Great.

Again. What the hell was I doing?

I eyed the line waiting to get inside. Most of them were dressed with next-to-nothing while I wore a long-sleeve shirt over jeans. Granted, Amanda had to lend me her jeans, so they stuck like glue to me, but I was covered. There was no way I was going to get into that club, not like this. So I took a deep breath and saw how long that line was. It’d be hours before I even got to the door. As I bit my lip, I considered going around the line and approaching the four large hulks in front of me. As one glanced at me, I saw the flat look in his gaze. My gut told me that others had tried and been rejected. I sucked in my breath—they might even ban me from the place. Then all hope would be gone.

As a large black Sedan drove past the club and turned into the back alley, I started to follow. Could I get in through there? But no. The car slid to a stop and four more men rushed the back door as it was opened. A man and a woman hurried out and through a side door. She’d been giggling, wearing a flashy red dress, and the guy had a business suit on. The door shut with a resounding finality as the bouncer pounded twice on the roof. The car took off and those four guys resumed their stances before the door.

Just then, the door opened again and another big guy walked down the alley towards me. I gulped. This was it. This was my chance. As he started past me, I reached out for his arm, but my wrist was grabbed before I made contact.

I froze. My eyes bulged out as I saw that he had a vise-like grip on my arm. His eyes were hard, almost too cold.

“Yeah?” he growled.

I gulped again. I tried to keep my knees from buckling. “I-I—”

“Spill it, honey. You have five seconds.”

Oh god.

I swallowed over a basketball in my throat. “I—I know Carter Reed. Could I—I mean—is he-?”

He smirked, the harshness of that look slithered down my back. “You and everyone else, honey. You wanna talk to him? Go to the end of that line and wait your turn. But,” his eyes slid down my body and up. “You’ll be wasting your time. You ain’t getting inside dressed like that. You’ve got a damn fine body, but you gotta show skin. You ain’t showing any, honey.”

My stomach fell to the ground. This wasn’t how I thought it would be, but who had I been kidding? Carter Reed probably didn’t remember me anymore, much less give a damn about helping me. But I didn’t know what else to do so I wandered down the block and then turned the corner. I sighed. The line went past another block. There would be no way I would get inside, much less even close to the door.

My phone buzzed at that moment, and I checked it. It was Ben. Where the f are you? Mals going crazy. Crying and stuff. Might go to the hospital.

I quickly thumbed a response back. DON’T! Can’t. B smart. Will kill her and me. I sent it and then another one. u 2.

U need to come back. She needs u.

As I read it, tears threatened to spill, but I walked all the way to the end of the line. I heaved a ragged breath. This was what she needed. If I had to wait all night and through the next day, I would. I had to see Carter. He was our only real hope.

I responded to him. Mite be gone awhile. Doing something to help. Trust me.

She’s flipping out, Emma! Get back now!

I felt more tears coming, but I couldn’t let them spill. This was on me. No matter her emotional trauma, I had to do this to ensure that we both lived. Ben didn’t understand that. He was thinking of the here and now, how Mallory had cried through the rest of the day and how Amanda and I had to help her shower because she’d been so sore.

Her cuts and bruises would heal. The soul would as well, though it would take longer, but what I was doing would make sure that she had a chance to heal.

I texted back once. U won’t hear from me for awhile, but I’m doing this so we can stay alive. Phone will be off for awhile. Sorry…

As I started to power my phone down, a text flashed at me before my screen went blank. Bitch!

I rolled my eyes. Mallory knew how to pick ‘em.

The line moved at a snail’s pace. A few times bouncers would roam up and down the line. They would pick some of the better-looking girls and lead them to the front. As the hours went by, I noticed that they would pick eight girls to two guys. I checked my phone a few times and when it was around two, the line had shortened enough so that I was finally around the corner. I watched as cars drove up and people would hop out and dash inside. It seemed like an impossible job for me to get there, much less close to Carter. But every time I considered leaving, I remembered Mallory. The image of Jeremy with his hands on her throat flashed in my mind. I couldn’t go anywhere else.

I had to stay and wait it out, but two hours later when the club finally closed, I hadn’t moved farther down the line. Most people left, but a few stayed like me. One of the girls in front of me told the other that celebrities would stumble out. Sometimes they would peruse the line and pick a girl to take home. Her friend squealed in excitement.

Sure enough, as everyone started to leave, celebrities swooped out just as the girl said they would. However, they didn’t linger to look over the line. They had girls with them.

An hour later, after everyone had finally left, I was the last in line.

I had no idea where to go.

The bouncer from earlier came out of the door. He noticed me and frowned. He came over and asked, “You crazy, girl? What are you waiting for? We don’t hand out numbers for the next night. You have to come back, and get in line. Maybe you should come earlier next time and dress a little less, if you know what I mean.” He sneered at me. “You’ll have no problem getting inside.”

“I need to see Carter Reed.”

His head went back, and he rolled his eyes. “Are you serious? You’re still on this?” He laughed. “Do you know how many girls come up to me and say they know the boss? I mean, really, take a guess.”

I stiffened under his amusement, but I had to endure it. This was the only way. “I do know him. He was best friends with my brother.”

“Say what?”

I looked back up and spoke clearer, “He was best friends with my brother. I haven’t talked to him in years, but something’s happened. AJ told me to go to Carter if I ever needed something. He said he would help.” My throat burned. “I have nowhere else to go.”

He heaved a deep breath as he looked me up and down. Somehow, I saw a twitch of pity enter his eyes. Then he mumbled under his breath, “I can’t believe I’m doing this. What was your brother’s name?”