Ruthless King (New Orleans Malones #4)

Chapter 17

17

I t was like a punch to the gut.

What was he doing here? She’d never thought he would be the type . . . not that there was anything wrong with visiting a strip club. She worked here and she wasn’t a hypocrite.

But he’d gone out the back with Seven . . . which meant a private dance.

As soon as she’d finished her set, she rushed off stage and ignored Keegan who was waiting for her. Instead, she’d headed to the other side and into the back hallway. It was dark, but she’d just spotted him heading into a lap dance room.

Other things went on in those rooms too.

Things she didn’t want to think about in relation to Regent.

“Nyx, what are you doing back here? It’s not safe for you to wander off like that.” Keegan placed his hand on her shoulder, making her gasp and shy back. “Hey, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

A man turned to look over at them curiously. Her heart thudded as she recognized Victor.

Turning, she nearly banged into Keegan, who stood behind her. He was looking curiously down the corridor.

“Sorry. I thought I saw someone I knew, but I didn’t.”

There. That sounded okay, right?

“You wanted to chase after someone who knows your real identity? I thought you were keeping your two lives separate?”

Oh shit.

“I wasn’t thinking,” she said weakly. “Stupid brain. I need to go get ready for my next set.”

It wasn’t for another hour, and she hoped like hell that Regent Malone was far away from here by then.

Getting to her room, she shut and locked the door. Then she slid down it until her bottom hit the floor. Leaning her head on her knees, she took a few deep breaths.

She wouldn’t lose it here. She wouldn’t lose it here.

Several minutes passed, but the pain was still an ache deep inside her. She was being ridiculous.

Regent wasn’t hers. He hadn’t betrayed her. Sure, she had this stupid childhood crush on him.

But that’s all it was. Stupid.

And it wasn’t like he even knew about her feelings. Thank God. Because that would be more than a bit embarrassing.

So there was that to be grateful for.

Right.

So why didn’t that make her feel any better?

A knock on the door made her startle. “Yes?”

Moving to the mirror, she checked that her mask and hair were in place.

“Yo, it’s me. You okay? Keegan said you seemed upset.”

Jilly rushed to the door to open it. Sasha eyed her with concern. “What’s wrong?”

She didn’t see Sasha that often when they were working. In fact, she thought that Sasha deliberately tried to stay away from her. Perhaps she thought she might slip up and call her Jilly or something.

But Keegan had seen them talking a couple of times, so he probably thought she was closer to Sasha than anyone else here.

Which was definitely true.

The other girls didn’t like her that much. And while some of the bartenders and other bouncers were nice to her, she wasn’t friends with them.

“You’ll never guess who was just here,” she said.

“Who?”

Sasha glanced around as though expecting someone to be in the room.

Jilly almost burst out his name but realized she couldn’t.

“My landlord. Well, he’s sort of like a family friend. But that part doesn’t matter. I know him! And he was here!”

“Wow. And he hasn’t been here before?”

“No. I didn’t think he’d be into . . .”

“A place like this? Why? Because it’s so cheap and nasty and sleazy?”

Jilly frowned. Why would she say that? “No, of course that’s not what I meant.”

Sasha waved her hand in the air with a sigh. “Don’t listen to me. My mom has been on my case to get a different job. She’s being relentless.”

“I’m so sorry. I still haven’t even told my mom. Honestly, I haven’t told anyone.”

“Including this family friend/landlord?”

“Yeah, including him.”

“I wouldn’t worry, I doubt he’d recognize you. Where was he sitting?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t notice him until he walked past.”

“To the bar?” Sasha asked.

“No, to the . . .” she trailed off.

“Private rooms? Right. Who was he with?”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t matter. I’m probably better off not knowing.” Because she didn’t want to have to scratch the other woman’s eyes out.

“No doubt. So that’s why you’re upset? Because he might have recognized you? If he had, don’t you think he would have reacted?”

“Yeah, of course. You’re right.”

For some reason, she couldn’t tell Sasha all of it. That she’d had a crush on this guy forever. Still did.

And he’d broken her heart tonight.

Wow. Dramatic, much?

Besides, she knew what Sasha would say. She was basically the opposite of Jilly.

Where Jilly was romantic and looked at everything with rose-colored glasses, Sasha was practical and cynical.

She’d tell Jilly she was an idiot for lusting after a man for years. A man who had never shown any interest in return.

And Sasha would be right.

But that didn’t mean that Jilly wanted to hear it.

“Yeah, it just rocked me, is all.”

Sasha shrugged. “In a few months, you should be out of here, right?”

“I’m thinking about staying on a bit longer. Get some money into my savings.”

“Really? I thought you’d be out of here as soon as you could.” Sasha smirked.

“Well, if I keep seeing people I know, I might have to.”

“You could fast-track things by taking on some private dances. Someone offered you three times your fee the other night. You know, maybe I should stop offering them, and then people might offer me ridiculous amounts to give them private dances.”

“You must do all right.”

Sasha huffed out a breath. “Not as well as you’d think. I’ve got to go, it’s nearly time for me to go on. You sure you’ll be all right?”

“Yes, thanks for caring.”

“That’s what friends are for.”

Regent stared at his phone.

He’d sent Jilly a message three hours ago to let her know a plumber and builder would be starting on her bathroom the week after next.

But he’d heard nothing back.

Sure, it could take someone longer than an hour or two to reply. But not Jilly.

Typically, she answered within half an hour.

Perhaps he should go around there.

Anne had been concerned when Jilly wasn’t getting back to her. Was there a reason for him to worry?

Leaning his head back, he stared up at the ceiling. He was tired. That must be why he couldn’t get her out of his head.

That might also explain his obsession with Nyx. She was so different from Jilly that he didn’t really understand it.

She’d moved around the stage like no one else was there.

Sexy and confident.

Yeah, thoroughly different from Jilly. But still, both of them were occupying his head tonight.

He hadn’t talked to Santé about having a private moment with Nyx. It had felt wrong.

Plus, after talking to Kimmy, he’d just wanted to get out of there. Kimmy had kept trying to get him to touch her, and he’d had to get harsh with her to get her to stop.

Finally, he’d managed to get her to answer some questions. She swore that she hadn’t heard from or seen Patrick.

But he wasn’t sure he believed her.

Which made him even more curious as to what the fuck was going on with Patrick.

He tapped his phone. There were several messages.

None from Jilly.

Perhaps she was busy.

It wasn’t like he didn’t have things to do. He needed to get on with them.

And push Jilly from his mind.