52 Pantera

"Stick your talks up your ass… Shade!", Ann snapped angrily and tried to break free from my grip. Yeah, right, like that’s happening.

"So, they already told you…", I smirk knowingly and switch on the light in the room with the remote. "What can I say, I’m pretty popular!", then a thought hits me, carrying a flicker of hope. "Did you know you were coming to me for a private?"

But that stupid hope that she gave herself to me because she knew it was me shattered into dust when Anya laughed bitchily, making my teeth grind again.

"I knew some Shade was a well-known fucker and manwhore. I just wanted to have a good time. But that it would turn out to be my modest, decent acquaintance, a daddy of three kids, I had no clue", my little bird sang sarcastically, but I saw the rage dancing deep in her eyes. I saw…

"Fucking hell, Ann!", I barked at the amused bitch, grabbing her by the chin and staring into those black eyes. "Are you high?!!!"

"Go fuck yourself!", the bitch spat angrily, all the fake amusement gone, replaced with raw aggression.

I thought I couldn’t get any angrier. I was wrong. Her blown pupils, even in the light, said everything.

"I’ll smash this fucking dump to the ground!", I shouted, throwing her onto the couch and pulling up my pants, actually planning to wipe this place off the map.

So that’s why the girls don’t mind all this shit! They’re being pumped full of drugs and sent out to work! A plan instantly forms in my head on how to shut this den down, remembering a few people who could make it happen—when suddenly Ann shocks me.

"No! Don’t you dare!", the brunette grabs me, stopping me. Shock. She’s looking at me with anger, but fear too. "They don’t know. This stuff is actually forbidden here. It’s just my screw-up, and the girls could get fired for nothing! And a lot of them really need this job…"

Ah, there it is. The little whore hasn’t completely lost her common sense. And apparently, she still has a conscience.

"Listen carefully, Ann," I look at the furious brunette and take off my shirt. "Right now you put this on, and we go to your dressing room, where you change and grab your things," I hiss quietly. "Then we get into a taxi and go to my place… to sober you up. And God help you if you try anything. It won’t end with just firings. I’ll throw everyone in jail and tear this place apart brick by brick! Someone gave you that shit! And believe me, I’ll find out who!"

Ann stared at me silently, a heavy, hateful look. And there was nothing left in that gaze of the Ann I thought I knew. No… what was looking at me was a predator. A panther ready to rip me apart the moment the chance appears. She stared without blinking, like she was calculating her next move.

Snatching the shirt from my hands, glaring daggers at me, the brunette angrily pulled it on, covering her perfect naked body. We left the room and headed quickly toward the staff area, ignoring the surprised looks from the personnel we passed.

We walked into the dressing room together, causing a few girls to squeal and hurriedly cover their naked bodies.

Funny. On stage they shake their tits freely, and here suddenly modesty.

"Anya, are you okay?", one of the blondes asked cautiously, though her eyes clearly lingered on my bare torso.

"Yeah, Ksyusha! Everything’s great! Thanks for recommending this… client!" Ann snapped, throwing her things into her bag and burning me with her gaze. Then she grabbed her stuff and slipped behind a screen to change.

"Anya’s workday is already over today," I calmly explained to the stunned girl, winking at her and earning a slight blush. "And actually, she’s very sick, so no one knows when she’ll be back. Maybe she’ll have to quit this little hobby altogether."

Two furious looks flew at me like throwing stars. If looks could kill, I’d be dead already. Squinting, Ann twisted her face, promising me hell. Let her try. I’ve handled worse.

After muttering a quick goodbye to her friend, we left the room. She threw my shirt right into my face, so at least I looked decent again.

"Who the fuck do you think you are, bossing me around like that?!" she hissed like a wild cat the moment we got into the nearest taxi. "I’ll go to work whenever I damn well want!"

"You won’t be going to that job," I replied calmly, and Anya turned into a full-blown fury with no brakes.

Enraged, the brunette unlocked the door and tried to jump out while the car was moving! The speed wasn’t high, we were just pulling out, but still!

"What the hell are you doing, idiot?!" I barked, grabbing her by the waist and dragging her back in, slamming the door shut. "Have you lost your mind?!"

"I don’t want to be anywhere near you, asshole!" she hit where it hurt. "Why are you clinging to me like a tick?! Ran out of single moms for Shade?! Go build your perfect relationships with someone else! Or your kids don’t want to play along anymore?" she fluttered her lashes sarcastically, writhing like a wild cat. "Where the hell did you even find them… so identical?"

"They’re my brother’s kids," I try to calm her down and just pin her under me with my body weight. But the bitch is trying to scratch my face with her long sharp claws! I had to grab her hands and twist them. "And where’s your Kirill? Not scared to leave your son alone at home while you’re whoring around?"

"None of your business! He’s my brother. Get off me, you bastard!" the girl kept fighting. "Go seduce your next one! You already got what you wanted!"

"You’re very wrong," I smirk, looking at my furious little cat.

So wild, fierce, angry… and beautiful, with a whole cemetery of skeletons in her closet. But I realize I still love her anyway.

Even if she were the most fallen woman in hell, I’d still love her. I’ve seen her good sides. Even if she was playing a role, just like I was, there’s a lot of good in her. I know it. I feel it.

What the hell happened to my girl that she wrapped herself in this ugly armor? Something definitely happened. I’ve seen that hidden pain in her eyes more than once. I’ll fix it. Because I’m not letting her go again. And now there’s no point hiding who I really am.

"I need you. So in a way, you’re fucked and don’t have a choice anymore," Ann looks at me in confusion, still burning me with hatred. I couldn’t resist and kissed her soft full lips, making her freeze in shock. "But first… we’re sobering you up!"