This Cruel Love

“What business?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

“Gina’s a madam. She runs an escort service. Not that you need to worry about that, because Jackson has already told her he doesn’t want or need her services,” Chloe said, looking self-satisfied.

Gina scowled at me, but softened slightly.

“It doesn’t bother me what he does. I’m just giving her a friendly warning.” She nodded my way.

“You could’ve been friendlier about it,” Chloe said with a knowing look. “Remember what it was like for me, when I first came into all this? Give the girl a break. Us girls need to stick together. We need all the friends we can get in this life.”

Gina nodded then smiled and poured me a glass of champagne.

“Welcome to the madness that is our world,” she said and handed the glass to me.

“Thanks.”

I took the glass and sipped; the deliciously cold bubbles helped to settle my nerves instantly. Gina’s guard was coming down. But the Stacey girl? She was still eyeing me like a python checking out its prey.

“I think I’m gonna head to the main dance floor. It’s a bit claustrophobic up here.” I motioned to my girls that I was headed out and they danced their way over to join me.

“I’ll come with you.” Chloe’s eyes sparkled at the mention of the main dance floor. “I need a decent dance. This space just isn’t cutting it for me tonight.”

The security guys tried to stop us, but I quickly learned that what Chloe wanted, she got. As we headed onto the dance floor, I saw one of the security guys talking into his earpiece, grassing us up no doubt. It wouldn’t be long before Dennis made another appearance and ushered us back to our holding pen. Well, he’d have a job on his hands. Chloe wouldn’t go back without putting up a fight, I could tell, and neither would I.

It didn’t take long, following our mini invasion of the dance floor, for the vultures to start circling us. Having Chloe along for the ride made the security presence heavier than anything I’d ever seen on a night out, but we managed to block them out quite well, all things considered. I think the alcohol helped. The random guys who tried to dance up against us though were way too persistent. Not surprisingly, they soon got shoved aside. That was until a familiar, leery smile danced over my way.

“Liam. Great. That’s all I need. To be fighting off his grabby hands for the rest of the night.” I nodded behind Daisy’s shoulder to where he was approaching.

“Oh, God. He’s not gonna take no for an answer, Rye. Not with Justin out of the picture for the night.”

Daisy was sweet and tried to shield me, but Liam was relentless. We all knew what he could be like. We’d all been on the receiving end of his unwanted attention at some time or another, but for some reason, he wouldn’t give up on me. He was fighting a losing battle. I had zero interest in him. He took sleazy to a whole new level.

“Ryles, fancy seeing you here.”

He looked me up and down and reached out to grab around my waist and pull me into him, grinding his hips into me as he did.

“She’s not interested, dude. Why don’t you just do one,” Maddie shouted over, but that wasn’t going to deter Liam and his mates. I saw Wade and Dean close behind him. They were all friends of Justin’s. Well, so-called friends. They’d go behind his back with me in a heartbeat if I gave them the green light, which I never would. I never understood why he hung out with them all. He wasn’t sleazy like them. My Justin was different.

“Where’s the main man tonight?” Liam shouted into my ear, making me wince, and spraying me with his alcohol breath as he spoke. I pulled my head back as I answered.

“He’s away at the moment. He’s getting help for his problems.”

“What, sex addicts anonymous?” Dean spat and then licked his lips as he pushed himself up against Daisy.

“Fuck off, Dean.” I wasn’t interested in spending another second of my night with these losers, so I pushed my way through the crowd to get to the bar.

“You don’t have to be so touchy, Ryles. Chill out, relax. We could have a lot of fun tonight, if you’re up for it?” Liam had followed me, and was taking his gross flirting techniques up a notch.

“I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than have the kind of ‘fun’ you’re thinking about. Thanks, but no thanks.” I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm quite forcefully, jerking me backwards and into his chest.

“Always so fucking high and mighty. You know your precious Justin isn’t as perfect as you think he is.”

He looked so pissed. He’d drunk way too much and was ready for a fight.

“I don’t care what you think, Liam. Your opinion means nothing to me.”

“Maybe so, but the facts speak for themselves.”

He reached behind into his back pocket and pulled out his mobile phone.