Chapter 16
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"Things will get better, you're still adjusting, that's all. It takes time, it doesn't happen over night." Grabbing her chin, I twisted her face to mine. Holding the liner, I arched her head up and started to gently drag the charcoal across the edge of her lid. "It doesn't have to all be bad, you just have to find your place. You have to look inside yourself and find the strength you need to keep going, because if you don't, this place is going to kill you. You can't let that happen, you can't let him win."
Sighing loudly, she looked right in my eyes. "And what if I can't? What if I'm not strong enough?"
"You have to be, you don't have a choice." Running a black line across her other eye, I placed the pen back down on her table. "But if you get your shit together, things will get better. I promise."
"Better. . ." Blinking her sad doe eyes, she sucked in a shallow breath, like she was trying to hold back more tears. "How the hell can you think any of this will get better?"
"Because I know it will, you just have to trust me."
Thinning her lips, she shifted in her seat. "How can you know that?"
"I've been here long enough to know how it works." Walking back to my table, I dropped into the seat just in time to see Vin coming in through the door.
Aubrey twisted in her chair, finishing up the rest of her makeup without an issue. Neither one of us looked at each other again and our little conversation went unnoticed by Vin.
But I could see a change in her, it was subtle, but it was there. Her back was straighter, her face was flat and not scrunched up like she was about to bust into tears.
She finally knows she's not alone.
None of us were really alone, we had each other, even if Virgo wanted to keep us apart. Sometimes I felt like I was only the only one who could see that.
"Jessie, you got a customer." Vin stood at my side, his strong cologne swirling around my face and making me sick.
"Another one? Why can't one of the other girls go?"
"Because this is yours. Do your fucking job, Jessie."
Vin was the only guy around who actually said more than a few words to us at a time. It was part of his job, it wasn't like he did it by choice. But he was a little different than the rest of Virgo's men. He didn't look at us like we were trash. He was an ass at times, but he gave you room to grumble and complain a little bit.
I wasn't sure if he was here because he wanted to be or if Virgo was forcing him to be. Temptation to ask him over the years was there, but I never actually questioned him about it. It didn't really matter what his answer would be. We all had a role, and running the back room of the club was his.
"Alright, I'm going, give me a second." Standing up, I tugged my skirt down. "You know, I'm not the only one in here who can do the private room."
"Yeah, but you're the only one in here who goes by Ash. When you're requested, you're requested, I can't send in someone else."
"How about you don't send any of us?"
"Jessie. . ." Pausing, Vin hung his head, lowering his lids to cover half his eyes.
"I know, I know, I'm going, no need to run to Virgo."
"Then stop flapping your mouth and go."
Turning around, I walked to the private room. For a brief moment, I wondered if Salt would be behind the door. I could feel my heart start to bounce in my chest and my hands get sweaty with nerves.
I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been waiting for him to return. He had come in twice in the past week, the chances were in my favor I'd see him again.
Slipping inside, I did my ritual of blinking quickly, trying to adjust to the darkness. The shadow against the wall moved as the man stood up and started to walk towards me.
Is it him?
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"Things will get better, you're still adjusting, that's all. It takes time, it doesn't happen over night." Grabbing her chin, I twisted her face to mine. Holding the liner, I arched her head up and started to gently drag the charcoal across the edge of her lid. "It doesn't have to all be bad, you just have to find your place. You have to look inside yourself and find the strength you need to keep going, because if you don't, this place is going to kill you. You can't let that happen, you can't let him win."
Sighing loudly, she looked right in my eyes. "And what if I can't? What if I'm not strong enough?"
"You have to be, you don't have a choice." Running a black line across her other eye, I placed the pen back down on her table. "But if you get your shit together, things will get better. I promise."
"Better. . ." Blinking her sad doe eyes, she sucked in a shallow breath, like she was trying to hold back more tears. "How the hell can you think any of this will get better?"
"Because I know it will, you just have to trust me."
Thinning her lips, she shifted in her seat. "How can you know that?"
"I've been here long enough to know how it works." Walking back to my table, I dropped into the seat just in time to see Vin coming in through the door.
Aubrey twisted in her chair, finishing up the rest of her makeup without an issue. Neither one of us looked at each other again and our little conversation went unnoticed by Vin.
But I could see a change in her, it was subtle, but it was there. Her back was straighter, her face was flat and not scrunched up like she was about to bust into tears.
She finally knows she's not alone.
None of us were really alone, we had each other, even if Virgo wanted to keep us apart. Sometimes I felt like I was only the only one who could see that.
"Jessie, you got a customer." Vin stood at my side, his strong cologne swirling around my face and making me sick.
"Another one? Why can't one of the other girls go?"
"Because this is yours. Do your fucking job, Jessie."
Vin was the only guy around who actually said more than a few words to us at a time. It was part of his job, it wasn't like he did it by choice. But he was a little different than the rest of Virgo's men. He didn't look at us like we were trash. He was an ass at times, but he gave you room to grumble and complain a little bit.
I wasn't sure if he was here because he wanted to be or if Virgo was forcing him to be. Temptation to ask him over the years was there, but I never actually questioned him about it. It didn't really matter what his answer would be. We all had a role, and running the back room of the club was his.
"Alright, I'm going, give me a second." Standing up, I tugged my skirt down. "You know, I'm not the only one in here who can do the private room."
"Yeah, but you're the only one in here who goes by Ash. When you're requested, you're requested, I can't send in someone else."
"How about you don't send any of us?"
"Jessie. . ." Pausing, Vin hung his head, lowering his lids to cover half his eyes.
"I know, I know, I'm going, no need to run to Virgo."
"Then stop flapping your mouth and go."
Turning around, I walked to the private room. For a brief moment, I wondered if Salt would be behind the door. I could feel my heart start to bounce in my chest and my hands get sweaty with nerves.
I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been waiting for him to return. He had come in twice in the past week, the chances were in my favor I'd see him again.
Slipping inside, I did my ritual of blinking quickly, trying to adjust to the darkness. The shadow against the wall moved as the man stood up and started to walk towards me.
Is it him?
"Things will get better, you're still adjusting, that's all. It takes time, it doesn't happen over night." Grabbing her chin, I twisted her face to mine. Holding the liner, I arched her head up and started to gently drag the charcoal across the edge of her lid. "It doesn't have to all be bad, you just have to find your place. You have to look inside yourself and find the strength you need to keep going, because if you don't, this place is going to kill you. You can't let that happen, you can't let him win."Sighing loudly, she looked right in my eyes. "And what if I can't? What if I'm not strong enough?""You have to be, you don't have a choice." Running a black line across her other eye, I placed the pen back down on her table. "But if you get your shit together, things will get better. I promise.""Better. . ." Blinking her sad doe eyes, she sucked in a shallow breath, like she was trying to hold back more tears. "How the hell can you think any of this will get better?""Because I know it will, you just have to trust me."Thinning her lips, she shifted in her seat. "How can you know that?""I've been here long enough to know how it works." Walking back to my table, I dropped into the seat just in time to see Vin coming in through the door.Aubrey twisted in her chair, finishing up the rest of her makeup without an issue. Neither one of us looked at each other again and our little conversation went unnoticed by Vin.But I could see a change in her, it was subtle, but it was there. Her back was straighter, her face was flat and not scrunched up like she was about to bust into tears.She finally knows she's not alone.None of us were really alone, we had each other, even if Virgo wanted to keep us apart. Sometimes I felt like I was only the only one who could see that."Jessie, you got a customer." Vin stood at my side, his strong cologne swirling around my face and making me sick."Another one? Why can't one of the other girls go?""Because this is yours. Do your fucking job, Jessie."Vin was the only guy around who actually said more than a few words to us at a time. It was part of his job, it wasn't like he did it by choice. But he was a little different than the rest of Virgo's men. He didn't look at us like we were trash. He was an ass at times, but he gave you room to grumble and complain a little bit.I wasn't sure if he was here because he wanted to be or if Virgo was forcing him to be. Temptation to ask him over the years was there, but I never actually questioned him about it. It didn't really matter what his answer would be. We all had a role, and running the back room of the club was his."Alright, I'm going, give me a second." Standing up, I tugged my skirt down. "You know, I'm not the only one in here who can do the private room.""Yeah, but you're the only one in here who goes by Ash. When you're requested, you're requested, I can't send in someone else.""How about you don't send any of us?""Jessie. . ." Pausing, Vin hung his head, lowering his lids to cover half his eyes."I know, I know, I'm going, no need to run to Virgo.""Then stop flapping your mouth and go."Turning around, I walked to the private room. For a brief moment, I wondered if Salt would be behind the door. I could feel my heart start to bounce in my chest and my hands get sweaty with nerves.I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been waiting for him to return. He had come in twice in the past week, the chances were in my favor I'd see him again.Slipping inside, I did my ritual of blinking quickly, trying to adjust to the darkness. The shadow against the wall moved as the man stood up and started to walk towards me.Is it him?
