Chapter 7 – One More Night

Chapter 7 – One More Night

Juliet Pierce

Samy and I drove to the club in almost total silence. She didn’t bring up José. I didn’t ask. Some conversations are just landmines.

When we parked, I adjusted my mask for the tenth time. Samy wasn’t wearing hers at all.

“You’re really going in without it?” I asked.

She shrugged. “We’re going to be here every weekend. Might as well rip the Band-Aid off.”

Fair. But I still wasn’t ready to show my whole face to this world.

Before we could knock, the steel door slid open.

“Good evening, ladies,” Wolf rumbled. Tonight he actually sounded… almost human.

“Good evening, Wolf. How are you tonight?”

He blinked, clearly not used to being asked. “I’m well, Juliet. Thank you.”

Samy shot me the biggest what-the-hell side-eye. I just grinned and kept walking.

Atlas was waiting at the end of the mirrored corridor, arms crossed, looking unfairly perfect.

“Good evening, ladies. Miss Jones, I see you’ve abandoned the mask?”

Samy flushed crimson. “I hope that’s not a problem.”

“Not in the slightest. Comfort comes first here.”

She mumbled a shy thank-you.

“Do you need me to walk you to the locker room?”

“No need,” I answered for both of us.

“Perfect. When you’re ready, head straight to Caio at the bar.”

We nodded and started down the hall.

“It’s way busier than last night,” Samy whispered.

“Feels like it.”

We slipped into the locker room. Since we’d worn the uniforms under our street clothes, it was just stash the bags, fix lipstick, fluff hair.

“Ready?” Samy asked.

“If I say no, does it change anything?”

“Ju, we can turn around and go home right this second. Say the word.”

I took a deep breath. It wouldn’t be fair to her, or to Atlas who was counting on us.

“I’m good,” I said, squeezing her hands. “The night will be over before we know it.”

She gave me a grateful smile and we walked out still holding hands.

Caio greeted us with his usual sunshine energy. “Evening, queens! Feeling good?”

“We’re great, thanks,” I answered.

“Awesome. You can do a lap like yesterday, get the lay of the land, then we’ll start service.”

Samy bounded off. I stayed planted.

“Everything okay, Ju?” Caio asked softly.

“I’m fine. I’ll just stick close to the bar tonight.”

He didn’t push.

Within minutes we were slammed. Trays, tips, smiles on autopilot. The hours melted away.

But no matter how busy I got, my eyes kept searching the crowd for one specific pair of green ones.

I was scanning again when a low, smoky voice brushed the shell of my ear and made my skin explode in goosebumps.

“Looking for someone in particular, darling?”

I spun around.

There he was, close enough that his cedar-and-lemon scent wrapped around me like a drug.

“Good evening, sir,” I said, praying my voice sounded normal. “Just keeping an eye on the floor in case anyone needs anything.”

He gave me a slow, knowing smile that made my knees weak.

“Ju!” Caio called. “Room twenty, please.”

My heart stopped.

Twenty. The same suite.

Caio looked genuinely sorry. “I’d take it myself, but John’s waiting and I’m drowning.”

“It’s okay,” Noah Blake said, voice calm but firm. “I’ll handle it.”

“No,” I cut in, maybe too fast. “I’m here to work. I can do it.”

His green eyes searched mine, gentle but worried. “You sure?”

“Yes, sir.” I grabbed the tray before I lost my nerve.

Atlas materialized beside us. “Miss Pierce, what are you doing back here?”

“Delivering to room twenty, Mr. Atlas.”

He studied me for a long second. “You remember the rules?”

I smiled at the nickname. “Crystal clear, sir.”

“Good girl. Anything feels wrong, you scream my name. I’ll hear you.”

I nodded and headed down the private hallway, feeling both their stares burning into my back.

Two knocks.

The door opened fast.

A mountain of a man with ice-cold eyes and zero warmth stared down at me.

“C-come in, sweetheart. Table’s right there.”

I set the tray down and got out in record time.

The second the door clicked shut I sagged against the wall, eyes closed, trying to slow my racing heart.

“You okay?”

I opened my eyes. A girl with long, straight black hair and kind dark eyes was smiling at me.

“I’m fine, sorry.”

“Don’t apologize so much,” she laughed softly. “These Doms will eat you alive. They love a girl who says sorry and please.”

We both cracked up, and the knot in my chest loosened.

“I’m Penelope.”

“Juliet. Nice to meet you.”

She fell into step beside me. “I saw you heading back here. You looked like you were about to puke. Figured you could use an escort.”

Something about her felt… safe. Different from the other girls.

“You don’t seem like the rest of the submissives here,” I blurted.

“That’s because I’m not.” She grinned, wicked and proud. “I’m what they call a brat. I poke the bear on purpose. I like being put in my place.”

“First night here?”

“First night in New York, actually. Moved from L.A. Still shopping for the right Dom.”

Samy jogged up, eyes wide. “Ju, there you are! I was getting worried—”

“I’m good. Ran into Penelope. She saved me from a panic attack.”

Penelope winked and disappeared into the crowd.

The rest of the night flew. We made friends with a few other girls, some collared, some hunting, all surprisingly sweet. When the lights finally came up, the floor was almost empty.

“You two didn’t have to stay for cleanup,” Atlas said, handing us fat envelopes.

“It’s only fair,” I smiled. “You pay us ridiculously well.”

He chuckled. “Go home. Amazing job tonight.”

Samy sprinted toward the restroom. “Be right back, dying here!”

I laughed, went to the locker room, grabbed our bags, and paused at the mirror.

For one second I reached for the mask ties.

“No… not yet,” I whispered to my reflection.

I turned to leave.

Click.

Every light in the room died.

Pitch black.

The air left my lungs.

I stumbled backward, crashed into the bench, and went down hard. My head smacked the edge. Warm liquid trickled down my temple.

Pain. Darkness. Blood.

The basement. George’s belt. His fists. The dark where I used to hide and pray he wouldn’t find me.

I curled into a ball on the cold floor, tears burning.

The door opened. Footsteps.

I didn’t think. The words just tore out of me, small and broken.

“Please… don’t hurt me anymore.”