"Kind of." He had to raise his voice to be heard over the music as we stepped closer to the door that led into the change area. "I'll be okay." His stoic, football player mask was firmly in place. "Let's just do this."
I squeezed his hand, then turned my attention to Gary, the security guard who stood beside the door. "Hey, Gaz."
"Hey, Chels!" The gentle giant leaned down to give me a hug. "You coming back to work here? We've missed you."
"I missed you too." I squeezed him quickly before letting him go, not wanting the guys to get the wrong idea.
Gary and I were friends from the first day I started at Flirts. No one looked after the girls better than he did. If anyone tried anything, he'd escort them out the door, whether they liked it or not. I never saw him hit anyone, but they didn't get away with any shit while he was around either. Honestly, most of them took one look at him and backed right off.
"I'm not coming back to work, I just came to have a quick chat with Sierra. Divina said she was out back?" I smiled sweetly, hoping he wouldn't become suspicious. If he thought we were up to something, he wouldn't hesitate to escort us out too regardless of what Divina said. He wanted trouble even less than she did.
"Last time I saw her, she was," he agreed. "Go on in. It might make you nostalgic enough to change your mind and come back." He winked.
"You never know," I said with a laugh. I couldn't help but appreciate the way he and Divina made me feel welcome here. They always had. We were a little family, even after I left.
He pulled out a key, unlocked the door and held it open for us to step past. All the while keeping an eye on the crowd in case anyone thought to slip in too.
I exchanged glances with the guys once Gary closed the door behind us. Being back here should have felt familiar, even comforting, but the click of the door made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The same feeling of unease I felt in the infirmary came crashing back.
"We’re right here," Frost said. "I've sent the others a text to tell them where we are. Nothing is going to happen to us." He tucked his phone into the pocket of his track pants and patted it.
"Yeah I…hope so," I said. There were more dangerous places in Dusk Bay than the back of a strip club, but the unease lingered. "Let's get this over with."
Still holding onto Dallas' hand, I led the way down to the dressing rooms. "She should be in here." I stopped in the doorway, mindful that there might be naked people inside, who wouldn't appreciate the intrusion.
Only a couple of women sat applying make-up, both fully dressed. Milly sat to the left, Sierra to the right. Blonde hair in a stark contrast to dark. One slender, the other curvy. Divina offered variety, so there was a dancer for every eye.
"Hey," I greeted them both cheerfully. "Sierra, have you got a minute, honey?" I wanted to appear as non-threatening as possible. I didn't want her to run or clamp up.
She looked up at my reflection in the mirror. "Chels! It's so good to see you again. Of course I have a minute for you, darling." She rose and took in the three large men behind me. Her eyebrows were the next thing to rise. "Well this is interesting," she said lightly. "Is everything okay?"
"Maybe we should talk out in the corridor," I suggested, giving Milly half an eye.
"I was just leaving," Milly said. She shot up out of her chair and hurried out of the room, barely glancing back.
We had to step out of her way to let her pass. I caught a whiff of rose-scented perfume, similar to the one I wore when I worked here. It was mixed with the smell of soap and hairspray. All familiar. If I was inclined to be nostalgic, that would do it.
"She's new," Sierra said. "Still trying to get her head around working in a place like this." She’d seen the same thing a dozen times before, as I had. Even women who loved the work had an adjustment period at the beginning. Taking your clothes off for money took some getting used to.
The first time I did it, I was terrified. Certain there'd be no audience for all the imperfections I perceived myself to have. I quickly learned I was the only one who cared about them. If anything, the guys who came to watch me, embraced them. They liked that I wasn't perfect, because they weren't either. They came to see a confident woman, and pretend she was dancing for them.
"I'm sure she'll be fine." I gave Sierra a quick hug. "How have you been?"
"Fine, but I don't think you came to ask me how I am," she said. "Is this anything to do with India and what happened to her?"
Her words were immediately followed by the deafening crack of a gunshot.
Chapter Twelve
Chelsea
Strong arms grabbedme and I was pulled to the ground, surrounded by a protective wall of muscle. I ducked my head and screwed my eyes shut, as though somehow that would protect me from a bullet.
For the longest time, we crouched like that, hard up against the wall. My heart was in my throat the entire time, thundering like crazy.
In the back of my mind was the unwelcome thought,Fuck, not again.
Finally, I managed to say, "Is everyone okay?"
