pulled up in front of my townhouse at exactly eight o’clock. He was reliable like that, and I appreciated that he never made me wait.
I slid into the car and threw my purse on the floor. “You went all out today, Janie,” he chuckled.
I looked down at my casual tank top, shorts, and flip flops. I wasn’t interested in impressing those goons, and besides, it never hurt to show a little skin to get your way.
“ It’s hotter than blazes out here. I’m not putting on a power suit just to hand over my well-earned money, thank you very much. They can kiss my ass.”
He chuckled again. “Good attitude. So, speaking of well-earned money, how’d it go last night?”
I blew out a harsh breath and pushed my sunglasses up over my head as he veered into traffic. “It was… strange.”
He looked over and raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. “Strange? What’d he do to you?”
I laughed humorlessly. “That’s the strange part. Nothing. He had me strip, and then he jacked off.”
“ What?”
I shrugged. That was the gist of it, and I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to say. “Yeah, exactly. He barely touched me. He jerked off, and then told me to leave. I was caught off guard, but it was hardly the worst date I’ve ever been on.”
He chuckled and I joined him, remembering some of the crazy things I’d come across in my short career. There’d been a few odd ones, but it was the nature of things. After all, that’s why they came to me. I was the key to their fantasies, the keeper of all their dirty little secrets, and fulfiller of their raucous whims. Most of the time, things were as simple as sex with a stranger, scratching an itch, or just a little companionship, but occasionally, there was something different.
“ I’m surprised,” Vince mused. “Flynn doesn’t seem like the passive type. Why the hell did he call a hooker if he didn’t want to fuck?”
I glared over at him, narrowing my eyes. “That word, Vince. Watch it.”
“ Noted.”
As he pulled onto the freeway, I rolled down the window and enjoyed what there was of a breeze on my face. I was sweating already, and it wasn’t just the sweltering heat making me feel hot. Just thinking about Flynn had my blood pressure rising and my nipples hardening. Trying to pinpoint what it was about him that turned me on so much was driving me nuts.
“ Well, at least you made five grand for your time. Not bad for a night’s work.”
I reached down and pulled the envelope out of my purse, holding it up in his periphery. “Try ten grand.”
His head snapped in my direction and I almost laughed at the expression on his face. “Yeah, ten grand for letting him come on my backside. It’s definitely not a bad night on the job. I’m hoping he calls for me again because I could get used to those kinds of paydays.”
He pulled up in front of the building, and I was surprised we’d already arrived. I’d been so lost in thought that I wasn’t paying attention. The butterflies in my stomach churned, as they always did when I met with those men, and I took a couple of deep breaths to get myself together. It wouldn’t do to let them see me stressed out.
“ We’re in and out. Hand over the cash, ask for the tape, and we bail. Don’t get into it with them again, Janie.”
I nodded and clenched my eyes closed tight. I was trying my best, but it was so hard. Sammie King hadn’t raised me to keep my mouth shut. If I had something to say, I said it, and watching those tapes killed me. Knowing that every time I piped off they’d take it out on my dad was enough incentive to bite my tongue.
“ You got it. I want to hurry this along today. I didn’t get much sleep last night, and I have a date tonight.”
As I exited the car, I pushed my sunglasses back down and took a deep breath, following Vince. As much as I appreciated him taking the lead, I always felt like I needed to show my strength in front of them. They already had me by the balls, so to speak,