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Lu takes another sip of her champagne, this time slightly larger. The bubbles seem to surprise her, and she wipes a drop from her pretty bottom lip.
“Where I grew up, we didn’t drink champagne. We didn’t drink alcohol at all,” she says matter-of-factly.
Okay. Now we’re getting somewhere.
“What brings you to Chicago?” Greyson asks.
This seems to perk her up. Or at least give her some confidence. “I’m studying bookkeeping. I want to get my certificate,” she says, pulling her shoulders back and raising her chin a little.
Okay, then. The girl’s got some ambition. And pride. Nice.
“What do you think of Chicago so far? And what do you think about Club Sin?” Rowan asks with a faintly evil grin.
There he goes again, and I shoot him another look. So help me, if he fucks this up, I will kick his ass. He takes a dickish pride in putting people on the spot, but I need him to back off of Lu. I’m feeling protective of her, and won’t hesitate to make that known, even with my old friend.
She tilts her head thoughtfully. “I like them both. Chicago is big and noisy. That takes some getting used to. And the club…”
Here’s where she chooses her words carefully.
“The club is great. Although I did have a little run-in with a member the other day that wasn’t too pleasant.”
The moment she says that, she looks like she wishes she could retract her words. But I’m glad she told us. Because we don’t tolerate that shit here.
I lean forward, elbows on knees, every inch of me tensing in a surprising visceral reaction. “What do you mean, Lu?” I ask, forcing my voice to remain merely curious rather than reactionary and rageful.
Any fucker who hurt her will pay. Big time.
She shifts in her seat in a way that would make me think she’s just being a little shy if I didn’t know better. But I can already tell she’s about to talk about something that upset her.
And I don’t like that.
After considering her words, she waves her hand around likeno big deal. “Oh, he just wanted me to go with him when I… wasn’t available.”
A wave of anger runs down my spine. I don’t like when I feel this way. Nothing good ever comes of it.
“Did he… touch you, Lu? Without your consent?” I ask.
She shrugs one shoulder. “Yeah. But security came. It all got straightened out.”
Greyson presses his lips into a thin line, and I can see he feels as I do. A quick glance in Rowan’s direction confirms the same. He might be difficult, but this is one area where there’s no doubt about his priorities.
Damn right.
“What was the man’s name, Lu?” I ask as nonchalantly as I can.
“Um, well, I’m not really sure. He told me his name was John Doe, but, you know, obviously it’s not.”
I look directly at her so she knows I’m not fucking around. “I want his name, Lu. I am serious.” I try to keep the growl out of my voice. Not sure how successful I am.
She takes a deep breath, considering me, like she can’t imagine anyone’s actually taking up for her.
What is this girl’s story? I’ve got to know. If I don’t, I’ve no doubt it will haunt me to the end of my days.
“I… I told you. I don’t know. You’ll have to ask Gwen.”
And there we have it. Fucking Gwen. Probably watched the whole goddamn thing and did nothing about it.
I have respect for the woman, or at least how she runs Club Sin, but she is pretty much motivated by the dollar and nothing else. She doesn’t give a shit about anyone besides herself.
