Page 24 of Daddy Brigadier

I had a clear plan. The strip club was merely a stepping stone on my path. I soon formed a close friendship with two other young women, Lacey and Robyn. Just like me, stripping wasn’t their final destination. We bonded over our shared experiences, became roommates, and decided to work together as partners when we were ready to pursue our future endeavors.

Ruby enjoyed the money and attention she received from the men, becoming friendly with some of the other ladies and often separating from me to join them for private parties, where they could earn extra cash and drugs. When we left the strip club to start our own business, she decided to stay behind to continue stripping and partying.

The nurse enters the room with paperwork in hand. “I have some instructions for her when she goes home,” she says. Lacey takes the paperwork and positions herself beside Ruby as the nurse outlines what they need to know.

As the nurse turns to leave, Robyn calls out to her, “What about the bill?”

“You’ll need to check with the front desk,” the nurse responds before walking away.

“I’ll go get it sorted.” Robyn quickly disappears down the hall.

I return to the bed, where Ruby eagerly removes her hospital gown and slips into a pair of leggings and a cozy sweatshirt. Once she’s dressed, she faces me, proudly holding up the sweatshirt.

“I like it!” I tell her.

She wears a troubled expression, her eyes battling to keep tears at bay. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I’m scared,” she replies softly.

“Why?” I pull her closer, eager to hold her.

“What if those men hurt me again?” She buries her head in my shoulder, gripping me more tightly than before.

“They won’t,” I promise her.

“Who did this to me?” Her voice wavers with fear.

“Dead men,” I say, intentionally keeping my response vague. She doesn’t need to worry about them. They’re my burden to bear.

She leans in closer, whispering in my ear, “I don’t blame you.”

I’m taken aback, confusion washing over me. “What do you mean?”

Her voice drops to a near whisper, just for me. “They knew who you are.”

Panic rises in my throat, my eyes widening. I hadn’t confided in Robyn and Lacey about Petrov’s words that night. I squeeze my eyes shut, overwhelmed. “This is all my fault.”

“It’s not,” she responds. “Elise Savin did this to us!”

I shove her away from me, my force causing her to gasp in pain. “This isn’t her fault!”

“Maybe not, but she’s still the reason this happened,” she growls, teeth clenched tight.

“What’s happening?” Lacey interjects, stepping between us.

“Nothing!” I snap, then storm out of the room.

My feet pound against the tiled floor as I struggle to comprehend how Ruby could say that to me after everything I’ve done for her. Yet, a part of me knows she’s right. They targeted her that night because of me—because of Elise Savin.

As I round the corner, I collide with Robyn. “Hey!” she says. “Is everything okay?”

“Did you settle the bill?” I ask, glancing at the paperwork in her hands.

She scans the room, moving closer to speak in a low, unsettling tone. “The bill has already been covered. And, the hospital bills were taken care of, too.”

Frustration wells up inside me. I don’t need to ask, but my curiosity gets the better of me. “Who paid it?”

“They told me a beautiful redhead in leather walked in this morning and dropped off the check.”