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Determined, Danny left the burned townhouse and retreated to his truck. He had never been given the chance to take a different path in life, but he wouldn’t allow that to happen to Macy. The taste of the underworld, of the humiliation of dancing for scum like Paulie, was all she would ever know.
Macy would have the life she deserved. She would have the freedom to make her own choices and follow her dreams.
Whether he would be a part of those dreams and choices was up to her.
Chapter Five
The jail processing area smelled of old cigarettes and cheap perfume mixed with industrial cleaning chemicals. Shoes squeaked on the waxed floor tiles, and the harsh overhead lighting was far too bright for comfort.
I clenched my wallet and phone tighter and tried not to make eye contact with anyone else in the waiting room. Some of the people waiting looked nice and friendly, but there were a few that made me nervous. One woman, in particular, had gone up to the window at least a dozen times to snarl at the old man behind the counter about the delay in releasing her sister. Her behavior reminded me of my father, and every time she stomped back to her seat, I flinched.
I shifted anxiously in my chair and hid the discomfort I felt when my shirt brushed against my chest. I hadn’t removed the pasties Cherry had given me, and they were starting to feel irritating and itchy. It would be just my luck to have some kind of allergic reaction to the adhesive.
The thought of the pasties sent my mind rolling back to the moment I had made eye contact with Danny at the club. I was inexperienced, but I wasn’t stupid. I knew what that look on his face was. Lust. Desire. Excitement. He might have been furious to find me on that stage, but he wasn’t upset by the way I looked.
Danny wanted me.
He wanted to do dirty things to me.
And I wanted to let him. I wanted to let him do filthy, wicked things that would leave me breathless and trembling. I wanted to feel his mouth and his hands on my body and his—.
My thoughts were interrupted by a loud clank of a door unlocking. I glanced toward the noise and saw a jailer stepping into the waiting area. A stream of women followed him. I stood up, clutching my things, and anxiously waited for Janie to come into view. When I finally saw her, I almost shouted her name. I squashed the urge at the last moment and tried not to burst into tears at the sight of my stepmother.
She looked awful, just awful. Her blonde hair was limp and untidy and hanging around her shoulders. She had dark circles under her eyes, and her cheeks seemed thinner. She looked tense and stiff, and her gaze darted around the room as if she expected to be jumped. What had happened to her?
She crossed the room with quick strides and grabbed onto me, hugging me so tight I couldn’t breathe. She was shaking, and I embraced her, desperate to help her feel calm and still again. She exhaled raggedly, and I sensed she was seconds away from sobbing hysterically.
“Let’s go, Janie.” I didn’t want her falling apart in the waiting room. Wordlessly, she clung to my hand as I led her out of the jail and across Allen Street to the parking lot. She held it together until we got into my car, but once she was in the passenger seat, she let go and wept. I didn’t know what to do or say. I rubbed her back and held her hand and wished I could do more.
“How did you get the money?” she asked, wiping her face. Her lower lip wobbled, and she looked worried. “Did you get hurt?”
“No,” I hurriedly assured her. “Danny’s back. He found me and gave me the money. His uncle arranged a place for us to stay, too.”
“Macy,” Janie said anxiously. “We can’t accept their money.”
“Why not?”
“We can’t pay it back!”
“I don’t think Danny’s going to ask for us to pay it back. He would probably be insulted if I tried.”
“Macy, this isn’t your mess to clean up. I don’t want you getting into trouble for me.”
“I’m not! And, anyway, I’m not the only one who wants to help you. Danny’s uncle’s friend contacted me. She wants to help us.”
“What? Why?”
“She’s a single mom, and she’s got a business here in town. She’s the lady who makes those slings and baby clothes you like.”
Janie’s reddened eyes widened. “Chess Mendoza?”
“Yes. She read about our situation on social media, and she’s really upset about it. She wants us to meet with a lawyer tomorrow. She’s paying.”
“Macy, I can’t accept this kind of charity.”
“Janie!” I raised my voice out of desperation. “You have to let them help us! We have no money. We have no power. If we don’t use these connections, you’re going to end up in prison and the kids will end up in foster care.”
I hated to say it. I hated to be so mean about it, but she had to face reality. We were two broke women who needed all the help we could get.
