SEALed Forever

–John–

My breath trembled as the oscillating fan sent a chill over my bare skin. Locking eyes with my re!ection in the mirror, I reminded myself why I was there.

If I’d been the one who disappeared, Surita would have burned this place to the ground looking for me. The !uorescent lights buzzed overhead as my mind wandered to all the horrible things that could‘ve happened to her.

“Alright everybody, give it up for the lovely Mercedes,” the DJ crooned through the speakers, and I took a deep breath as half-hearted applause swelled out amongst the crowd. “Next up, we have the delectable... Roulette.”

The sound of my stage name turned my stomach. Two rows of gray dented lockers stood between me and the steps leading up to the stage. There were times I wished I could just cram myself inside one of them until the night was over. But someone in this place knew what happened to my best friend, and after everything she’d done for me, the least I could do was tough it out long enough to get a solid lead.

I swallowed hard and looked down at my immaculately manicured hands that didn’t even shake before my performances anymore. My heart sank a little. So many nights, I’d rubbed up against strangers, letting them breathe on my naked body, licking their lips as their whispers burned like acid on my skin. It was supposed to be a lie. I told myself it was all okay because this wasn’t really me. Did I play this part so well that I’d actually become Roulette?

Mercedes pushed past me, glistening with sweat as she clutched !stfuls of dollar bills to her chest. A waft of cigar smoke, stale beer, and designer perfume stung my eyes as I ascended the steps and swept the velvet curtain aside. The wide open main "oor was a stark contrast to the cramped dressing room.

An opulent chandelier adorned the vaulted dome-shaped ceiling, and a rotating laser wrapped the room in a soft blue glow. To my right was an elegant bar, with tall shelves stocked with colorful bottles and exotic nicknacks. Straight across from the stage was a balcony where the VIP section overlooked the entire club, and under it, a few tables were nestled in the shadows. To the right, an archway led into the lobby and front counter where people paid to enter.

Electronic dance music pulsed, rumbling through my bones as I sauntered out onto the wide marble stage. The rubber grips on the bottoms of my eight-inch heels stuck slightly with every step as I made my way toward the pole at the center of the stage, scanning the room for fresh faces. The music slowed, steadying my nerves as I wrapped my fingers around the cold metal shaft. Eyes closed, I swayed my hips, imagining a vast empty room around me.

An angelic voice resonated through the warped, rhythmic throng of the electric violin as I lifted myself o# the ground in a slow, controlled spin. I sank gracefully to one knee and then the other, gathering my hair up o# my neck before letting my honey blonde beach waves spill back down around my shoulders.

Four men approached the stage, taking seats at the tip rail and I arched my back, undulating to the music. The smoke machine overhead poured a curtain of white vapor over the stage, and the colorful lights illuminated it with a purple hue. Tendrils of smoke curled around my limbs, reducing me to a curvy, back-lit silhouette. Of all the eyes !xated on me, I can’t tell you what drew my attention to a familiar shadowy pres‐ ence at the table under the balcony.

I’d seen him before. He didn’t look directly at the stage, instead glancing at my re"ection in a mirrored panel behind the bar. He never approached me and spent most of his time getting dances in the VIP room.

Aside from his dark hair, I couldn’t make out the details of his face. Still, something about this man held my attention. My eyes moved over his muscular frame as I caressed my body, pretending to be unaware of his presence.

I took a breath when the !rst song ended, unhooking my bra and letting it fall away. Heat rushed to my cheeks as my eyes instinctively dropped to avoid the hungry faces

pressing in all around. Several more men gathered to the rail around the stage to get a closer look.

My mouth went dry as I forced a brittle smile for the man closest to me. He put down a !ve-dollar bill and puckered his lips, making a shrill sucking noise, and smiled to reveal a gold tooth. As I crawled past him, he held out another !ve and tucked it into my white lace panties.

The second song always felt like it lasted forever. When it !nally ended, I gathered my tips and my bra into a pile and scooped it all up. The man with the gold tooth kissed at me again and I returned the gesture with a wink.

Play the part... I reminded myself. You never know if he might be the one who knows what happened to Surita.

Back in the locker room, I put my bra on and organized my money, opening my locker and stacking it securely inside a lockbox in the back corner. The oscillating fan was a welcome sensation now that my blood was pumping. The !rst show of the night was always the hardest.

Now, I could get out there and start chatting up a few of these new guys. The patrons of The Blue Room loved to talk about themselves, especially regarding how rich they were and all the twisted things they did to make their fortunes.

As long as I chewed on my lip and batted my lashes, pretending to have a fetish for bad boys... I got an exclusive, in-depth look at all their illegal business ventures. But, while they were fast to spill their guts about gang violence, murder, torture, arms deal‐ ing, smuggling, and drugs... so far, everyone preferred to play dumb regarding all the missing women from the club.

I pulled on a #oor-length sheer gown with a slit running up my thigh to the waist before shutting my locker and heading out to the #oor. The man with the gold tooth took a seat at a table near the stage and sat back in his chair. Shifting his weight to scoot his crotch forward.

While I tried to never avoid passing up the chance to talk to someone new, some‐ thing in my gut kept drawing my eyes back to the man in the far booth. He didn’t look like a criminal, and in all honesty, probably knew nothing about what went on in this place. I gave Gold Tooth Guy a wry smile and a two !nger wave before walking past him.

If I couldn’t trust my intuition, then I was truly screwed, and there was no point to any of this. Crossing the room in smooth, elegant strides, I approached the stranger and the details of his face came into view.

“You look lonely.” I glanced back toward the stage. “Do you mind if I sit with you?” His dark eyes locked with mine, and my pulse quickened.
“I’ve never been good at saying no to a beautiful woman.” His high cheekbones and

sloped jawline framed a smile on his full lips that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Don’t say that too loud.” I smirked, taking a seat across from him. “Men who can’t

say no leave this place with empty pockets and a second mortgage.”
“Of all the things that make a woman dangerous...” His smile widened and my heart !uttered against the inside of my ribcage. “Going broke is the least of my worries.

Let me buy you a drink.”
He slowly extended his hand in a friendly gesture.
“I’m JD, by the way.”
“Roulette.” I shook his hand and the calluses on his palms told me he was rougher

than his tasteful suit would suggest.
“You’re giving me your stage name?” He arched a thick eyebrow. “Hurtful.”
“I would never.” I put a hand on my chest in an expression of mock o"ense and he

laughed softly. “Besides, you don’t really need to know a woman’s name to get her clothes o" in this place. Isn’t that part of the appeal?”

“You’re worth more than that.” His dark eyes glinted with a seriousness that sent a rush of warmth to my cheeks. “I realize you’re joking, and believe me, I appreciate a dark sense of humor, but this...” He gestured toward the stage. “The lies, the drugs, the money... it doesn’t de#ne your worth as a human being. I realize you probably know that, but sometimes we all need reminding.”

Damn... The ache in my chest deepened, and a knot formed in my throat. When I walked over here, I wasn’t expecting to confront my moral insecurity head on in the !rst two minutes.

“Money and lies are part of the job.” I crossed my legs. “Drugs... aren’t so much a problem for me.”

“Good for you.” He took a sip of his bourbon. “Rare in this corner of the world. If you stay clean, you might actually make your money and walk away without getting burned.”

“There are plenty of dancers who don’t do drugs.” I tensed, thinking Surita, unsure

why his statement struck a nerve. “And even if you do this job dead sober, no one walks away without a scar to show for it.”

“Oh?” He leaned forward and his eyes wandered down my body. “Your skin looked pretty !awless... from what I saw, anyway.”

My heart pounded like a sledgehammer. Even in a long-sleeved button-up, his sinuous torso was obvious as the fabric of his shirt clung to his muscles.

“Not all scars are on your skin.” I trembled, resisting the urge to fold my hands in my lap.

After having grown so casual about taking my clothes o", I’d forgotten what it was supposed to feel like to be vulnerable in front of someone. In that moment, sitting across the table from JD, I felt more naked than I’d been in my entire life. The weirdest part was that I liked it.

This book is exclusive for Nanci Novak's newsletter subscribers.

Join and get your free copy today!