Page 35 of Ravaged By the Dark

“Thanks for the flowers, Ivan. You didn’t have to do that, but it’s appreciated.” She offered him a smile.

“You’re welcome. I felt terrible that my bank screwed up like that, and you all missed your paychecks. The bonus isn’t much, but I figured I owed you all something for your patience and the stress I put on everyone.”

“Anything is definitely a help.” She really needed a new job. One that didn’t make her look for a certain sexy, blue-eyed ass sitting in the corner. Or a job that allowed her to not be in fear of Tyson coming in and pulling her off the stage like some maniac. But, where else could she work three nights a week and make enough to cover rent and food for her and J.J.?

Nowhere, which was why she stayed.

“Here you go, Bambi, you did really well tonight,” the tip collector said, coming off the stage and handing her the roll of cash. She handed the guy a twenty for his trouble, and he smiled, jogging away.

She started to walk around Ivan, but he held out his arm to stop her.

“Bambi, hold up a sec., I have a customer that is insisting I make you come sit at his table.”

A prickling started in her spine as her internal senses went on high alert.

“You know I don’t do that sort of thing.”

Ivan dropped his arm and let her pass, and she walked to her dressing table. Grabbing the make-up wipes, she rubbed at the white spots she’d painted on her skin.

“But this is different.” She quickly pulled on a tank-top and her black jeans. “He’s a special customer and is offering to pay you a thousand dollars cash to sit with him for the rest of the night.”

Renee looked up at Ivan as she tied her running shoes. That was a lot of extra money. The prickling turned into loud alarm bells ringing in her head. Stupidly, she couldn’t help wondering if this was Arek and another of his grand gestures.

“Which table,” she asked.

“Three.”

Renee walked to the peek-area, which allowed the dancers to look out onto the floor or watch other acts without being seen. She looked toward table three, her heart hopelessly pounding as she thought this sounded like something Arek would do. A server moved out of the way, and she sucked in a sharp breath and spun around, laying her back against the wall. It was Tyson. She needed to get out of here.

“Ivan, I can’t. I can’t go out there. Has he been here the whole time?” Her mind was running on rewind as she tried to place him there. She normally had an instinct for his particular stench of evil that traveled with him—something else to blame on Arek.

“Yes, he arrived for the opening act.”

Renee peeked through the hole again. She didn’t see her brother, but the table was full. And who knows, Cody could be lurking in the shadows.

“Ivan, I can’t he’s, he’s….” She was lost for words to describe the man and yet not insult him. She had no idea how deep Tyson’s and Ivan’s friendship ran.

“But Bambi, Tyson is very important to this club, and all he wants is a conversation with you. He is one of our special VIP guests, and he rarely comes in. I try to make sure his needs are taken care of—he can be very demanding.”

Ivan, you don’t know the half of it—his stupid demanding shit.

“Look, Ivan, I know you don’t understand, but that man wants more than a conversation with me. I’ve known him my whole life, and…it has never been a pleasant relationship.”

She paced a few strides away, her hands shaking.

“Just tell Tyson you couldn’t find me, that I must have taken off after my set and before you got backstage. Please, I’m begging you, don’t make me do this. I know this is going to sound dramatic, but it could be a life and death type scenario.” Renee clasped her hands, her eyes pleading with the owner.

Renee watched Ivan’s features closely, her muscles at the ready to sprint away if he tried to grab her. She could only pray that Tyson’s hold over Ivan wasn’t enough to force his hand. Ivan nibbled his lip as he stared down at her.

“You’re right. That does sound a little dramatic. What is he going to do in the middle of a packed club?”

“Ivan, I’m not worried about while I’m in the club,” she said, although she was terrified no matter the setting. “I’m worried that he’ll force me to leave with him. Please, I know you have daughters, and you wouldn’t want them anywhere near someone like him. I know you know what he could do. Please don’t force me into this, please.” Tears filled her eyes, and Ivan sighed before nodding.

“Get going. I’ll make up an excuse. But Bambi, I can’t stop him from coming here, and at some point, he’s going to stop believing my excuses for you. I like you, but I need to keep my family safe. You understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, I understand. Thank you.” She nodded hard.

She darted away to retrieve her bag and then ran for the back door. She had no idea if some of Tyson’s goons would be waiting in the parking lot, so she burst through the door like the devil himself was chasing her. He kinda was.