Page 35 of Paco
“Makes sense. You need another club girl?”
At first he thought she was joking, but the earnest expression on her face told him otherwise. There was no way he’d ever let another brother touch her. “No.”
“Too bad. It sounds like a good gig.”
“What’s your story, Misty? It doesn’t seem to me that this life was your idea. Was Bobby forcing you to do it?” Her eyes narrowed, as if in confusion, and she pursed her lips. “You not answering tells me he was.”
Her hands flew up in a defensive stance. “I didn’t say that. You did.”
He tilted his head and paused.She doesn’t trust me.“I know you don’t really know me, but there’s no way I’d hurt you. I’m not gonna send you back to your fucking pimp—”
“Bobby’s my boyfriend.” She looked away.
“Fuck that. He’s your pimp. I’m not stupid, sweetheart. I’m hoping in time you’ll trust me enough to tell me how the fuck you ended up with that sonofabitch.”
She pushed her plate away. “Well, you’re right about one thing—I don’t know you. And I’m not in the habit of spilling my guts to anyone, even if there was something to tell.”
“You wanna go see about some clothes in Lucy’s room?”
“So you’re changing the subject?”
“No point in talking about it when I know you’re lying. Are you ready or not?”
“Are you coming up with me too?”
“No. I have some club business I need to do.”
“Oh,” she said softly. Her shoulders slumped and she lowered her head.
Threads of empathy weaved through him, and he wanted to pull her to him and kiss her gently. He wanted to tell her that she didn’t have to be afraid, that she could trust him with all her dark secrets, but he just got up and called out to Lucy.
I can’t get too involved.
But he already was.
