Page 80 of The Originals

Regina turned in her seat, scowling. “You. Are you a doormat willing to let your man step out right in front of you? Or?” She raised her brows. “Do you just not give a fuck ’cause you know Dunn ain’t worth giving two shits about?”

She swallowed the knot in her throat. Talking with any of the old ladies was rare and potentially risky. They had more power than the club whores and could make time with Ghosttown a living hell. This one in particular was an old lady no one dared to mess with. Regina was her own breed. Possessive, volatile, and she was even known to go against some of the brothers. Some people viewed it as disrespectful. Not Colleen. If anything, she admired Regina’s strength. Still, she always kept her distance. Among all her traits, Regina was unpredictable.

“So?” Regina took a drag from her cigarette. “Which is it?”

Colleen smiled. It was shaky at best, and she shrugged. “Dunn is free to do whatever he wants.”

Regina scoffed. “But you’re not?”

It was complicated. Technically, she wasn’t an old lady, which meant Dunn had no real claim over her. But most of the brothers stayed away from her knowing how much time she spent with him. It was out of respect for Dunn, not Colleen. It was a win-win position for him and a lose-lose for her. Still, she’d always remained neutral.

“Sure, I am.” That was a lie. A big tall tale, and from the look on Regina’s face, not a very good one.

“Then why don’t you fuck someone else?” Regina straightened on her stool, scanning the room. “Hell, there are plenty of guys here. Pick one.”

This felt like a test. Coming from Regina, Colleen wouldn’t put it past her to be setting her up. Colleen had yet to be on the receiving end of Regina’s vitriol, but she’d born witness quite a few times. Colleen just shook her head, hoping it would end the conversation. It didn’t.

“Weak isn’t sexy. Neither is eating shit for a man who doesn’t respect you.”

Colleen chuckled without an ounce of humor. Regina didn’t live the same life as her. Things were different for Colleen.

“Not much respect being handed out around here for someone like me.”

Regina squinted. “That’s because respect isn’thanded out. It’s earned. And you’ll never get any if you keep taking what they give.”

Colleen stilled, eyeing Regina, unsure of what she meant. Asking was the last thing she was going to do. Luckily, she didn’t have to.

“They give you shit, and you take it? They give youpain,and you take it? You keep taking everything, they’ll never stop giving it.”

There was the insult she’d been waiting on. But there was no denying Regina had a point. People only gave as much as another would take.

Regina narrowed her gaze and cocked her brow.I hear what you’re saying, Gee.

Colleen grabbed an ashtray, cleaning it out and busying herself. The last thing she wanted was to further this conversation. Just as she was rinsing the ashtray, another club girl, newer to the club sidled up to the bar next to Regina. Kay tapped her nails on the bar.

“Get me a beer, Coll?”

Colleen wiped her hands. She was halfway across the bar when she noticed Regina glaring at Kay. It didn’t take much to get Regina riled up, but Colleen wasn’t quite sure what had provoked it this time.

“You can’t get your own fucking beer?” Regina snapped.

Kay may have been warned about Regina, but clearly it hadn’t fully sunk in just yet. She furrowed her brows, angled her head, and then made the ultimate mistake. She laughed. Kay was under the impression Regina was joking. Kay was unawarethatwas something this old lady didn’t do often, especially with club whores.

“Colleen’s the bartender, not me.” Kay smiled over at Colleen. “And you’re great at it. But I don’t like being stuck behind the bar and serving everyone while they get to party.”

Neither do I.But it was par for the course.At least for some of us.

Regina smiled and looked over Colleen.Oh shit.Colleen knewthatlook.

Run, Kay, get away while you can.

“Well, how lucky are you that you get to do whatever the fuck you want.” Regina’s sarcasm was loud and clear.

Kay shrugged with a smug smile. “I got connections.”

Colleen clamped her lips. Kay was so far up her own ass in delusions she didn’t even catch the vibe from Regina. In an effort to save the newbie, she rushed to the cooler, grabbed a beer, and handed it to Kay.

“Here you go.”