AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ducking my head, I shoved past a group of people, moving as fast as I could without actually running. I had no idea where I was even going until I darted into the first door I came to.
One glance at the heaps of winter boots and puffer jackets hanging on the wall and I realized I was fucking trapped in the changing room. It didn’t matter. It was better than being in the same space as Ken.
I collapsed against the small sink, trying to catch my breath while being mindful of all of the hairspray and setting spray and whatever else the girls left lining the porcelain edges.
I couldn’t lose this job. Not again. Things werefinallystarting to feel normal and not like a series of clusterfucks like the rest of my life. I didn’t want to give that up and start over from the bottom. Again!
Misha saw what happened the last time Ken was around. He’d understand. Would Sergei? Or did Sergei expect us to put up with it? I mean, the skimpy ass “uniforms” the girls wore were certainly not for their benefit. But he didn’t give a shit what the guys wore as long as it wasn’t jeans and a t-shirt. So how would he feel about a patron harassing hismaleemployee, given his disapproval of gays? I knew Ken was safe from Sergei’s reach, but what about me?
Exhaling a shaky breath, I turned the faucet on and splashed cold water on my face and the back of my neck. Thankfully I was in all-black tonight, so it would hide the water I managed to get everywhere.
Maybe Ken didn’t see me.
It was a stupid thought but maybe I’d get out of this unscathed. I could hide out in the office until he left. I had access to the security monitors. I’d know when he did. Or I could have one of the doormen text me. Maybe, because I wasn’t actually behind the bar, he’d think I was just a patron and he wouldn’t come back to get me fired from yet another job.
Staring at myself in the mirror, I gave a firm nod. It would be fine. I’d be fine. Things were different this time around. They had to be. The universe wouldn’t knock me on my assagain. Would it?
Grabbing a paper towel, I blotted my face and turned toward the door as it swung open.
“Fuck me,” I said the second I saw Ken in the doorway. Dalton’s 2.0.
“I was hoping you’d ask,” Ken said with a chuckle. He walked in the rest of the way, letting the door swing shut behind him. “I figured coming in here was an invitation, after all.”
“Stay away from me.” I slid back a step, trying to keep the distance between us. Was there a weapon in here, like the shotguns behind the bar? A shank or a baseball bat the tattooed guys stashed in one of the lockers, just in case? I should have grabbed the fucking hairspray before I backed away like a coward.
“Is this a new game we’re going to play? I mean, you’ve said ‘No’ before but by the end, you’re begging for it.” The lascivious smile on his face made my skin crawl. Any moment I expected to see him dripping saliva like a Saint Bernard.
“It’s not a game, you fucking asshole, it’s rape and it’snothappening again.”
“Still so mouthy. I love it. I love it when you’re bratty with me. Makes me feel like I have to earn it.”
God, I wanted to fucking deck him, but I knew I couldn’t. I couldnotlose this fucking job because that would mean I’d have to go back to… before, and I didn’t want to do that. Not again.
Moving back another step, I ran smack dab into the wall, sending my heart rate into overdrive.
“There’s my good boy,” Ken said, closing in on me.
I went to dart past him but he threw his arm out, planting his hand against the wall. Pressing myself backward as flat as I could, I did my best to convey all of my fucking hatred through my glare alone. “I’m not your ‘boy’ anymore, you piece of shit.”
“You’ll always be mine, Marek. I own you. Did you forget? I own this city. There’s nowhere you can go that I won’t find you. Now come here.” He licked his lips and leaned in.
I turned my face away as his hot breath washed over my skin like acid.
His lips landed on my cheek when the door slammed open, banging against the wall. Several pairs of footsteps marched in, a combination of dress shoes and heavy boots clomping over the ornate, tiled floor with purpose. I couldn’t even bring myself to look, to see who my rescuers and subsequent executioners were.
A foreign feeling flooded through me—embarrassment. Or was it humiliation? Shame? Whatever it was, I guess it came with that speck of pride I clung to, the one nurtured daily with bitterness and spite. I was sure someone had set me on fire, or at least my face, because this wasjustwhat I needed—a whole lot of someones seeing me in here, with him, in this position. Looked like I should have fucking punched him when I had the chance since I was about to be fired anyway for breaking the “gay shit” rule—or hate crimed out of existence.
“Maxim, would you escort our guest upstairs? Mr. Sidorov is waiting.” It was Misha’s voice that sounded behind Ken, his tone flat and the most unfriendly I’d ever heard it. I dragged my gaze up from the floor, an inch at a time, preparing for the worst. Surprisingly, he wasn’t looking at me, nor were any of the five guys who stood behind him. All eyes were on Ken and none of them looked particularly pleased. Guess they didn’t like the “gay shit,” either.
Maxim, the lumberjack, came forward, towering over Ken.
“See you later,” Ken said, caressing the side of my face as he stepped back.
I slapped his hand away with a glare, hoping he didn’t notice the trembling.
Misha muttered something in Russian and Valery moved forward as well, zeroing in on Ken like a missile, or an attack dog just begging to be let off the leash.
With a henchman on either side, Ken walked away. The three others fell into step behind them, escorting him out of the changing room and leaving the two of us alone.
