Page 14 of Broken Rules
A moment later, Roni strides inside and shoves me into my station table, my makeup scattering. “What the fuck, Evie?! Why couldn’t you stick with the act and get it over with? Now we’ll get a low rating and lose the customer.”
I swallow hard, clench my jaw and straighten up, holding back the tears threatening to fall. “Fuck that guy.”
“No, what you did in there was fucked up. How could you do that to me?”
I should feel bad, but I don’t. Maybe that’ll be my last couples session.
“Sorry.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “No wonder nobody likes working with you. You really are a selfish bitch.”
Strolling to my chair, I sit back, and my thin robe falls open, exposing my thigh as I cross my legs. “I work better alone anyway.”
“Unbelievable. You’re lucky Gin’s your mother. She’s the only reason you’re still here.” Roni spins on her heels and leaves for the shower room.
She’s right about that. My mother is the reason I’m here, why I am the way I am. Looking over the mess on my station, I reorganize each item and fix the origami bird displayed in the corner. What was once bright white has dulled over the years, the little dove flawed but still beautiful. I unbend the wings and place my childhood treasure back in its place. Julianne strolls into the room—her long silver beach waves fall over her right shoulder, covering half of her tattoo sleeve. She crosses her arms and leans on the doorframe.
“You know Gin’s gonna have your ass for that session. She and Red are about to tear each other’s heads off out there.”
My brows pinch together. “Red’s here? He never comes to the club.”
Red could care less about what goes on at Vivid as long as we’re not performing illegal acts and he gets his money’s worth. Everything falls on Gin.
“Go see for yourself. You know who that guy you fucked over in there is, right?”
“Unfortunately, yes.” I stare at her and sigh.
“Yeah. You need to fix this now.”
I stand, unfastening my robe. “Let me change—”
“Now, Russo,” she says, raising a brow.
Julianne’s the only person who can get away with talking to me that way, and using my last name means business. She’s taken care of me since I was a kid, basically living back here while Gin worked.
“Fine.”
Walking past her, I stop as she takes hold of my hand. “Between you and me, I’m glad you showed off to that jerk. Proud of you, kid.”
I smirk, giving her a quick hug. “Thanks, Ma.” Then continue strolling toward the bar in the front.
“You need to get her under control, or I will.”
“Or you’ll what?”
Stopping where the wall meets the counter, I peek around, finding Red and Gin face to face as they talk in low, harsh whispers. He chuckles, and Gin narrows her eyes at him. “This place needs more male authority. Since you can’t handle your girls on your own, I’ll have Jared keep them in order.”
Oh, hell no!
“You’ll do no such thing. I’m running my business just fine by mysel—”
Gin gasps, eyes wide as Red places his hand around her throat, tight enough to get her attention, and eases her onto the bar shelf. “You’ll do great to remember this is my business, and you’re only the whore who looks after it.”
My fists tighten, pushing forward as if I just arrived, and they both look my way. Red’s gaze falls down my body, his eyes almost dark gray in the lighting, and I fasten my robe as he backs away from Gin, crossing his arms—his diesel biceps almost bursting through his short sleeves.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” he asks.
Gin straightens her stance, her fingers touching her chest as she stares at me,her spitting image, and I look away to face Red. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t in the right mindset and shouldn’t have taken the session. It won’t happen again.”
