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“It’s true. It’s only ever been my baby sister and me. That’s it.”
“Ah,” she murmurs, her eyes softening. “So you have a kid?”
I nod.
“Now I get it.” She smiles sheepishly at me. “Got two of my own. They are both little heathens, but they are what gets me up in the morning so I can come to this dump and work. There isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for my boys.”
“I feel the same way about Zoey. That’s why I need this job,” I divulge seriously, needing her to understand I can do this. I have no other choice, and stripping isn’t all bad. I’ve seen the fun they have and the sisterly bond between some of the girls.
Her expression turns motherly, which takes me aback since I’ve never seen such concern on a woman’s face. Other than Ms. Berry, I haven’t exactly had too many women who gave two shits about my sister or me, so I guess it’s only natural that I feel a bit uncomfortable with the tender gaze she’s showering me with now.
“Then let’s get you ready.” She smiles, showing me to an empty makeup mirror and chair. “Get dressed while I tell the DJ that you’ll go on in a few. Ask one of the girls to help you with your makeup if you don’t know how to put it on.”
“Thank you.”
She gives me a nod and starts walking out of the changing area. “Brandy,” she shouts back at me just as she reaches the door.
“What?” I ask, confused.
“That’s your name now, girlie. Sweet as sugar but has the strength to knock you down before you know what hit you. It’s perfect for you.”
“Brandy.” I roll the name on the tip of my tongue. “I like it.”
“The boys out there will too.” She laughs. “Every last limp dick in there will be raining dollar bills when they see you. Best be ready for it.”
I square my shoulders and look dead ahead at the mirror.
I have to be ready for it.
My sister’s life depends on it.
Not wanting to look at myself in the mirror for too long, I start taking my clothes off to put on the cheerleading costume Betty gave me. When I’m done and I start fiddling around with the makeup on the table, two other women take pity on me and help me out. One of them fixes my hair into two braids, while the other gives me smoky eyes and red lips to finish up the look. They are just adding the finishing touches when Betty comes back into the room.
“You’re up, Brandy,” she announces, causing me to go into a mild panic.
“No. Don’t even go there,” Betty protests, apparently catching the sliver of dread in my eyes. “When you’re out there, remember who you’re doing this for. I won’t lie to you. You’ll probably cry your eyes out the minute you’re off that stage, but when you get home and count your money and see all that you can do for the one person you love above all else, those tears will dry up pretty fast. You might get numb to it all, but as long as you keep your focus on what’s important, none of it will matter. Do you understand?”
Her words of encouragement have me standing out of my seat and picking up the two pom-poms.
“I understand,” I answer confidently.
“Good. Now give them hell, girlie.”
I’ll have to, because at the end of the day, I’d sell my soul to the devil if it meant saving Zoey.
She’s all that matters.
CHAPTER11
Alaric
Seven days.
It’s been seven days since I last looked upon Layla’s beautiful face.
She hasn’t been to work all week, justifying her absence by calling in and saying her sister is sick. That’s all the info I was able to pry from her friendly cook, Will, before he got protective of her, something that made my jealousy roar. My gut twists at the thought of little Zoey in discomfort, but it’s not having my daily dose of Layla that really does a number on my head.
I’m going crazy with withdrawal.
