The Truths We Seek, page 8
I guess not eating and working out like I have been are having an effect.
I glance at my reflection and sigh as I turn sideways. My ass is shrinking too. That was never the plan. I guess I’ll need to change up the workout stuff to help keep my bubble butt. Checking out the rest of me, I shrug to myself. I’ll do, I guess. Runway ready I am not, but then, I’ve never tried to be.
Swiping my phone, I glance at the letter in the frame of my mirror.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, I’ll read the letter and face my fears, but today… Shae was right. Life is for the living, so I’m going to try and have a good day.
“Are you nearly ready?” I hear Shae holler, and I laugh as I open the door.
“I’m heading down now,” I yell back, before stumbling into Bruno. “Oops, sorry. I keep forgetting you’re back.” Wincing, I realize how bored he must have been while I moped in bed the last few days.
Oops.
I find Shae waiting in the kitchen with the guys. She’s sitting on the counter, legs swinging while she sips on an iced coffee, Carlos fawning over her while the guys sit at the table, talking and eating.
“At last!” Shae exclaims as she jumps down to her feet. “See you boys later, she’s mine for the day.”
I glance over at my guys with a sheepish smile and give them an awkward wave before Shae grabs my hand and drags me from the room. “So, where exactly are we going?” I ask as she drags me past Bruno, outside to where Tonio is chatting with O’Connor.
“That is what you’re going to find out.” She winks at me and leads me to the car, where Tonio opens the door for us. “Thank you, Jailor.”
“You’re welcome, Brat.” He responds, rolling his eyes. I softly laugh at their back and forth. Sometimes I think they’d be perfect together, you know, if Shae liked dick, but then other times they bicker like siblings. It’s an amusing rollercoaster to watch.
Tonio slides in after us as Bruno and O’connor climb into the front of the car. “We need all three of you?” I ask Tonio, who glances up front and nods. The engine rumbles on command and we make our way out of the compound.
“No, probably not, but we follow orders.”
“Ignore them, we’ll hardly notice they’re around today anyway.” Shae tags in, pulling out her phone and tapping away. Moments later, Ready For It? by Taylor Swift starts blasting through the speakers. “This is girls’ day, and we are going to live. It.”
Laughing, I join her for car karaoke, a mixtape of Taylor, Demi, Selena, Kelly, and so many more powerhouses. We screech away, dancing in our seats, living life the way she reminded me earlier we should be doing while the guys all look kind of miserable.
Well, except for Bruno. I haven’t missed him mouthing the words to the songs, but I’m not about to call him out on it either.
I lose track of time while we’re driving, but we pull up in front of a hair salon and Shae claps her hands together. “First stop of the day! Hair!”
I blink at her, ignoring how ratty my hair has gotten of late—I mean, I’ve had more important things going on.
“Come on,” she groans, reaching over me to open the door, but O’Connor jumps out of the car and grabs the door as she’s swinging it open.
“Thanks,” I say to him with a small smile, still feeling weird about the whole escort-driver thing. Bruno appears as Shae and Tonio exit the car and heads inside first. “This will never not be weird.”
“Eh,” Shae grunts with a shrug. “You get used to it. Plus, Val has been my stylist for, well, forever. She’s cool with the penguin parade.”
“Penguin parade?” I ask, confused.
“These fools in their penguin suits.”
I laugh at her response as O’Connor groans behind me. “That might be the worst thing you’ve called us yet.”
“What can I say? I have wordy brilliance.”
“Sure you do, Princess,” Tonio retorts, rolling his eyes.
“All clear,” Bruno announces when he returns, opening the door for us.
“Let’s go!”
We walk inside to what looks more like some holistic spa that you see on reality tv than a salon.
“Shae!” An older woman calls out from across the room and walks over, embraces her, and kisses both her cheeks before turning to me. “You must be Quinn. We’re excited to get to give you both your new looks!”
I paint on a smile, a little overwhelmed. New looks? What the hell has Shae got us into now?
Val steers me away from Shae into the empty salon—I guess that’s why Bruno was so quick to call all clear—to a room at the back. “We’re going to start you with a massage and facial, then get on with your hair. Have a think about what you want us to do, but you’re going to need a trim at the very least.”
Blinking at her, trying to process it all, I nod. “Erm, yeah okay. I will.”
“This is Yvonne. She’ll be looking after you first. Would you like anything to drink?”
“No, thank you,” I respond, still a little overwhelmed but trying to get to grips with it all.
She pats my shoulder before opening the door and ushering me inside. A short, black-haired woman is in the room, setting up a tray. She smiles warmly at me and waves me in. Closing the door, I step inside, the scents and music all curated to be relaxing, I’m sure, but this is just… foreign.
“You must be Quinn. Please, come in. Shae booked you for a full body and facial, so I’ll leave you to get ready. Just undress, then pop up on the table, lay face down, and cover yourself with this towel.”
My overwhelm must be showing because she walks over to me, squeezes my bicep, and smiles again. “Deep breaths. This is supposed to be relaxing. I’ll give you a few minutes and knock before I come back in.” She winks at me before leaving the room and I take a deep breath.
Right. Relaxing.
A stranger rubbing over my body, feeling my scars. So freaking relaxing.
I know Shae means well, but damn, this is not my idea of a chill out. Regardless, I strip down and hop up onto the table.
Life is for living.
I repeat the words like a mantra and take a few deep breaths.
Life is for living, and that’s what I’m going to do. Push myself outside my comfort zone. Experience new things.
And apparently, that starts right now.
After a day of pampering and shopping, with my newly trimmed, styled, and re-highlighted hair, I asked Shae if we could swing by and check in on Tina. She stopped by the wake, but I wasn’t coherent enough to speak to her. It’s been a hot minute since I checked in with her properly and I know she starts at HellScape tonight.
Which is how I find myself in the elevator of my old building with Shae, Tonio, and Bruno, heading up to see my friend. The ding announces our arrival on the floor and the guys pile out in front of us.
“I know it’s their job, but seriously? Meyer owns this building. Surely, we’re safe.”
Shae snorts a laugh beside me as we leave the elevator. “Nothing is safe for precious cargo.”
Rolling my eyes, I head to my old apartment and knock on the door, ignoring Bruno and Tonio’s sounds of disapproval.
“We called up for goodness sake, chill out. Sam or Eric would have said if anyone else was up here.”
The sound of locks turning alerts us to Tina, and moments later, the door is open. I find my slightly-frazzled friend chewing on her thumb. “Hi.”
“You okay?” I ask as I give her a quick hug and step into the apartment. There are clothes thrown everywhere.
Bruno pushes past and looks around the apartment before nodding to Tonio. “We’ll wait outside.”
“Yes, yes you will,” Shae says, her new sleek bob, now styled sharp enough to cut, swinging around her face. She ushers them out of the apartment and shuts the door before turning back to face us. “What in the name of wardrobe tornadoes happened in here?”
“Tina, this is Shae. Shae, Tina. She’s Meyer’s sister.”
Tina nods, obviously freaking out a little.
Shae rolls her eyes and folds her arms across her chest. “Yeah, yeah, I’m my own person, now back to the tornado.”
“I can’t decide what to wear for work.” Tina’s words are mumbled, but I squeeze her with a hug anyway. Focusing on her seems like a much better distraction than shopping.
“I was the same my first shift,” I tell her as I release her. “But honestly, you’ll be fine in almost anything. Harper’s bark is worse than her bite.”
Shae barks out a laugh. “Yeah, she’s a pussy cat, really. Just with really sharp claws. Now, let’s go through this mess and figure it out. Go shower, wash your hair, and we’ll prep you. It’s kind of my thing, just ask Quinny baby here.”
I roll my eyes at Shae, but turn to reassure Tina. “She’s kind of a pro at this stuff,” I say, gesturing to my hair, waxed brows, and curled and tinted lashes with a flourish. “Go shower, we’ll sort this stuff out.”
“Thank you,” Tina whispers, squeezing my hand and smiling at Shae before escaping to the bathroom.
“You’re sending her to Harper? I thought you liked her…” Shae jokes once the shower turns on.
“I do like her, and you know the club will be a safe, steady income for her. Her ex… well, he’s a giant fucking flaming dumpster who beat the crap out of her. He can’t get to her here or there.”
Her face softens and she nods. “Now it makes sense. Okay, we can totally prep her for HellScape. I assume she’s taken your old spot at the bar?”
“Yeah,” I tell her as I start rounding up the discarded clothing strewn around the room and putting it in a clothes basket that’s lying in the corner. “She’s more nervous than I thought she would be though. Feel like going to the club with her for a bit?”
I look over at her, hopeful, and the wicked grin on her face is a dead giveaway of her agreement. “Hell yes. But we should probably tell Tonio so they can have their little conniption now and let Meyer know.”
She drops the clothes in her hands into the basket at my feet before heading to the door and wrenching it open. “We’re going to HellScape. Do not throw a fit, Princess. Do what you need to, but it’s happening.”
She slams the door closed and I’m too busy laughing at the look of shock on Tonio’s face as she just laid out her demands to even wince at the loud noise.
“Well, that’s one way to do it.”
She shrugs as she walks back over to the main of the room. “Needs must, and I’m bored of asking for permission. I’ve done that enough for one day. I’m all out of spoons for their bullshit.”
“Understood. Now, what do we put Tina in for tonight?” I ask, picking up the last of the clothing that’s been thrown around.
The wicked grin appears again and she winks at me. “Quinny, baby, we went shopping. If I can’t find something here, you think I don’t have something downstairs? Plus, if we’re going too, we need to change.” She claps her hands together as her eyes sparkle in delight. “We’re about to have a total nineties’s Clueless moment. Just call me Cher.”
“Are you sure this is right for tonight?” Tina asks, tugging on the micro skirt that Shae persuaded her into after having Tonio and Eddie haul our entire shopping spree up to the apartment earlier.
We’re sitting in the back of the car outside of HellScape, the line already wrapping around the block, and I feel for Tina. I’ve been her.
“It’s perfect,” I try to reassure her. “It’s going to be hot, and in the words of Lil from Coyote Ugly, you need to make the kiddies drool.”
She looks at me a little confused while Shae cackles next to me. “Showing your age there Quinn.”
“Fuck you,” I retort, flipping her the bird as she continues to cackle.
“Yeah, I have no idea what that is, but I get what you mean. I can totally do this. It’s just bar work, right?”
“If that’s all you want it to be, absolutely. And Yen is great, she’ll keep an eye on you. Harper… like we said earlier, her bark is worse than her bite. But Greg isn’t going to be able to get to you in here, the guys did a deep dive, so none of his associates can either. You’re safe here.” She grips my hand and I squeeze it back. “You’ve got this, and we’ll be there if you need anything tonight too. But I don’t think you will.”
She lets out a shaky breath and nods. “Okay, let’s do this.”
“Hell yeah, baby!” Shae bounces in her seat, and before we get a second to move, Tonio and Bruno are out of the car and opening the doors for us. The people in the line turn to stare and I shudder. Having all eyes on me is something I’ve run from for forever and I don’t think I’ll ever be comfortable with it, but tonight isn’t about me, so I straighten my shoulders, put on a smile, and pretend they’re not looking so I can support my friend.
Tina climbs from the car and I follow behind. She exits on her side and walks around to us with Tonio on her tail. Before we can take a step forward, Hunter appears in the doorway, that lethal swagger out for all to see as he walks toward us. He looks every part the dangerous business man; black slacks, white shirt, sleeves rolled up, blonde hair mussed. He’s freaking delicious and he is all mine.
“Ladies, you made it.” He takes my hand and kisses it, winking at Shae as he does before turning to Tina. “Tina, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Hunter. Welcome to HellScape. Harper is waiting for you inside, so let’s not keep her waiting any longer, shall we?”
Tina’s eyes go wide as he talks to her, that weaponized smile on his face. I can practically see her heart beating in her chest. I press my lips together to not smile. When I was a kid, I thought I’d be jealous if I had a man that other people found outrageously attractive, but the upside of knowing what he’s done for me, is that I feel so secure that Tina’s reaction to him is just, well, kind of amusing. I remember the first time I saw him, I had a pretty similar response.
Shae links arms with Tina and leads her inside, Tonio and Bruno behind them, while Hunter places his hands on my hips and leans in close. “You look good enough to eat.”
“Oh, this old thing?” I tease, rubbing my palms up his chest. “Just threw it on.”
His head tilts back as he laughs. The bobbing of his Adams apple does things to me that shouldn’t be possible from something so… simple. Yet I still clench my thighs together because goddamn.
“Just threw on a leather skirt, fishnets, and corset with a lace choker. Oh, Angel, I’m pretty sure I’d have seen these before now. Did you have fun with Shae?”
I nod, grinning at him as he presses his forehead against mine. “I did, it’s been a good day.”
“I like this smile on you,” he murmurs as he pulls back and tugs on a strand of my hair. “I like this lighter color on you too.”
Heat creeps across my chest and up my cheeks. “Yeah, I’ve never been quite this blonde before.”
“It suits you. Now come on, let’s get you inside so I can drool over you appropriately without wanting to take the heads of every guy out here staring at you.”
Rolling my eyes, I take his offered hand. “No one is staring, and even if they were, I’m pretty sure you just laid alpha claim on me for all of them to see.”
His eyes sparkle as he winks at me. “Oh, Angel, that was nothing.”
I let him lead me inside and to where Tina and Shae are already talking to Harper. Music plays lowly as people finish setting up, getting ready for open, and I realize I kind of miss this place. Before we reach them, Yen pops up beside me and squeals as she tackles me from Hunter. “You’re here!”
“I’m here,” I respond, laughing. “I told you earlier I would be.”
Hunter motions to me that he’s heading upstairs and I nod, knowing I’ll find him later, before turning my attention back to Yen.
“Yeah, but I didn’t know if you’d be up to it.” She shrugs, smiling sadly. “I tried to catch you last week, but—”
“Yeah I was kind of out of it. Thank you for being there though.”
She hugs me tightly again. “Always. Now come on, introduce me to the new girl.”
We make our way over to the others and somehow, Harper is smiling.
Weird.
“Harper, what is that thing on your face?” Yen questions, obviously as creeped out as I am.
“Do you want to keep your job, Yen?” Harper snaps at her, smile dropped.
Yen rolls her eyes before turning to Tina and they start talking like old friends. It warms my heart how instantly they click. Tina is younger than us both, but she just seems to fit here.
“Play nice,” Shae says to Harper, who huffs before walking away toward the basement. “That went better than I thought it would. Now, let’s get this party started, shall we? I didn’t dress like this to not dance.”
Almost as if on cue, the lights lower, the music volume increases, and people start flooding into the club. Following Shae to the bar, Emma pours us a round of tequila shots, which we make easy work of before heading out to the dance floor.
The tequila warms my insides and helps me loosen up as Shae and I start to dance. My hips sway to the beat of the music and I let myself get lost in it. Tonio and Bruno stay by the bar, a watchful eye on us, but it’s like they all fade away. She keeps the shots coming and the music is just as intoxicating as the liquor in my system.
Hours pass as I let myself just live, enjoying the time with my friend and just… being. Shae makes out with a dozen different beautiful women who dance with her throughout the night and I find myself glancing up at the windows to the office above. Knowing that Hunter is up there, likely watching, even though no one can see him.
I wonder if the others are up there too.
Tapping Shae’s shoulder, I point to the office and she winks. “Go have fun!”
I return her grin, feeling bold, and make my way to the stairs. Slinking up to the office, heat pools between my legs. Could be the tequila, could be the dancing, or it could just be the way Hunter held me earlier.
The only thing I can’t decide on is if I want him to be alone in there or not.
You’ll find out soon enough.
