"I don't think he makes it a habit to give his number out."
The strobe lights flickered around us as we walked farther into the club and made our way to the bar. The bass thumped in my chest, and I couldn't wait to get out onto the dance floor.
"He said he would give it to you," she yelled over the music.
"That was after I said I had a boyfriend. He was just joking around with me," I shouted back to her.
"Well, shit. Let's get shots and then dance."
"Reading my mind."
* * *
I wasn't sure what time it was other than late. My feet hurt, my back was covered in sweat, and I was exhausted. "I'm going to head home," I yelled into Ember's ear. I'd had every intention of making it an early night and packing for the Hamptons, but the evening had gotten away from me.
"Want me to take a taxi with you?" she offered.
"No." I waved her off. "Stay and close down the place. I'll see you on Monday."
"Okay. Have a good weekend."
I said goodbye to Candace and Krystal and then walked to the front. There was no longer a line to get in, but Ricardo was still at the door.
"Going home already?" he asked, the humidity doing nothing to cool me off as I walked outside.
"Already?" I laughed. "I've been here for hours."
"We still have"—he checked his cell for the time—"three hours before closing."
"I'll be in la-la land by then."
"With your boyfriend?" He smirked. Was he asking because he wanted to know how serious I was with Steven?
"Yes, I will be." I stepped to the curb and flagged down a yellow cab. One immediately pulled up. "Don't act like you're heartbroken," I teased.
"I am, Erin. But"—he smiled, and my belly flipped—"we're just not meant to be."
"Yeah," I agreed and slid into the taxi. "But I know where to find you if things don't work out."
I closed the door before anything else was said and gave my address to the driver. I didn't pay attention to where he was going. Instead, I scrolled social media and thought about the cute bouncer instead of my boyfriend, who was waiting in our bed for me.
The yellow cab came to a stop, and the driver said, "We're here."
I looked up to see we were at a warehouse and not my apartment building. "This isn't the address I gave you," I protested.
The door opened, and the driver said, "No, but thisisyour new home."
I was yanked out of the backseat, and as I kicked and screamed, I was carried inside the large space. There were a dozen or so cages filled with many women.
And I was the newest captive.
Chapter Three
Ric
The word around the club was Frank Russo was a man you didn't want to cross. I knew that from the streets growing up, but I hadn't seen anything firsthand because I'd only been manning the main door outside of the club for the past five months, and I was okay with that. I didn't want to get mixed up in whatever it was Frank did besides run a nightclub. I was saving money so I could get my own place. My head and body felt better too, so I knew it was time. Plus, if I didn't live at home with my momma, I might have brought some of the beautiful women from the club home with me. It had been a long time since it was more than just my hand getting action.
While on a break before the Saturday rush started, I used the back hallway, making my way to the alley for a breather. When I went to knock on the door after my break for Marcus to let me in, it opened, and I almost collided with Frank.
