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Samara
Nauseapooleddeepinmy stomach as I finished throwing on my clothes, grabbed my phone, and shut my work locker. The Harvest was tonight. I had no idea if Ginger was safe, if Jace was safe, nothing. The club closed at two and it had been hours since I’d last talked to him.
Damien wasn’t here, which wasn’t as unusual as it was terrifying. Hours ago, a gunshot had fired amidst my performance, which ended in screams, people fleeing, and eventually me being rushed offstage by the bouncers before I could ever land eyes on the culprit. All the dancers and waitresses had been locked up tight in the locker room, and when people were asking where Damien was and why he wasn’t handling the problem, we were told that he was out handlingpersonalmatters.
What else could that have meant other than the Harvest?
With my phone in hand, I called Jace, my anxiety shooting through the roof as I listened to the line ring. “Samara,” a deep, angry voice greeted me after the fifth ring, making me stiffen, my heart skipping three beats.It was Damien.“What a shocking surprise.”
I swallowed, though it wasn’t enough to appease my suddenly dry throat.
“D-Damien,” I stuttered.
“If you’re calling for a ride back to the academy, I suggest you call an Uber. Jace is a bit indisposed. Finn, too.”
“Wh-what do you mean? Are they okay?”
“Jace is…” he started, pausing for a moment. In the background I could hear someone faintly screaming. It sounded like a man.
Jace. It had to be Jace.
“He’ll recover,” was all Damien had to say about it. “No need to worry, my Queen. They’ll be right as rain before you know it.”
“What happened to them?”
“They were attacked. Finn is fine and is at home, resting. Jace took a bullet to the leg. I have a doctor tending to him now.”
My heart squeezed so tight it had stolen my breath. He was lying to me. He had to be. The Harvest had taken placehoursago. If Jace had really been shot, then he would’ve needed immediate medical care. All this time had passed and Jace was just now receiving aid? Fuck no. Something wasn’t adding up here.
Another loud scream tore through the background. I gripped the device tighter, my hand shaking, tears blurring my eyes as I pressed it harder against my ear. That was definitely Jace screaming.
“Whenever you make it back to the academy, I expect you to do as we discussed. Is that going to be a problem?”
“No, Damien.” My voice shook. “Of course not.”
“That’s my girl. Tread carefully, my Queen. I’ll be seeing you soon.”
My heart dropped when the call ended and without wasting any time, I scrolled through my contacts, cursing to myself as I stupidly searched for a number I didn’t have.
God damnit.
I needed to find a ride back to the academy, but finding an Uber at this time of night was likely next to impossible. Then again, it was way past curfew, so I doubted the guards would even let me in. Icouldrest my head at the trailer tonight, but I hated that fucking place and refused to go back there unless I had to. And besides, with as long as I’ve been gone, and with my lack of desire just to go peek in and check on the place, I wouldn’t be surprised if a bunch of crack or heroin junkies had broken in and claimed it for themselves.
I’d be better off convincing one of my coworkers to let me crash with them tonight and give me a ride first thing tomorrow in exchange for gas money. First and foremost, though, I had to figure out what the fuck happened tonight. I needed to get my hands on Finn’s number.
I dashed through the locker room, halting in my tracks when I spotted Bunny, the new waitress, gathering her belongings.
“Bunny!” I called out, approaching her. “Hey. Is it cool if I crash with you tonight and catch a ride to Storm Ridge Academy tomorrow morning? I’ll throw some cash your way for the trouble.”
“You don’t have a ride?” she asked as she glanced up at me and threw her purse strap over her shoulder.
I shook my head, frowning. “No. Jace and Finn aren’t here, and I don’t have a car.”
“Wait a minute…” She cocked her head at me, her brows pinched with confusion. “You make all this money being a stripper and can’t afford to buy a car?”
I ground my teeth, my anger flaring because my financial situation honestly wasn’t any of her fucking business.
When I didn’t answer, Bunny simply lifted her shoulders and said, “Yeah, I guess that’s okay. I have a spare bedroom you can crash in. How early do you need to be at the academy?”
