Page 51 of Bloodlust

"I know." I cross my arms. "I'm very successful."

"I can see that," Leo laughs, glancing at his sister. "So a marriage, huh? Is there something I should know, Zoey? Are you planning on eloping like…" He freezes, clearing his throat as he looks at me. My spine seizes when our eyes meet. "I'm sorry, Mils,I?—"

"Enjoy your night," I say through my teeth, glaring at him. "Remember to tip my dancers."

"I didn't mean to." His expression softens into sympathy, a disgusting emotion laced with betrayal and bitter resentment. He tries to take a step forward but I point at the door, making myself clear. "Okay, fine, I'm leaving." He looks at Zoey. "Call me later, okay?"

"Mhmm," Zoey hums, chewing the inside of her lip. The piggy in the middle. A tough position to be put in, but she knows her allegiance. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Cami!" Kody yells, expression alarmed as he stumbles into my office and rushes toward my desk. "We need you! There's a problem in room two." He catches his breath. "Javier's with a client and he tried to..." He glances over his shoulder, swallowing as Leo watches us attentively. "He tried to..."

"Let's go." I grab a switchblade from my desk drawer. "Zoey, stay here, got it?"

"No..." Her legs are shaky as she stands up. "I can do it, Cami. I can?—"

"I saidstay," I command, circling the desk and brushing past Leo as I follow Kody through the throngs of patrons. "Do we have his info, Kody? We registered him?"

"Yes," Kody says, looking back at me. "He's new though. First time here."

"First and last," I say, marching toward the private alcoves. Kody waits off to the side as I push open the purple velvet curtains and reveal the disgusting scene. Bunny has a well-groomed babbling middle-aged man cornered on the side. I glance at Javier who's sitting onthe far end of the couch, hugging himself. "Are you okay, Javi?"

"No..." Javi shakes his head, unable to look at me. "He tried to touch me and?—"

"Go with Kody," I say, placing a comforting palm on his shivering shoulder. "Kody, run through protocol and report back, okay?" I squeeze Javi's hand as he brushes past me. "I'll take care of it."

"Thank you," Javi mumbles as he disappears down the hallway.

I frown when I see Zoey and Leo lingering outside the alcove. She never fucking listens. First things first.

"You can go," I say to Bunny who silently slips away. My expression hardens as I stalk toward the pitiful excuse of a human. "What's your name?"

"Are you the manager?" the middle-aged man slurs. "I want to talk to the manager. This place is fucked, I tell you! I come in here for a good time, and?—"

"Your name?" I ask again, flicking open the blade in my hand as I push the man against the wall, my forearm pushing against his chest. I point the sharp edge of the knife against his stomach, and he lets out a startled yelp.

"It's... It's Vince..." he stammers. "What are you... What're you doing?"

"Did you try to touch one of my dancers, Vince?" I ask, my cold gaze flicking between his predatory eyes. Vince says silent, hyperventilating. "Answer my question."

"Y-yes but?—"

"There are no buts, Vince." I drag the blade down hisstomach toward the base of his dick. "Did Javier say it was okay for you to touch him? Hmm?"

"Not verbally," he whispers, terror sprawled across his face. "But I could?—"

"Are you a mind reader, Vince?" I press the blade deeper. Not deep enough to hurt him but enough to make him feel as scared and as helpless as he made Javi feel. "Are you?"

"N-no," he mumbles. "Please let me go. I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry."

"Are you right-handed, Vince?"

"Left," he breathes. "Why...why…?"

"Hold out your hands." I release him from my grip as I take a step back. He hesitates, confused. "Hands out."

"Why?" he asks, following my orders. As soon as his palms are face up, I slice the blade across the flesh of his left hand. He screams as blood gushes down his arm. "You fucking crazy bitch!"

"You think that was crazy?" I cock my head and let out a little chuckle. "Funny, 'cause I was going to cut your dick off instead. Compared to that, doesn't this seem pretty tame?"