Sinister Love (Dark Intentions Duet 2)

He turns around and crosses his hands over his chest. “You look presentable.”

Do I say, thank you? I think not.

“Where am I going?”

He waves his hand to start walking out the door. The door that I’ve been locked behind for two nights. It’s nicer than the other room, and I think if I did something, even the slightest bit wrong, I’d be back in that dungeon in a second. Especially if Amy has any say in it.

“Don’t speak unless you are spoken to. Mingle with the guys. Flirt and show an interest.” His hand touches a doorknob, and he looks down at me. “Antonio will be watching you tonight, so don’t disappoint.” He pulls the door open and pushes me through.

What I am meant to do? I have no damn idea.

It’s the same place I was in the other night. The music is loud, and it mainly consists of guys. There are few girls scattered around surrounded by men. But the men outnumber the women five to one. Stepping further into the room, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing, none whatsoever.

Looking around, I see her, her eyes firmly affixed on me. Amy’s death staring me from where she’s seated with Antonio next to her. Just as I go to turn back, a small hand touches my arm. My first instinct is to pull it free, to get it away from whoever’s touching me because when people touch me, it never seems to turn out for the best.

“Smile. Don’t lose the smile and follow me.” She seems kind, but that could be a total fucking lie for all I know. This is the underworld, after all. They could all be dangerous killers, and I’m just a lamb to the slaughter. “We have a main fight tonight. All the people you see here are very high bidders. We entertain them until the main event. That’s what you will be doing. So, please, smile before you piss her off even more than you seem to be doing by just being in the same room as her.”

My lips pull up, and my smile is as fake as Amy’s boobs, but I listen to this girl anyway. “What do I do?” I ask, confused. She looks at me, and I can make out her features better now we’re away from the dark entrance. She’s beautiful, with long dark hair which almost touches her ass, and a silly red lace dress over her body.

“You smile, you laugh, you offer drinks. These men will spend up to one hundred thousand dollars each here tonight. It’s our job to make them want to spend more.”

I get it, but I don’t want to do any of it. I follow her anyway because what choice do I have? She stops at a group of older men. I would guess most likely in their late forties or early fifties. They all look up, smiling as we walk up to them. I’m the only one without makeup on. Looking around, all the other girls are done up to impress, while I had five minutes to throw something on and hope for the best. She touches a guy’s arm but doesn’t linger, just a taste. I watch what she does and realize she’s a tease.

Is that what we are here for? To tease them?

Being here at all is not something I want to do. I don’t have my medication. And each time I think back to what I had, where I was finally going with my life, it all hits me like a freight train. But not moving from a bed like I would typically do is not an option for me anymore when I’m in those moods. These people could kill me. For what? For following Ryken one night, and he ultimately ended up choosing her anyway. Livia’s the one he loves, even if he says he loves me. It was her, and it will always be her.

My mind screams at me to run, to never look back, and take what money I have left and hide. Ryken told me they would find me, and I believe him. This is my next best choice. And so far, I have all my limbs, and I’m not dead, so that’s a gigantic plus. Isn’t it?

Only five and a half months to go in this hell hole. I close my eyes, trying not to think about it.

A hand touches me. Goddamn, I’m sick of being touched. I could go the rest of my life without a single hand touching me ever again. I’m not a touchy-feely type of girl, and all this touching is really playing on my last nerve.

“How about a drink, darling?”

I look at the girl who’s showing me around, and she raises her chin at me. Turning to the guy, I plaster the best fake smile I can muster. “Of course. What would you like?” My hand touches his shoulder. I do the same thing she did and brush it away fast. Touching other people isn’t something I like to do, but owning my own business in customer service has taught me to smile when even I don’t want to. Even if my heart’s hurting and my head is pounding.