "You would want that? To pay off my debt and take me as your own?"

Jack stands up, thinking I'm shocked at his thoughtfulness. "More than anything." 

"You don't even know me," I whisper.

"Like I said," Jack coos. "We'll have time."

I spin around and face him, every ounce of pity gone from my mind. He doesn't want me. He just wants a body. Maybe my face pleases him in some way, or maybe I remind him of his ex-wife. Who knows? I only know I'm a placeholder. "I need cash for my mother's medications, and I need it now. If you can get that for me soon, then I'll tell the madam myself that I want to leave with you."