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ALEX

My car won't start.

I turn the key in the ignition for what must be the fifth time, listening to the engine struggle for a few seconds before it gives up with a clicking sound that makes me want to bang my head against the steering wheel.

I know it's old and rickety, but the car has served me faithfully since sophomore year, when I bought it from some guy because I needed a car so I could travel home more frequently to see Mom, and my Volvo had done a decent job of getting me back and forth between New York and Trenton ever since.

Sure, it occasionally made noises that sounded concerning, and I'd gotten into the habit of whispering little prayers whenever I drove it on the highway, but it had never abandoned me before. Until today when it decides to stop working in front of The Bloodrot.

“Call the shop,” Logan says from where he’s standing beside my door with Stacey. “Or ask your boyfriend for a new car.”

Stacy swats him on the chest. “Don’t turn him into a materialistic twink like yourself.”

Logan rolls his eyes then checks the time on his phone. “Alex, honey, we have to go clock in. Thanks for driving us and sorry about your car.”

I climb out of the car, and I give them both a hug, watch as they walk to the entrance of the club. Once they're inside, I return to the driver's seat and close the door.

It's strange to think that if I hadn't met Antonio two months ago, I would probably be walking through those doors with Logan and Stacy right now. I still remember how nervous I was when I came here for my audition, and although I have no idea whether I would have made a good stripper, I know I would have given it everything I had. I was very desperate for money.

Now, I don't need to worry about money. Antonio keeps paying me for tutoring sessions that haven't actually been happening, and I've managed to save enough money to cover an entire year's rent.

Mom accepted Antonio's offer and now has a steady income and health insurance through the company. It took her a little while to make up her mind, mostly because she wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of receiving a salary without having to show up for work, but she agreed after asking Antonio to find a way for her to consult via teleconferencing.

Antonio set up a home office for her after sending someone to also redecorate the house, but he told me that he would’ve found a way to pay her insurance premiums even if she refused the job.

Antonio never takes no for an answer.

There's also the loan I took out last year, which I finally have enough money to pay off, and I should already be on my way to return it. I pick up my phone from the passenger’s seat, find the man's number in my contacts and press the call button, listening to it ring a couple of times before his familiar, gruff voice comes through the speaker.

“This is Igor,” he says.

“Hi, yes. I’m sorry, but my car is faulty. Can I bring the money tomorrow?”

“Where are you?”

“I’m at The Bloodrot club on Payson Avenue.”

“I’m coming,” he says and ends the call.

I’m surprised that he's willing to come all the way here to collect the money, but I'm also relieved that I won't have to carry the cash around for another day, because I've been a nervous wreck ever since I collected it from the bank. It's only five thousand dollars, but I've been looking over my shoulder, half-expecting someone to jump out from behind a parked car and rob me.

With that taken care of, I open my contacts again and begin searching for the towing company's number. I’m still scrolling when a message from Antonio appears at the top of my screen.

Where are you?

Under normal circumstances, I probably would have told him that I was out with my friends, but I've learned since he stalked me all the way to Trenton, never to lie to Antonio Scalera.

The Bloodrot. Drove Logan and Stacy to work and my car refuses to start so I’m trying to call a towing company to take it to Dante.

Who the fuck is Dante?

I bite back a smile as I read the message. I love how aggressive he gets whenever I mention another man’s name.

Chill, he’s my mechanic.

I’ll fix your car.

I try to imagine Antonio standing over the open hood of my car with a wrench in his hand.